Apeks VX1 Dive Mask
Material
Soft material that doesn’t cause a rash from chafing. For me it can sometimes be on the upper lip just under my nose but this mask seals nicely around that area with no issues. Silicone strap is very comfortable, keep in mind, I shave my head so there isn’t any hair to get tangled anyway, however, it does also come with a separate neoprene mask strap should you wish to use that instead.
Adjusting for Fit
Has plastic quick release buckles with stainless steel rollers. Nice and easy to adjust. No unnecessary fiddling to get the straps where you want them to be. Nose pocket plenty big enough for an average size.
Performance
After burning the “protective film” off with a lighter (which I know a lot of people disagree with even though I’ve only ever had success doing so) DO NOT BURN UV MODEL* there has been no issues with fogging anywhere at all (and no I do not go and then use “defog” haha). Straps and buckles still look brand new and operate as such. There is no damage whatsoever to any of the silicone material and it is still a joy to wear every day that I’m diving.
Style
Nice that it comes with a branded neoprene mask strap, but the Velcro attachment seems too cheap for the quality you’re expecting from a supplier like Apeks. It also comes with a really cool case, however the whole thing is made out of some kind of fabric material as opposed to the standard hard plastic you would usually receive with a dive mask. First time I saw it, there was not one part of me that wanted to get it at all wet, so it hasn’t. It WAS used to store general items in my hold all until the zip that keeps the case closed decided to break from corrosion! An especially frustrating design flaw for something that is supposed to store a DIVE MASK!
Field of View
Nice big window, SEMI low profile mask, no where near as low profile as something like a freediving mask so don’t take what I say out of context. It just is not as big and bulky as some of the other standard mask designs.
Expectations & Value for Money
It was slightly more expensive when I purchased mine over 18 months ago, now available for purchase roughly around $80-$100 it is still an expensive option for a dive mask. However, I cannot see myself having the need to buy another one for anything other than aesthetic changes (let’s be honest here.. we all want to look good whilst diving!). The case either needs a better quality zip (still would not use for storing a wet mask) or an option for a standard plastic case. I also have no need for the neoprene mask strap so I look at those items as unnecessary added value etc. Apart from that, I believe the actual mask is GOOD value for money and I can see it lasting a long time.
