Fourth mask of the X-Rays column is the famous mask of the Umberto Pelizzari product line, the UP-M1.

In brief

Classic chassis construction, differently from the first three masks tested, the Salvimar Noah, the Seac M70 and the Mares Viper, which instead utilize the innovative solution with the chassis directly glued to facial and lens- The same mask is also offered in the UP-M1C version, with the innovative and very aesthetic carbon fiber chassis. The solution with dismountable chassis permits easy change of lens with optical ones, which are available in the Omer product line offer. It is though also true that today eye correction is also done gluing directly the prescription lenses on the original ones, with great results. Certainly the traditional solution avoids any possible detachment of the facial, lens chassis system, which is instead possible on the glued solution.

The UP-M1 is extremely compact, with an aggressive and pleasant design. The main characteristics on which Omer has focused, with the help of an advanced company like Momo Design, have been the extremely reduced internal volume, good field of view and a very comfrtable and soft nose area, this to be able to equalize at best. Moreover, there are absolutely non points of contact between the mask and the forehead, and a specific nose clip is available, which permits the equalization of the mask without using the hands.

The silicone of the facial is matt, but only on the exterior surface, not the interior. The ergonomic rear band have a micrometric regulation and are connected to the facial and not directly to the chassis, so the solution is the more classic one. Silicone is extremely soft, especially in the nose area.

Best On-line price guaranteed

To see best on-line price of UP-M1 mask found by AP click here.

Test in the sea

The UM-P1 is made of an extremely soft silicone and pleasant at the touch. The watertight solution is classic with internal lip. The sensation on the face is of excellent comfort, with the mask that can be taken as close as needed to the face without any point of contact to the forehead or nose. Bringing to mask as narrow as possible to the face the contact occurs simultaneously all around the eyes, indicating a perfect design. The limit comes earlier dew to the contact of the eyelashes with the lens, but this is absolutely normal.

Field of view is good, but does not offer the light of the best masks, such as the Seac M70 and the Salvimar Noah. This is mainly dew to the construction system with dismountable chassis. Positioning the mask on the face and during the test in the sea no specific blind areas have been observed, but a general narrower and slightly darker vision compared to the best.

The water tight effect is excellent (of course it can change from person to person), and the sensation on the face is of extreme comfort. The signs left by the facial on the face after 4 hours of diving are minimal.

Internal volume measurement

The internal volume has been, when the UP-M1 has been launched, one of the key aspects communicated about the product. The compactness of the mask makes one think of an extremely low internal volume. Utilizing the same identical procedure applied to the other masks, we have measured the internal volume of the UP-M1 utilizing a 60 ml siringe. Below the video of one of the measurements made (3 measurement have been brought forward to have certainty of the final result, with a difference of max 1-2 ml).

The final result is equal to 92 ml (cc), the best value among the masks tested and much better than the one indicated by Omer of 99 cc. The difference is mainly due to the different size of the dummy head.

Field of view measurement

The measurement of the field of view is another important aspect of a mask, and has been indicated by Omer as one of the strong characteristics of the UP-M1. Surely the use of the traditional construction with dismountable chassis can limit this aspect. It is in fact evident how the chassis has two main limits: on one side it brings the lens further away from the eyes by creating an additional thickness between the two. This thickness is equal to 4 mm, compared to just 2 mm of the Seac M70 and the Salvimar Noah.

On the other it generates a silicone frame all around the lens, frame which is measured equal to 2 mm. This determines a narrowing of the usable area of the lens of two mm all around their perimeter. If we consider that the lens can be seen more or less as rectangles, and their measures are 4,5 cm x 5 cm, we easily understand that the reduction (4 mm in each direction) is equal to more or less 8%, not little.

We have applied, as for the Noah, the M70 and the Viper, the system of measurement of the field of view through a photo with GOPRO 3 and a wifi system, controlled by smartphone. The parameters of the position of the dummy and the mask respect to the target have evidently been kept identical to the ones utilized for the other masks.

From the analysis of the image of the GOPRO, the field of view of the UP-M1 is not at the level of the best masks with glued chassis, but offers anyway good visibility for a mask with traditional chassis. There are really no particular blind areas, even though in the upper central view the visibility values are quite reduced respect to the best masks. In conclusion the final value of the measurement is:

North: 55, North-East: 55, East: 55, South-East:50, South: 55, South-West: 55, West: 65, North-West: 80, for a final overall vote of 470, lower if compared to the best in class, the Seac M70, first in the field of view with 560 points, and also compared to the Salvimar Noah (530 points), but better than the Mares Viper (450 points).

Final votes

The Omer Umberto Pelizzari UP-M1 is a very interesting product, with great comfort on the face and an excellent water tightness. The internal volume is first in class, better even than the “frameless” masks solution, while the field of view results to be more distant from the best competition, but still good for masks with traditional dismountable chassis. this solution permits easy mounting of corrective lenses, and avoids any possible detachment of the facial from the chassis and the lenses, a situation that would determine the definitive impossibility to use the mask. The table of votes synthesizes what just described.