The Difference Between Framed and Frameless Masks (Pros and Cons)

23 Nov.,2022

 

scuba mask wholesale

The frameless mask is a design that has long been popular with freedivers and spearfishers. However, as those extreme sports have increased in popularity, so too have the specialized gear they use. Specialized designs for masks that were once niche and obscure, such as the low-volume profile and the frameless design, can now be found at almost any dive shop! This trend has left many SCUBA divers and snorkelers wondering what the hype is all about. What’s the difference between framed and frameless masks?

The main difference between framed and frameless masks is that the frameless design features a glass faceplate that is molded directly into the mask’s skirt (the soft silicone that seals the mask on your face). On a framed mask, a hard frame holds the glass faceplate or lenses. The skirt is molded onto that frame, not the faceplate itself.

So what’s the big deal? There are practical advantages that the frameless design offers. How important those advantages are to you will depend on both your personal preferences and the kinds of activity (snorkeling vs. SCUBA vs. freediving) you’ll be using the mask for.

Framed Vs. Frameless Masks. A video summary of this article.

Differences between framed and frameless masks

Because the frameless mask was originally manufactured for freedivers and spearfishers, the design stands out for serving the needs of those sports.

Spearfishers, in particular, require masks that are both low-volume and offer a superior field-of-vision. To achieve this, the frameless design has a unique construction process. Likewise, specially engineered materials are also used in that construction. That means most of the differences between framed and frameless masks come down to their intended use, construction, and materials.

Purpose (when to use)

Though low-volume and superior field-of-vision are critical features for spearfishers, the truth is anyone using a dive mask can benefit from them.

Are you an underwater photographer? Once you experience the wide, unobstructed views of a frameless mask, you might never go back to framed masks!

Do you feel nervous underwater? Are you new to SCUBA or snorkeling? If so, a superior field-of-vision on your mask can go a long way towards relieving feelings of anxiety and claustrophobia.

Do you have a smaller face? The flexible and lightweight design of a frameless mask will give you a great seal and will feel light and comfortable.

Construction process

The framed mask has always been the tried-and-true standard for all underwater sports, and there’s a reason for that.

For a dive mask to work, it must effectively trap a layer of air between your eyes and the outside water. Large, tempered glass plates give you the view, but the seal on your face must be soft and flexible to prevent leaks. What is the engineering solution to this conundrum? Use a durable frame to house the glass, and attach a rubber or silicone skirt to the frame. Sturdy clips can then be used to attach the mask strap to the frame as well.

An old episode of How It’s Made showing how framed dive masks are constructed.

The trouble is, a mask frame can add a lot to both the weight and the volume of the dive mask.

The problem with high-volume

Freedivers and spearfishers dive many meters underwater only on their own breath. As the pressure increases at depth, the volume of air inside the mask will compress, resulting in a form of barotrauma known as mask squeeze. To prevent this, the diver must exhale into the mask a little bit with their nose to compensate for the lost volume. A low-volume mask has less airspace, so the diver does not need to waste nearly as much precious breath on equalizing their mask.

Related Post: What Is a Low-Volume Dive Mask?

One way to design a low-volume mask is to greatly reduce the size of the glass lenses. However, spearfishers and underwater photographers may find that such masks offer more restricted visual fields.

So how do you design a low-volume mask with a big faceplate? Get rid of the frame! The main construction difference between framed and frameless masks is the fact that the frameless mask is… well, frameless!

With modern technologies, manufacturers can produce masks where the soft silicone skirt is molded onto the glass itself. Injection molding is one of the key innovations here. Typically, this is the molding process used for polycarbonate plastics that make up the frame on a framed mask. The rubber or silicone skirt, however, traditionally require compression molding due to the thermosetting properties of those materials. What’s the solution?

Material engineering

If the mask skirt is molded directly onto the tempered glass faceplate, the skirt material must be suitable for injection molding. Advanced materials used to construct modern dive masks include liquid silicone rubbers (LSRs) and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). TPEs are hybrid polymers with both the flexible elastomeric properties of silicone and the thermal properties of polycarbonate plastics. Swim goggle manufacturing provided some of the impetus here. The lens gaskets on swim goggles can be made of both LSR and TPEs, and such materials have since been engineered for the size and pressure exposure of dive masks.

As a result, there’s a key difference between framed and frameless masks in terms of materials. The skirts of frameless masks are typically composed of LSRs or TPEs rather than solid silicone elastomers. In some cases, the chemical composition of the skirt on frameless masks will itself vary. This variation allows for a more rigid texture where the skirt is sealed to the glass faceplate and a softer, more flexible texture at the face seal. Pretty neat, right?

Is a frameless mask a good choice for you?

Advantages

Lower volume, greater flexibility, and lighter weight are the main advantages of the frameless design.

That makes frameless masks great for traveling because you can crumple the skirt right against the faceplate. They’ve become popular choices for spares and backups for that reason as well. A SCUBA diver can easily fit one of these into a BCD pocket or tuck one into the corner of a small gear bag.

However, these advantages really shine when the mask is in use:

Frameless mask

  • Superior field-of-vision
  • Ultra-comfy skirt seal
  • Fewer leaks
  • Easy to clear
  • Less mask squeeze

Framed mask

  • More durable
  • Accommodates prescription lenses
  • Less expensive
  • Sturdier strap clips
  • Tried and true design

Whether you’re snorkeling or diving, the superior field-of-vision of frameless masks feels like a luxury. The faceplate itself is usually continuous so there’s nothing obstructing your view, and it’s close to your eyes, which gives you a more panoramic field with excellent peripheral vision. The lighter weight puts less strain on the seal around your face, which not only feels more comfortable but can also reduce leaking.

The low-volume makes them easy to clear at depth if they do leak, and reduces mask squeeze. The continuous faceplate also means you won’t get soreness or an imprint on the bridge of your nose that dual-lens framed masks can sometimes cause.

Disadvantages

Reduced durability and cost are the main disadvantages of a frameless mask.

The advanced materials required for frameless mask manufacturing mean they tend to be more expensive than framed masks. This is especially true if a leading brand like Atomic Aquatics or Scubapro has manufactured the mask. Additionally, without a durable plastic frame, the glass seal on even the most well-constructed frameless masks is vulnerable to degradation. Such is true of the strap clips as well, which are attached to the frameless skirt, not a hard frame. However, as the frameless design has become more popular, further innovations in construction and materials are mitigating those disadvantages to some degree.

Frameless mask

  • More expensive
  • Skirt can separate from glass over time
  • No prescription options
  • Weaker strap clips
  • Can feel “flimsy”

Framed mask

  • Heavier
  • Less flexible skirt seal
  • Poorer field-of-vision
  • Higher volume difficult to clear
  • Frame can put uncomfortable pressure on brow

There are some folks, primarily professional or technical SCUBA divers, who need a solid, durable mask for working regularly at great depths. Likewise, some people simply prefer the feel of something heavier and more solid. Avid freedivers and spearfishers may also prefer to use ultra-low-volume masks (sometimes called micro masks), which are framed. Most recreational snorkelers and divers, however, will enjoy the lightweight feel of a frameless mask that fits them properly.

Sadly though, if your vision needs correcting you might be out of luck. Frameless masks, as far as I’m aware, don’t have options for corrective lenses. In many models of dual-lens framed masks, you can easily swap out the lenses for a corrective pair. For folks who cannot use contact lenses, or prefer not to, a framed mask is the only option.

What are the best frameless masks?

The current popularity of frameless masks means there are many options for different face sizes and shapes out there. Below is a top 5 list of the best frameless masks on the market, including the face shapes they’re ideal for. The links are for the listings at Leisure Pro, which is my preferred online dive shop for US/Canada shipping. For folks in the UK and Europe, Simply Scuba is another great online dive shop.

1. Best overall: Atomic Frameless Mask

The Atomic Frameless Mask

Check price at Leisure Pro!

  • Price category: Premium $$$
  • Ideal face-shape: Regular size for wider, round faces; Medium size for smaller faces (this size is preferred by women)
  • Low-volume: Yes
  • Color options: Black or Clear, each with a variety of color accents
  • Special features: Very wide horizontal and vertical field of vision; Optical quality tempered glass maximizes light transmission (a great choice for photographers)
  • Other notes: Comes in two adult sizes (Regular and Medium) to suit a wide range of faces; Clear option is preferred by folks prone to claustrophobia

Atomic Frameless Mask product overview from SimplyScuba

2. Best budget option: Cressi Frameless F1 Mask

The Cressi Frameless F1 Mask

Check price at Leisure Pro!

  • Price category: Budget $
  • Ideal face-shape: Small to average, oval-shaped face
  • Low-volume: Yes
  • Color options: Clear, Opaque (variety of colors)
  • Special features: Buckles molded directly to skirt for a more flexible fit
  • Other notes: May not fit larger noses

3. Best value for money: Oceanic Shadow Single Window Mask

The Oceanic Shadow Single Window Mask

Check price at Leisure Pro!

  • Price category: Standard $$
  • Ideal face-shape: Fits most face-shapes; Works well on narrower faces
  • Low-volume: Yes
  • Color options: All Black, Clear
  • Special features: Swivel strap buckles for a better fit; Soft neoprene strap (but harder to adjust on the fly)
  • Other notes: Also comes in a mini size, suitable for children and adults with very small faces

4. Best for narrow faces: Hollis M1 Frameless Mask

Hollis M1 Frameless Mask

Check price at Leisure Pro!

  • Price category: Premium $$$
  • Ideal face-shape: Seems to work well on folks who typically have trouble finding a good fit; narrow faces
  • Low-volume: Yes
  • Color options: All Black
  • Special features: Optical quality tempered glass offers superior light transmittance; Low profile buckles for reduced drag
  • Other notes: Users report a field-of-view as good as the Atomic Frameless

5. Best for glare: Seadive by XS Scuba RayBlocker Monarch HD Mask

Seadive by XS Scuba RayBlocker Monarch HD Mask

Check price at Leisure Pro!

  • Price category: Premium $$$
  • Ideal face-shape: Fits a wide range of face shapes, including smaller faces
  • Low-volume: Yes
  • Color options: All Black
  • Special features: Anti-reflective glass coating allows nearly 100% light transmittance while reflecting scattered light; Buckles molded directly to skirt for a more flexible fit
  • Other notes: A great option for photographers and heavy surface activity (e.g. snorkeling) in bright sun; Reduced glare allows eyes to adjust faster to dimming light on dives; Small skirt fits easily under a hood

Tips for wearing frameless masks

  1. As with all masks, test the fit of your frameless mask before using it in the water
  2. Be sure to remove the manufacturer’s coating from the tempered glass before using the mask to reduce fogging
  3. Use a good anti-fog on the glass before each diving or snorkeling session to reduce fogging
  4. Your straps should be just tight enough to gently hold the mask in place. Because frameless masks feel so light, you may be tempted to over-tighten the straps!
  5. Though the skirt can be crumpled right against the faceplate, make sure the skirt keeps its shape during long-term storage to reduce the chances of the skirt separating from the glass
  6. Similarly, if you’re on a long flight, stuff your mask with socks or underwear so the skirt can keep its shape in transit

Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried a frameless mask and how you liked it!

Further reading

Disclaimer: Some of the links used in this article are affiliate links. That means I may get a small commission if you buy a product after following the link (at no additional cost to you!). If this guide helped you make a decision, consider it like giving me a little thank you!

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