Wair is a scarf that actively blocks out pollution using a mix of hidden filters and fans. It’s also modular, so you can change out those filters and (thankfully) wash the scarf. Wair also looks pretty good as far as pollution masks go!
Here’s the deal, according to the folks from France who are behind Wair. When protecting yourself from pollution, it’s all about structure and seal. The Wair mask doesn’t just look good, it’s got a flexible (but sturdy) structure in the front that presses up around your mouth.
That contoured shape (and the triple-layered filters) helps block out more allergens, bacteria, and other particulates associated with pollution than the surgical masks you might see people don when walking around big cities.
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But just blocking that bad stuff from getting to your mouth isn’t enough, so Wair has a tiny fan (and associated battery) built in to the sides of the mask that bring fresh air in to help you breathe — a weird but welcome choice considering that the company is targeting this product at cyclists, and cyclists breathe a lot.
This is CES, so obviously Wair also comes with an app! It’s educational and preventative in nature. It’s less about stats for your breathing and more about giving you information about things like pollen or pollution warnings. You can think of it like an app that reminds you to take your umbrella with you if it’s raining — except you can’t always see pollution.
The company is taking preorders for a fan-less version on its website right now, and those run €69 (or $72). Those who want to hold out for the high-tech Wair will be looking at a price tag of around €150-200 ($156-208) when it gets out of the prototype phase.