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Vog Mask

Minneapolis...
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62 posts
Vog Mask
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Maybe a silly question but......should I purchase a vog mask to have on hand for hiking in VNP and our time in Kona? Do they work? I have no idea how I will react to vog. I am slightly sensitive to smoke and strong perfumes. I thought I read somewhere that guides at VNP carry them when they take people hiking. I am used to wearing a mask as I am a nurse and sometimes wear a surgical mask for hours so the actual wearing of the mask (getting hot/claustrophobic) won't be a problem. We are coming at the end of April and will be staying on the Kohala coast for a few nights, a couple in VNP and a couple in Kona.

South Pole
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43,797 posts
4 reviews
25 helpful votes
1. Re: Vog Mask
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I wouldn’t. I believe the guides carry full on respirators, but someone else here probably has more complete info on that. You would be very unlikely to encounter the type of sudden fumes in VNP that would require a respirator; this is for getting up to the lava flow, which you won’t be doing in VNP.

One of my sons is a professional painter who often has to work in s respirator. He has a fairly low opinion of what a dust or hospital mask will accomplish other than keeping out large particles, and I guess germs. For gases and fumes you need the full on equipment. it’s much easier to leave the area where fumes occur.

Vog is not fumes. It’s an aerosol mix.

You won’t see other people walking around in masks. In the event the vog was really bothering you and it was not possible to drive somewhere else, just going inside into an area with air conditioning is very helpful, as that will filter the air enough, as will your auto A/C.

Denver, Colorado
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7,340 posts
46 reviews
76 helpful votes
2. Re: Vog Mask
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The village of Volcano is rarely affected by VOG and Hilo is central place to think about as well to stay on the east side. Kona area VOG south of the airport can look as bad as LA smog depending on the wind direction.

Depends on how sensitive you are. My friend that has allergies and asthmatic felt really bad for a few days after visiting the Volcano area. If that's you proceed with caution and have a back up plan. If you do decide to go the day before call the park for weather/air quality and when you check in at the Visitor's desk and get real time air quality reports.

There may be several hikes in the park that the Rangers can recommend that will have minimal VOG but steer clear of the sulfur and steam vent areas headed towards Jaggar Museum as you will get good wiffs of sulfur laden fumes there.

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3. Re: Vog Mask
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I've gotta chime in that the other posts are glossing over certain realities. Vog is ever-present on Big Island, including Kona area. (I live in Captain Cook 45 minutes south) It is very common for people to complain year around about allergy like symptoms, and associate it with the vog. (This includes friends who live right in Kona) It's much like smog on the mainland.. we infrequently have an excessive amount (except for now, of course... you definitely want a vog mask now!), but we definitely get enough that it can effect people with respiratory issues.

Vogmasks, assuming you're referring to the brand, include a carbon filter layer, and are tested/rated for PM 2.5. You will get incredibly hot if you want to walk around wearing one all day, however, it will definitely help you with your respiration issues regardless of whether we currently have 30,000 ft tall ash plumes or not.

It would not help with actual direct sulfur dioxide inhalation, however, that is rarely concentrated enough to be a concern unless you are near a lava flow. It will help with the sulfur dioxide which bonded with water vapor to be inhaled as rain/humidity, however, which is a significant factor Kona side.

On Big Island we don't wear masks because it's hot, and no one else does. It's not because of our vast wisdom in avoiding respiratory issues.

Maui
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133,190 posts
31 reviews
40 helpful votes
4. Re: Vog Mask
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The OP came and went last month.

5. Re: Vog Mask

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