Updated November 2, 2022
To be effective at spearfishing you need to develop the right skills using the equipment that best sets you up for success. Perhaps the most important piece to start with is your mask. Along with the usual features like durability, seals, comfort, and ease of use, a clear view over the largest range possible is paramount for you to effectively target your prey.
The masks available on the market today cover a broad spectrum so choosing one that best suits your needs in spearfishing may not be an easy task. To give you a leg up, ten of the best spearfishing masks have been selected as an introduction. They are compared in a table, followed by a review of key features, photos, videos, and finally a buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of related gear and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Pole Spears Spearguns Spearfishing Wetsuits Lycra Dive Skins Freediving Watches Freediving Masks Freediving Fins
Best Spearfishing Masks Review
- Omer Alien Spearfishing Mask
- Oceanways Superview Spearfishing Mask
- XS Scuba Apnos Spearfishing Mask
- Cressi Nano Spearfishing Mask
- Omer UP-M1 Spearfishing Mask
- Aqua Lung Micro Spearfishing Mask
- Mares Viper Spearfishing Mask
- Scuba Choice Spearfishing Mask
- Riffe Naida Spearfishing Mask
- Aqua Lung Sphera X Spearfishing Mask
Best Spearfishing Mask Review Comparison Table
| Photo | Spearfishing Mask | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
  | Omer Alien Spearfishing Mask | 4.4 | $$$ |
  | Oceanways Superview Spearfishing Mask | 4.5 | $$$ |
  | XS Scuba Apnos Spearfishing Mask | 4.6 | $$$ |
  | Cressi Nano Spearfishing Mask | 4.8 | $$$ |
  | Omer UP-M1 Spearfishing Mask | 4.5 | $$$$ |
  | Aqua Lung Micro | 5 | $$$$ |
  | Riffe Naida Spearfishing Mask | 4.6 | $$$$ |
  | Mares Viper Spearfishing Mask | 4.6 | $$$ |
  | Scuba Choice Spearfishing Mask | 4.2 | $ |
  | Aqua Lung Sphera X Spearfishing Mask | 4.7 | $$ |
| Photo | Spearfishing Mask | Rating | Price |
Best For: entry-level spearfishing & freediving, different face shapes
- Lens: tempered glass, 2 panes
- Other Features: good sealing and comfortable double feathered edge silicone skirt, wide split silicone strap, easy to adjust skirt mounted buckles for a low drag design
- Colors: black frame & skirt
- Rating: 4.4
- Price: $$$
Pros: low volume, fits a variety of faces, low drag design
Cons: nothing new or incredible but a quality mask, some have mentioned a possibility of fogging
Oceanways Superview Spearfishing Mask
- Best For: spearfishing, freediving, and scuba diving
- Lens: tempered glass, single pane, tinted with a special coating to resist UV rays and glare, anti-fog coating on the interior of the lens
- Other Features: soft silicone skirt, rigid tear-drop frame, wide field of vision
- Colors: black skirt, orange or blue-tinted lens to enhance contrast and depth perception
- Rating: 4.5
- Price: $$$
Pros: comfortable fit across the nose, sharp vision
Cons: higher-volume air space in the single pane design uses more air to clear
XS Scuba Apnos Spearfishing Mask
Best For: spearfishing & freediving
- Lens: tempered glass, 2 panes, internal stiffener to keep the lenses true to the same plane
- Other Features: frameless construction, wide, split silicone strap, comfortable feathered skirt edge for a good seal, easy-adjust buckles
- Colors: black or dark green
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$$
Pros: ultra-low volume, wide peripheral views, easy equalizing and clearing, comfortable skirt
Cons: the low volume may not fit all faces well
- Best For: spearfishing, freediving & scuba, smaller faces
- Lens: tempered glass, 2 panes, inverted tear-drop shape for better downward visibility, mirrored lenses available (prey can’t see your eyes, minimizes glare)
- Other Features: extra durable, easy-to-adjust buckle system, soft, comfortable silicone skirt, split strap
- Colors: choice of black frame & skirt, green frame & black skirt, blue nery frame & skirt, or black frame and skirt with mirrored lenses
- Rating: 4.8
- Price: $$$
Pros: ultra-low volume
Cons: may be a little tight on wider faces
Best For: freediving & spearfishing
- Lens: dual tempered glass, 2 panes
- Other Features: wide, split silicone strap, soft, comfortable silicone skirt with a feathered edge, quick-adjust strap buckles, includes a plastic mask box, named for Umberto Pelizzari
- Colors: black or dark green
- Rating: 4.5
- Price: $$$$
Pros: extra comfortable, ultra-low volume, wide field of vision due to lens positioning, easy equalizing and clearing
Cons: strap durability has been questioned
Aqua Lung Micro Spearfishing Mask
- Best For: spearfishing & freediving, fits a range of face sizes, good nose room for larger faces
- Lens: tempered glass, 2 panes, inverted tear-drop shape improves downward visibility
- Other Features: soft comfortable silicone skirt, compact frame, cardanic joint buckles that rotate in and out and up and down for a flexible custom fit
- Colors: choice of a black frame with a black skirt, or blue, pink, white arctic, or “none” frames with a clear skirt
- Rating: 5
- Price: $$$$
Pros: fits all faces, ultra-low volume, compact shape for minimal drag, easy clearing, cardanic buckle system
Cons: slightly higher price than others reviewed here
- Best For: spearfishing & freediving, ergonomic design suits most face sizes
- Lens: tempered glass, 2 panes
- Other Features: frameless style, ergonomic buckles with double buttons on the skirt for precise adjustment and a comfortable fit, non-reflective inner skirt surface for glare reduction
- Colors: choice of black, blue, brown, white, green, brown camo, or green camo
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$$
Pros: fits most faces, ultra-low volume, compact shape for minimal drag
Cons: nose fit can be poor for some resulting in fogging
Scuba Choice Spearfishing Mask
- Best For: entry-level spearfishing & freediving, suits smaller faces & women’s faces, someone on a budget
- Lens: tempered glass, 2 panes
- Other Features: low profile, soft, comfortable silicone skirt, fully adjustable buckles
- Colors: black
- Rating: 4.2
- Price: $
Pros: super-low pricing, fits narrow faces
Cons: generic design sold under several brand names
- Best For: spearfishing & freediving, suits medium to wide faces
- Lens: tempered glass, 2 panes
- Other Features: extra durable nylon frame, comfortable, good-sealing silicone skirt, split strap
- Colors: black frame with a choice of clear, amber, or mirrored lenses
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$$$
Pros: best fits medium to large faces, low volume for easy clearing and equalization, durable nylon frame
Cons: higher-end pricing
Aqua Lung Sphera X Spearfishing Mask
-
Best For: spearfishing & freediving
- Lens: Plexisol, 2 panes, UVA & UVB protection, anti-fog, and anti-scratch coating
- Other Features: ultra-low profile, 180-degree visibility, soft, comfortable silicone skirt, easy-adjust buckles
- Colors: black
- Rating: 4.7
- Price: $$
Pros: reasonable pricing, UV protection, anti-fog coating, ultra-low profile
Cons: lenses may not be as durable as tempered glass
Best Spearfishing Mask Review Buying Guide
Mask Volume & Profile
Volume refers to the amount of air between your mask and your face. As you descend you’ll need to equalize the pressure by adding air. A low-volume mask will have a smaller air space that requires you to add less air to equalize it or clear it of water if flooded. Since a breath-hold diver has a limited amount of air this is very important.
Also, a lower volume mask means a lower profile with your eyes closer to the lens or lenses resulting in a larger field of vision which makes spotting and tracking your prey easier.
Materials
Historically rubber was used for the skirt of a mask and is still occasionally found. Today the most commonly used and best material is silicone. It is soft and durable and conforms well to the face for a water-tight fit. Framing is usually of durable hard plastic with nylon sometimes used. The best masks for freediving and spearfishing use tempered glass for lenses that safely remain intact under pressure. There are a few exceptions notably the Aqua Sphere Sphera model reviewed above which uses a sturdy grade of plastic.
Fit and Comfort
A poorly fitting mask may leak, fog up, or just feel uncomfortable. These are distractions you don’t need when spearfishing or at any time. When you place your mask on your face without using the strap and inhale through your nose, it should form a comfortable seal and hold itself in place without any stress on the bridge of your nose or elsewhere.
Your best bet is to try on a mask before purchasing. If that is not possible, check the reviews and info from the manufacturer. There is usually information available that gives a fair idea if it will fit smaller or wider faces, for example. How to Find a Leak-Proof Mask Without Getting Wet
Straps
If you have a good-fitting mask, the straps serve to gently maintain it in place for the duration of the dive. Most straps are made of silicone like the mask skirt which is flexible and soft but durable. You want to look for an easy-to-adjust buckle system and a strap with a split or other shape that has good gripping qualities to hold onto the back of your head keeping the mask in place.
Lenses
Most masks use clear lenses which let in all the available light. As you move deeper the water filters out red light eventually leaving you with only a bluish coloration visible. To combat this, tinted lenses have been designed with a color filter leaving you with a much more natural-looking palate of colors at depth making it easier to spot prey. Also available are polarized lenses that decrease glare and those that filter UV rays for eye protection.
If you would like corrected vision you can wear contact lenses that some divers prefer not to do. Otherwise, some manufacturers can install prescription lenses or bottom lenses for far-sighted individuals. In some cases, corrective lenses are available that you can install yourself.
Single or Double Lenses
Some masks have two panes of glass and others use only a single pane. Double lenses will have a lower volume with the benefits discussed above which include easier clearing and equalization and a wider range of vision. The single-lens models have the main advantage of being roomier and leaving more space for the nose which some divers feel adds greatly to comfort.
Skirt Color
Black or other dark colors are recommended from a vision standpoint. Brighter colors can cause glare which negatively influences vision. As for hunting, you want to be as inconspicuous to the prey as possible. Matte black or camo colors are not as noticeable on your mask or your other gear for that matter. Brighter colors are to be avoided.
For more reviews of related gear and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Pole Spears Spearguns Spearfishing Wetsuits Lycra Dive Skins Freediving Watches Freediving Masks Freediving Fins
Feedback and Comments
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