# What Sort of Mask do I Need for a Riot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2019, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627 "2019-10-11T12:05:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627/21 "2019-10-12T06:23:55Z")
Tyvek is an excellent protective suit…until it rips out at the crotch because ya got the one that was too small, and yeah, they rip pretty easily, said the guy who used to wear them pretty regularly for work. Pro tip, you may want the yellow water proof [suits](https://www.google.com/search?q=yellow+tyvek&oq=yellow+tyvek&aqs=chrome..69i57.14308j0j7&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#scso=_sHChXfydNofL-) instead, yeah, you stand out more, but they are slightly less prone to tearing. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627/22 "2019-10-12T07:35:51Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > Tyvek is an excellent protective suit…until it rips out at the crotch because ya got the one that was too small, and yeah, they rip pretty easily, said the guy who used to wear them pretty regularly for work. My crotch is also _extremely_ large, it’s difficult to find protection that covers it adequately. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627/23 "2019-10-12T11:46:08Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Strapping some weights to one leg, or wearing a boot on one foot and a shoe on the other, ought to nicely obscure one’s natural gait. > > Marty Feldman: “Walk this way. Here, like this.” _\_ From _Royal Canadian Air Farce_: Armand (Head Waiter, House of Commons Cafeteria): “Ah, Mister Mulroney, walk this way please…” Prime Minister Mulroney: “If I could walk that way, I wouldn’t be Conservative.” ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627/24 "2019-10-12T13:50:48Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Strapping some weights to one leg, or wearing a boot on one foot and a shoe on the other, ought to nicely obscure one’s natural gait. > > Marty Feldman: “Walk this way. Here, like this.” _\_ I was thinking something more… [Duneish](https://rlv.zcache.com/walk_without_rhythm_funny_dune_fanart_tshirt-r8af1ef69269842648f90efb9fc1aa11d_jgna9_540.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627/25 "2019-10-13T20:04:40Z")
Blue lasers (405nm) seem to disrupt digital cameras far worse than green. They overload more pixels. Keep one in hand, or on top of hat/helmet. Although the later might make you too unique. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627/26 "2019-10-14T18:47:31Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > What about one of those old time-y creepy bird gas masks: > [https://www.amazon.com/Raxwalker-Cosplay-Steampunk-Halloween-Costume/dp/B07B2HYJ7K/ref=sr\_1\_9?keywords=creepy+mask&qid=1570826280&s=apparel&sr=1-9](https://www.amazon.com/Raxwalker-Cosplay-Steampunk-Halloween-Costume/dp/B07B2HYJ7K/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=creepy+mask&qid=1570826280&s=apparel&sr=1-9) #1 and most important, NOT a gas mask! #2 Steam Punk is not old time-y, it is wannabe “old time-y” ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627/27 "2019-10-14T19:02:26Z")
> [@motu](#): > > #1 and most important, NOT a gas mask! > > #2 Steam Punk is not old time-y, it is wannabe “old time-y” That isn’t a “Steam Punk” mask. While it may have been _adopted_ by some admirers of Steam Punk fashion, it’s more commonly associated with it’s original purpose. It’s the mask worn by plague doctors in the mid 1600s. That’s definitely “old time-y”. I certainly don’t look at that mask and think, “steam punk”. I think, “plague”. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627/28 "2019-10-15T16:09:11Z")
Tyvek doesn’t breathe. if you’re exerting yourself (running, climbing fences, etc.) you _will_ steam yourself. OTOH, it is thin, there’s no reason that it can’t be a base layer under jeans or grey sweats other than how hot it’ll be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-mask-do-i-need-for-a-riot/841627.md?page=1)