Silky Smooth Comfort
When I first pulled the Hollis M1 out of the box I was impressed with the sleek lines and the overall look. Call me old-school, but I’m a big fan of black masks with a black skirt. For some reason it just looks “professional” to me.
Wearing it in the pool for the first time to ensure a solid seal, I noticed the skirt felt a little different than most masks. It’s silicone—like 99% of the masks on the market—but it had a softer feel than I was used to. It’s hard to put it into words, but it felt more pliable and more cushioned than any mask I’ve worn.
The seal is great, even with the bad mustache I’ve been working on. I don’t have a wide face, but I would consider it somewhat flat, with a wide, but not long, nose, and a bit of a pronounced brow ridge. Think of the drawing of cave people in your high school biology class. What I’m saying is if this mask fits my face, there is a great chance it’ll fit yours.
I took the Hollis M1 pretty deep to test the squeeze. Low-volume masks tend to squeeze fast due to the reduced space, but this mask didn’t squeeze any more than a larger mask. Hollis itself calls this a good choice for a backup mask on its website, but after diving this mask for a while, I switched out the M1’s strap and added my aftermarket neoprene strap. Now I dive with it quite a bit as my primary mask.
The M1 is frameless and small enough to wear without worrying about getting in the way of a hood. It’s soft enough that you can wear it comfortably on multiple dives each day and, even with no swivel buckles for the strap, it’s easy to adjust. The M1 became one of my personal favorite masks of the year.
In general, Hollis has a reputation for making great equipment. If you’re on the hunt for more gear, check out our review of the highly-rated 200LX DCS regulator.
Spec Breakdown & Features
Measuring 4 x 2 x 3 inches and weighing just over 1/4 pound, the Hollis M1 is one of the smallest and lightest masks we tested. Clear vision is the main goal of a quality mask, and the Saint-Gobain tempered glass delivers. This fine variety of soda-lime plate glass is produced by some of the oldest glass makers in the Saint-Gobain region of France.
Not only does the process used in the production of the glass make the mask clearer, it also reduces iron in the glass, meaning it lessens the reflections. The lenses are also treated to reduce green tint.
A single-lens, frameless mask, the M1 will fit a variety of faces. It cannot be fitted with prescription inserts, however. No swivel on the mask strap is a slight knock, but it is barely noticeable. And while the buckle is small, it is easy to adjust, both on dry land and while in the water.
Accessories
Hollis does not produce snorkels, but they do make mask straps, both neoprene and silicone. They also manufacture some neat diving accessories such as reels, line cutters, marker buoys, clip-on pockets, and DIN-to-yoke converters.
Price/Quality Ratio
The Hollis M1 is a relatively affordable mask, falling somewhere in the mid-range when it comes to pricing. You’ll spend more than if you pulled one off the shelf at a sporting goods store, but not as much as you would on a high-end mask.
It is definitely priced like a backup mask, even if you don’t use it that way. And with the quality it delivers, The M1 lands high on the price-to-quality ratio. I would even go so far as to say the M1 can compete with any high-priced mask on the market.
Do We Recommend the Hollis M1 Mask?
We do recommend the Hollis M1, either as an everyday mask or backup for those who need one. An extremely soft double-edged, feathered skirt and low volume make clearing easy. The M1 also features a wide field of vision and will fit a variety of face shapes. Saint-Gobain tempered glass reduces glare and green tint, and a larger nose pocket makes equalizing a breeze.
Specs & Features
| Dimensions | 4 x 2 x 3 inches (4.8 oz) |
|---|---|
| Framed or frameless | Frameless |
| Lens (dual or single) | Single |
| Skirt | Double feathered-edge silicone skirt |
| Lens treatment | Saint-Gobain tempered glass with lower iron content reduces green tint |
| Volume | Low |
| Corrective lens compatible | No |
Take a moment to look at this.
