I’m Robby Myers with ScubaLab, we tested the Atomic Aquatics Subframe mask. With outstanding performance and comfort, it was our Testers Choice for dual-lens masks. We tested it in the field at Alexander Springs Recreation Area in Central Florida. We evaluated it for the ease and security of making strap adjustments and the overall comfort of the mask in the water. We also rated it for its field of view, how effectively its seal kept our faces dry, and how easy it was to clear and equalize. The Subframe’s name denotes its unusual construction, somewhere between a frameless and more traditional frame model; an internal frame is molded inside the skirt and the x-shaped stainless steel nose piece threads on to keep everything together. The design gives the Subframe a lightweight but robust feel and a sleek appearance—“Ferrarri good looks,” as one test diver put it. The Subframe had the performance to match, earning very good scores for comfort and field of view (although some testers found the red lens rims a bit too visible).

The supple skirt earned tester praise like “butter-soft,” as well as an excellent score for dry performance, even from testers who reported a less than perfect fit. Test divers also liked the easy one-button operation of the buckles, which attach to the skirt with flexible tabs that let the strap move and stay where you want it. Comfortable and dry, and chosen as a favorite by more test divers than any other mask in its category, the Atomic Aquatics Subframe is our Testers Choice for dual-lens masks.

2020 ScubaLab Mask Review