Archie McPhee Accoutrements Horse Head Mask

This was a gift for my 12 y.o. nephew (after much debate and soul searching). Since it's his gift, I'm typing up his review first."I love it, but we didn't get the one that they showed with the red tag. It didn't have any tag at all on it and came in a plastic bag and folded in a box. The smell wasn't that bad. It is hard to breathe perfectly in it but it's very hard to see out of because I can only see out of one of the nose holes. The mane is a piece of scratchy fake hair glued on that can't be brushed or it comes out. The paint job is good. The inside of the head is comfy if you like lying down on rubber. Good for quick pictures or if something stupid happens like if you're on the road and stick your head out of the window - someone else has to be driving - so you stick out your head and wait for people in other cars to look at you and laugh. The mouth is okay but I can't see out of it. Good for surprises or scaring someone so that's why it gets five stars."From the adult POV - this mask smelled terribly of plastic and chemicals. We did not get the mask as advertised from Accoutrements (which really irked me as that's why we chose THIS listing and not one of the knock-off/rip-off ones), but from some manufacturer named Miyaya. The mane is a strip of fun fur glued on very poorly and woo boy does it shed. About 1/2" of the edges all the way around are not glued down at all. I had to flip it inside out and wash it with dish soap in order to get the funky powder coating off of it. It's fine for a joke or costume party, though not for a long length of time as the the moist air from your breath starts to build up inside the mask. He's tried walking around the house in it, and has ended up with some bruises on his shins and knees. Now it's only worn when he's standing still and posing for a pic or hiding behind a door frame to jump out and surprise someone. He's also worn it around our three dogs and they are all oblivious to it. There are already bad feelings between him and his sister because she wants to borrow it and he's not willing to let her use it (partly because he doesn't want her sweat, condensation from her breath, or her girl cooties in it - I fully understand the ick factor about not wanting to wear this after someone else has sweat in it and/or made it grossly moist with their breath unless it's somehow wiped down between wearers). If you have multiple kids, be warned that there may be some arguments over who gets to wear this, when, and for how long, so you may want to get more than one.It's a fun, crazy gift that can result in some pretty crazy pictures. The nephew is over the moon and having a great time with it, and we're getting some funny pictures. I'd have to give it three stars to his five, though we've certainly gotten our money's worth when it comes to laughs.

I got this horse-head mask for my 51st birthday. It was the only thing I asked for, and it may be the single greatest gift I have ever received, up to and including the gift of life itself.I work second shift, late nights, and usually get off work around 2am. I love putting the mask on when I'm stuck at red lights on the long drive home, and watching the expressions on the faces of people as they pull up next to me at the light and look over to see a horse driving a car.I imagine that I'm responsible for any number of people quitting drinking after they spot a horse driving home who's doing a better job of it than they're doing. :DI also put this on at work sometimes and wander the warehouse sneaking up on unsuspecting coworkers. My wife and I take turns hiding it around the house, in the fridge, in closets, and of course in the bed, Godfather-style, in order to surprise each other. Screams and hilarity ensue, always.This mask is nothing but pure silliness, which of course means that it's one of the greatest things in the world, because it exists for no other reason but to bring a smile or a laugh.[Disclaimer: DON'T DRIVE YOUR CAR WHILE WEARING THIS MASK! It's a bit hard to see out of, and will restrict your peripheral vision. That said, it's hellaciously funny to put it on at stop lights and see the looks on the faces of stunned motorists and bystanders!]Side note: I'm thinking of getting the unicorn or zebra mask, so I can go as somebody else for Halloween, since the horse-head is my "everyday" mask. :D Yes, I'm having entirely too much fun with this thing.Oh, also worth mentioning - Watching the expression on the cashier's face when I walk into a 7-11 at 3am and ask if they have any apples, carrots, or sugarcubes is worth more than the cost of this mask. Trust me on that.