Lavalier windshield solution

A while ago I purchased a pair of handmade lavalier type microphones from Ian Brady, a member of the Wildlife Recording Society. They are a terrific pair of mics but it's taken me some time to work out a way to effectively shield them from the wind, due to being busy finishing off my degree and finding a solution that was compatible with my student finances!

I instinctively turned to Rycote and found their lavalier furries however these didn't do the trick. I determined what I needed was something like the Baby Ball Gag to create 'dead air' around the microphones, and finally a fur covering to enclose the gag or caging. I firstly found my enclosure for the mics in the form of a tea infuser, I bought mine from eBay, searching for the largest ones I could find. I cut a small hole to pass the cable through and then slotted the mic housing into the space. A coating of duct tape around the mic housing protects it from scratching from the infuser, I'm not totally satisfied with this solution however I imagine I could smooth the edges somehow...

Infuser with mic inside

Infusers with holes cut

 My inspiration for the fur covering came from the Rycote Zoom H2 windjammer I own. I noticed how it fit quite comfortably around the tea infuser, yet did not create a satisfactory seal around the bottom. The next step was to get hold of some fake fur, I aimed to find the longest pile and thinnest backing. So with the help of my mother and her sewing machine, we copied the pattern of the H2 windjammer! However we added an elastic drawstring around the bottom to gather the fabric and create a wind proof seal, also in addition to the thin backing of the fake fur a piece of silk was sewn. This not only provides a further layer of protection but also prevents the infuser from catching on the fur. 

Here are a few more pictures...

Fake fur covering

Inside of fake fur covering with silk lining and elastic drawstring

My fur cover on left, Rycote cover of right.

Stereo pair with mics inside

Hopefully this post might give someone a few ideas, I think the trick is to find what suits your own needs and be creative! Finally here is a recent recording I made using this set up.

  The Lake District, Styhead Tarn by miles out in the field

Recording at Styhead Tarn