Great Face Masks for Glasses

September 13, 2020 2:17 PM

Yet another mask question. What are the the best face masks for people with glasses? Looking for effective and comfortable face masks that can be worn on walks and hikes, etc. (If it matters I am a guy who sweats easily). Looking for specific links or names of products. I just noticed that adhesive nose bridges are a thing from this previous question.
posted by Mr. Papagiorgio to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (19 answers total)

I've had good luck with these: https://everbrand.us/products/the-viraloff-mask, although the metal nose pieces broke after 3 months of regular usage (should be able to replace them though). It looks like they've released a new version, but I haven't tried it yet.
posted by majikstreet at 2:29 PM on September 13, 2020

You have to cover it with another mask because it has exhalation valves, but this has actually worked for me.
posted by hoyland at 2:36 PM on September 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

I have the non-pro version of happy masks that are (for a mask) comfortable & breathable, and don't fog up my glasses.
posted by oceano at 3:13 PM on September 13, 2020 [2 favorites]

I like the Outdoor Research ones and find they breathe well enough even with the paper filters in. I'm also a sweater and glasses wearer, and the nose wire is holding up for me though I am careful to not fold it out of shape.
posted by a halcyon day at 3:37 PM on September 13, 2020

I really like the masks from Stark's. The little flap is thin enough to go under glasses nicely. It's not entirely fog-proof, but better than others. They are also super-soft and comfortable. There's no metal nose-bridge though.
posted by hydra77 at 4:10 PM on September 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

I took a basic Etsy cloth mask and slipped a looong piece of copper wire into the top hem so that I can mold the top edge of the mask to my face. It works pretty well.
posted by rhizome at 5:25 PM on September 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

We've recycled twist ties from computer cables and other packages and they work fine in numerous masks (we both wear glasses). As a nose wire backup, we bought some inexpensive garden wire to last us a while.
posted by cowlick at 5:39 PM on September 13, 2020

Glasses wearer. I recently acquired some of these masks from The Gap, which have an adjustable wire that goes across the bridge of your nose. Not perfect (though I don't think any solution really will be), but pretty decent and better than all my prior masks.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 5:57 PM on September 13, 2020

My wife, a nurse, swears by Nerdwax as an adhesive on the mask's nose bridge to keep glasses from fogging up.
posted by howling fantods at 6:23 PM on September 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

Sarah Taber, mefi favorite, has an etsy shop devoted to no fog face masks. She has a team of sewists in Fayetteville, NC who make a fair and livable wage. Since they are so close to Fort Bragg, their mail speed has remained good.
posted by bilabial at 7:18 PM on September 13, 2020 [2 favorites]

My DIY version of the aplat mask works great with my glasses. Bonus: It never slips down my nose like I see so many other masks doing.
posted by aniola at 7:48 PM on September 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

Cambridge Mask Co. still makes my favorite mask. You can add an optional valve deactivator to your order for free, though I forgot to do it when I just got some more. I wear glasses and I like these better than any other mask I've tried so far.
posted by limeonaire at 9:22 PM on September 13, 2020

My favorites so far are from Saf Shoes
posted by kbuxton at 10:44 PM on September 13, 2020

Seconding the Aplat masks, their design is excellent.
posted by moons in june at 11:01 PM on September 13, 2020

It's more about technique than the mask itself, but I have zero fogging with VIDA masks. The trick is to bend the nose wire so it's really pointy at the top and wear the mask so the pointy nose wire is above the nose bridge of your glasses. Like, mine practically go up to the space between my brows.

The particular brand you have success with this technique may depend on your face shape. You want a really snug fit to keep the above technique in place but don't want to put yourself at risk by having it be too small on the bottom of the face when you wear it this high. For example, VIDA masks are smaller and snugger than some other brands I've tried so this technique and brand combo may not work well or fully cover your chin if you have a wide face.
posted by joan_holloway at 5:14 AM on September 14, 2020

My wife and I are both Aplat converts; the mask on its own is pretty fog free for her. She made ours from their pattern and have found that ironing out the nose bridge alot helped to keep the nose piece sealing well.
posted by furnace.heart at 8:19 AM on September 14, 2020

I've had great success with Matruska masks.
posted by Mavri at 5:40 PM on September 14, 2020

Fashion tape has been the only thing to keep my glasses from fogging, and I've experimented with all sorts of nose wires and other things.
posted by telophase at 7:48 AM on September 15, 2020

I have this one from Vistaprint. What I really appreciate -- in addition to its fog-prevention capacity -- is that adult masks are made in two sizes; I have a long face and a prominent nose, and I need the larger size so that my nose and chin stay covered while I'm talking.
posted by virago at 10:11 AM on September 15, 2020