What mask to upgrade to?

August 25, 2021 2:45 AM

Due to the delta variant, I feel like I would be more comfortable wearing something "better" than a surgical mask for more high density areas like grocery stores and such.

I've seen people wearing masks with loops that go over the head, which I think I would prefer, as my head is rather small and I feel like the ear loop ones are never tight enough. I hear N95s are good but it seems there are some different kinds and this isn't something I feel comfortable just randomly buying on Amazon, so does anyone have a suggestion for a reputable place to buy from and a particular kind of mask? Thank you!

posted by madonna of the unloved to Health & Fitness (23 answers total)

N95 Project
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 3:08 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

If all you’ve been wearing so far are surgical masks, there are options for more fitted masks with ear loops that come in a variety of sizes - my 7 year old has a number of ear loop masks that fit her with no gaps. Not to discourage you from trying the full head loop, but you’ll have more options if you’re open to ear loops as well. In addition to a variety of fabric masks, I’ve been using Powecom KN95s from bonafidemasks.com. They fit both me (female, narrow head) and my husband (male, average head) well and come in the headband style as well as ear loops.
posted by Kriesa at 3:15 AM on August 25, 2021 [4 favorites]

> as my head is rather small and I feel like the ear loop ones are never tight enough.

If you later find the over-the-head loops to be a nuisance, there are lots of mask strap extenders to adapt a ear-loop mask, if you find a mask that fits well, but eventually tires your ears. (I think I need one.)
posted by sebastienbailard at 3:41 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

These mask extenders are brilliant and are great for masks where the ear loops are either too loose or too tight. I'd also recommend an N95 mask, or a mask with a pouch into which you can put a filter.

I have several of these masks, and they are the best I've found in terms of comfort and fit. (If that link doesn't work in the USA, search for Vanguard Bespoke on Etsy.)
posted by essexjan at 5:09 AM on August 25, 2021

You can double mask, cloth washable mask over the top of a disposable surgical one. They seem to seal better that way too, with the metal nosepiece of the surgical + stretchy bits of the fabric around the edge.

I like the old navy cloth masks for over top. They have adjustable earloops you can make tighter.
posted by TheAdamist at 5:15 AM on August 25, 2021 [3 favorites]

I have switched from cloth masks to KF94, which are much more protective. Some of them come with adjustable earloops & I just tie knots in the loops of the ones that don't to make them fit better. I recommend buying the sampler pack from BeHealthyUSA & seeing which brand/size work best for you. (They are a reputable company & you will get authentic masks.) Each person in my family has different preferences, but so far our favorites seem to be the Bluna Facefit & BOTN masks.
posted by belladonna at 6:03 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

We use these guys. Here is the CDC assessment. It's very comfortable and the filter is great, but the CDC agrees with you that ear loops are unlikely to give you the fit you need to get "real" N95 filtration efficiency.
posted by goingonit at 6:42 AM on August 25, 2021

The CDC has a great explainer page on mask types. If you're interested in reusable masks that meet a standard, the new NIOSH-certified Workplace Plus masks help both the wearer and folks around them. Puraka sells these.
posted by rdn at 6:43 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

In addition to a variety of fabric masks, I’ve been using Powecom KN95s from bonafidemasks.com.

This is also what I've been using. They're kind of expensive, so I reuse them for awhile. I have about 5 in circulation, hang them in a window for at least 3 days between uses, and hope time and sunlight disinfect them.
posted by Mavri at 6:45 AM on August 25, 2021

Some recommendations for buying N95 masks online.
posted by brainwane at 6:54 AM on August 25, 2021

There is a recent post here on AskMeFi that provides good information about where to buy N95 masks without valves, which is what you're looking for (they use the head straps, not ear loops, and don't have valves), and how to check for counterfeits. You want to get NIOSH-approved masks. I don't know how to link a previous question but it's called "Where do I find genuine 3M N95 masks without valves right now?" and it's dated August 2nd.
posted by happy_cat at 6:56 AM on August 25, 2021

I don't have any good excuse to spend money on fashion right now, so I've been buying these since May. They're a bit spendy, but I love them.

Note: they frequently have sales.
posted by thivaia at 7:04 AM on August 25, 2021

I've found the Powecom KN95s bought from BonaFide to be really good in terms of fit and breathability, and I feel comfortable that they're authentic. The headband ones feel tight enough for me (shortish woman with short hair, so I'd expect the elastic is probably tight enough for most people.) They come folded in half which means the metal nosepiece has a sharp bend in it; before wearing each one I flatten that sharp bend out entirely before molding it to my nose in a more rounded shape for both comfort and more airtight fit.
posted by needs more cowbell at 7:21 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

The previous Ask MeFi thread: "Where do I find genuine 3M N95 masks without valves right now?"
posted by brainwane at 7:50 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

in a window for at least 3 days between uses, and hope time and sunlight disinfect them

I read somewhere that six days between uses is recommended, and somewhere else that sunlight doesn't actually disinfect masks very well.
posted by The Half Language Plant at 10:08 AM on August 25, 2021

For what it's worth, CDC guidance on N95s with exhalation valves was changed fairly recently. Here's what it says now:

Yes, an N95 filtering facepiece respirator will protect you and provide source control to protect others. A NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator with an exhalation valve offers the same protection to the wearer as one that does not have a valve. As source control, findings from NIOSH research suggest that, even without covering the valve, N95 respirators with exhalation valves provide the same or better source control than surgical masks, procedure masks, cloth masks, or fabric coverings. In general, individuals wearing NIOSH-approved N95s with an exhalation valve should not be asked to use one without an exhalation valve or to cover it with a face covering or mask.

So if you find yourself with a respirator that has a valve in it and like that, you're still doing the "protect others" part of mask-wearing at least as much as you were with a non-respirator. (Unfortunately, many public places might not have gotten this guidance yet!)
posted by Polycarp at 10:46 AM on August 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

As source control, findings from NIOSH research suggest that, even without covering the valve, N95 respirators with exhalation valves provide the same or better source control than surgical masks, procedure masks, cloth masks, or fabric coverings.

Hmm...but not as much as an N95 without the valve. So, if you are choosing N95s because of the additional protection (as against a cloth, etc. mask) to others, a valved one would defeat that purpose. On the other hand, you may find "N95 protection for self, regular mask protection for others" protection to be ethically adequate in situations where regular masks are commonly worn. Just something to consider.
posted by praemunire at 12:14 PM on August 25, 2021

I've been reasonably happy with Boomer Naturals masks, which you can get at CVS. They're cloth, washable, and much more comfortable than surgical masks. You can adjust the tightness of the straps and they breaks much less often than surgical mask straps. They also come in lots of different patterns. The choices can get pretty grim if you have an extra-large head (like me) but for smaller folks there are a gazillion patterns. Each mask should run less than $10 and they last a while.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 2:31 PM on August 25, 2021

I got an EnvoMask last year and love it. It's not as easy to breathe in as an actual cartridge based respirator, but it's small and can be covered by a "normal" mask in case you need to camouflage it. (Some airlines get hinky about allowing respirators.) They come with a vent blocker if that's a concern, though it can get kind of swampy in there using one. I do it anyway. I got the shield for mine and it also serves to make it harder for the filtration to get hit by, say, raindrops. You'll probably want the holo headgear, which I like better than the one with earhooks.

Downside: it's expensive to get into.

Upside: the gel seal feels a lot easier to get right than figuring out the fit of various N95/KN95s and is pretty comfortable on the face. It's a _lot_ more reusable than disposable respirators, too, because you can wipe down the plastic body; the filter inserts, protected like that, will last a for many grocery store visits unless you're dealing with smoke in the air. (Wildfire summers being another reason I went in with one of them.)

The elastic gear on it will, eventually, wear out, but I replaced mine with some nylon cord and a stopper just fine after a year of use.
posted by foxfirefey at 3:43 PM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

If your main concern is leakage around the edges of your mask, I can recommend the Badger Seal mask fitter. I have been using this since the beginning of 2021 and have found it to be very comfortable and easy to use.

Here's a recent article about it:
https://wkow.com/2021/08/17/ mask-fitter-created-by-uw-madison-engineers -can-help-in-high-risk-covid-19-situations/
posted by mydonkeybenjamin at 7:22 PM on August 25, 2021 [3 favorites]

I'm currently really happy with this Honeywell DF300 N95 direct from Honeywell, so you don't have to worry about fakes. the unit price is also really competitive. Dr. Advicepig has been reusing masks at the hospital since the start of this mess, so we feel fine reusing masks in this house. This mask has around the head loops so my ears don't hurt after an hour. I find N95, KN95, and KF94 masks easier to breathe through than double layer cotton.
posted by advicepig at 6:32 AM on August 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

If you do choose to use (and reuse) n95 or equivalent, the CDC recommends using paper bags to store then in between uses, for at least five days, though they're not currently recommending reuse at all. I've got a setup with paper lunch bags for days of the week, knowing that by the time Wednesday rolls around, that mask will be ready to wear again.
posted by blueberry monster at 1:14 PM on August 28, 2021

I love the Kimtech (Kimberly-Clark) N95 mask that is the top pick of Wirecutter. I've been using them for many months (from before the Wirecutter review) and I buy them on Amazon. They go behind your head - if you don't mind your hair getting a little messed up, it saves you from ear discomfort.
posted by Dansaman at 10:35 PM on August 28, 2021