Buying K95/N95/CAN95 masks online in Canada?

December 28, 2021 12:45 PM

I've looked at this recent question, but I'm in Canada (BC to be exact). I have been unsuccessful in locating a local brick-and-mortar retailer with these in stock so would like to get recommendations for ordering masks online.

Most of the places that I would normally order from online are also completely out of stock. I'd prefer to order from a Canadian company so that I don't have to worry about customs or delays crossing the border. Does anyone have experience with MedPPE Canada or Seton? They both stock the Powecom KN95 Masks recommended in the previous thread. Anywhere else I should be considering? Thanks!

posted by nuclear bessel to Shopping (16 answers total)

I've seen Surgo recommended around the web. I'm about to put in an order for 3M N95s myself.

(And I just noticed they're currently out of stock, like everywhere else...)
posted by bulgroz at 12:49 PM on December 28, 2021

I've bought the disposable type of masks from Canadian Shield, and they also have Canadian-certified n95 equivalent masks but looks like they're sold out right now.

I also bought some KN-95s from the Red Cross online store at the beginning of the pandemic and they were absolute shit, the ear loops would break instantly. So I wouldn't trust them.
posted by 100kb at 12:59 PM on December 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I’ve been ordering from Vitacore, out of Burnaby.
posted by TORunner at 1:06 PM on December 28, 2021

Best answer: There are undoubtedly better options but big industrial supplier Grainger has a Canadian branch. They have a physical location near Vancouver (Burnaby?) but keep in mind it is a warehouse, not a retail location, and the most you would be doing there is picking up an order.
posted by meowzilla at 1:07 PM on December 28, 2021

Best answer: I just ordered some 3M N95 8200 (for "sanding", but N95-certified is N95-certified) from Canadian Tire.

Last week, I also ordered the Dent-X KF94 lookalike masks from Staples, but it looks like they're currently out of stock.

Some other options in this Reddit thread. Sounds like a lot of places on backorder.
posted by invokeuse at 1:18 PM on December 28, 2021

I ordered from Home Depot and it looks like they have N95s in stock.
posted by saturdaymornings at 2:01 PM on December 28, 2021

I got mine in person (KN-95s) at Home Hardware. If you gave one nearby and no luck online, might be worth a call.
posted by kate4914 at 2:12 PM on December 28, 2021

I don’t know where you are in BC, but I am outside the Lower Mainland where we are often under stocked and people have a propensity for panic buying, and my local Home Depot currently has N95s in stock. I ordered them online for in-store pickup just to ensure they didn’t sell out before I got there.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:57 PM on December 28, 2021

Dunno if they have a b&m store, but Eternity make masks in Surrey, BC. They're rather good.
posted by scruss at 6:16 PM on December 28, 2021

If counterfeits are a concern with random vendors, a useful thing to know is that Powecom specifically has a code (under a scratch-off sticker) on each package that you can use to verify authenticity.
posted by needs more cowbell at 7:01 PM on December 28, 2021

You can get individually wrapped (no box) 3M Aura soft N95s from SteriPro. They're not cheap ($77.50 for 20) but shipping was free.

Canada Strong Masks has a great selection. I got both Layfields and the 510 several months ago. Almost all their models are currently sold out, but if you follow them on Twitter, they regularly announce when a model comes back in stock. Better yet, go to each product page on their site and click the red "Notify me when available" button to get alerted directly. Bonus: they have a great sizing chart on each product page that can help you decide what might work best for you.

The Kross N95s with headbands are still in stock! Haven't tried them but they look pretty well-credentialed.
posted by maudlin at 7:39 PM on December 28, 2021

I’ve ordered masks I like from https://72hours.ca/collections/n95-mask
posted by Badmichelle at 7:59 PM on December 28, 2021

I'm on my second order from https://www.canadamasq.com/ They're comfortable and have good selection. They currently have stock.
posted by kaymac at 6:42 AM on December 29, 2021

If you are comfortable going in person, I’ve found that London Drugs usually has them in stock. (The one in Kits especially)
posted by Valancy Rachel at 1:39 PM on December 29, 2021

I just found some on well.ca.
posted by phlox at 8:14 AM on December 31, 2021

For anyone still looking, you can order Honeywell N95s with headbands (made under license) from costco.ca.
posted by invokeuse at 10:55 PM on January 25, 2022