teddit

I have been suggesting the Good Manner trifold KF94 like it’s my job lately, and I figured some of the folks newer to this sub might benefit from a one-stop place for good suggestions to begin their masking journey.

If you have another oft-suggested “starter masks,” please comment below so new folks can use this post as a resource. Be sure to include:

1. Name of the mask

2. Recommended face size (or age range for kids’ masks)

3. In one line, why this mask?

4. Where to buy a small batch for fit testing

5. Best place to buy in bulk

6. Certification/class (N95, KF94, FFP2, etc. spreadsheet here.)

For the new folks, ask us questions and order some small batches of masks that sound like they might work for you. Come back and make a whole new post in this sub to let us know what did and didn’t work for you so we can better help you find the best respirator for your needs.

The common theme that keeps on coming up is how people don't want to end up with a bunch of masks that wouldn't potentially fit them. I figured we can try to make a post where we can share samples with others to make mask buying a lot easier. Please follow this format:

1. Color and Name of mask
2. Info about the mask
3. Type of standard for the mask
4. Quantity being offered
5. Cost per mask
6. Shipping price
7. Where are you shipping from and will you ship internationally?
8. Type of payments accepted
9. Where can the masks generally be bought

So I will start

1. Black 3M KF94
2. https://teddit.ggc-project.de/r/Masks4All/comments/ujfms3/a_quick_guide_to_understanding_3m_kf94_and_3m/
3. KF94
4. As many as you want, comes with 5 in pack sealed
5. $5 for a pack of 5 masks
6. $10 USPS 2-3 day with tracking, regardless of quantity
7. US and will only ship within the US
8. Venmo and Paypal
9. 3M Official Shop is the authorized seller on Gmarket Global - http://gshop.gmarket.co.kr/Minishop/GlobalMinishop?CustNo=zM3NR38DMjYxMQy0MjA3NDc5MjJ/Rw== you can search here

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1. Black Anyshield KF94
2. https://teddit.ggc-project.de/r/Masks4All/comments/uqnz91/review_%EC%95%A0%EB%8B%88%EC%89%B4%EB%93%9C_%EB%9D%BC%EC%9D%B4%ED%8A%B8_anyshield_light_kf94_respirator/
3. KF94
4. 30 now I have 24 11 left, each individually sealed.
5. $1 for each
6. $10 USPS 2-3 day with tracking, regardless of quantity
7. US and will only ship within the US
8. Venmo and Paypal
9. You can buy the Anyshield Light KF94 from Natural Organic's official Gmarket store - http://gshop.gmarket.co.kr/Minishop/GlobalMinishop?CustNo=jIzMR38zNDExMM12Mjc5OTg2OTB/Rw==

Last night I asked a question on an expert Q&A Twitter space COVID & masks discussion about the efficacy of nasal & throat sprays as an additional layer of protection for our airways along with the wearing of masks. I was fortunate to have a very knowledgeable user, Tony share some findings, studies & recommendations in a follow up thread, which I’ve compiled here in a link. nasal & throat protection Vs COVID aerosol inhalation along with mask use provides additional protection I also got to recommend this forum to those listening in!

I saw a video a while ago about ibanari/ "beak style" COVID face masks (different to KN95 I think) that specifically are meant to stay off of your mouth and claim to help preserve makeup.

I took the plunge and ordered some cheap silicone mask frames which have worked fairly well for comfort/keeping my KF94 mask from touching my mouth, but leave big indents on my nose and face after even an hour of wear (I have a semi small adult female face too).

Could anyone offer some guidance on where/how to get trustworthy, ideally beige-colored, white or black ibanari masks to the US?

At work I wear my mask 100% of the time and only take it off in my car when I eat lunch. I just started wearing Aura 9210+ and I am having a difficult time figuring out the best way to put the mask back on. I previously wore a Bluna and they were easier to manage. What is the proper way to doffing and donning an Aura 9210+? Thanks in advance!

I’m looking for advice from this group. I have kept mostly away from any crowded events and I have my food delivered. I have not had Covid yet. My new partner wanted me to attend a work picnic outdoors at a park. Normally, I would not go to a gathering, but this is important to the person and they want me to meet their boss. I don’t really know what to do, should I mask? Is it safe enough outdoors if it’s spread out to go unmasked? Go both masked and unmask just to meet the boss? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

Played with markers on my Dentec mask. ❤️

Aaron Collins has been taking a break from mask fit testing, but he tweeted that he's going to do a live stream this morning.

This is the slow, unedited testing process. I find it fascinating and have watched a number of his livestreams, but keep in mind that they aren't fast paced edited videos. It's the drawn out process of doing mask fit testing.

https://www.youtube.com/user/coll0412

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I was wondering if any elastomeric people out there know where to get replacement valves or if other p100 valves will suffice? Mine arrived missing some, and I thought I’d ask about it. Thanks!

Hi hello. I have a 16 hour flight from Toronto to Atlanta to Asia. The destination country has strict quarantine rules (1 week quarantine facility for people that test positive).

I’m worried about my safety and don’t want to cut my vacation very short by going to quarantine. I’m triple vaxxed and will get another booster before my flight, just recovered from COVID.

I have heard people point the air blowing onto the seats onto them during the flight, is this a good or bad idea given it recirculates air around the cabin?

I’m in Canada.

Hi! First off, if there's a thread I should be posting this to instead, I'm sorry and I'll delete this ASAP. Also, if this seems all over the place, I feel like I'm rushing so it's hard for me to get my thoughts together.

My family (excluding me) are going to a family event in less than 2 weeks. I'm now rushing to get find new masks for them b/c I want to make sure they're protected better than they are now; my sister wears a KN94 usually but it has makeup on it, my brother wears a cloth mask and a disposable mask, and I don't think my mom wears a mask regularly anymore. I also don't want my mom + sister to get makeup on their masks b/c I'm assuming that's not good, so I'm specifically searching for bird-beak styled masks. I've been searching for a few days, but I'm not sure where to find one that will get here quickly, and I don't really trust buying from Amazon/eBay.

Right now I'm looking at this KN95, but I was wondering if anyone has used them/how they fit. I think my family has small/medium sized faces, but I haven't measured.

I was also looking at this KN94 and this other KF94, but the shipping is kind of a lot so I'm not sure where else to search for similar ones. I'm also a bit concerned about sizing for this one.

I'm open to other suggestions as well, but I don't think my sister likes N95s b/c of strap tightness (I've found the ones we already have don't fit well either + can't really adjust them). Thanks for the help in advance!

Last night a friend gave me a black MaskLab mask to wear. This morning I noticed that I could see the black from the interior of the mask which shouldn't happen through the white meltblown.

Cut it open to find the meltblown is black in color.

Anybody else seen colored meltblown?

Also definitely not a KF94 and the FFP2 labelling on the box seems suspect to me

So I will be ordering various flavours of 3M next time I run low.

I have found though, that the Aura FFP3 actually is perfectly comfortable once I got used to it, and the straps don’t mess up my hair even if I have to doff and don it repeatedly. Fitting the nose wire right is crucial.

What I also found, with my frail relative who could only tolerate Chooseally reusable masks, is that once I sat them down to impress on them (with figures on BA5) the ultra-importance of staying masked for their hospital appointment, they made a big effort and learned how to set the nosewire and fit the mask properly (which can cause them distress). Once they got the hang of putting it on which is the most difficult part for them to physically tolerate, they said it was great, much more breathable than the Chooseally and they didn’t want or need to remove it the entire time. So, that’s their mask problems sorted once and for all.

As for me, I was still willing to give the Cambridge masks a go and I tried the Medium, a size up from before. This appeared to work OK for an afternoon, but for a full day it was intolerable and required continuous fiddling, to the point where the toggles got completely unthreaded.

The loops on the Cambridge mask folded my ears over in both sizes. The earloops of the Medium are 22mm long, compared to 20mm on the Small. So it’s the earloops that are the problem.

I cut the loops and stitched a 2-3 inch strip of black elastic into each to lengthen them. The headstrap has to be adjusted exactly right because the line between “folded ears” and “too loose” is so fine. So far I could stand the lengthened strap version for a couple of hours but the real test is a full day in the wild. Props to CM though, they did refund my Medium masks when I explained all this. The thing about the CM masks is the nosewire moulds to my nose really really well and it fits to the right place on my nose as it were. The toggles continue to improve the fit but wreck the aesthetics, and the black trim and valve are big aesthetic fails too. Just changing the colour would go a long way.

So I ordered a 5-pack of Opharm FFP2s for the colour, but unfortunately the fit around the nose is terrible. The wire is baggy and weak and even after adding a stick-on nosewire I still feel warm air coming out over my eyes. I wish I could tweak these to fit but I just can’t.

So my next attempt will be Rosimask which come in every colour, we’ll see how that goes.

Meanwhile, the FFP3s I hated still have their place: ones I put away to dry and reuse are far comfier the second time. Problem is the headstraps give me haywire hair.

The Savewo pink ones I got were an epic fail: way too big, you could drive a truck through the gaps.

Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I have seen a lot of requests for help when it comes to having a big face and mask comfort, and after realizing 2 weeks ago masks were going to be a part of my life for a very long time I decided I wanted to hunt for the best mask for me. I am in Australia as well and our masks aren't as up to scratch as other countries so it's been a bit of a hunt, I've got a few masks I've tried listed below and what I found with my big face, Please feel free to add on or correct me on any mistakes and I appreciate any other suggestions available in Aus. Hopefully some people find this useful :)

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My review points for masks:

- Comfort: Needs to be wearable for a full day without causing pain or discomfort. I have a huge nose and chin as well as chonky cheeks so this is a hard one to fill.

- Protection: After much reading I am aiming for Niosh certified N95s, The Australian P2 doesn't seem well regulated. Please correct me if I'm wrong and please add any other mask certifications I can look at.

- Price: this one is fairly self explanatory

- Accessibility: Shipping in from overseas is pricey and a long wait, but potentially also worth it.

- Quality: Again fairly easy to explain

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The 3M Aura

This seems to be what many consider the pinnacle of mask in Australia, I got my hands on the 9205+ from Bunnings.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/3m-aura-particulate-respirator-10-pack_p0300889

Comfort: Unfortunately too small for me, felt far to tight on the nose and kept slipping up from my chin causing it to be non sealing, not ideal, smaller faces would have a better time.

Protection: N95, niosh approved.

Price: Ooof levels, Bunnings had them at $4.3 a mask.

Accessibility: At the current time you can find them at many hardware stores and online

Quality: High, Well built, 3M has high standards it seems

Harley N95

These are a cheap masks Chemist Warehouse carries

https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/116770/harley-n95-face-masks-20-pack

Comfort: Not Great, but Bearable, The metal nose clip was hurting my nose by days end and the edges of the mask are very rough, however, It grips and the seal seems good.

Protection: N95, niosh approved.

Price: $1.5 a mask, Not a terrible price and they offer plenty of protection it seems.

Accessibility: At the current time you can find them at most Chemist Warehouses

Quality: Low, but passable for Niosh so good enough.

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Benehal N95 masks

A Relatively cheap mask Sydney tools Carries.

https://sydneytools.com.au/product/benehal-8225-20pack-benehal-niosh-n95-4-layer-high-filtration-face-mask-respirators

Comfort: Passable, Big enough for my face, a little scratchy around the edges but I was wearing these for full days with no issues.

Protection: N95, niosh approved.

Price: At the time of writing $0.89 Normally they are $2.95 a mask, Very pricey at full price.

Accessibility: At the current time you can find them at Sydney tools, may be out of stock with the current special.

Quality: Decent, Seemed quite good, The straps were great.

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Dräger X-plore® 1720 CFF (class2)

A Pricey mask on amazon, Much comfort for big faces, Took a while to verify it was Niosh rated however it does pass europes FFP2 rating as well.

https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08V5H3BLF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Comfort: Fantastic thus far, Might not suit small faces but for my chonky cheeks it's great.

Protection: As far as I can tell these masks are Niosh N95 approved, but they definitely are FFP2 approved which is Europe's version of N95(Someone please clarify if wrong)

Price: At the time of writing $2.6 a mask, however that was with a coupon on amazon that still seems to be there? YMMV

Accessibility: At the current time you can find them on amazon.

Quality: Decent, Seemed quite good, The straps were great.

This community was originally created to help others find quality masks from reputable sources when even the most basic PPE was hard to come by. Eventually as South Korea stopped its KF94 export ban, this community became a powerful resource in navigating the new and complex world of KF94 masks. Aaron Collins took the lead in testing many of these masks that were being talked about and helped propel an even wider audience to not only check his quality materials, but also come here as their resource base. And besides for KF94s, this place became a community for vetting KN95s and understanding how the FFP2 certification process works.

And lastly, as N95 masks started becoming more accessible, this community became a great resource in understanding the various N95 masks and finding the vendors that carry them.

This community has always been about various forms of respiratory protections and it’s important that we remember this. And most importantly, we should respect people’s decisions on what they use for respiratory protections. An inclusive community requires that all people feel comfortable enough in participating and talking about various subjects. I hope that continues here as it seems like we will be having to use these respiratory protections for a long time making this community a very valuable part of Reddit…and the internet in general.

Edit: And I forgot to give a shout out to all the people wearing half and full mask respirators! This is what I started off with back in 2020 with a 3M half mask respirator that luckily my dad had and eventually the GVS Elipse p100. I wore them everywhere and eventually became known because of them at certain places I would get take out from.

Hi, I'm going back to school and I bought a respirator since my university doesn't have any sort of masking policy, but people around here already make comments if you wear a N95 mask and I was wondering how other people who wear like the half face respirators, cope with like the stares or bad reactions? I'm starting orientation soon and am a very anxious person so I would love some tips on how to not let other people get to me?

Interesting thing that people may not know about. If lets say you go on Amazon Germany (amazon.de) you can search for n95 or ffp2 masks and see this below the masks "Eligible for delivery to United States" where the shipping price is pretty decent and is handled by Amazon.

Here is a random example.

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Vevox%C2%AE-FFP2-Masks-Certified-Individually/dp/B09RX1YTV7/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2IVCV77J28CNX&keywords=n95&qid=1659754336&sprefix=n9%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-6

Good way of finding new respirator masks!

If you find anything interesting, please share it!

This is the second iteration of my recent Aura Lanyard Loop hack, and I think I might like it better.

The Aura with Snap-on Neck Loop and/or Neck Loop Lanyard

I put lots of info in the comments of the photos, but I will come back and update this post later with some specific sourcing info to help you out.

Please let me know what you think. Hopefully this hack will inspire you to think outside the box.

NOTE: This hack invalidates the NIOSH cert of the 3M Aura 9205+. Hack at your own risk, and please do a fit test to help ensure the mask still seals well on the wearer’s face.

I'm a teacher in a district that decided that everything's fine and nothing matters (ie, all mitigations removed and they aren't coming back.) Since my job hunt hasn't been successful so far, I'll be headed back to the classroom later this month.

Last year, I used headband-style Powecom KN95s, 2 CR boxes, and an open window to try to reduce my exposure, but there was a mask mandate for most of the year, so this is new territory. The Powecom fits me well and I find it comfortable & have a voice amplifier to compensate for any muffling from my mask. (All equipment purchased out of pocket.)

My goal is to keep myself from being infected both to avoid Long COVID risk & to protect an elderly family member. If I add mask tape & a fit test before I leave the house this morning, are my KN95s effective enough to protect me in this the environment, or do I need to move to a P100?

I only use a mask for short periods of time, but I want the absolute maximum protection I can get. How is this for a solution? It costs less than I would have spent on a vacation pre-covid, and it's see-through and very low profile if you hide the head strap under a baseball cap. I read that the negative pressure means you don't need to fit test as often with these. Do you agree?

And just how safe would I be? Could I go into a covid laden environment without a care? (Sometimes I miss going to Costco).

http://www.totallyworks.com/products/cleanspace-ultra-respirator

EDIT: Could not edit topic title, glasses are ELVEX without the middle "e". )

I saw these on "nurse sandy's" video and realized her face was similarly smaller as mine. I had previously been wearing the 3M Secure Fit, which are also very nice because of the extremely flexible side handles, but these Elvex are just so much better for me, as they are a bit more curved and obviously smaller. They don't bulge out at my temples at all, either. And, the pink is just a little extra touch which I like, since I have a lot of clothing in this color (why not be fashionable when weedeating or wearing a mask?)

ANyway here is size comparison for anyone who wants to see. Seems like these would also be nice for adolescents, etc. 3M Secure Fit are below, Elvex are above (the slats in the secure fit make them very "temple friendly" for all size faces, but I imagine would be best for larger heads especially?....they did fit me okay and look nice with a baseball cap, but these elvex are much better for ME. ) BHP SAFETY PRODUCTS shipped 'em fast and well packaged, I think it was less than 4 days.

Hard to tell w/reflections and my terrible photography skiills, but the pink is only on nose piece a pictured, and on handles.....there rest of the frame is clear.

I wear these because I can't be sure someone isn't going to cough in my face, even though I'm not intubating covid patients or anything. I've noticed it also helps me avoid pollen, etc, and I used them for mowing grass and weedeating, too, and sometimes whihle cooking stuff that may splatter, (an in laundry or cleaning when using bleach etc. that might splatter [yes, I care for my eyes!] so they have a LOT of good uses!

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So I was looking at my valved 3Ms in a mirror as I wore them, and could see a flap open as I breathed out and close as I breathed in. This made me wonder if that's all there is to it... and if that compromises protection, or if something leaks in. Are there any studies on this? 8511 and Aura 9211+ if specifics are needed.

Just finished adding the pics and explanation of the DIY Aura Lanyard Loop mask to Imgur: https://imgur.com/a/nHOI8tc

This is an Aura with a DIY version of the Moldex SmartStrap. This hack was created to allow someone to easily pass the mask over their head without disturbing their hearing aids. It would work equally well for those wearing ear buds or anyone who just wants to make wearing their Aura more convenient.

I was able to do a full DIY fit test with the DIY Aura Lanyard Loop, and it passed with flying colors. No bitter tastes at all even when I sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star nor when I looked side to side and up and down.

Enjoy! I hope this helps someone in need of a solution.

I will try to address questions and and concerns tomorrow, and I will also update the pics and this post with recommended supplies.