Now that we are almost 10 months into this pandemic, it’s needless to say that I have tried a fair amount of masks in all shapes and sizes. After trying out a bunch I decided to post my thoughts and rank the masks/face coverings that I experimented with over the last few months. For the most part, there’s not a lot of information on the comfort, quality and breathability before buying. My goal was to find an easy to wear, comfortable, breathable and affordable mask. So after a few trial and error moments, here are the masks that I’ve tried along with their pros and cons (FYI this is not medical advice). If you want to skip the long description, check out the handy chart below for the rankings. Featured in this outfit are not only a few of the masks ranked today, but some cozy items from American Eagle. This pointelle sweater and hat are a perfect match for November. Also featured are these fantastic boots from Solovair, which I have reviewed in the past here. The Astronaut style is still one of my favorites that they offer and one of my favorite boots of all time.
Now for the long form review so I’ll be starting off with the 95 Surgical Mask. Obviously this one is the most effective at blocking particulates, bacteria and viruses. Since COVID-19, this mask has been hard to come by and the prices of these have increased astronomically. I happened to get lucky by already having a couple of these for various projects around the house before the pandemic hit. In terms of comfort, this one is probably the least comfortable of the bunch. It pretty much crushes your nose and cheeks — and you’re left with lovely red indents across your face. Nooot great. However, in terms of safety and effectiveness, this one is the cream of the crop. I like to use the N95 for a riskier situation indoors where I am unable to effectively socially distance.
Next up is the reusable cloth mask from American Eagle. This was an early version when they just starting manufacturing these. This one is comfortable to wear, is made with several layers of cotton and comes with adjustable ear straps. These usually come in a three pack for like 8 bucks so the price is super affordable. They wash very well and seem pretty sturdy. They also have an adjustable metal nose piece on top which helps tighten up the mask. The biggest drawback was the breathability on this one. It felt very claustrophobic and the interior layers kept getting sucked into my mouth whenever I inhaled more deeply.
Next is the unbranded disposable non-woven Face Mask. These are pretty much the standard for medical professionals and those who work with the public. I love this mask and wear them all the time. They are comfortable, breathable and safe since they come with several layers of non-woven material. These also have an adjustable metal nose piece. Even with the layers, the mask does not feel claustrophobic or difficult to breathe in. It’s so lightweight that I hardly notice I’m even wearing one. The only downside is while they are affordable, they are disposable — which isn’t great for the environment and you will need to keep buying more as you go through your supply. On the upside, they come in packs of 50+ so that can take a while!
Next up, I recently bought one of the 3-packs from KITSCH face masks. These are similar to the American Eagle masks in terms of price and material (retails about $12 and made from 100% cotton). I prefer the design of these with the expandable layers of fabric, which creates a nice “cupping” feeling around your face. They are very soft, comfortable and breathable but I do notice these on my face more than the disposables. They also wash and dry very well so reusability is a big plus. However, I should note that they don’t come with a metal nose piece unlike the others so it’s slightly looser on top. I don’t know whether this affects the utility of the mask or not, but it’s something to consider. Overall with the amount of fabric layers, your nose can easily fit within the mask and won’t slide down at all. From an aesthetics perspective, these are clearly the prettiest masks of the bunch. I like to wear these as part of a nice outfit or somewhere that requires more dressing up than usual.
Last up are the reusable 32 Degrees Cool mask, which I originally bought from Costco for cheap, but you can find these on Amazon and elsewhere for a couple bucks more. These are made with athletes in mind as they are clearly built to be used outdoors. They are made from an extremely thin, stretchy material (a blend of polyester and spandex) and come with ATB-UV+ sun protection which is a perk. Very comfortable and breathable, you can easily jog, hike and bike in these. Now the downsides: they have no adjustability so I find the mask slipping down a fair amount which gets annoying. It seems to always want to perch at the tip of my nose and I find myself pushing it up a lot. It also doesn’t have a metal nose piece to help keep it in place. I’m also pretty skeptical about the effectiveness of these since the single layer material is sooo thin. The manufacturers claim to have three layers built in, but I just don’t feel comfortable wearing these for indoor situations. I will happily wear these outdoors though, partly due to COVID but also for the bonus sun protection!
So there you have it. I hope this helps you decide which mask to buy when the time comes. One last thought to consider: if you hate the mask you use or you find it difficult to breathe in, shop around more and try several types out! There are tons of masks out there that will suit your needs and there’s really no reason to stay uncomfortable. I know masks aren’t the greatest thing ever but if they help stop the spread of COVID-19 let’s get to work and mask up comfortably!
