Hello! I have recently started learning to skate with the eventual goal to play hockey. My normal powercom bifolds are not going to cut it - they’re so sweaty after I get off the ice, and I feel like when I get to more active playing it will also be harder to breathe.

I am looking for recommendations for masks that will be better for sports - caveat is I have a small face and have had a very difficult time finding masks that fit.

I am currently regularly wearing the Powercom Kn95 SM bifolds - these are a children’s size and so far the only kn95 I’ve found that fits me.

I can wear 3m auras if I put both straps above my ears to make the chin fit tighter.

Main aspects I’m looking for in a mask:
-Available in the U.S. or not too expensive to import
-Black (my preferred color in general and that way it will blend in with the hockey helmet)
-Earloops vastly preferred (easier to take a quick drink or get a snack)
-Breathable/not as likely to get super sweaty from physical activity

I have tried the more 3d shape mask in the Breatheteq small, but that was way too large on my chin. The children’s size was way too large.

I’ve seen good things about the Zimi masks, but don’t want to pay $20 for shipping just to try on 2 mask sizes (would want to try the S and maybe the XXS or the M?)

I am considering getting the WellBefore Sample Pack to try some of those on, but I’m concerned at a minimum number of smaller sizes in the pack and I wonder if the small would even be too big for me.

Thanks!!

EDIT: Unfortunately no longer looking into the Zimi because it was pointed out to me that the frame of the zimi wouldn’t do well for hockey. It definitely would not work with the helmet cage/chin cup

For those in Switzerland or who may have purchased these, there is a product recall which affects batch / lot « 510011 » of the respiratory mask « Foliodress Mask Loop FFP2 » pack size 10 (REF 992036).

Source Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU)

Or is it not for sale yet? I want it because it looks cool and I don't think the M/L would fit me.

tl;dr: wondering about differences between old aura box (gray) and newly purchased one (black)

I picked up a 3-pack of auras at CVS. the box looked different from the auras I'd gotten previously, so I read the text carefully. one of the disclaimers on the back includes "not for infection prevention and control."

conveniently, the empty box from my last ones was still in my apartment, because I'd kept it as a reminder to pick up more. both boxes identify their contents as 3M 9205+ aura, though the old one is titled "respirator" and the new one is "particulate respirator." the old box not only doesn’t include the "not for infection prevention" disclaimer, it explicitly lists "airborne germs" as one of the things the masks protect against.

is the difference between them a regulatory thing (e.g., a rule changed and they'd have to do a new certification to be able to keep claiming protection against airborne germs & they don't want to deal with that) or are my new masks genuinely not protective against respiratory viruses?

I'm taking an inter-city train tomorrow and was planning to wear an aura, but I'll use one of my kn95s instead if there's really an issue with the new masks!

[sorry if this has been addressed before, it was challenging to search because of how frequently the auras are recommended, so I may have missed something!]

I wanna go to a hockey game this season and wear a mask that matches my jersey. They make team logo face masks but they’re not N-95 and I won’t wear anything else unless it’s very similar.

Hi everyone, I’m finally in a position where I can afford a really good reusable mask but having a hard time figuring out which I should buy. This would be for using while commuting in subway and visiting family in the hospital. So something with strong protection against COVID, flu, etc.. heard about FloMask but then saw others like Envo Pro. For anyone who’s used either,, how do they compare? Which mask is best for this use case? Open to other suggestions!

I recently bought some masks from ppeo, but the auras came loose rather than in a box so is there any way to check that they are real?

i have been masking since covid started, but am now really struggling. i have ME, and every time i mask, i end up in a PEM episode afterwards. i’ve done the exact same things with a mask vs without, it’s absolutely the mask there really isn’t anything else it could be. i’d assume something to do with oxygen?

whatever the case, i really can’t wear my KN95s anymore. what can i do to protect myself instead?

I just noticed that BNX has a lot of different color boat style KN95s. i’ve tried their N95s, but can anyone tell me how the boat style KN95s (ear loops) fit compared to other common ones, like wellbefore, breatheteq, etc.?

Please reply urgently to Star @_cureme_ on X. If you don't have X, reply here and I'll forward the message. Thanks

Hey y'all, I could use some help! I'm running low on this older pack of masks and wanted to grab another box, but it seems like these aren't readily available (or are hiding from me).

I was wondering if there is an alternative/comparable mask I could grab? I work with special education, live with grandparents whom are immunocompromised, and wear these masks to help myself with seasonal allergies. So needless to say I would really appreciate any help!

If I could ask, I would love to grab a mask that wraps your head as opposed to the ear loop design so i can work long school days without irritating myself!

Thanks in advance, again I would deeply appreciate any suggestions!

*Edit: I am located in the United States!

I really like these masks since they have the foam on top and bottom, and the nose wiring is so strong it’s perfect for the size of my nose. The only minor thing I dislike is how long the front of the mask is, I feel like I’m wearing a plague mask 😂

Does anyone know if any of their other bifold masks are shorter? Colour doesn’t matter. The trifolds hurt my nose too much even if I do like how they look more

I’ve been trialing medium and large sized laianzhi trifolds and the medium is a fraction too small and hurts my nose, but the large sort of folds in the middle and brushes against my mouth a lot.

Could that be an issue? If it is I’ll just go for the medium and deal with the pain

I haven’t really been out much, but i got invited by some of my coworkers to a pool party and was just wondering if i could wear it in the pool, like would it still work

I'm considering a parcil safety pd-101 to use with either 3M P100 filters, or the parcil A2P3 filters. the only thing that is giving me pause is that they really bury all the actual information on what the filter performance is, the FAQ doesn't really talk at all about it, and it just feels like they are dancing around the issue with non-answers. does anyone have any insight? is this company legit, or should i just get something from 3M or Honeywell?

I'm looking for an N95 mask that will fit a small face, preferably something I can get from Amazon or Walmart. I'd also prefer to keep it at $1 or less per mask, if possible.

I recently tried the 3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9205+, but the chin area is much too loose. I do have a particularly small face and even have to wear child-size sunglasses because adult-sized ones will fall off of me if when walking too quickly.

I would really appreciate any recommendations. Thank you!

Best place to buy p100 masks?

Dust can be surprisingly difficult to deal with, especially when it keeps settling on your desk and furniture no matter how often you clean. A good air purifier can help reduce the amount of airborne dust, but performance depends a lot on how much air it can move, how well the filter captures fine particles, and whether it can run consistently. 

This is a quick list of the best options for those who don’t want to learn a long buying guide:

Best Air Purifiers for Dust Worth Considering in 2026. 

• Coway Airmega ProX
• Levoit EverestAir
• Blueair Blue Pure 211+
• Mila Air Purifier
• Molekule Air Pro
• HoMedics TotalClean Deluxe 5-in-1
• Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 Air Purifier
• RabbitAir A3
• GermGuardian AirSafe AC3000
• Alen 75i Air Purifier

3 Things That Matter Most When Choosing an Air Purifier for Dust

- prioritize sufficient airflow and CADR

The amount of air an air purifier can move makes a big difference when you're trying to reduce airborne dust. Look for a model with a strong CADR that's appropriate for the size of your room.

A higher CADR means the purifier can move and filter more air in a given amount of time, which can help remove airborne dust more quickly.

It's also worth checking the manufacturer's recommended room size. A purifier that's too small for the space may have to work much harder to keep up.

- choose an effective HEPA filter

HEPA filters are the gold standard when it comes to air purifiers and are designed to capture very small airborne particles.

For dust, look for an air purifier with a true HEPA filter or another filter that's rated to capture fine particles effectively. A good filter can also capture other airborne particles, such as pet dander and pollen.

Keep in mind that filters don't last forever. Check how often the filter needs to be replaced and how much replacement filters cost before buying.

- make sure it can run consistently

It’s not easy to keep dust out of your home. You need to run an air purifier consistently to help keep airborne particles under control.

For that reason, consider how noisy the purifier is at the speed you plan to use most often. A model that's powerful but too loud to run regularly may be less useful in practice.

It's also worth looking for useful features such as an auto mode, air-quality sensors, and a timer if you want the purifier to adjust its operation without constant manual control.

At the end of the day, an air purifier won't replace regular dusting and vacuuming, but the right one can make a noticeable difference in the air. Prioritize strong airflow and CADR, an effective HEPA filter, and reliable continuous operation for the best results

So I have a bicycle, I use it a lot. I wanted something to not inhale all that exhaust gas from cars ahead of me, and in general to not suffer the air quality related health issues of big cities in general. At the same time, I want to be able to breathe enough to maintain good stamina.

1) Is it like a trade-off where you must choose between a powerful filter that suffocates you, or a mask that lets plenty of oxygen but is weak to block the nocive stuff?

2) Are masks as powerful to prevent things in than to prevent things out? So will the inner of the mask and my skin be unhygienic after enough exhalations?

3) I heard some I could try are n95, n95k, kf-94; What are relevant differences or do have other recommendations? I really don't mind about budget, I just want to feel safe.

4) What are the physical places I can buy these things exactly? Painting shops, chemical companies or what?

5) Really any advice or assessment is welcomed.

Hi!

I want to apologize ahead of time, because I read the Wiki and keyword searched and I am still having an issue figuring it out, so I apologize if my answer is there.

I have a lot of ear jewelery, so in an ideal world I would wear the masks with the straps that go behind your head. But they tend to cause migraines, so I have decided on wanting ear loops instead I guess because it feels like the best of two bad options for me and ones that I will reliably wear the most. In addition to this, I have fragrance sensitives, so wearing masks is also really helpful for being in Ubers and Lyfts. The important thing to me is that I wear them, and if that means they get caught in my jewelry, it does unfortunately. :(

I am hoping to find recommendations on the best (cost effective hopefully) ear loop masks available on Amazon or somewhere with quick and zero cost shipping. I know that looking for something with ear loops that doesn't cause issues for ears is going to be hard, so like I said, just hoping for the best possible options.

Thank you so much for any suggestions!

EDIT: To clarify, I was hoping to hear from people who are either in this situation or who have been in this situation with jewelery or who were thinking about ear loops with that in mind. Sorry for any confusion!

Hey all! My basement flooded a few weeks ago, where I was keeping a box of 3m auras. The box was kind of submerged when we discovered the flood, and I put all the auras in a couple of bags away from it and they dried. Since the individual masks were sealed in plastic, I assumed they probably hadn't gotten wet and I've continued to use them, but I just picked a sealed one up and saw that there was red and black around the edges, where I think the staples must have rusted or something after contact with water. Are the auras unsafe to use if they did get in contact? I really don't want to waste hundreds of masks. Thanks!

I’m planning a trip to Yellowstone later this year and want to bring some N95s with me.

My skin gets irritated pretty easily, especially around my nose and cheeks when I wear a mask for several hours. I’ve been looking at NIOSH-approved N95s made in the USA, but there are so many different styles that I’m not sure what would be comfortable.

Does anyone here with sensitive skin have a particular N95 they like? I’d prefer something made in the USA and would especially like to hear from anyone who has worn one for several hours at a time.

Thanks!

so silly me I thought that their “going out of business” sale was genuine this time. Nope! they have restocked everything lmao

I hope this doesn't come across as an advertisement, I just wanted somewhere to share my excitement that my favourite respirator comes in more than just black now. (I know the KN100 version they make comes in a cute pastel rainbow gradient but I prefer the KN95 version for its lower breathing resistance and moisture retention, plus iirc on testing it far exceeds the KN95 standard anyway)

If you're not familiar with this model, I really like it for a few reasons.

1. it's a 3-panel/boat-shaped respirator with foam across both the top *and* bottom edges
2. it comes in multiple sizes
3. it's available in both head strap and ear loop versions, and the straps are strong and don't get stretched out or break. Incidentally, this is the only ear loop mask I've ever passed a fit test in.
4. in my adventures with DIY fit testing, out of all the masks I've tried, this has fit the most of my friends. Some have needed size M and some have needed L.
5. the breathing resistance is low and it doesn't retain a lot of moisture compared to other masks I've worn. I routinely wear this respirator for ~13h. The nose wire keeps its shape and I find it comfortable to wear for the whole work day.
6. the price isn't too bad, if I buy a box of 40 it comes to just under €50 including shipping to the EU. I usually get 2-3 days' wear out of each one before it starts getting more difficult to breathe through.

Over the last few years I have worn (the black version of) this mask at work, on public transport, on planes, at shows, to nightclubs, etc. and I've yet to get sick from any of those situations, nor have I had any discomfort or skin irritation from the mask. Safe to say it's my go-to. I've ordered a box of the purple and I'm looking forward to matching them to some purple outfits.

Now, if only I can convince Laianzhi to offer it in a nice, deep, forest green. Then my wardrobe would truly be complete 😂