Masks to use for travel?

I have these: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08SHS ... UTF8&psc=1

The foam on the nose part makes it a bit more comfortable and it's very hard to find it on amazon. I also bring a reusable one in case I run out of the disposable one, but the disposable ones are the most comfortable and breathable IMO. I can run across terminals without issues. The only downside is they come in purple.

If you want more protection, then get a N95/KN95. You can double mask if you want. If you just care about compliance and being comfortable, any disposable mask will do.

I used disposable KN95 on my flight and I'm glad I did cause our flight was full

KN95 are the most protective, but othewise the good old surgical masks are actually the 2nd best alternative. The most important is having a non-woven polypropylene layer somewhere in the mask. Then the outer material is about comfort.

I've done 2 plane rides since the pandemic started (one pre-vaccination) and both times used the disposable surgical masks without any issue in terms of comfort/keeping them on for a few hours at a time.

CBC Marketplace did a quick analysis piece last year:

If you’re fully vaxxed bit too much to worry s out on planes. Extremely low risk with everyone tested prior to flying and decent air exchange ge anyway. N95 absolutely the gold standard if they fit properly and are used properly. Honestly most of the others are about protecting other people though they do protest you from droplets especially.

For sleeping the surgical masks are most comfortable. Frankly I eat and drink a lot to get maaskless time. We absolutely needed them in the beginning but at this point as we open and if you are run US and Europe who are way ahead of us in return to normal you will be exposed and just hope you get ont he good side of the odds and probably don’t get it and if you do it’s mild.

Thanks to all for the suggestions; exploring.

fogetmylogin wrote: ↑ If you’re fully vaxxed bit too much to worry s out on planes. Extremely low risk with everyone tested prior to flying and decent air exchange ge anyway. ... Honestly most of the others are about protecting other people though they do protest you from droplets especially.

We absolutely needed [masks] in the beginning but at this point as we open and if you are run US and Europe who are way ahead of us in return to normal you will be exposed and just hope you get ont he good side of the odds and probably don’t get it and if you do it’s mild.

Due to vax and testing requirements, plus overall levels in Canada, etc., agree the risk *on* the plane to/from Canada, or at the airport departing Canada, is low. But I think the U.S. has gone bonkers, and especially given its mediocre vax levels (given availability), premature abandonment of mask mandates, and general infection trends, I think the risk while in an U.S. air*port* may be higher. And airports anywhere are not at all great at avoiding crowding, especially if something goes off the rails. So I'll be wearing a mask as a low-downside additional protection layer for myself, as well as to "protect" others and no my little bit to normalize mask wearing in indoor public spaces. I suspect I'll be doing that for some months or even longer.

https://canadastrongmasks.ca/products/c ... nadian-n95

Canadian made Korean style N95 equivalent. They fit amazing, comfortable and when you talk you don't loose the seal. Come in two sizes. I wear them every day, sometimes 12+ hours.

houska wrote: ↑ Thanks to all for the suggestions; exploring.



Due to vax and testing requirements, plus overall levels in Canada, etc., agree the risk *on* the plane to/from Canada, or at the airport departing Canada, is low. But I think the U.S. has gone bonkers, and especially given its mediocre vax levels (given availability), premature abandonment of mask mandates, and general infection trends, I think the risk while in an U.S. air*port* may be higher. And airports anywhere are not at all great at avoiding crowding, especially if something goes off the rails. So I'll be wearing a mask as a low-downside additional protection layer for myself, as well as to "protect" others and no my little bit to normalize mask wearing in indoor public spaces. I suspect I'll be doing that for some months or even longer.

Masks are required at all US airports anyways so you should be fine there and many states in the US (even ones with high vaccination rates such as WA and CA) are thinking about reinstating mask mandates (at least indoors).

I would use plain old disposable surgical masks. COVID aside, airplanes are dirty, dirty places. I'm not sure I would want to wash and reuse a mask I wore on an airplane.

Definitely disposable surgical masks. Generally find them the most comfortable for extended periods of time.

My preferred reusable fabric mask throughout the pandemic has been the masks from Bouclair. They are comfortable, breathable, non-irritating, sit well on the face so as not to fog up my glasses, and are generally a good value.

houska wrote: ↑ What types/makes of masks are people using for travel? Anything in particular to look for?

I've been lucky enough in this pandemic to work from home. When needing to be in public indoors, it was for brief periods, and so I haven't been too choosy about masks. Reusable 2-ply, disposable, etc.

you should check the requirements of your destinations. for example, germany requires a n95 mask when you take public transportation. some German states require N95 for indoors. in canada, you might find n95 for a dollar. in europe, price is higher, probably over an euro.

you should have some N95 to respect requirements and in crowded places that you cannot avoid. (ex: on an airplane, etc)

I see a lot of folks wearing those surgical blue ones that area widely available now with a cloth masks at the airport when I went to pickup my folks.

But I agree, N95 would be the best my only concern is everyone talks about getting them properly fitted and not the ear loop ones from stores. You need the head band ones for proper coverage .

The problem I have with N95s (and I've tried various) is that they are hard to make a good seal. Then when you start talking you loose the seal pretty easily. I find the Korean style (KF94) are easy to get a seal, and keep sealed even when talking. Except for the ridiculous humid days, I can wear safety glasses with no fog up. On the plane I wear a KF94 and safety glasses.

wirespeed wrote: ↑ you should check the requirements of your destinations. for example, germany requires a n95 mask when you take public transportation. some German states require N95 for indoors. in canada, you might find n95 for a dollar. in europe, price is higher, probably over an euro.

you should have some N95 to respect requirements and in crowded places that you cannot avoid. (ex: on an airplane, etc)

I expect FFP2 European standard to be more widely available in Europe, and should be less expensive than if you are only specifically searching for N95 certified.

I flew out of Pearson airport in Toronto and they made me switch out my mask and cannot use a n95

crisyen wrote: ↑ I flew out of Pearson airport in Toronto and they made me switch out my mask and cannot use a n95

Switch it from what to what?


TIA

wally_walrus wrote: ↑ Switch it from what to what?


TIA

N95 is allowed unless it's the ones with the ventilation valves.

A good question and some good answers here.

When the precautions were at their highest, I was using the TriMed antimicrobial masks that are said to have anti-viral properties. I ordered them directly from the manufacturer in Montreal and the service was good. The masks resemble standard surgical masks and I found them to be comfortable. You can view their site and decide if these make sense to you.

https://www.i3biomedical.ca/

But as any eyeglass wearer knows the problem with all masks is the seal to your face. You really need a custom molded mask to be air tight.

Thanks for all the advice here. Very helpful.

I've settled on reusable cloth masks with an adjustable nose grip from Euroca (https://www.amazon.ca/Euroca-Layer-Reus ... B08CRGJ91L) that are comfortable and seal fairly well, at least on my face.

For low risk situations, I can wear them as-is.
For medium risk situations, I'll add the PM2.5 filters (of which I have a stash from a previous mask I lost).
For high risk situations, I'll have a few disposable (non-vented) N95s.

Overall, I was seeking a balance between risk reduction and comfort. The research does imply you don't want to mess around with Delta more than you need to even while vaccinated, and good, well-fitting masks will reduce the risk for both self and others. On the other hand, I and my family are all double-vaxxed, and most of the situations I'll be in will either be pretty brief in-outs or locations where COVID incidence will be lower than average (e.g. on an international flight with ppl tested, which is not a guarantee but does reduce risk vs population as a whole). And I try to avoid disposable anything where I reasonably can. Glasses are not an issue for me.