Best N95 masks from 3M (as of Aug 2024)
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Best N95 masks from 3M (as of Aug 2024)
This video describes several mask types. I found the 3M 1860 Health masks to be superior to other mask types I have tried. These TEAL colored masks by 3M are the only ones with the elastics secured to the mask by staples. I happened to “discover” that the teal colored masks can also be “adjusted” to different tensions of the elastic straps, by carefully sliding the elastic straps through the staples that secure the straps.
This video shows how that procedure works.
(The Teal 1860S mask is a small size mask that probably won’t fit most adults.)
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Mask use is not my sole protection from COVID. As of Sept 2024, my wife and I have gotten all 8 authorized shots (all of Pfizer). The two initial shots, and all 6 boosters. (Or did I lose count?) As of Sept 2024, I am awaiting the latest update of the Covid vaccine.
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In the below video from December 2021, I describe the history of masks during this pandemic.
https://vimeo.com/650957765 Face Masks — Best protection with N95 and KN95 masks. Nov 2021
This describes how the world was totally unprepared, when the pandemic started.
And the various mask that were initially used.
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The below article from the CDC says that typically — protective masks can get about 5 uses, before they become unreliable.
By contrast, I have found the TEAL 1860 masks by 3M — to be tremendously more reliable and durable. You can expect dozens of uses, and the elastics with the TEAL masks will still hold up.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/decontamination-reuse-respirators.html
CDC recommends limiting the number of donnings for an N95 FFR to no more than five per device. It may be possible to don some models of FFRs more than five times [2]. One study reported that fit performance decreased over multiple, consecutive donnings and fit varied among the different models of FFRs examined [3].
(That means, the straps stretch with each time you put a mask on, and eventually, the seal around the edges will work poorly when the elastics lose tension.)
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The best explanation I have ever heard on mask effectiveness — depending on the type of mask used — was presented by Michael Osterholm on his podcast from May 23, 2021.
Ep 56 Osterholm Update COVID 19: Episode 56: From Checkers to Chess
May 23, 2021 1:01:27 https://youtu.be/4f24lJQS7yM
Go to that “update” and then listen to the section from 31 min to 33 min.
It reveals this infection risk, based on the mask type you are wearing.
The time to infection, if you are in the presence of an infected person.
1. If you wear no breathing protection — within 15 minutes, you can get an infectious dose.
2. If the infected person is wearing no mask, and you are wearing a cloth face covering, it takes closer to 20 minutes to get an infectious dose.
3. If the infected person is wearing no mask, and you are wearing a surgical mask, it takes closer to 30 minutes to get an infectious dose.
4. If the infected person is wearing no mask, and you are wearing an N95 mask, it takes closer to 25 HOURS to get an infectious dose. (and the statistics in some past article I read, was that a KN95 mask was functionally very similar to the N95)
5. If both you and the infected person is wearing a fit tested N95 mask, it takes closer to 2,500 HOURS to get an infectious dose.
Or, to find more Osterholm presentations, try this link.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-osterholm-update-covid-19/id1504360345
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3M 1860 Mask - NIOSH Certified - Made In USA - Teal Cup - Reg. (Box of 20) $20 — plus shipping. I spent about $27 for the 20 masks AND the shipping cost in August 2024.
from Global Supply Exchange. Now, the price, as I look it up just a month from my prior order, appears to be $24.60 plus shipping.
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By contrast, the 3M model 8210 (N95) masks — have yellow rubberized straps that are uncomfortably tight, right out of the box. With regular use, the straps continue to stretch, and then seem to fail (break) within a month of use. That was like, 3 days a week at the gym, the straps failed in a month.
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Also popular are the KN95 masks.
However, my ears could not take them. After about 15 minutes of wear, the KN95 straps hurt the backs of my ears.
So, I use the N95 masks, with straps that go all the way around my head.