DarkKatKnitsJan 27
a u t u m n

grew tired of "use a cloth mask that's less effective against covid" being the usual response to those of us looking for sensory friendly masks .

kept looking and found other alternatives like elastomeric respirators and Zimi masks that don't sacrifice protection for comfort ! wrote about it here :

https://eevie.dev/choosing-a-face-mask.html

Jan 26 at 9:45pmWeb
Show threadMayaMayaMayaJan 26
@autumn sorry this is a bit off topic but I'm a bit obsessed with what the dithering pattern (the way highlights are resolved to bright dots?) is doing with your eyes there. That's an amazing effect.
Show threadlogicslayerJan 28
@itsmaya @autumn it reminds me of what old school printers would print.
Show threadJernej Simončič �Feb 15
@itsmaya unity Looks like the image was converted to approximately 16 colour palette with error diffusion/Floyd-Steinberg dithering, but there was an additional gradient effect overlaid afterwards.
Show threadfsanJan 26
@autumn Masks are also incredibly cool
Show threadRichard W. Woodley ELBOWS UP 🇨🇦🌹🚴‍♂️📷 🗺️Jan 27

@autumn

That looks like what I wore working in a smelter, at least part of the time, alternating between the mask being too uncomfortable and the air being too crappy. Fortunately only for about 6 months.

Show threadlynnJan 27
@autumn one of my main issues with masks is being blinded by either the exhale kicking up to my glasses, or not wearing glasses to avoid such fogging. does the half mask you have on fix that? i see you are wearing glasses
Show threadليلى النحلةJan 27
@lynn @autumn yeah they have an actual proper face seal so no exhaust gets out around the mask
Show threadIrishMASMSJan 28

@lunabee @lynn @autumn eyeglass wearer here, with that same problem.

I found there are some masks that have "eyeglass divots" which fog up much less. The Flo Mask I found works rather well in this context.

Hth!

Show threadaburka 🫣Jan 28
@lynn @autumn if that's happening your mask is not sealed... I wear glasses with Aura (3M 9210+) masks and with their nose cushion thing there's minimal fogging
Show threadJohn     Jan 28

@lynn @autumn

Flo Mask is made to let you wear glasses comfortably.

You might want to check them out.

Show threadJohn     Jan 28

@lynn

My wife & I purchased Flo masks from the U.S. years ago.

We both wear glasses & find the mask works well for us in a fairly hot country.

(The hottest country in the world this month!)

Show threadJohn     Jan 28

@autumn

You might find this of interest.

https://www.mirasafety.com/blogs/news/the-best-gas-mask-buyers-guide?_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIk1iOUNlZyIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJzYmNib29rc0BnbWFpbC5jb20ifQ%3D%3D&utm_campaign=051121%20-%20Gas%20Mask%20Filters%20Buyer%27s%20Guide%20%28VD7Akb%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=90%20days%20Engaged

Best Gas Mask & Respirators Buyers' Guide for 2025 | MIRA Safety

Looking for the best gas mask for 2025? Check out our comprehensive buyers guide featuring the best gas masks and respirators, gas mask reviews & more.

MIRA Safety
Show threadWebber-e-bopJan 28

@autumn

Pro:
- You look cool as hell wearing it.

Show threadMmmmJan 28
@autumn great way to look C Y B E R N E T I C and mayhaps kinky
Show threadTraveling OSM Saleswoman Problem ✊🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇦Jan 28
@autumn Well-written…mind if I share this in the PPE XMPP channel?
XMPP Invitation

Show threadaevaJan 28

@autumn I was just looking at zimiair.com/shop/ by way of your article and they have several "limited edition" filters. Some of them look like there's an extra layer of decorative fabric sewn to the filter, and some look like they might be patterns printed on the filter. I wonder if either affects the efficacy of the mask.

Have you come across any guidance for covid safety in extreme cold weather, or filter masks that can also protect against extreme cold temperatures while outdoors?

Show threada u t u m nJan 28

@aeva the patterned Zimi filters still claim 98% filtration efficiency , so they should be tested as such . printing should have negligible impact , if accounted for during the manufacturing process . i have one of their fabric-looking filters , and it's not ordinary fabric—they seem to have designed the material specifically for this purpose ! that's a good question to be asking though . KN95s are less carefully regulated than N95s , but i haven't found any information indicating that Zimi is untrustworthy .

regarding extremely cold weather , i don't know of any resources directly addressing this use case . part of the increased covid risk in cold weather is due to a lack of humidity and warmth in your nose [1] , which respirators may help with by retaining the heat and moisture from your breath [2] . one idea is to wear a balaclava over a half or full face respirator , with holes cut out for the filters to go through . this thread [3] has comments from people with experience wearing respirators in negative-degree weather .

there are masks that claim to warm and humidify cold air , like the Airtrim sport mask [4] , but they don't protect against viruses . you may be able to combine one of these with an elastomeric somehow !

[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-does-weather-affect-covid-19
[2] https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/researchers-propose-humidity-masks-may-lessen-severity-covid-19
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/Masks4All/comments/1hintm4/what_happens_to_respirators_in_extreme_cold
[4] https://pioneermidwest.com/products/airtrim-sport-mask-blue

How does weather affect COVID-19?

Is COVID-19 more likely to spread in cooler temperatures? Is the disease more severe in cold climates? Do sunshine and UV rays play a role? We investigate.

Medical News Today
Show threadaevaJan 29
@autumn oh wow that's amazing that they can manufacture the filters to be that intricate. Thanks for taking the time to write all of this up!
Show threadToilet full of bugsFeb 11

@autumn Thanks for writing this; it's very informative.

I wanted to get a Honeywell 7700 of my own, but it appears to have been discontinued. I ended up getting a 3M Secure Click HF-800SD - the speech diaphragm was what sold it for me. It's so much nicer to wear than cloth masks! My face doesn't get covered in hot condensation and my glasses stay clear.

Show threada u t u m nFeb 14

@ephemeromorph that's too bad it was discontinued , although for now the 7700 still appears to be available from other vendors [1] [2] .

regardless , i'm so glad it was helpful , and you found a respirator that works well for you ! did you end up liking the speech diaphram on your HF-800SD ?

[1] https://gssafetyproducts.com/honeywell-north-7700-series-half-mask-respirator
[2] https://www.magidglove.com/north-by-honeywell-7700-series-silicone-half-mask-respirator-without-filters-n770030pp

Honeywell® North® 7700 Series Half Mask Respirator

Buy Honeywell® North® 7700 Series Half Mask Respirator and more respiratory protection supplies at G&S Safety Products. We offer a full catalog of industrial safety supplies, excellent service, and free shipping over $99.

Gear & Safety Products
Show threadToilet full of bugsFeb 14
@autumn I do! :D I think my voice is even clearer with it than it is when I'm wearing a cloth mask.
Show threada u t u m nFeb 14
@ephemeromorph wow ! i oughta try one of those sometime ^-^
Show thread𝔞𝔷𝔲𝔯𝔢𝔩𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔤𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔡𝔬𝔩𝔶𝔫 𝔨𝔬𝔯𝔯𝔦𝔤𝔞𝔫🦇Feb 15
@autumn hi; this rules.
Show threadSunguramy 4d ago
@autumn the rack mask is interesting, because i like the pretty colors, but the site i can't see the rack part? I do not like the sensation of plastic or rubber on my face, it is way too hot and sweaty, so I think I am opposite sensory of you. My issue with the standard n95/kn95 is the glasses fogging up.