Cahatstrophemy absolutely massive pile of good quality disposable masks is finally starting to run low, so i'm considering upgrading to something more permanent/reuseable instead of just replacing the pile of disposables. does anyone have any tips/recommendations?
mrs information@Cahatstrophe the flo mask is expensive but I have had a good experience wearing it this past month
@Cahatstrophe i strongly considered the elastomask pro and the envo mask before committing to the flo mask; everyone i know in real life who owns a reusable (non-cartridge) respirator owns a Flo Mask.
@kqct the Flo Mask website is giving me massive red flags but i guess i can ignore that if so many people are finding them okay to use
Texan_Reverend@Cahatstrophe @kqct FloMask is a reasonably reputable company, and lots of folks find them more comfortable than a traditional N95.
It's just important to understand what some of their claims and offerings mean in order to align your expectations appropriately.
The design is a quarter-face respirator which sits on the chin, just below the lips, instead of under the chin like most N95s and half-face elastomerics.
@Cahatstrophe While the material of the Everyday filter may be rather breathable, the exposed filter surface area is still notably smaller than most N95s. So, don't expect it to be much, if any, better than your disposables, depending on what models they are.
The Pro filter is more restrictive and is likely to be a bit harder to breathe through than your disposables, unless they're particularly high resistance models.
@Cahatstrophe The Pro filter scores over 99% filtration, which is what most quality N95s get, as well - models like the 3M Aura, Dräger 1950, Moldex Airwave, etc.
The Everyday filter gets 95% filtration which meets the minimum for N95/KN95/FFP2. However, most reputable models with those certs actually score much higher.
To get near these filtration capabilities in the real world, you have to be careful when mounting the filter, as any wrinkles or folds at the edges can create unfiltered leaks.
@Cahatstrophe While I'm sharing reality checks to offset some of the marketing speak on their website, the Flo Mask is genuinely a decent product that has been far more comfortable than a traditional N95 for many people. I do not discourage its use at all. I just want to make sure folks understand it ahead of time to avoid disappointment as much as possible.
Regardless of what model(s) you try out, I hope you find something that's comfortable, fits well, and gets you what you're looking for.