Frog is WrongIn the past year, since the start of the COVID pandemic, we’ve collected a pile of different face masks. Most of them left us with sore noses, strained jaws, tired ears, or just a bunch of frustration getting them to stay on.
Throughout our journey though we have found a few great options and wanted to share them here.
Ratings
| Brand | Filtration | Overall comfort | Jaw comfort | Stays on | Nose comfort | Anti-fog |
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| LA Linen | 98.8% |  |
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| VOG Mask | 95% | |
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| Vistaprint | Replaceable filters | |
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| Happy Mask | 95% | |
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| 32 Degrees | Fabric | |
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A note about fogging glasses. We found that all the masks led to foggy glasses. Some masks did better at minimizing the fog due to the snug fit or ability to be worn higher up so that the glasses would rest on the mask itself.
The Masks
LA Linen “Supreme” Mask
LA Linen, as the name suggestions, is a fabric company based out of Los Angeles. They specialize in fabrics for table clothes and napkins but were able to re-use their awesome skills to help make face masks to help with the the COVID pandemic.
LA Linen has really done a great job with this mask. We only tried the “supreme” version of the mask. They offer it in two sizes: 7×7 and 9×9. Our whole family (including adults and 6 and 9 year old) found the 7×7 masks to be a good fit. This mask is designed to be larger than most face masks and has Lycra which makes it snug while roomy even across our different face/head sizes. While it’s definitely large on our 6 year old child, it still fits. We found this makes it both comfortable and helps it to stay on. Most masks just rest on your chin and will pop off when you talk, chew gum, or yawn. However, the LA Linen mask covers more of your chin and cheeks and stays in place even when you move your jaw. We found this design to be far superior than every other mask that we tried. The size and flexibility of this mask also makes it easier to wear higher on your nose to help avoid glasses fogging.
Why we like this mask:- Includes a neck strap so that you can easily take your mask off and on without having to hang it from your ear or hold it
- Fully adjustable ear loops
- Adjustable and comfortable nose wire
- Covers more of your face (reducing strain on your jaw) and making it easier to stay on
- Filtered mask to help protect the wearer as well as those around you
- LA Linen claims designed to Protect you from the environment, as well as protecting others.
- 98.8%BFE (Bacterial Filtration Effectiveness) and Delta P of 3.8 Breathability
- Machine washable
VOG Mask
VOG Mask have created a good mask and have a solid line up of different styles, designs, and materials including an organic mask. We found these masks to be one of the most comfortable of this more traditional mask shape (form fitted and covering just below the jaw). The bendable nose guard is soft/comfortable and the higher filtration is a plus. While we found this mask to have a solid fit, it does not have adjustable ear loops. Before finding the LA Linen, this was our favorite filtration mask.
Vistaprint Mask
Vistaprint is a well known printing company popular for goods like business cards. They offer a great mask that uses a replaceable filter. We found the Vistaprint masks to be one of the more comfortable masks especially since the ear loops are adjustable. They do come in two sizes and we found the smaller ones better suited for younger kids. The masks have an extra section of fabric at the chin that helps keep it on and comfortable. Another great feature is that you can design your own mask by uploading an image to be printed. Our kids love this feature!
Happy Mask
Happy Mask advertises that they have 99.9% bacterial and viral filtration which is one of the highest out there. These masks have a different feel to them. They are stiffer and almost feel like an N95 / KN95 mask. However, these are reusable masks. They are not machine washable but are rather easy to wash/dry by hand. We did not find that these masks fit quite as well as the LA Linen, VOG, or Vistaprint; However, due to their higher filtration, they may be a good option if the fit is just right for you.
32 Degrees Mask
32 Degrees Mask are available from several places including the company website, Amazon, and Costco. These masks look good, but we found them to not be all that effective. They don’t claim to have the filtration of the other masks and feel more like a light fabric covering. One challenge we found is that the XL size was too large and left gaps around our nose/cheeks while the standard size fit well but would fall our our chin/nose if we talked or moved our jaw too much. These could be an okay option as a second mask, but ultimately we recommend the other masks above these.
Found any other good masks? Let us know!
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