Thanks, Ethan, for all the work you do! I really appreciate your concise, well-written, and well-researched reviews, and the photos for reference.
I’m trying to decide which mask/respirator to use at the (boxing) gym - I’ve just started exercising indoors for the first time since 2019. I’ve been wearing a Layfield KN95, my favourite-fitting respirator (which is unfortunately now discontinued).
With all the usual caveats about face-shape and fit, etc, do you have recommendations for masks/respirators to use in this kind of environment? My goal is to avoid catching airborne illnesses while we are all huffing and puffing. I’m open to both reusable & disposable and vent/no-vent; I’d love to keep costs down if possible; I live in Canada; and because boxing involves a lot of bouncing and gloves close to face, I’m hoping for something light with a low profile (so it doesn’t get knocked around).
Thanks for joining the forum and sorry for the late reply - I took a few weeks off to enjoy the holiday season I hope you had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate it) and a great New Year!
This is a great question and it’s something I’ve been ‘investigating’ myself recently as I am also masking for indoor exercise - in my case, indoor soccer. I’ve tried quite a few masks but haven’t yet found the perfect one for me.
However, the masks/respirators that I’ve found to stand out so far are:
CanadaMasq (likely very easy for you to source!)/BreatheTeq. They are the same mask, just one is for the Canadian market (and certified for it) vs a US/international version. This is extremely breathable, which is why I quite like it. With that said, I find the fit to be a bit looser than many other masks, so I do need to adjust it quite frequently. It is a trifold, so it might be a bit too ‘high profile’, but I think it’s worth looking into at least.
Flo Mask (Everyday filters). This works well for me, but I feel like it might be a bit too large in your case. It’s breathable and great when exercising.
Laianzhi KN95 (I need to check the exact mask model when I get home). The Laianzhi KN99/KN100s are not as breathable, but the KN95 variants have a good balance.
Have you ever tried a trifold (like an Aura)? Are they okay, or do they stick out a bit too much? Please let me know so I can skip them entirely if they don’t work in your case - maybe we need to focus on bifolds.
Happy New Year! I’m glad you got a break over the holidays. Thank you so much for the recommendations, and I’m glad to hear you’re playing indoor soccer - now THAT will make one breathe!
I’ve just ordered some BreatheTeq smalls - early in the pandemic I ordered one of their sampler kits, and only the smalls are missing; I suspect those are the ones that fit, so I used them. My perception is that the canoe/willow-leaf style doesn’t fit me as well as cone-shaped, but that belief is years old now - time to update my schema. I’m excited for Breatheteq’s breathability, protection, and easy sourcing. (I also ordered some cone-shaped Vitacore CAN95e’s, since I saw them compared to the discontinued Layfields.)
I agree with menamron that an elastomeric might be best for protection, but with all the activity around my face during boxing, there’s a good chance that it will get bopped around, knocked into my face, etc.
I haven’t yet tried the 3M Auras, but I have seen such consistently-positive reviews across the interwebs that I should try. I’m curious about the Laianzhi KN95s - I’m happy to see “running mask” on their site; so glad manufacturers are thinking about this use case. I hadn’t heard the term “low-profile” for masks; I’m curious about that, too.
Awesome - I would love to hear what you think of the Breatheteq masks. CanadaMasq (again, the same product just certified differently) are my go-to in many circumstances and my wife also loves them as they’re so easy to wear. The sizing can be hard to get right, and I think the fit isn’t quite as good as an Aura/Laianzhi/Zimi, but I think they offer a good balance when breathability is key.
Do you think there’s any chance that a relatively low-profile elastomeric like Flo Mask could work? Or do you think even this is too large? I imagine it might be, but it’s hard to tell since I have never done boxing.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate it) and a great New Year!