ordered N95 masks

[redbird]

I just ordered a LOT of duckbill-style N95 masks from armbrustusa.com, taking advantage of a sale that someone mentioned on Ask a Manager a couple of weeks ago: Half off everything in November, with free shipping. Normally, the masks I ordered cost less from Project N95, but they charge for shipping, meaning that this time I am paying less than I would from Project N95 (though it's not a huge difference).

This sale applies to everything the company sells, including some own-brand surgical masks. I haven't done any price comparisons on other products, because we're pretty sure these masks are as good as we're going to find, given that we all prefer masks with the strap behind the head to ear loops.

I am, alas, pretty sure that we will need 300 N95 masks, soon enough that it makes sense to buy that many for a discount (six boxes for the price of five), and store them in our apartment.

Comments

[mindstalk]

Ah. With my headstrap masks, I tend to put it on at home before departing and just leave it on, rather than taking it on and off. Plus I've been using the 3M 9211, with 'braided' straps that seem more robust than the blue elastics of the 9205; I've had one of the 9205s just break after not that much use.

Before returning to the US I relied on KF94s, and the cloth earloops are easy to doff and don, especially using cord toggles for actual tightness.

[redbird]

One of my uses for masks is meals at restaurants with outdoor seating, but that make you go inside. I've had several lunches in the last few months at a place in Arlington Center, near my occupational therapist's office. So, I put the mask on before getting on transit, wear it until I have gone inside Kickstand Cafe, ordered, and paid for my lunch. Then go to the patio and grab a table, take the mask off, and keep it off while waiting for and eating lunch.

Depending on timing, I either walk to OT and put the mask back on before going into the building, or go to a bus stop, re-mask, and keep the mask on at least until after my half hour of OT.

This style of N95s fits me better, and is less uncomfortable, than any other reasonable alternative I've found (some cloth masks are as comfortable, but provide significantly less protection), but wearing it for 10 minutes is more comfortable than 30, is more comfortable than three hours, or all day.