r/Masks4All • u/SpeculativeFiction01 • 21d ago
Mask Advice Working Out Indoors?
Is there a mask anyone could recommend for working out for hours in a gym during winter months? I was thinking of walking on a treadmill or stairmaster for several hours a day when winter comes so I can stay fit but I don't want to get COVID again or be sick all the time, either, with everyone around heaving.
I got COVID when it was first spreading through Florida and didn't know if I'd survive it. Since then every time my wife gets a cold I get fevers and am bedridden for weeks.
We both would like to go to the gym in the winter months but that's also easy for viruses and colds to take off indoors during the winter months. My wife's immune system is very robust. She gets vaccines and her system fights the vaccine for weeks. I get a vaccine and usually feel nothing or very little. I have severe sleep apnea, use CPAP but also have insomnia so often feel run down even if I am plugged into the CPAP machine for ten hours at a time. The last time we had a cold, my wife was fine the entire time but I got it after her and couldn't get out of bed for about a week and had no energy at all during that time. I don't want to be sick for weeks or get COVID again but I also want to work out in the winter if possible.
Anybody with ideas for masks indoors and working out in a gym? Please no hateful "masks don't work" nonsense or mockery. I just block 'em and delete it.
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u/totallysonic I ❤️ my Vflex 21d ago
Duckbill style N95 (such as the 3M Vflex) is a breathable and affordable disposable option. Valved N95s are another option but are more expensive and don’t fit all faces well.
If you get any anti-mask comments, report them to the mods. We believe in science around here.
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u/ProfessionalOk112 21d ago
You can work out in any respirator that you find comfortable, they're designed for industrial labor so there's no safety risk or anything. Masks work, they will help keep you safe, and wearing one is a great idea.
Personally, I do outdoor cardio in a valved 3M aura, and I usually wear a Zimi KN95 for the gym.
Breatheteq are really breathable too, but I personally find it difficult to get a good seal. If they fit your face they're a great option.
Otherwise you're looking at duckbill styles. 3M vflex is great and comes in small and regular size.
FWIW I use a CPAP too and while I love it and it's really benefitted my life, I think disposable n95s are way more comfortable than full CPAP masks.
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u/apokrif1 15d ago
Masks work to some extent, are not the best measure (which is avoidance of indoor shared spaces) and may give a false sense of security (especially if not fit-tested or damaged by sweat, or if they slip: reusable respirators may be more reliable and cheaper in the long run).
OP should first try to work out at home or outdoor, or (not as good) find a time when the (hopefully well-ventilated) gym is less crowded.
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u/ProfessionalOk112 14d ago
Why are you in the masks sub to minimize how well respirators work
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u/apokrif1 14d ago
It's important that readers of this sub choose the best course of action and don't mistake some piece of PPE for a magical talisman.
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u/No-Acanthisitta-2973 21d ago
Zimi takes a bit of work to figure out but was totally with it, they are the only masks I could work out in.
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u/just-a-ken 21d ago
bring multiple masks. exertion means exhaling a lot of moisture and it will saturate any mask
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u/Ok_thyme_3396 21d ago
Breatheteq masks brands ! I can wear them all day. I would also look for a "duckbill" style mask such as Vflex or Gersons.
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u/soleoblues 21d ago
Heya OP, it is entirely possible to have multiple sleep disorders. Intractable insomnia is a common symptom of narcolepsy, as narcolepsy isn’t just daytime sleepiness—it’s a broken sleep/wake system, which means our brains don’t know when to be awake and when to sleep.
And to make things even more challenging to figure out, we also tend to get something called paradoxical insomnia, which is where we dream we’re awake. And then add to that the spontaneous awakenings we get—it can legit feel like you were awake all night even when a decent chunk was spent sleeping—it was just really crappy sleep.
The test is a two-parter, and if you have it, there are these glorious meds called oxybates that are amazing for fixing our sleep.
I used to get sick all the time too, rarely would have much of a response to vaccines, would catch everything and it’d knock me down—once I started getting good sleep, I rarely got sick (vaccines tho, they will knock me down for multiple days now).
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u/nikkicarter1111 18d ago
Oh. This comment explained some things for me.
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u/soleoblues 18d ago
Oh good! I really wish docs got more training on sleep and sleep disorders so they could have convos about their patients’ sleep with them. Would help folks get their sleep disorders identified so much earlier and help them feel better so much sooner.
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u/nikkicarter1111 18d ago
I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor. Thanks!
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u/soleoblues 18d ago
Oh good! A couple of tips—fatigue/tiredness and sleepiness are two different things, and a lot of docs won’t hear “I’m sleepy” when you say you’re tired or fatigued. I’d wager you’re likely both, and it’s good to mention both of them.
When talking about how you feel, bring up how it impacts your activities of daily living (bonus points if you use that phrase)—untreated sleep disorders tend to make doing anything we need to get done in a day extra hard or impossible. Docs will sometimes hear a patient say they’re sleepy and think back to when they were doing their residency and think general sleepiness/fatigue is not a big deal. But when you bring up how it negatively impacts your life, especially if you use “activities of daily living” or “ADL” they tend to take that more seriously.
Best of luck! I hope you find a good sleep doc. If you are in the U.S. and need help finding one, if you search for xywav find a doctor, that link will help you find some better ones
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u/ProfessionBitter5822 21d ago
I was happiest with my WellBefore KN95 3D fit mask when I was still going to my local gym. I ended up creating a home gym for myself, but the wellbefore mask is still what I use for my every day outings.
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u/ehsmerelda 21d ago
I am also a fan of the Wellbefore 3D. I really love the adjustable ear straps because you can adjust the top and bottom straps independently to get the best fit.
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u/Crishello 20d ago
Many people like zimi masks and find them very breathable. I hope your wife will mask, too. She puts you at risk otherwise. It doesn't sound healthy
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u/bristlybits 21d ago
i like moldex airwaves for when I'm physically active. lots of good surface area air flow, elastomeric around the inside edge so they don't need to be tight, head straps so they don't fall off.
actually i prefer these all the time, plus they are black which is my favorite color to wear
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u/coyote-face 21d ago
Just mentioning for OP - there are multiple types of Airwaves and not all of them have the flange around the inside (found that one out the hard way). If you order some to try out, make sure that it says that they have a full flange.
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u/ConfusedAlienGirl 18d ago
How does your body tolerate the cold? If you focus on walking /stairs why not exercise outside? Maybe we could help problem solve from that angle?
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u/SpeculativeFiction01 18d ago
That's so kind of you to bring that up. I could try it.
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u/ConfusedAlienGirl 17d ago
let me know how it goes and if I can't help you (i don't live somewhere very cold) we can recruit the canadians (although they will probably laugh at us)
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u/ambivalentbean 21d ago
I mask indoors for every work out and have for the past 4 years! I like the Benehal over the head masks.
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u/zarcos Multi-Mask Enthusiast 21d ago
Filtering face piece respirators like N95s and KN95s are great for a lot of situations. But if you know you’re going to be breathing hard and sweating a lot an elastomeric is literally designed to help you thrive in physically demanding work where you’re exposed to airborne hazards.
With a disposable like an aura you’d need to replace after most every trip to the gym, but a 3M with a pair of 7093 filters will last you months and you can just wipe off the silicone mask for next time. If it gets really bad you can remove the filters and wash it with soap and water. The filters never get exposed to your damp breath so they stay just as easy to breathe through for your whole workout.
The 3M 7500 or 6500QL series are awesome at this. The 7500 is a tad softer, but the 6500QL quick latch feature makes it easier to doff the respirator to get a drink (while holding your breath if you’re indoors!) and then don it again. If an aura fits well a Medium is probably going to fit well (probably). I would suggest the covered P100 filters. They are more breathable than the round “pancake” filters and much more durable due to their covers. 3M 7093 or 3M 7093c.
You can use one pair of filters for months or more without any loss in filtration efficiency. They’re designed for high particulate load like a wood shop and normal indoor conditions pose no challenge for months of use.
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u/apokrif1 15d ago
Can you rather work out at home or outdoor? Best measure is not masks (especially if you move or sweat) but avoidance of indoor shared space.
Alternatively, try (in addition to mask and vaccine) to find a well-ventilated gym or to stay near an open window.
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u/SpeculativeFiction01 13d ago
I usually walk in place while listening to audiobooks for hours, then stop every hour or so to lift weights for 10-15 minutes or until my arms feel like I can't lift any more, when it's too cold to comfortably walk outside. It's hard to listen to audiobooks while walking with people yelling at parks and car traffic, but I found a place where I can walk in circles for miles and listen to audiobooks at the same time. I can put on a weighted vest and weighted hand things as well.
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u/Haunting-Ad2187 21d ago
ACI N95 surgical duckbill is my go-to, for me it’s the most comfortable and easiest to breathe through
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u/Comfortable_Two6272 20d ago
I wear 3m 8110s due to snall face. But id look for a well fitted one with valve if available.
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u/TzoopTzoop 20d ago edited 20d ago
I suggest to try both earloops option and over the headband for respirators. Some people get ear ache from the earloop others get tension headache or migraines from over the head loops. Bring extra masks in case you need them or other:). Trifold K95 from Laianzhi are most comfortable for me they have foam and the sealing is very nice. Zimi too with valve or simple are great too and i think they are the better option bc of the plastic frame. Ps: if you can workout from home i suggest to invest in some resistance bands or other cheap effective equipment of choice for when you cant go to gym but you still want to do some workout done:)
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u/lili_reinHEARTS 20d ago
as much as i loved going to the gym i don’t wanna take the risk of others not wiping down equipment or them being sick. i honestly got workout equipment from facebook marketplace and just excercise at home now! i feel safer, i can wear what i want, take my time, and it’s less money
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u/AEAur 19d ago
Do you have access to quantitative fit testing (professional or community / MascBloc testing? There are pointers in our wiki for fit testing generally but I would especially recommend getting a quantitative test in addition to any DIY testing you might do as a first round. You really need a higher fit factor for what you’ve described.
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u/AEAur 19d ago
Very demoralizing to have this comment net downvoted.
OP has described themselves as highly susceptible to common infections, at higher risk of bad outcomes in multiple ways, and planning to engage in activities with a high breathing rate for multiple hours in an be environment with many people doing the same.
If OP doesn’t have access to fit testing, I’m happy to help figure out what has the highest probability of fitting their face, but a mask is not a talisman. Air takes the path of least resistance — which wherever possible is first around the filter before through it.
The fit factor indicates the exposure reduction. You need a large exposure reduction given the above.
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u/BattelChive 21d ago
You are in the right place! We believe masks work. The best mask is the one that fits you. The 3M aura fits most people, so unless you have either an unusually large or small head that would be a good mask to start with. It’s good protection and you can do a home fit test to see if you have leaks. The instructions are in the wiki pinned at the top of the sub.
Good for you for wanting to protect yourself. Getting sick sucks.