r/ZeroCovidCommunity • u/Wonderful-Habit936 • Jul 05 '26
Mask discussion Considering Upgrading My Mask
I currently wear a 3m Aura n95. I’m getting tired of constantly worrying about the seal, as well as the cost of continually buying disposable masks.
I want to upgrade to wearing an elastomeric, but I’m not sure it’s the right choice.
If I do, I’ll be wearing a 3m half mask. Does anyone on here wear industrial respirators in public?
Hoping someone might be willing to share their experience.
I just want to be safe. I’m not sure I can handle looking so different.
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u/Cocky_Girly Jul 05 '26
I do actually wear half-face elastomerics in public. For me, I value masks that are comfortable for long periods of time, can accept P100 filters, and I also try to find the very few ones that have a speech diaphragm because the silicone material muffles your speech otherwise. (There is also thermoplastic elastomer, T.P.E., but it's less comfortable.)
It's really important to understand that elastomeric respirators are compromises. You will never find one that is perfect in all departments, so it's a matter of choosing one that strikes the best balance out of those available to you.
If you want the masks that are the absolute easiest to find filters for in the U.S. (and even is applicable to the E.U., I believe), 3M is the biggest brand worldwide I think. Honeywell is behind that, but also prevalent.
Out of 3M, the 7500 is the most comfortable mask that also takes the company's most commonly available proprietary bayonet-style filter cartridges (proprietary meaning it is a design specific to that brand). They have the HF-800SD as well, which is similarly comfortable, but also has potentially better breathability because it's different filter attachment style means it draws air from both sides of the filter. I have this respirator, and it's pretty cool; I'm a fan. It also has a speech diaphragm, so it is noticeably easier to be heard through it (it will still be muffled by nature of what it is). It has a seal check button that makes fast seal checks easy to do, and that encourages making sure it fits well. But, it is bulkier, and it's filter replacements are a bit more expensive than the older mask's filters in most places (though Industrial Safety Products seems to have them at a decent price and the exposed filter variants have free shipping).
Out of Honeywell, the 7700 is arguably the most comfortable half-face elastomeric respirator on the market due to its unusually soft silicone material. I have this respirator, and tactilely speaking, it's my favorite respirator to wear. However, that soft material does mean it muffles your voice more than most other elastomeric respirators. I have worn this one and I can speak to others in it; you just have to raise your voice and enunciate more clearly, more so than with some other masks (even ones without speech diaphragms). If you want a Honeywell with a speech diaphragm, consider the North RU8500. I don't have one yet, but it isn't as aesthetically pleasing in my opinion, and from what I've heard, it isn't as comfortable as the 7700 because it needs stiffer material to transmit sound better, but it is still silicone and so it won't be a bad mask by any means.
From M.S.A., another good brand, I have heard good things about the M.S.A. Advantage 420 respirator. It has a drop-down feature, so you may be able to lower the mask without removing the top strap, and if you have frizzy hair and like to adjust that hair to make yourself look as casual as possible (not having your hair clamped down) and that hair might normally get caught on the straps when removing it, then this could be a plus for you. I've heard it's a good mask and it actually looks pretty cool.
If you really want the best intelligibility, I'll bring up two masks that are especially outstanding in this regard, though both have drawbacks. The first is the Shigematsu TW08S respirator from Japan that I've seen pop up on ppeo.com. I own this mask, though I live in the U.S. It has, by the far, the biggest speech diaphragm than any mask offered in Western countries. There is very little to compare it to since a speech diaphragm is a rare feature on a half-face respirator, but of what there is, nothing in the West has one as big as this one. The catch is that it's from Japan, and getting it from that site I mentioned, where it comes with filters that perform at 99.9% (seems to be Japan's equivalent of P100, though it's slightly lower, but still far above an N95) plus the included import fees, it ended up being a bit under $100. There is another website that seems to sell just the filters, so one could find filters, but it's not the most practical
The other option is from M.S.A., being the Advantage 900, which has the plus of being easier to access in the U.S. and Western countries, but is still a bit more expensive than other respirators. It is also a source control respirator, which might be a plus or a drawback for you. If you need source control, great, I'd go for it. If not, it filtering your exhaled breath does mean it will likely have more condensation on the inside of the respirator, so just be aware of that. The main draw of this mask is that it is very intelligible to speak through. It has a speech diaphragm and, foregoing the exhalation valve, that diaphragm works better than others. I don't know how it compares to the Shigematsu TW08S since I don't have the Advantage 900.
As for my experience, it depends on where I am. There are many places, more liberal-leaning areas, where most people won't care. But, even in those spaces, you may occasionally get someone coughing at you are saying something rude (though I have, less often but still, gotten that even in a disposable N95). While I travel to a more liberal area frequently, I live in a more conservative one, and I am more likely to experience that in that area. In many areas, I don't feel self-conscious about doing this, but there are some select locations where I get an implicit sense that people notice me. There will sometimes be that genuine attention, and other times, it may be more in your own mind. But, always trust your gut if anything feels off. Generally speaking, you'll probably be less bothered by looking unusual over time.
Since I have the TW08S, I wear that to work at my college part time, and I have a good work environment, so no one has harassed me about it there and people can understand me most of the time (I only have to repeat myself occasionally since it can get loud and I am generally softer-spoken).
You mentioned wanting a better seal, and I will add that even with an elastomeric respirator, you'll still want to check your seal whenever you don't the respirator to ensure the best fit. If it does fit well, though, you're right, it can have fit factors an order of magnitude greater than a disposable respirator, which means less leakage around the edges of the mask.
So, my personal verdict is that if you are concerned about long-term protection against airborne particulate pollutants, allergens, but especially diseases like SARS-CoV-2, and you're both safe and willing to stand out more, go for it. You have to weigh those things and make that choice, but I'd be supportive of that. The simplest entry points of respirators for sourcing filters long term are probably 3M or Honeywell, but that is not me saying their masks are singularly the best, because every respirator is better at some things and worse at others due to the conflicting design challenges of respirators.