Outdoor Research Essential Face Mask Kit

I bought this based on the reviews and my experience with Outdoor Research gear, which I've always found to be well designed, sturdy and comfortable. This mask is typical for OR gear, which is kind of expensive but well thought out and particularly well made. It covers quite a lot of the face, which helps to prevent air from escaping the sides or slipping in. The fabric is a soft, quick drying and very breathable polyester. It has pockets on each side to hold the sides of a replaceable filter and it comes with three disposable filters. It would be nice if it came with more, but they're easy to find and you'd want to order more anyway. Without the filters, the mask is very breathable--more than any disposable mask I have used--so it is nice if you are running or biking outdoors in an area with a mask policy. With the filter in place, it is still at least as breathable as a disposable surgical mask and better than an N95. There is a wire nose-piece for a custom fit and it is comfortable and is better than average at preventing glasses fogging. The straps are adjustable, which allows for a snug fit without making your ears sore after a few hours. My only complaint is that the disposable filters tend to slip over time and don't stay right in place, but they stay inside the mask. I've begun using some PM2.5 replacement filters that stay in place fine, though. I have to wear a mask all day at work, and I think it's both more comfortable and more effective that any of the disposable masks I've been wearing until now. The mask is relatively expensive compared to others, but you do get what you pay for. At the end of a long day, I'm glad I spent the 20 bucks on it and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a high quality washable mask for daily use.

I've bought a half-dozen face masks since the pandemic started, but none fits nearly as well as this one. The issue as I see it is that there's a lot of variation in human faces, and manufacturers for now can only provide a handful of sizes and designs. Luckily for me, this model fits my massive nose and I can use it with glasses without the usual extreme fogging. It all comes down to the design of the upper edge of the mask: it follows the contour of my face very well, it's pulled tight by the earloops (which have neat beads to resize them), sits neither too low nor too high, and has a metal nosepiece of generous length, that reaches far enough to keep the mask pressed against the skin even under the eyes. Neither Atoms, nor Tom Binh, nor several cheaper models can do any of that for me, although they could work for you if your nose is not quite as colossal.Keep in mind that there will still be a little fogging, presumably getting worse as the weather gets colder. Fogging aside, it's reasonably comfortable for a tight-fitting face mask, and with filters included it's good value for money when compared to other brand-name offerings. Even with the filter on ease of breathing is reasonable, roughly on par with a disposable N95 mask (and with the added advantage of much better fit). The only issue I've found is that inserting filters is rather finicky, but I'll happily deal with that considering how good the mask is otherwise.

Throughout the pandemic, I've struggled to find a mask that worked well for running. Most regular fabric masks are too flexible and cling to your mouth/face far too easily during heavy breathing, especially once saturated. I looked at the Under Armor mask, but it's quite pricey and always out of stock. I've used other Outdoor Research products before, and this looked like a great alternative. I was pleasantly surprised. It's a solid, sturdy fabric that breathes well and maintains its shape/form very well, even during heavy exertion. The nose wire and entire top section stays firmly molded to your face and doesn't move. It also comes with three custom-cut filter inserts for double-layering. Here are my only criticisms: The filters are a bit too restrictive to use while running. If you're going to wear this mask for casual outings, then by all means use the double filter. Next, for COLD WEATHER running (30 degrees or colder), this mask clogs up very quickly with condensation, mucus, etc. and it gets hard to breathe. It works best in warmer weather (50+ degrees) where you're not putting out as much condensation or other fluids with each breath. Pretty much any mask is going to struggle in super cold conditions, so I don't judge it harshly in that regard. Overall, this is the best mask I've found so far for running. Grab it!

The mask itself is well designed and fits very well. The piece inside that goes over the nose is long enough on each side to extend over your cheeks so you can adjust it no seal off around your nose perfectly. The ear straps are much more comfortable and the way the mask is designed to fit over your nose and chin is so much better than the previous one I was using that was more of a rectangle with ear loops that hurt after an hour or so.However, the paper filter is way too thin and ends up moving around and crinkling up inside the mask. Since the mask itself is fairly thin polyester and not double-layer cotton, I liked the idea of having a filter. I have other masks with a thicker, more rigid filter and this one needs something similar. Not too stiff, but something that won't wrinkle up like a sheet of tissue paper in the mask. A better filter gets this five stars.

Let's be honest: no mask is incredibly comfortable if it's going to be effective. This mask, however, really is quite incredible all things considered! It fits my face fabulously AND it actually stays put. I rarely have to mess with it or adjust it at all. It is slightly warm, but that is to be expected for a mask that is actually effective. (If it's light and super breathable, it's probably not doing anything.) Despite being thick and up to standard, it still is quite breathable and not too muting. That is HUGE deal for me as a teacher, since trying to be heard AND understood through a mask is a struggle and can be exhausting. This mask, however, allows me to still feel like I'm projecting without having to yell all dang day.There were many reviews commenting on how difficult it was to insert the filter. I struggled in the beginning and then realized it wasn't the filter but rather it was me trying to put it in incorrectly. :P Once I figured out my error, it was a piece of cake, and the filter fits fine.As a glasses-wearing gal, the fog issue has been a big one with other masks I've tried, but I have little to no fogging with this mask because of its wonderful fit. All in all, I am very happy with my purchase and would even consider buying other colors...especially if they came out with more fun color options. :)Ready for the pandemic to be over!!! <3

I hate that masks are such a necessity these days, but the OR mask is the best that I've ran across. I wear glasses so its tough to get ones that won't fog up my glasses, and the nose wire on these helps a lot. Its also very comfortable with adjustable ear loops, and I took one to Mexico and wore it everyday on planes and buses for four months; even though I had brought other masks they were much more uncomfortable, especially after a while on longer rides unlike the OR mask which was more tolerable. I washed the same mask every night- and by morning it was always dry even with high humidity in the rooms I stayed in- and it held up great despite also being repeatedly crushed in my pocket. Though I like this mask has the additional pocket for filters, I just don't use them (even though maybe I should)- however I've yet to get sick irregardless even after being squeezed into a Mexico City subway car like a sardine, flying on an airplane for eight hours and riding on a very full Amtrak train with this mask on. I'm not saying you should trust your life to these masks so you can travel around the world in the middle of a pandemic that is continuing to get worse, but if I had only one mask I took with me and wore everyday- this would be it.

bought these for my husband and I. they're breathable, comfortable, and you can get a tight seal around the edges.the filters cost more than the competitors, but they're worth it. at first I bought a pack of more affordable PM2.5 filters, which were so NOT breathable that the air was just going around the sides -- which completely defeats the purpose. with the outdoor research filters, the air passes through them. this resulted in NEVER getting fog on our glasses! (and of course, more safety for me and others around me.)if you're worried these sound too breathable, note they passed the candle test, with and without filters. the masks are double layered. we only use the filters when indoors. with outdoor exercising, we just wear the mask.we'd stick the filters in a hot sunny window for about a week to kill germs. we labeled our filters with sharpies so we'd know who they belonged to and kept them in rotation like this for many uses. you can comfortably wear the filters inside out to keep them going even longer.so due to the comfort and re-usability, I really think its worth it to purchase this brand of filter. if you can't find them on amazon, I did find some at REI. I didn't know they came in packs of 10 and 25. too bad, I would have chosen that to cut down on plastic waste! oh well. next time.

I have had so many mask, from Cambridge, Vogmask, generic brand, and UA. My last comfort one was the UA mask, Both UA and this mask is easy to breath and easy to talk and not sucking the cloth in while talking. The UA ear loop is fine, but it became very weak after a few wash due to the material it uses, making the UA mask very loose to wear and feel not as well protected. This mask has much better ear loop material. This mask has thinner material, making it quicker to dry after wash and it doesn't absorb smells like the UA mask does. There are amble of coverage to cover the entire face and nose, even when I yawn or talk, it will still cover my nose.Plan to buy another one for in between wash.

初めてこのマスクを使ったのは、友人からのプレゼントでした。通気性も良く、しっかり鼻と口をカバーしてくれます。今回は、洗い替え用に自分でもう１枚購入しました。不織布のフィルターを内側にセットできるようになっていますが、このフィルターが少々値段が高め！何回かは洗って再利用できます。最初はフィルターをセットして使っていましたが、ちょっと内側のポケットにきれいにはめるのが面倒です。マスクの生地自体にウイルスカットのコーティングがされているので、今はフィルター無しで使用しています。ただ、最初付けたとき特有の匂いがあります。コーティングの匂いでしょうか？洗う内に匂いも弱くなってきましたが、人によってはこの匂いはダメかも。私は直ぐに慣れましたが・・・。ちょっと高めですが、いいマスクだと思います。

リピ買いです。毎日使ってます。

期待していた通りのデカサです。顔面が大きい人にはお勧めですし、話してもズレてきませんのでハナマスクになりません。大きさのイメージは一般に出回っている不織布の大人用大で話すと突っ張ったりズレてしまう人にはピッタリだと思います。

まあまあです。生地厚みもまあまああります。キャンプ中のおしゃれ用マスク。散歩中のおしゃれアイテム。人混みではちゃんとした白いマスクがいい。そんなかんじ