Features:

  • Designed to help provide comfortable reliable worker respiratory protection against non-oil based particles
  • Two-strap design with welded point attachment helps provide a secure seal
  • Features proprietary cool flow valve that reduces heat build-up inside the respirator
  • Respirator type:Sanding & fiberglass , No HEPA
  • Cool FlowValve reduces heat, moisture, and fogging
  • Protects against certain non-oil-based products
  • M-shaped nose clip for a comfortable fit
  • No-tangle straps for ease of use
  • Allows for easy breathability
If looking for the right mask in the forest fire air pollution in the bay area, this is what you want

This is the standard 3M N-95 mask and it works just as expected. I've used this model for years, and here's why: - it's actually comfortable - it's very breathable. I can bike with it and breath quite hard before it becomes a hindrance. - it's rated N95, i.e. this is good against particles like PM2.5 (filters 95% of them) - the seal is very good regardless of your face shape and that's important Note: This is what to get if you're in the bay area and looking for a mask right now. Do not get the non-rated one. You want N95 or P100 only. I just gave away what I had left so I'm getting a new pack.

Work great for air pollution

I bought these masks to use on our trip to China. I had read about the terrible air pollution in the big Chinese cities and my wife is very sensitive to this, so I was looking for something to help her. These worked very well. Not only did they perform well and allow my wife to enjoy her vacation, but they are easy to take on and off. Also, they stood up well to being squashed in a suitcase. My wife used them in Beijing to filter air pollution and in Tibet to filter the incense that is used in the Buddist temples. For both uses they worked well. Again, she is very sensitive to bad air and she was fine while wearing these. I would highly recommend them.

Protect yourself from air pollution!

This is a really useful product which helps you breathing fresh and clean air in comfortable way. I bought this product last December when I went back to my home town for winter break. I come from Beijing, capital city of China. I love my home city, although I heard the air pollution is terrible in the few years. My friend told me I have to prepare to prevent myself form this bad pollution. As a result, I bought these 3M masks. I tried to use the mask immediately after I landed off. In fact, the effect is amazing! I can definitely feel the air is fresh, because the air is smelled different. While, I stayed in Beijing for about a month, based on the weather issue I wear the mask even every day. After a few days used for one mask, I surprised the internal of the mask is turning to black. We said the bad air pollution in Beijing is because the level of PM 2.5 is increasing. PM 2.5 is fine particulate which comes from human activities such as automobiles’ uncomplete fuel burning and all kinds of chemical industries’ trash discharging. I read an article which talks about 3M N 95 respirators. It said N95 respirator can filter seven types of particulates which means even 95% of airborne transmission’s particulates can be filtered. Personally, I think this respirator is really helpful. It not only can prevent air pollution but also can protect you when you need to do some works in high level of PM 2.5 areas. Moreover, this is one of the most comfortable masks I have every used. 3M use their technology to eliminate heat and wet inside the respirator. Especially for the people who wear glasses, this mask will never make a fog in front of the glasses when breathing. Although I didn’t find any information to support my view, I think this mask is using cottons which make it soft and comfortable. On the other perspective, I think this mask is too tight to move. Personally, I don’t like to tie my hair up in winter, so every time I try to remove the mask it will mess my hair up. Although it is hard to remove, tight coupling with face is helping to prevent pollution come into the mask. Over all, I like this powerful air cleansing functional mask with comfortable material. So I will give 5 starts for the product! As a conclusion, I really encourage you who have same situation with me to buy this product. Because it is really useful to me and I believe it will be useful to you as well! Hope this review can help you when you make purchase decision.

These masks did their job in a very bad and potentially dangerous situation. We did have to replace them after a few hours.

Worked well with the terrible smoke and other junk in the air after the recent big fires north of San Francisco! My wife has short hair, and she had some problems getting the mask over her head and to fit. I have a large head and had no problems besides getting it on the first time. With even moderate time exposure to the smoke and whatever, the masks had to be replaced. Which might be good news as the smoke and whatever was blocked by the mask. These masks quickly sold out in the two county fire. One of the chain hardware stores had the following message: "Thank you for calling ********. How can we help you with the exception of the 3 M Cool Flow Mask. We and our suppliers are out of stock. I had ordered our first box from the ocean where we were during the fire's first few days. When we returned home, a neighbor had put the Prime box on our kitchen table. So we had them when others had to use the cheap masks. I ordered an extra box to have as an emergency back up.

Highly recommend them both

I needed something to wear when I cut the grass bc I would get so sick with other mask, this along with my 3m Virtua CCS protective eyewear works miracles for me! Highly recommend them both

Great, and was able to adapt it for my kid.

So I have a box of the 8511s from a local hardware store, and also a box of store brand... and these are far and away more wearable. We're in the Oregon Smoke right now, AQI at 400+, and these make the headache go away pretty much instantly. I have sensory issues, and where the cheaper masks are itchy, these are silky soft. Moreover, I've been able to use gorilla tape to take down the size for my five year old, who has tolerated it for hours at a time. I'm adding pictures of the process I used. Not the "ideal solution" for kids, but far better than nothing at all when the smoke is this bad. Leaks are minimal to none and the only place the tape sits is where the mask touches the chin--not where air would be coming through anyway. He says it doesn't smell bad when he has the mask on, which is as good a test as any available to us. (the pictures are with duct tape, but gorilla tape stays put about 10x better on the felt.)

Learn how to use it before you wear it.

This facemask is on the CDC website as one of the N95 particulate filtering facepiece respirators that they recommend. This is different than a surgical mask as it filters smaller particles. I can not stress enough how important a good seal is with the mask.These masks come in a wide variety of styles and shapes. It is important to find one that fits your face. The only way to know if the mask truly fits your face is with a fit test. Fit test kits can be purchased online. I do not know how accurate they are. I highly recommend a fit test if the purpose of the mask is to protect you from biological particles. I am a nurse. It was through fit testing that I discovered the type of mask I was using did not fit .It was not making a perfect seal. You can not put the mask on and say you have a seal. I thought that my mask was a perfect fit. I could feel it touching the sides of my face, yet fit testing determined I did not have a 100% seal. If you use the mask to screen biological particles it is important not to touch the outside of the mask. You can infect yourself. The exhalation valve on the mask prevents moisture build up and makes exhalation easier. Read the directions before using as there is a great risk of contaminating yourself with the mask if you don't know how to use it.

If you are buying masks for yourself, and cost is not a concern, this is the one you want.

In terms of fit, dust leakage around the side of the mask, and durability this is a better quality filter mask than the ones I have used in the past. The construction of this mask is a bit different from others of this general type. Most masks of this type have little depth. This mask is thick and has two part construction in depth. The surface of the mask is rigid on the outside. The interior of the mask is softly compliant. The springy exterior of the mask keeps the straps from pulling out, keeps the valve where it needs to be and holds the mask shape. The interior of the mask is soft, follows the curves of your face and wicks away sweat. The compliant, soft surface of the interior is perhaps the most important feature of the design both in terms of the fit and in preventing from dust from working its way around the side of the mask into your nose and mouth. The breather valve has been added to reduce the effort in breathing through the mask. This is not the only function the valve has. The valve is positioned to guide your breath away from your glasses. This means that on cooler mornings that my glasses do not fog up. If you do work which routinely requires masks you will recognize this problem. Heat rises. With a mask without a valve my warm breath rises from the mask and fogs my glasses. The valve exhaust is positioned to prevent that. On all sorts of levels this mask has been carefully thought through both in design and construction. By the way I have no relationship with 3M or any of its distributors. No one paid me to write this product evaluation. I appreciate the reviews written by others which guide me to better tools and more durable products, and help me separate good tools from cleverly packaged junk. I am returning the favor.

The best non-permanent respirator I have used.

These are the best disposable masks I've ever used. I've used a lot of respirators, from the cheap hardware store type to positive-pressure welding helmets. Positive-pressure respirators are the ultimate in protection and comfort, but at $600+, they're not exactly a casual purchase. For most shop work, I prefer a 3M half-mask with replaceable cartridges. Over the last few years I have developed allergies that are made much worse by yard work and similar dusty activities. My good respirators are just too hot for active, sweaty work. They collect sweat and condensation. The cheap hardware store masks are ineffective and almost as uncomfortable as a full respirator. These respirators are the happy medium between the cheap molded masks and a real respirator. They aren't as effective as my shop respirators, but they are FAR more effective than the usual molded masks without a vent. This is what I wear when I mow the lawn or run the weed whacker. There isn't a lot of moisture buildup in this respirator, and you don't have to wallow in your own bad breath, much. The edge of the mask has a wide, flat area that makes a pretty good seal with your face; if you have a beard, it won't work well, but for everyone else it does a pretty good job. Now that I wear these, I certainly have fewer allergy symptoms following yard work. They appear to do a good job of filtering pollen, dust, and debris. I don't have a laboratory to confirm this conclusion, just my lungs. One gripe: The elastic bands are are narrow and feel about like rubber bands. They're not particularly comfortable, especially the top band. I wish 3M would use elastic about twice as wide. On the other hand, a respirator is not effective unless it makes a good seal with your face, and the elastic bands used on these respirators are strong enough to help make a pretty good seal.

Protects My Asthmatic Lungs and Dicey Sinuses

Ready to order more. Poor air quality from N Cal fires are in their 4th day. I wear one outdoors at all times, but stay in when I can. I also used them in Beijing and other cities with irritating particulate matter in the air. Be sure to squeeze the adjustable nose piece for proper fitting. Elastic is tight, my only con.

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