Hello! Sorry for the late mega last week. How are my disabled comrades doing?
As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:
"Disability" is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.
Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.
Someone in general megathread linked this page, and it looks rather interesting: https://cleanaircrew.org/elastomeric-respirators/
Anyone here got any experience with this type of mask? Thinking that it might be worth getting one if it is less wasteful and if it fits more tightly than a regular FFP2/N95. Not sure where I would get one, though, these websites seem to be targeted at medical institutions instead of individuals that want to buy one.
i've used the half mask respirator with p100 filters before (3M 6000 in your link) but unfortunately for me i get a bit claustrophobic in them. i normally use aura masks but i recognize that they do break down and they're expensive.
although my partner actually finds those respirators more comfortable so they still might be worth trying out. they can be found on amazon or ppe suppliers, also hardware stores like home depot.
some have a cooling exhale valve which stops them from getting too moist on the inside, unlike standard n95s, so very comfortable in that sense. they also just look cool.
you have to speak very loudly and clearly in them though, they block a lot of sound.
I got one but was convinced it would make it too hard to hear me so I wear shitty KN95s :(.
I use elastomeric respirators all the time now. My everyday “going out” mask (for when i’m going to a public indoor space that’s going to have a decent density of people in it, i.e grocery shopping or class) is an MSA Advantage 900. Very good seal but it’s not the most comfortable thing in the world, but for the protection it gives I’m okay with that. my less heavy-duty mask (which i wear around my family, when going outdoors, occasionally in public indoor spaces if there’s a low density of people) is a Flo mask. Flo masks are pretty comfortable, they’re somewhat expensive though and I will say that for me the seal is not as secure as my MSA Advantage (it tends to break if i laugh, so I have to try not to laugh very much when I’m wearing it.) In general elastomerics have worked very well for me, it’s been great not having to constantly buy new masks and as far as I can tell I’ve been pretty well protected, but your mileage may vary.
I've tried GVS elipse, airboss, flomask, and have now for the past year used a dentec comfort air. The GVS hurt my nose bridge too much. The airboss was expensive, the straps wouldn't stay adjusted, and it split open after a few months, an absolute scam. The flowmask hurt my nose bridge and its small size caused gaps in the seal when I spoke or smiled, but I've heard it suits some people very well. The Dentec has suited my high nose bridge and far exceeded all others in comfort and seal integrity yet was the cheapest. I had to shop around to find the non-bulk order of it though. It's also all black and looks very cyberpunk.
Understand, though that your voice will be much more muffled in an elastomeric than disposable N95, and while some claim to have better audibility, it's not by much. I use my left over Auras when I know I'm going to talk to someone.