I’m starting to gather a collection of face masks.
Sure, we know they’re not true PPE.
But they are reassuring in a supermarket where the bloke near the tins of tomatoes really doesn’t have any idea of what 6 feet looks like. Or where the kiddie with her parents still runs off to look at something with sticky fingers. Whilst all advice is that gloves are still pointless (you need to change them constantly for them to be even vaguely effective), there’s finally some agreement that masks might help.
Whilst they might not protect you from me, they may help protect me from you, and if I’m doing the same, and everyone else is too, well less bug is going to get out there and infect people. One of the best explanations is perhaps the peeing meme (if anyone knows where it came from please let me know, I’ll happily credit them!).
The truth is, that masks aren’t going to be 100% effective unless you have NHS style PPE (and lets face it, not even the NHS has NHS style PPE), but they give us all a bit of a fighting chance.
So I’ve got plain black masks, stripy masks, and now thanks to Treat Republic (gifted items) I’ve got some that are not only washable at a suitable temperature, also include a pocket for a filter (plus two filters), but also look good.
Win, win. I mean, if we’re going to have to get used to them, which it looks like we are, then lets have them look good too. It’s something Asia has been doing for years, and with the added filter (more on that in a bit) you’ve got an extra layer of protection.
So let’s start at the beginning.
Design wise, as I mention they’re two layers of fabric, which means there’s a pocket in the centre for a filter. There are also two rubber tips to apply to the ear loops to make them fit a bit closer to your face.
The filters are PM 2.5 filters. There are two included, and they can be used once, for up to 12 hours (they also have packs of filters here). The 2.5 refers to the particle size that it filters. This size is great for traffic fumes, dust and pollen. When it comes to COVID things are a bit more complicated. Droplet size varies hugely, and the suggestion is that just normal talking in a confined area (i.e. inside) can spread it. Whilst I can’t outright say these will protect you, or those around you, they will certainly help. Personally, as an asthmatic, and hayfever sufferer, a little protection there isn’t something to be sniffed at (pun intended).
The designs I love. There are funny ones, and classy ones. Ones celebrating the NHS, and florals, and rainbows and camo prints. I went for one of my favourites, the vampire mouth:
And the lemon print – which matches a dress and a hat I have stashed in the wardrobe. I’m not the only one living in gym gear at the moment am I?
What I can definitely tell you is that they cover your face really well, nose to chin, so there’s less chance of those pesky droplets escaping. The filter does make it a bit thicker and stiffer, but a little moulding to your face and it sits well on your mouth and nose.
Verdict? At £15.99 they’re not the cheapest on the market. But you do get a great selection of prints and patterns. You do get the two filters, giving you that little bit extra. And £1 from every mask is donated to the NHS.
I can see myself adding some to my collection. Maybe the cat print. Maybe the face mask print (a little meta there). And some filters to go with. I’m pretty damn impressed.