We hear you. You’re looking for a comfortable face mask that doesn’t make you feel like you’re breathing through a straw and that can help you to breathe cleaner air in the city. Comfort factors aside for a moment, let’s be clear on why you would wear a mask. If you want to protect yourself from harmful particulates found in city air, you’ll need a mask with filters and an airtight fit. Single-use surgical masks or ones made from cotton won’t protect you from anything, but they will help to protect others around you from respiratory diseases like Covid-19, by catching droplets and reducing the risk of transmission. In your quest to find the most comfortable mask-wearing experience, there are a several key design features to look out for, which we’ll dive into below.

How long can you wear a disposable face mask for?

There’s no set rule on the amount of time that you can wear a disposable mask – manufacturers tend to vary with their recommendations – but the ballpark timeframe is 4-8 hours. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) disposable masks should only be worn once. Some guidance suggests that they can be reused if there's no alternative, as long as there's no obvious damage, but generally they should not be reworn. This is particularly important if you suspect the mask to have come into contact with any infectious particles.

If it’s a low waste option you’re looking for, reusable is the way forward. If the mask has filters, pay close attention to whether they can be replaced or not. If the filters can’t be replaced (and sewn into the mask), there will be a limit to how long you can wear the mask for. If they are replaceable, and if the mask is easy to clean, this is your best route to a mask that will last a lifetime. Low waste, tick, cost effective, tick, clean air, tick.

Which is the most comfortable face mask to wear? 

If you’re looking to breathe clean air, you’re going to need filters, and when it comes to finding the most comfortable mask with filters, it’s all in the design. Broadly, you’re looking for great breathability, an excellent fit and materials that are kind to your skin. Here are a few things to look out for:

• Exhalation valves – these little beauties are designed to move warm (and moist) exhaled air away from your face, preventing the inside of the mask from getting too hot and sweaty. Even better, if they are rear-facing, they will be even more efficient at pushing air in the right direction, away from your face.
• A breathable filter – it’s all in the choice of layers. Airhead Filters strategically combine two layers of highly breathable nanofiber to deliver the most effective filtration with the lowest possible breathing resistance. On top of this, there are two lightweight comfort layers and a carefully chosen activated carbon layer, to offer great performance without compromising on breathability.
• Soft TPE seal – an airtight seal prevents any leakage and is integral to the best fitting face masks. From a comfort perspective, it’s important that the seal is made of a material that doesn’t cause any irritation and feels comfortable on your face when worn for a prolonged period of time. TPE is an excellent choice here.
• Two-part head straps that go behind the head – for a secure and sturdy fit that won’t pull on your ears until they go bright red and stick out sideways, ditch the ear loops for adjustable straps that go behind your head. A two-part setup, with one strap that clips behind the back of your neck and another strap that securely sits at the top of your head, will evenly distribute the weight. This will make your mask feel comfortable, and provide a snug fit.
• Unclip the front for a cool breeze – if you’re racing up a hill on a warm day, you’re likely to get hot in a mask, even if you have all of the above four points covered. When you get to the top of the hill, you might feel like you want to pull the mask off for some cooler air, which can be tricky. Enter Airhead, with a unique feature that allows you to easily unclip the front panel for a quick breeze or drink, without taking the mask off. Obviously, you’ll have a few moments of breathing unfiltered air, but when you’re good to go, and with a satisfying click, you can set off again with clean air flowing into your lungs. 

After over two years of development (yes, a mask company that was born pre-pandemic!), we’re so excited to show you all of these design features in one product, to give you the most comfortable face mask experience and clean air when you’re out in the city. Join thousands of others today and find out what all the fuss is about.

Where should we be wearing a face mask?

Masks may be worn for many different reasons, as they look to combat a wide range of unpleasant things found in the air, including air pollution, pollen, wildfire smoke and respiratory diseases.

In the context of air pollution, urban areas pose the greatest risk, in particular: 

• On or near busy roads when cycling, walking or running – particularly on narrow streets with tall buildings
• In your car – air pollution can be nine to twelve times higher in a car than outside
• On the Underground – a toxic concoction of dust, metal, skin and clothing fibres has been found to make the air quality up to 18 times worse than roadside

Air pollution causes over 64,000 premature deaths a year in the UK, according to a recent parliamentary report, and in 2018, 22 million people were living in areas that had levels of PM2.5 (particulate matter) that exceeded the safe limit defined by the WHO. Cities in the south-east of England are the worst offenders, with London, Slough, Chatham, Luton and Portsmouth recording the highest proportion of deaths attributable to air pollution, according to a study by the Centre for Cities thinktank.

In the context of reducing Covid-19 transmission, we’re all used to wearing face masks now, to help protect others around you, particularly in indoor settings. Requirements and laws will vary depending on which country you are in, so make sure you check the lay of your local land to be clear on this. Remember, please wash your hands too!