When to wear 7 different types of face masks: KN95, 3M, N95

Submit

Δ

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

It was nice while it lasted, wasn't it?

If you’re anything like us, you stopped masking as soon as you had to, but by the same token, if you’re anything like us, you don't want to miss out on Christmas festivities because you’re home sick.

This holiday season, experts are warning about an impending "tripledemic" – spiking COVID, flu, and RSV cases, all at once.

Luckily, gone are the early days of the coronavirus pandemic when there were mask shortages and DIY alternatives.

Now, with an array of available PPE like the popular N95 and KN95, the coveted 3M brand masks and the iconic blue medical masks, to name a few, it's hard to know which to wear.

"Some situations may have higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 than others, so the level of protection needed may vary," reads the CDC website.

The site goes on to list higher-risk activities, such as flying on airplanes or traveling in vehicles with unknown passengers, visiting relatives in a hospital or healthcare setting and working in a public-facing job where social distancing isn't always possible. Those suggest a higher level of protective gear. For going to the grocery store or a routine visit to your doctor, there's a mask for that, and outdoor activities like a walk in the park may only need a cloth or blue medical mask.

We’ve compiled a list of masks and their uses below, including options for children and smaller faces, all with links to order yours in a snap, with options for bulk orders as well to keep you fully stocked through the winter.

Perfect for riding on planes, trains, and automobiles with non-members of your household, this mask is for you.

"For some situations, especially those that require prolonged close contact with people who do not live with you, you may prefer to use a KN95 mask identified on the FDA Emergency Use Authorization List," reads the CDC website.

At just $1.04 each, the masks come individually wrapped, perfect for sticking a few extra in your carry on and having them handy in your glovebox. They start at quantities of five and come in the classic white or black, with either standard ear loops or an adjustable head strap.

The child's size KN95 is great for the same stuff as the adult version but provides better protection for their smaller proportions, as it hugs their face for a better seal than using an adult's mask.

The kids’ masks come in packs of 10, with five white and five blue masks in an adorable animal cartoon bag. They are also all individually wrapped, great to have on hand when sending them on the school bus or for airplane travel with the grownups.

Another highly talked-about mask is the N95, a great option for other higher-risk situations like visiting grandma in her assisted living facility or going to a public-facing job.

"An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. Note that the edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth," explains the FDA website. "Surgical N95 Respirators are commonly used in healthcare settings and are a subset of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs), often referred to as N95s."

The RespoKare brand N95 Surgical Respirator Mask is both FDA cleared and NIOSH approved, so no knockoffs here. They are sold for $2.49 each and come in three sizes to perfectly fit your face and in quantities of two or more per order.

Masks were around long before the pandemic and are actually wonderful for non-virus-related things, like remodeling your home, woodworking and other dusty activities.

You can also feel comfortable wearing one of these to the hospital, doctor's office or on public transit, as they have a great seal, keeping particles out of your nose and mouth and keeping you from spreading them to others.

The masks are $1.39 each, great for your next cleaning project, construction or finally getting up in your dusty attic for the first time since the pandemic started.

The next two masks are some of the most common and intended for everyday use, be it on the street or in the grocery store. This mask protects not just against the coronavirus but also against 18 different flu viruses, including influenza types A and B, plus bird and swine flu, as well as measles, SARS, MERS and other airborne pathogens, according to the site.

"Medical procedure masks (including surgical masks) intended for community use are commercially available and are often sold as ‘disposable face masks,'" explains the CDC. "Check the labels to ensure that they are made of multi-layered, non-woven material."

This RespoKare Anti-Viral Surgical Mask is sold for $1.99 each in orders as small as two, shipping within 48 business hours to get you and your family protection ASAP.

The most common masks on the street are the blue, three-ply ones — and for good reason, as the CDC recommends them to the general public, either on their own for lower-risk activities or layered under a cloth mask for higher-risk times.

"Use cloth or medical procedure masks that have a nose wire (a metal strip along the top of the mask) to help prevent air leakage at the top of the mask," advises the CDC. "Nose wires can also help to prevent fogging of eyeglasses. To get a good fit, make sure to bend the nose wire over your nose to conform to your face."

The nose wire is a great and important feature, and luckily the WellBefore 3 PLY Disposable Face Masks come with the nose bridge and ear loops to keep your mask securely fastened to your face. They are just 20 cents each, coming in the standard blue color as well as black for just a few cents more.

Protecting your child is your main priority, so finding them a mask that fits their face is step one.

Since masks are not one-size-fits-all, this three-ply version was designed to be smaller to fit a child's proportions, measuring 14.5cm by 9.5cm. They are individually wrapped, which makes it super easy to pack a few spares in their backpack and lunch bag to change throughout the day. Both the blue and the black masks cost just 20 cents each and come in quantities of 10.

"Our Kids Disposable 3-PLY Face Masks come with elastic ear hooks. The inner layer is made of soft facial tissue, is non-pigmented and soft to the skin," reads the product description. "The filter membrane is made of safety standard materials, three-layer disposable masks, which can be used by children and adults, can maintain health and safety when working or going out, can well protect the health of the respiratory system and protect your breathing."