Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Essential Face Mask Kit

This is the best fitting and most comfortable mask that I have found. I bought one for each of my family members, and they like them, too. One of the reasons I purchased this mask was that it has a filter pocket, but there is an issue. The filter comes out of the pocket and often needs re-positioning. This occurs more with the guys with facial hair. I would give this mask four and a half stars, if that were an option - five stars if there is a re-design that keeps the filter in place and all other features are maintained. Thanks for stepping up to be part of the solution!

Love the overall design. still trying to figure out how to adjust the nose clamp so that is is comfortable on the bridge of my nose. Like the replaceable filters.

Mask has one design flaw. Filter does not stay in place. I have placed a small piece on sticky back velcro in each wing. This has seemed to worked in helping keep filter in place. Mask other wise the best one yet.

Would've given it five stars if the filter insert fit into place better, which is quite annoying as it shifts around, also making it harder to breathe in than your average mask. Overall well made and fits snugly.

Nicely made but disagree that it can be worn effectively without the filter. You can see a lot of light through it clearly without the filter even though it's a double layer of fabric. The guidelines out there specify that a tight weave is important to block droplets/aerosols. With the filter it is a good mask.

I've tried 5 different Brands of cloth masks, and use paper ones and N95 at my work (I'm an ICU nurse). After the first ones I bought a total of five OR masks. They are my go to, and my daily wear mask (strange how masking up seems normal now) After a long 12 hour shift in stuffy hospital masks these are refreshing to put on to go home. These are the only mask I've found that both has a nose wire and doesn't kill my ears. I've used them while working out at PT and daily wear going about my business. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is the white extra filter. It tends to shift and sag down inside the mask, and frequently needs to be readjusted which defeats the benefit of having one when you're touching it all the time. If it slid completely between two layers then that would be the money.

This is a GREAT mask! I love the fit, it covers my face completely but is not tight at all. The material is a little rough, but I think that speaks to the longevity as it does feel like it's built to last. I love this product.

All my outdoor clothing is OR. Have been buying OR since the 90s. The mask is well made and has a pretty universal fit. I wish they would make available more information on exactly what the filter it made from and its Merv or N rating. The ear straps work ok, my suggestion would be to put a cord that goes around the back of the neck, up thru the sides of the mask and then has a cord lock for top loop that goes around the head above the ears. Many other masks have that design and the work better. (See pic). I sewed them into this style for my kids masks A bit short for a guys face (opening your mouth very far causes mask to pop off chin or pull down from nose) not a huge deal if you pay attention to it.

I've purchased several different versions of face masks and I think this one will be my "go to" mask when I want lots of protection. I have a narrow face and it fits great and doesn't leave any gaps. If the filter and HEIQ V-BLOCK NPJ03 treatment perform as described, then I feel a lot less vulnerable. It is extremely hot and humid where I live, but this mask did not feel hot or claustrophobic even when out in the hot sun. The only "cons" are that I wish it came in more color choices (navy blue maybe?) and the adjustable straps are a lot longer than they need to be and stick out. The filter is a little tricky to get in and it doesn't feel like it is as secure as it should be.

Ear loops adjust and work well. I clip the extra loop behond the slider to a carabiner on my shoulder strap so I can pull it up on my face when meeting other hikers. Echoing others, the filter is fiddly and difficult to keep smooth and not fold/bunch. I actually had one fall out while it was hanging on my pack.

Very comfortable and like that it's adjustable. Overall size fits very well. Subtracted one Star because the 'filters' don't stay in very well - And therefore I don't use them. Looks great

The "one size fits all" is too big for many of us, but I'm able to turn the bottom 1/2" under my chin for a comfortable solution. It doesn't slip up or down when I have the ear loops correctly adjusted. The fabric and the adjustable ear loops make this comfortable to wear for long periods.

I've had trouble finding masks that fit my face well. This one is now one of my faves. It's lightweight, breathable, comfortable. The adjustable ear straps are also thin and light, and comfortable. The one small issue for me is the filter being directly on my skin. When I've had to wear it for many hours straight, it started feeling scratchy and wasn't as comfortable as cotton.

Overall the best mask I've used. The fabric is much lighter than the standard sewn fabric ones. My only complaint is that nothing on it can be easy replaced or swapped out. The ear straps are sewn directly onto the mask and the metal piece to better hold the bridge of the nose is sewn in and would be difficult to replace from bending fatigue over time. Other than that, definitely one of the most svelt looking masks out there!

Have been wearing this a lot, fits the face and seems to wash well. My only issue is with the removable filters, they don't stay in place very well and feel scratchy against the face. A suggestion would be to have a full pocket for the filter instead having the just the ends of the filter tucked into pockets near the ears. This would hold the filter in place better and a softer fabric would be against the face.

Love the fit and look of these masks. The only gripe I have is that the filters are hard to spread apart and insert into the mask in a secure way. I would also love more info on how often to change the filters and the ability to purchase more filters as needed.

Nice mask. Comfortable in what has been pretty extreme heat and great coverage. I lost the left adjuster grommet after the first week - reason for my 4 stars. I'd suggest a simple tie off after you have fitted yourself to keep each one intact. I get a little nervous when I fold the mask because I'm afraid to warp the wire nose piece... But each time I open it back up it seems to to pop right back into shape. Very happy with purchase.

Easy to use, stays in place and reduced eyeglass fogging. It doesn't smell awesome.

This is a great mask and very comfortable. The adjustable straps are great and don't hurt my ears. However, I wish it came in a smaller size. I wear glasses, and the mask sits so high on the bridge of my nose that my glasses can't quite sit on my face normally, which is annoying. However, I am still able to wear this mask for 8 hours a day at work. I've hiked in it as well and it definitely gets pretty sweaty but I think that's to be expected of any mask that's more than just a buff. Overall, great mask, just wish it fit my face better!

Great fit, I have a wide face and large nose bridge. The mask fits great and once I pinch down the nose portion, it doesn't fog my glasses

Great mask with one exception. Like many masks I've tried, the nose bridge is too weak, so you do not get a solid seal around the nose, leading to fogged glasses. Look at the strength of the bridge on N95 masks and you'll see the difference.

I've taken this mask on several long hikes and some casual wear so far. This mask has a very comfortable fit and is more breathable than any other mask I've tried so far. Most masks in this class don't even have a filter, so I am very happy that OR made this a feature. The filter can quickly be inserted or removed depending on the activity or risk level. It's not an n95, so don't expect total protection, but if you ever wore one, an n95 would be tight against your face and be less comfortable. This mask kind of offers the best of both worlds. The filters come very tightly closed together so take a minute to carefully open the wings without ripping or damaging it. For casual wear: the mask is great for casual wear/running errands. Like I said, more breathable than an n95 yet more protective than a cloth mask. The nose piece is adjustable and fogging is minimal with glasses. For hiking: I have tried a few different techniques at wearing this mask when hiking. I think that wearing the mask during an entire strenuous hike is not practical and then there IS fogging once you start breathing heavy (mostly with filter in place). The better option is to wear this on one ear and flip it on when you encounter others on the trail. I found this to be tricky as it will occasionally fall off in a breeze, so I found a cheat. I wear a hat with a chin strap overtop of the tethered ear piece of the mask, and it keeps the mask securely hanging on one side. I can then quickly take it on and off as needed. One issue with this is that the filter will come out of its sleeve in the mask while it is flapping around. This is getting outside of the masks intended use, so I don't fault OR for this, but it would be nice to see it stay in place a little better somehow. I did not experience the filter bunching up while actually wearing it on the face. Last small issue is that once above timber line (or anywhere very windy), having the mask on one ear will cause it to flap violently.

It's a well-made mask with a relatively good seal, good craftmanship, and decent design. The flaw with the design is that the area between the 'ear loop' string on each side is going to flare out a bit. Even with a really tight seal this would not be N-95, but a better seal would help get it closer to a decent level of personal protection. The seal really is key, for that sort of thing. Any gap in the seal is N-0. That being said, I tried a few things, and found that applying tension at the back after adjusting the ear loops helps seal it much tighter and get rid of the 'flare' at the cheekbone area without compressing my ears too much. To achieve this without having to tie a knot every time, I used a 'web dominator' insert. They're great at tensioning shock cord, cheap, and I had a few sitting around for use with various packs. Your solution may vary, but if the mask is worth buying, it's worth modifying with a similar to work better.

Using at work and on the trail

Its wide and deflects sweat. But if you wear it without a filter (who had the money to buy filters for 7 days a week? No one) you can blow a candle out with it in. Aka= no actual covid protection. It is slightly scratchy. But if I'm walking the street and want some pretend protection without the face sweat I'll wear it. Or I'll layer it with another mask.