Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Essential Face Mask Kit

Since the OR systems can't let you find and edit old reviews, I'm having to write an updated one. Unfortunately, it won't be for the better. This mask with the filter in place is ok if you're just sitting in one spot and not speaking or if you are moving, it's casually and cool and not humid out. (Think fall) This mask cannot deal with moving a lot of moisture. So if you exhale or speak a lot or sweat a lot or it's just humid out, it's going to be trapped in the mask and that is not pleasant! I have a cotton mask that I started carrying around to wear in these situations instead. Also, as stated, the insert most certainly does not stay in place on its own. I always have to readjust it each time I put it on. Every. Single. Time. Then there is the nose wire. I don't have confidence in the wire lasting several cycles of bending. It's also sharp enough at the ends to poke out of the mask. Depending on which way it sticks out, it will poke you one way or another. The wire should be removable. It feels like a double wire garbage bag tie in there.

As an avid OR user for many of my outdoor pursuits, I assumed this mask would be the same top quality as the rest of my OR quiver. Unfortunately, the filter often needs to be 'massaged' back into the tabs. And after only about a month of use, the wire is poking through the fabric. Great idea, but doesn't cut it in real-life scenarios for extended use. I like the color and it's quite breathable though!

The mask is very lightweight and I really like the adjustable straps. The issues all revolve around trapping moisture near your face and steaming glasses. In warm weather there is the constant sensation of dampness as it seems to trap moisture from both sweat and breathing. Past a certain point the filter becomes a soggy mess that sticks to your face. On a recent cool morning I gave it another go. The moisture trapping issue is still there and now add major steaming of eyeglasses as well. I eventually traded this mask out for a different one to finish the day. I like the look of the mask. It is very comfortable to wear, light and adjusts well. If I'm indoors in an office setting, there are no issues. It comes down to using it outdoors where I run into problems.

The fllter is constantly falling out or is partially inserted.

Im sure its a great mask on a medium to big head. But is giant on a small face. Looks odd and fit is loose. Its a shame, they are expensive.

Ehh. I don't much like the fit. I have a narrow face and the middle ridge line of the mask projects too far out. The coffee filters get bunched up and become very uncomfortable. I'm not a fan of these.

I use the mask to protect myself. It fits well but it has a terrible odor even after numerous washes. I will only use it in an emergency situation, not on a day-to-day basis!

I was looking for a non-cotton mask and this had lots of good reviews. Unfortunately it's much too big for my face. It hands about an inch down below my chin, which means it won't provide adequate protection and it's very uncomfortable (the bottom of it rubs against my neck rather than sitting flush with my chin). Too bad it's not returnable.

Weird smell that took several washings to remove. The filters don't stay in place, they are constantly puckering up, making you touch the mask and your face. Not breatheable, I am trying the Under Armour mask next, I have heard good things about that one.

Filters are unavailable or way overpriced!

Bought this mask for general use based on good reviews. I find that the small flaps don't secure the paper filter insert properly. The filter can easily become bunched up. And if you're not wearing the mask all the time - e.g. putting it in your pocket until you need to wear it, such as when encountering other people walking - the filter will have slipped out of position or fallen out entirely, requiring a lot of fumbling to get it repositioned. The mask isn't bad without the filter, but detracting three stars because the filter is annoying to put in (I had to consult a video to even figure out how it was meant to be inserted) and then falls out constantly.

They look nice. I'll give them that. But not nearly the product testing I would expect from OR. This was clearly a rush job on design. My biggest issue is with the filter. If you wear the mask for any reasonable amount of time in a single session, the filter gets bunched up and moves all over the place. There's so way to actually secure the filter in place so when it runs against your face it gets moved and falls out or bunched up. Other designs I've seen have a pocket for the filter which prevents this, but for as heavy as this mask is, it seems like that was a major oversight. It seems to do the job decently well but I definitely have a wardrobe of masks to pick from now and this is never my top choice.

This mask fits poorly, fogging glasses and creating a gap under the chin.

As many other reviewers have noted the design of this mask is flawed. The mask on its own is fine - the fabric is comfortable, the fit is good and the adjustable ear loops are nice. The problem is with the filters. The first time or two you use a new filter, the filter is stiff and stays in place. But after that the filter material softens up and then it won't stay put. Every time you take the mask on or off you need to readjust the filter, and even then it's hard to get it set so it doesn't bunch up in places. This is extremely annoying. Without the filter, the effectiveness of the mask is questionable, since it is only a single thin layer of fabric. I've taken to using small dabs of super glue to hold the filter in place. Given the price, it seems like OR really dropped the ball on this one.

The design for the filter pocket needs to be rethought out. Filters do not stay in! Otherwise the mask is great fits well the strings are just the right diameter doesn't fit into your ears or feel too thick. But those darn filter again just won't stay in.

The filter doesn't stay put, it moves from use to use and I have to keep readjusting. The design could improve using move material that the filter doesn't not move

The moment I start talking, the filters start sliding. My breath causes the filters to soften and crumple, my chin velcros to the filter and next thing ya know, it's coming out the bottom and I start doing exactly what I'm not supposed to: fiddling with it. A simple redesign would fix this. Velcro, some sort of fastener...but two loose pockets on either side of the mask? That just isn't gonna cut it for securing the filters, especially for stubbly fellas like myself. Hold off on purchasing until redesign.

I am happy with the fit of the face mask. However, the filters are fiddly to put in place (yes, I watched the video - twice) and do not stay in place. I also don't care for the feel of the paper filter against my face. Since the mask is a single layer of material, it's not adequately protective without the filter. In retrospect, it's not worth the rather high price.

I have a small face and this mask does not stay on. Even using a safety pin to pull and clip the two loops together behind my head is not enough unless I put my hair up in a bun and then pull this strap above the bun. I bought this mask because of the HeiQ anti-viral coating, which so far is hard to find on US manufactured masks, but because of the large size, I only trust wearing it over an N95 mask. (The filters that come with the mask are a pain in the neck to use, especially if you are doing something active with your mask on. They continually fall out of the holes and bunch up.) I love that the mask is washable and reusable, however. And given OR's reputation for high quality products, I expect the next iteration of this mask will be a substantial improvement.

The mask alone does not provide much protection, and may aerosolize the large droplets I am spewing . With the filter it provides adequate protection and is very comfortable and well made, but the filter does not stay in place, especially if you start sweating. OR should provide trade-in or some discount for the three-pack I bought, when they fix this obvious design flaw. Otherwise it is not very useful.

filter falls out to easily

Looks nice, materials seems high quality and it fits well, EXCEPT -- and this is a deal breaker -- the removable, disposable filter is only secured in the mask by tucking in the side flaps meaning that most of the filter is in direct contact with your face rather than being a "middle" layer like in many other masks. That feels sort of annoying and is unsecure. In fact, invariably if you have to remove or lower your mask you need to readjust, retuck, and try to get the filter back in to position. It's not safe having to touch the inside of your mask while out and about. I love Outdoor Research products but this mask is not a very good effort.

This was a good first effort for Outdoor Research. However the filter fit is just awful. There is a tab on the inner left and right that the filter sets into. This leaves a lot of area for the filter to flop around and it directly sits on your face. The filter needs it's own full size pocket so it doesn't come into contact with your skin. The filter constantly comes loose and just simply becomes useless.

The filter gets scrunched. Needs a better pocket to hold in the filter. Using it without the filter feels fine and does its purpose.

The adjustable strap is great , it fits well on the face. Way too hot , not breathable not for a person that has to wear a mask 8+ hours a day this is not the mask for you.