Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Essential Face Mask Kit

Filter doesn't stay in place well, but other than that this is still my favorite daily use mask.

4/5 stars excellent quality and fits perfect! I'm giving it a 4/5 just because arrived a couple days late in order to protect me from getting Covid. Ladies I beat it in 4 days though so you know I have strong genes HMU

The face mask was high quality and the fit was comfortable. The only drawback is the insert. It is difficult to fit and keep the insert in place while wearing it.

This is one of my main masks. I give 4 stars because I really don't like how the filter area works. Otherwise is a top shelf buy

The mask is lightweight and the elastic is soft. The pockets for the filter need to be about an inch wider so that the filter will stay in place. I sewed the filter down in two spots but that didn't help. I ended up sewing a piece of cloth to cover the entire inside to keep the filter and mask together. It is so much better.

I am a first responder and we are wearing these when we can't distance (crew common spaces, vehicles when not responding), we switch to medical masks for calls. The fit is great and the ear loop adjustments let you find what works for you. I find the size covers my whole face (no temptation to pull it down to talk, or have talking drag it down), but has enough structure to not be in your mouth. I admit I dont use the filter, but only because we currently dont have any local cases so transmission risk is low.

This mask has been great for me. I like that there's a flexible metal piece to help you get the mask to fit better. That being said, the filter liners don't fit in the mask that well. It gets scrunched up and I eventually just take it out. It's also probably not the best mask for a small face. Better too big, than too small but this engulfs my face.

This is the most comfortable mask to wear all day that I have tried. I work 12 hour shifts, 5 days a week and am required to wear a mask the whole time I'm there. I have other masks that are comfortable but these are the best. They don't ride up or fall down. If my ears start bugging me I an adjust the ear loops to be a little looser. I have one in each colour so I don't get them mixed up and wear the same one 2 days Iin a row. At the end of the day I pull the filter out and toss it in the washing machine. I only use the filters for 3 days instead of the stated 5 to 7 days, just to be on the safe side. Unlike paper or cloth masks, they stay dry and don't get soaked. My ONLY complaint, and it's minor, is that sometimes the filters are sometimes a bit finicky to put in.

Ok, i have to say, very impressed with the filter this mask came with. It arrived at the height of the wildfires that occurred here. We took a step outside the house and the air was terribly smoky and nasty. Put the mask on, and wow, what a difference that made, which was very unexpected. We like the adjustable the ear pieces, and coverage is very good. These will definitely be used when we have to go to crowded areas, stores and such. The filter piece takes a little finessing to fit properly - watch the video.Both my husband and a friend had a hard time with the filter part, and it crumples a little when you take it off and try to fold it. But overall, very good product for these times.

Could use a little more coverage below the chin. The interior filter is a little hard to keep in place. The ear cords have been comfortable and easy to adjust. Overall very useful.

These masks are awesome specifically the breathability, so far they are the best I have tried to use with glasses. The only issue I have is the cost and availability of the filters.

Everyday

I use the mask for both going into stores and walking in the neighborhood with a liner installed. For hiking, I generally do not install the liner as I find it tends to bunch up and is somewhat scratchy so generally go without the liner when doing activities that require physical exertion. They are still the best masks that I have found so far.

I've been wearing it for 3 to 4 hours straight and haven't had to fiddle with it at all.

I like the fabric of this mask. It is soft and comfortable. Washed well. Unfortunately, I am not able to make it tight enough to fit my face. It is too large. I need to order masks that some in a small.

It's Autumn and cooler North of 46*. Indoors temps at less than 22^C and outdoors there are no issue with overheating at lower activity level. No soggy mask syndrome. Personally a 5 star comfort rating. No ear pull or any other irritation. Nose wire and shape form a nice seal. Big plus are the replaceable "N95" filters available at a reasonable price when purchased in the 20 pack kit. Sitching and choice of materials look to be 1st rate. Assuming expected durability of OR products. Still using an '80's vintage backpacking "kitchen" pouch and '90's helmet liner. Only 4 stars. Couple niggles. Mask slipping down if talking and/or laughing. Might be just my face, head shape? Needed to add a diy back head loop/lanyard. Not a big deal.

The mask is comfortable enough to breathe in and to wear for long periods of time. I wish the filters fit a little more securely inside the mask itself, aside from that it's the best mask I've worn.

As described. Works and fits well with or without the filter. I haven't used it for any strenuous activity so no comment on its use in that environment.

This is the best design for function and comfort I have used. My only gripe is the moderate difficulty in getting the filter to stay put from one use to the next. I found some inexpensive and very thin hook and loop dots and have applied them to the mask and filter and it works well. When I change filters I just add a couple more dots to it.

The mask is awesome, great fit, comfortable and adjustable. The filter design, not so much. If you could slip the filter into a pocket to keep it in place, that would be ideal.

Super comfortable. Doesn't squish the ears. Slips down a little bit when the filter starts to bunch up. Wish the filter would stay still a bit better.

I think that this is a very good mask: breathability and coverage are great (with this combination, I can't imagine air being drawn in anywhere but through the filter, which is the goal), and the adjustable ear loops are a must. Unfortunately, there is a significant flaw, as noted by others: the filter falls out. In my mind, possibly having to choose between protection or having to touch the filter with contaminated hands is unacceptable. After experimenting with stuffing the reinforced edges of a regular PPE mask under the flaps to hold the filter in place, I bought some flexible/sewable velcro strips and found that sticking them on the filter, vertically, just inside the opening to the flaps, works very well: it keeps the filter from collapsing vertically, and by taking up some space, keeps the filter from slipping out so easily. The next step would be to sew the velcro inside the flaps, but so far, this has helped dramatically.

The mask itself is very well made - good quality, very versatile, easy to adjust but the filters are just don't fit. The filters fall out when taking the mask off and "swim/dangle" in the pocket provided for the filter. If the filter was made just a few cms bigger in dimenson on each side, this issue could have easily been solved. Alternatively, I have been using one of the blue masks as a second layer completely bypassing the PIA filters.

These have been my favorite everyday mask and I've tried a lot. It allows you to breathe even in high intensity sports and I can wear it all day while still feeling somewhat protected and responsible. The deeper cupped mouth design allows for more room between the mask and your face and this makes it more effective and comfortable. Also the bendy nose bridge is much longer, and rigid than other masks I've tried so you get a better seal and don't fog your glasses (or camera in my case). I love the idea of being able to put a filter in when I'm in a tighter space but this is where the problem comes in. Because the filter is held in from the sides of the mask (by your cheeks) and not secured in the front, it crumples in and pushes against my lips. Faces are different but for me, it's super uncomfortable with the filter in. I don't know what the solution is but maybe by putting a twist tie in the filter it would stay put and away from my face better? You could have it so the filter slides in from the middle but that would be another layer and make the mask less breathable. My solution has been to wear this mask most of the time and in dicier situations, using a proper N95. Hope this is helpful and be safe out there!!

I never thought I'd be living through a pandemic or needing a face mask. But here I am. This face mask has everything you really need short of being actual PPE. Adjustable ear loops are great and so is the nose clip. One inconvenience is that the filter slips, but it's better than none.