Customer Reviews Outdoor Research Essential Face Mask Kit

This is actually my second mask (sadly, I lost the first one). Love it! It is one of the most comfortable masks that I've tried and the range of adjustment is big enough even for my fat head. Breathing is easy and glasses fogging is at a minimum. I like the filters, though they don't fit quite as well as I'd like, but that's a minor complaint. At least you can have filters if you want them.

Great mask fits my needs!

Love these face masks. I bought a few and keep one in my car, one for on the go, and one extra when I need to wash one. My only complaint is that the filter paper does not stay in very well, so I went with four stars. Other than that, they fit great and are very comfortable.

I am an avid hiker and have been using masks since Covid started in March. Many work well, but the OR mask is definitely the most versatile I've used. In addition the filter is a welcome layer of protection on the trail in the parking lot afterward. Pros: Light weight, folds up well, and the ear loops are easy to adjust and keep things snug. Cons: The filter. I'd rather be able to use a third-party filter and the filter pocket for the mask makes this difficult, if not impossible, primarily due to the mask shape. The OR filters also a little pricey for what you get and they slip out pretty easily forcing you to adjust them back into place with your potentially contaminated hands on the trail. Otherwise, no complaints. I plan on buying another to take in my pack as a backup.

I work in a veterinary hospital and all staff are masked for their entire shift- usually about 10 hours. I do a LOT of talking on the phone in my job, and I wear glasses, so fit is extremely important in a mask. I really like how structured this mask is- it doesn't get pulled into my mouth as I speak and the nose wire helps reduce fogging of my glasses and creates a decent seal. The material comes over my chin but the cut prevents the mask from being pulled askew when I talk. This is the first mask I've been able to tolerate looped over my ears as it is very adjustable. That being said, by the fourth day in a row of 10 hour shifts, my ears are getting tender from the constant pressure. Truly the ONLY thing I actually dislike about this mask is that the filter rests directly against my face rather than in a fabric pocket. I went for a lunch time walk with a co-worker and although I didn't feel any reduction of breath-ability, my face was almost instantly sweaty feeling from the moisture of my own breath which seemed to then sit in the filter, rubbing against my face. It just felt gross. I would not wear this mask during a workout unless I removed the filter which just seems to make the mask pointless. I'll buy another but I hope that future versions have a pocket for the filter.

Overall, I like the OR face mask. The only small issue for me and my wife is that the paper filter that gets inserted inside moves around and crunches up, so we are frequently fiddling with it. Perhaps a stiffer inner filter would fit better and stay in place. All-in-all, a nice mask, however, we hope its necessity will come to and end soon!

The mask itself is great. I also have to say that I like the black better than the grey, as the grey does tend to stain more easily (to be expected!). Overall, the mask is fantastic, with a nice thick metal nosepiece that keeps the nose portion in shape so that it doesn't slide down. Pretty heavy-duty fabric, but at the same time, very breathable. My only issue is with the filters - The basically only tuck into the flaps on the sides, and then they tend to bunch up, especially in the center and around the nose and mouth area. a small Velcro strip along the top and bottom or something like that to hold the filters in flat against the mask's fabric would be a good improvement. And that may be happening because I have a beard, and the filters tend to snag on my facial hair, but I was clean-shaven for a short while and had the same problem, so I'm guessing not. However, for what I paid for these masks, and based on Outdoor Research's reputation, I would hope for a bit more thought in this part of the design.

The mask itself is great. Fantastic, thick metal nosepiece that keeps the nose portion in shape so that it doesn't slide down. Pretty heavy-duty fabric, but at the same time, very breathable. My only issue is with the filters - The basically only tuck into the flaps on the sides, and then they tend to bunch up, especially in the center and around the nose and mouth area. a small Velcro strip along the top and bottom or something like that to hold the filters in flat against the mask's fabric would be a good improvement. And that may be happening because I have a beard, and the filters tend to snag on my facial hair, but I was clean-shaven for a short while and had the same problem, so I'm guessing not. That being said, I have tried several masks with filters, and they all have done that. However, for what I paid for these masks, and based on Outdoor Research's reputation, I would hope for a bit more thought in this part of the design.

So far, this mask works better for me than any I've tried so far. That's not to say it couldn't be better. my main problem with all cloth masks like this one is that they often start to slip off my nose once i start talking. this one has a nose clip, which helps, and the adjustable ear straps are a great improvement over those masks that just use elastics.

I can tell that a lot of awesome work went into designing this mask. First and foremost, the materials are superb. The fabric is durable, the loops are made out of high quality elastic and I can tell they're going to last. The adjusters on the loops don't slip at all- even the bag is awesome. And it's so close to being perfect, but there are two quibbles I have with it. The bigger of the two is that the filter just isn't quite executed well. The filter doesn't securely fit into the mask itself- it bunches up and is generally annoying, and when I take it out, the seams on the inside of the mask irritate my face. I can definitely see how this was a good idea, but it needs some tweaks to be good. The second one is really minor- the ends of the elastic loops stick out from behind your ears and it looks silly, so I just tied a loose knot on each end and problem solved. Overall, really awesome mask, definitely recommend.

Lockdown has turned me into a mask review junkie, and I've tried a dozen different types from all over the web. This is one of the best, and would be the best we're it not for two major flaws. First, the pros: Quality construction and durability of the mask itself, Filter that makes it more useful than fabric-only masks, Filter actually covers nostrils too unlike most PM 2.5 filter inserts, Nose bridge whose fit actually stops glasses from getting fogged (!!!), Adjustable ear loops ensure good seal and tight fit, Differentiating colors, including one that's almost a Seahawks color scheme Cons: There's no pocket that covers the filter; rather its sides tuck into two sort of pockets. This presents two issues: (1) the filter can jostle around in there, and more annoyingly, (2) your mouth/nose come into direct contact with the filter, meaning nothing protects it from perspiration which lowers the useful life of the filter. I'm confused as this is so obviously a catch, yet it's clear a lot of thought went into the rest of the mask's design. I suppose it's a tricky solution though, as the unique shape of the OR filter a shake that covers more area than PM 2.5 filters is less easy to design a pocket for. I am considering sewing a pocket of Dri-Fit material into this so I'm not perspiring directly into/onto the filter. Had OR done this, this would be the best consumer-level mask on the market. Without a layer between filter and face, one needs to remove the filter if they plan to do any heavy activity in it, lest they render the filter single-use only.

Great fit! The material of the mask is pretty scratchy if worn without the filter.

Love the fit and finish of these masks. they stay in place and the nose bridge minimizes your breath fogging your glasses. Just wish there was a way to keep the layer of filtration in place. Maybe hook and loop or similar lightweight connection point so it doesn't get all floppy?

I like the product generally, but the replacement filters are a gouge. Been cutting coffee filters to the pattern - not used ones, though that might smell nice!

Lockdown has turned me into a mask review junkie, and I've tried a dozen different types from all over the web. This is one of the best, and would be the best we're it not for two major flaws. First, the pros: Quality construction and durability of the mask itself, Filter that makes it more useful than fabric-only masks, Filter actually covers nostrils too unlike most PM 2.5 filter inserts, Nose bridge whose fit actually stops glasses from getting fogged (!!!), Adjustable ear loops ensure good seal and tight fit, Differentiating colors, including one that's almost a Seahawks color scheme Cons: There's no pocket that covers the filter; rather its sides tuck into two sort of pockets. This presents two issues: (1) the filter can jostle around in there, and more annoyingly, (2) your mouth/nose come into direct contact with the filter, meaning nothing protects it from perspiration which lowers the useful life of the filter. I'm confused as this is so obviously a catch, yet it's clear a lot of thought went into the rest of the mask's design. I suppose it's a tricky solution though, as the unique shape of the OR filter - a shake that covers more area than PM 2.5 filters - is less easy to design a pocket for. I am considering sewing a pocket of Dri-Fit material into this so I'm not perspiring directly into/onto the filter. Had OR done this, this would be the best consumer-level mask on the market. Without a layer between filter and face, one needs to remove the filter if they plan to do any heavy activity in it, lest they render the filter single-use only.

I noticed in the comments it sounds like a couple ppl are possibly not unfolding the mask insert. You should not be using two separate inserts in the mask, each one unfolds to cover the whole mask. (Sometimes it is hard to separate the edge to unfold, as it's kind of tacked together.) The filter does move around sometimes but it is ok for me as I'm typically wearing only a few hours at a time. The plastic part of the ear adjustment hurts my ears a bit, wish is was smaller or like a rubber material, but all in all it really helps to make the mask fit better. I like that this mask feels like it is actually blocking virus from other ppl, not just virus potentially coming out of me. I have sent to ppl as gifts, sometimes smaller faces it's too big, so excited for the new mask size.

It's a nice product and easy to use. It has a simple design, but settles on the face easily. I enjoy the adjustable straps on the mask, so I can tighten or loosen it. Inside the mask their is a adjustable nose piece to keep it firm on your face. It helps by letting you know which is top and bottom. I use this mask for work and it is professional and comfortable since I talk a lot. I recommend buying the mask but the filters can be up to choice since they can be annoying as they move. There can be some fixes though. When receiving the mask, you get filters. The problem with that is the filters can shift easily in the mask since there is no other flap, fabric, or zipper to keep it in place. Also, after one wash, the logo/decal fades. I prefer to wash my mask by hand and let them air dry since this is not so harsh on them.

Great mask that allows me to talk without sounding muffled...but only without the filter inserted. With the filter inserted it tends to stick up just a bit either at the top of the mask by the bridge of the nose or down below under the chin. Basically, the filter doesn't fit perfectly into the actually mask. Other masks I own seem to have this "fit" down a bit better.

as per my previous review, mask great service great only problem I have is that the paper shield slips out from the pocket inside the mask very very easily and fast

Great mask that really ought to be offered in more sizes. It's clear that this was designed with men in mind--it's too large for my face and my girlfriends all have the same complaint who have also bought one. That being said, the quality is great and the wire nosepiece keeps the fabric out of my mouth when working out at the gym.

Decent fit, like that they have a filter. Don't love that the filter is what is right against skin and that it doesn't really sit well in the mask so have to constantly adjust. These are def my fave over ear mask option out of all the ones I've tried!

The mask fits well and is very comfortable for extended use. The filter inserts fall out and need to be adjusted from time to time, if you wear glasses sometimes they can fog but it is not as bad as other masks we have tried. The metal nose piece is thin and we are concerned it may break from wear, but it has not yet and still functions after 1.5 months.

Masks and beards just don't work well, but this mask does. Okay, so you end up with a smoosh-line, but you don't need experimental medicines to stay alive either. After seven months of wearing masks I was about to give up and become mask-hole until I found this one. I wish I had got one of the cool colors.

Well fitted mask.

Quality material. Arrived on time. Fogs up my glasses.