10 things I learned from Mask Nerd

*MASK PSA* So, we hit 1M covid cases yesterday in the US. Went down a rabbit hole reading up on Aaron Collins AKA Mask Nerd’s research. Big shoutout to him and all the work he put into creating and sharing his videos and research. This chart from the WSJ really makes it clear why we have to take masking very seriously.

Here are Top 10 worth highlighting:

This is the #1 takeaway: Not all masks are created equal. Cloth masks and Surgical masks simply do not provide the same level of protection as High-Filtration masks: (N95/KF94/KN95). He op-ed a piece of the guardian lately, and its definitely worth a read.
Hi-fi masks are largely the same in terms of 94-95% filtration but the main difference is N95= American, KF94 = Korean equivalent, and KN95 = Chinese equivalent. The fits are all slightly different but personally the design of KF94 works best for me.
There are many counterfeit masks out there especially on amazon and bay. And if you need one urgently, run to your nearest Home Depot for 3M’s 9205+. Some of the legit online vendors he recommends are Everyday, kollecteusa, BeHealthy, BonaFide, Kmact.
If you’re not sure which mask tests well, MaskNerd posts all his results here (including reviews for kids masks) but fit is a very personal thing. Might have to try on a few, just like getting the perfect jeans fit! My personal favorite is BOTN and the kids do well on BOTN or BLUNA. The 3D design really makes it easy to breathe in.
I know happy masks are quite popular and noticed he did not have it on his approved list. Found the thread that discusses how happymasks have been testing at a condition that is much easier to pass, which makes their 99.9% filtration somewhat misrepresented. His DIY test results for the reusable cloth mask were also posted here. Happy Mask has since responded that they will be re-testing at higher flow rates. I dont think they lied, but it was definitely clever market that was not apples to apples comparison.
Your mask is only as good as the fit you can get on it. Mask fit is just as important as mask filtration. Check out his tips starting at 16:27.
Hi-fi masks are not one-time use (this one surprised me)! N95 masks can load 200mg which netts out to be about 200+ days. However... the straps are likely to fail first or it just gets too dirty/gross. So replacing them every few days sounds like the right cadence (especially for our kids). Full thread here.
Never clean or spray the hi-fi masks with sanitizers. It actually has the opposite effect. Best thing to do is to leave them in a paper bag for 5-7 days to self-sanitize. He hasn’t done the full research on impact of UV sanitizers on masks. Full discussion here.
His POV is that masking outdoors is unnecessary - “On a calm day, 0.5MPH avg wind, it’s the same flow as an entire large home HVAC system pumped into a single 6x6x8 room”. He does clarify in later threads that the closer in proximity you are to people (<3 ft), the increased need for masking even outdoors. As a family, we still wear masks outdoors when socializing with people. When my kids don’t wear masks they feel like it’s not wearing underwear. 😛
Skip the masks with valves so that you also keep others safe. Or cover and tape the valve shut.