Masks on Planes? Advice!

[Gigi22]

I was unable to get a direct (non-stop) flight to Florida. (At time of booking there weren’t any—thanks Air Canada). My travel day involves changing planes and going through Customs in Toronto. Total elapsed time for travel is about 8 hours. Does anyone have a recommendation for a comfortable surgical or N95 mask that I can wear for an extended period? I am considering double masking with surgical masks for at least part of the trip.

 

[damo]

I was unable to get a direct (non-stop) flight to Florida. (At time of booking there weren’t any—thanks Air Canada). My travel day involves changing planes and going through Customs in Toronto. Total elapsed time for travel is about 8 hours. Does anyone have a recommendation for a comfortable surgical or N95 mask that I can wear for an extended period? I am considering double masking with surgical masks for at least part of the trip.

Canada Strong Masks have lots of options. We find them really comfortable.

https://canadastrong.ca/

 

[BadPinkTink]

I recently travelled transatlantic from Europe to California, total mask wearing time approx 24 hours from leaving my house to checking in to my hotel. I wore a blue surgical mask and a double layer cloth mask with a filter. Both had wire nose pieces and I had them tight to my face. I changed masks when I freshened up after my first flight.

 

[DeeBee3]

Lutema has good masks although not N95. We have used them for the kids because they are more comfortable but also provide 4 layers.

Otherwise I have purchased N95 though United States Mask (not sure if still available). In the states, pharmacies have free N95s for you to pick up - do you have something similar in Canada?

 

[wdwmom3]

We had n95s that we bought at Costco. I think they are more comfy then 2 surgical masks. It seems like a long time to wear a mask but you will get used to it.

You can also remove your mask at the airport while eating and drinking. So to give yourself a break you can find a quiet area and grab some food and sit and relax

 

[Debbie]

Canada Strong Masks have lots of options. We find them really comfortable.

https://canadastrong.ca/

I agree. We used these masks (#508) when we flew to Newfoundland in September. It was a long day that started in London, then Toronto with a looooong layover, and then on to Newfoundland. The masks are good for at least 8 hours and are easy to wear. A bonus is that they are made in Canada (in Ontario) by First Nations. I recommend them!

 

[Frozen2014]

Canada Strong Masks have lots of options. We find them really comfortable.

https://canadastrong.ca/

I second this. Find it more comfortable than my cloth mask.

 

[Silvermist999]

Ever since they recommended using N95s against omicron, we have been using the KN95s from Costco. $7.99 for a box of 20. They were tested and rated by CBC news.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mask-filtration-standards-marketplace-1.5974442

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

With layovers and delays on our last trip, our travel day ended up being around 12 hrs in airports and on planes. We wore these masks and they were great. They fit my face (53yo male) all the way down to my 10yo daughter's face quite well.

Was I glad to get my mask off after only 1 or 2 breaks during the day...definitely. But these masks were extremely comfortable and I felt very safe wearing them.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Lutema has good masks although not N95. We have used them for the kids because they are more comfortable but also provide 4 layers.

Otherwise I have purchased N95 though United States Mask (not sure if still available). In the states, pharmacies have free N95s for you to pick up - do you have something similar in Canada?

I know in Manitoba the liquor stores were giving out boxes of them. Not sure if they're still available.

 

[Benchedguy]

As said above, I have found Canada Strong to have the most comfortable N95. I have found that the one kind made from Eclipse is very tight where other Canada Strong options are more comfortable.

 

[Gigi22]

Thanks so much everyone! I have my work cut out for me!

 

[dancin Disney style]

As someone who wears a mask for 6-8 hours straight at work, I'm in healthcare......you get used to it really fast. It's a lot more comfortable to get a fresh mask after 2-3hrs. Plus, they start breaking down around the 4hr mark anyway.

You don't necessarily need an N95 but should you want one then do it. Any ASTM level 3 mask that you fit snug to your face is just as good as a non fitted N95. The fit is the most important part.

 

[DisneySyd]

Just seconding (or 4thing..lol) Canada Strong Masks. My girls (and a number of their classmates) have worn these for a full school day no problem. Well.ca also carries canadamasq (one of the brands on Canada Strong) in xs (kids) and large (larger adult... too big for me unless I tie a loop in the straps)

 

[Jezwood]

We had n95s that we bought at Costco. I think they are more comfy then 2 surgical masks. It seems like a long time to wear a mask but you will get used to it.

You can also remove your mask at the airport while eating and drinking. So to give yourself a break you can find a quiet area and grab some food and sit and relax

That's what I'm planning on doing. I will be eating and drinking real slow and 1 piece at a time to keep my mask off as long as possible.

 

[wdwmom3]

That's what I'm planning on doing. I will be eating and drinking real slow and 1 piece at a time to keep my mask off as long as possible.

Honestly at the airport if you sitting in a quiet area (empty gate for example) nobody is going to say anything if you have your mask off sipping a coffee. There are also places to eat where you can sit at a table with no mask.

 

[Starwind]

I HIGHLY recommend testing your mask in advance for about the same amount of wearing time to make sure it is actually comfortable for you for that long.

I wear a mask all day long at work - longer than 8 hours, only taking it off in my car to eat lunch. It goes on and off at home. I discovered the hard way that FOR ME most masks that were fine for 2 or 3 hours started becoming painful on the bridge of my nose by 4 hours and by 6-8 hours actually caused significant skin irritation in that area including blistering. I ended up trying a variety of things to solve the issue and eventually found another mask that actually has integrated foam padding that I can wear all day without a problem.

So, I have several different masks that I can wear for upto a few hours, so I use them for things like a shopping trip.

But all day wearing like at work or travel, I use a 3M Aura, which is an N95. I got mine here https://capitalmedicalsupply.ca/pro...particulate-respirator-and-surgical-mask-each because it was the only place I could find them; they are the healthcare version and are made in Canada, but 3M also makes a non-healthcare version of the Aura if you can find it.

Anyhow, this is why I HIGHLY recommend actually taking a weekend and doing an all day wear test with your mask(s) of choice to make sure you don't run into the same issue I did or something else.

FWIW, my coworkers and my sister do NOT have the same problem that I do. I assume there is something with my bone structure and skin in that area combined with wearing glasses that doesn't help that is causing the problem, so the issue is "me" not the masks ;-)

Good luck

 

[samsteele]

I've also ordered N95s from Canada Strong as well as United Canada Inc. and would recommend both companies. The 3M Aura is the most comfortable for me.

ps think I'll be wearing my N95 on all flights for the foreseeable future because if they also help protect against the common cold virus and flu it will make my vacations much more enjoyable. I always get a cold on every trip.

 

[chezcurrie]

Great suggestions. Adding two more just for reference. My two favourite go-to brands are Kaze and myBarriere (ASTM3). They also are cute, if that is a consideration. I’ve used them on my last 4 trips. They have the foam strip around the nose and all three of my boys (and my hubby) had no issue wearing them for our trip to Californian in December. My boys now wear them at school all day and my middle (who is the most difficult) says they are the best for breathing, whatever that means.

 

[2Lunds]

Canada Strong Masks have lots of options. We find them really comfortable.

https://canadastrong.ca/

Another vote for CanadaStrong masks. The earloops are comfortable, and the way they're shaped, the front of the mask does not touch your mouth at all, nor does it collapse against your mouth while breathing hard. Also, they extend very comfortably under your chin and sit in a good spot under your eyes. They don't slip down either. Just all-around a very well-designed mask.