FACE MASK WERE

The advent of ASTM standards mean that it's now very hard for me to recommend face coverings that aren't certified. But it will take time for every mask manufacturer to get their products tested. In the meantime, make sure your mask follows the recommended guidelines from the CDC, fits well, and is clean. A good reusable mask should completely cover your nose and mouth, use at least two fabric layers, and be washable. When I receive a mask, I first use the light and candle test—can I see light through the weave? Can I blow a candle out while wearing it? The mask's weave should be tight enough to prevent you doing either of those things. Then I wear them while grocery shopping or walking my dog.

We've included some tips on mask care and choosing the best kind of mask straps at the end of this list. Be sure to check out our guide to the Best Face Masks for Kids and How to Prevent and Treat Mascne.

Earlier in the pandemic, the CDC recommended that most Americans leave N95s for health care workers due to supply chain issues. However, most health care workers now have an adequate supply. If you can find N95s, the CDC now recommends you wear them.

These are the masks I wear daily. Although they're disposable, you can hang them to air them out for up to three uses. These alphanumeric names denote foreign manufacturing standards, but they usually indicate masks similar in efficacy to an N95. Just make sure you don't get a fake one. You can check whether a mask manufacturer has gotten an Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, and the CDC has a few tips on how to spot a counterfeit face mask. You can buy your masks through organizations like Project N95, which independently review manufacturer and product certifications, as well as pricing, availability, and lead times.

$25 AT AMAZON

Airpop face mask

PHOTOGRAPH: AIRPOP

Best Mask for the Office

AirPop Light SE Mask

If I had to work in an office every day, I would use the AirPop Light SE masks. As I noted in our Best Kid Masks roundup, they've been independently certified by several international product testing and quality assurance companies, and they are an ASTM-certified Level 2.

Most importantly, they have a peaked shape that holds the mask off my face to make it easier to breathe. I wear glasses, and these masks have a comfortable, cushioned seal around the nose that absorbs moisture and prevents my glasses from fogging. Although the packaging says they're machine-washable for up to 10 times, I think they're too delicate. I've been hand-washing ours and hanging them up to dry.

$25 AT AMAZON

$25 AT BEST BUY

face mask

PHOTOGRAPH: CASTLEGRADE

Best Reusable Respirator

Castlegrade Respirator Mask

The American West has become something of a seasonal dystopian hellscape. After 2020's catastrophic wildfires, I bought respirator masks for my family and myself so that we could leave the house safely and walk the dog. (Don't worry. I bought my dog a mask, too.)

The CDC notes that elastomeric respirators provide at least as much protection as an N95 mask. I've also seen them being worn by several people whose jobs required them to be indoors with a lot of in-person contact. Castlegrade's masks do make you look a little bit like Miss Piggy, but the silicone is soft and shockingly comfortable. These masks are suitable for protecting against Covid-19, have no vents or valves, have replaceable filters, and were independently tested by Nelson Labs for filtration and particle penetration.

★ Another Alternative: If looks don't matter to you, there are much cheaper masks online. I like the reusable respirators by Honeywell or 3M.

$33 AT CASTLEGRADE

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face mask

PHOTOGRAPH: HYGENIX/AMAZON

Surgical Masks

Disposable 3-Ply Face Masks (50 Pack)

Unfortunately, most disposable surgical masks do not offer a sufficient level of protection against airborne viruses, as these loose-fitting masks are designed at keeping out particulates and fluids. An N95 is much more effective, as it forms a close seal around your nose and mouth.

However, if you need to keep extra masks in your car or donate masks to your kids' school, these are affordable and light. They have also been certified to one of the ASTM's three levels of efficacy. These are a Level 3, which means they've been tested to over 99 percent efficacy at keeping out bacteria and particulates, and moderate efficacy at keeping out fluids. These are also great for outdoor workouts, as they're so light. They may get soaked by sweat and vapor, but at least you won't have to wash them afterward.

$11 AT AMAZON

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PHOTOGRAPH: KITSBOW

Best Double Mask

Kitsbow Wake Protech Reusable Face Mask

If you want to double-mask (see below), your choice must improve the fit and security of the first mask. For me, that rules out double-masking with two masks that have ear loops, since that's uncomfortable and makes both masks more likely to slip off.

If I wear a second mask, I like to use a different strap system from my first. It also needs structure to it, with a nose wire to close any gaps on my face. Kitsbow's mask was designed in collaboration with Wake Forest Baptist Health and offers six sizes to fit a whole slew of faces. This is one of the best-fitting and most secure cloth masks I've worn; after trying the tester masks, I bought my own replacements. It comes with options for removable inserts and in a merino wool version.

$30 AT KITSBOW

face mask

PHOTOGRAPH: HAPPY MASKS

Best for Kids

Happy Masks Pro Series

One of the strangest developments over the course of the past year and a half has been watching my kids get used to face masks. My son was 2 years old when the pandemic started, and I had to chase him like the dickens to get anything on his face. Now he's 4 and carefully puts on his mask before heading to the playground, the same way he checks his shoes—even though his pants are still on backward.

Now that my kids are more aware of the risks of not wearing masks, these Happy Masks have become their favorite. The small size fits my 4-year-old and 6-year-old well, once we adjust the ear loops. These have a nanofiber filter and are a bit stiffer, with more structure than other masks, so it's easier for kids to run and play. However, it verily hurts my eyeballs to see these $24 masks getting stained, crushed, or lost. Getting your hands on replacements has also become increasingly difficult, to the point that I joined the waiting list and followed the company on Instagram to get advance notice of restocks. My daughter also likes the Airpop kid masks. Read our guide to the Best Masks for Kids for more options.

$24 AT HAPPY MASKS

face mask

PHOTOGRAPH: ARMBRUST AMERICAN

American-Made Disposable Masks

Armbrust Surgical Masks

Disposable masks are affordable and easily found through large retailers. But it can be hard to independently verify their efficacy or provenance. And given worldwide shipping delays and stock shortages, it can be hard to predict when they'll arrive.