Face masks have become a staple in our lives over the past few years. Anecdotally, there appears to be an inverse consensus between mask protection and mask comfort, i.e. the safer the mask the more uncomfortable it will be. Is this actually the case? Well, we put it to the test! While all face masks add some level of thermophysiological discomfort, we’ve found that the ones offering increased protection (N94, N95, etc.) do not increase discomfort more than cloth masks. Mask fit is what determines, ultimately, both comfort and protection. Check out Farzan’s excellent study:
Enhanced protection face masks do not adversely impact thermophysiological comfort
