Comment by schiffern | Hacker News Reader

Comment by schiffern | Hacker News Reader

Not really "for life" (in that sense anyway), but I missed the first thread so I'll put it here, with apologies.

After a lot of research, for Christmas 2020 I got a few "Airpro" masks[1] ($40-50). In short, it's a wearable HEPA filter that pumps filtered air into any standard N95 or KN95 mask.

In theory this gives better filtration (both from higher efficiency and positive pressure), but mainly I love it because it eliminates hot mask face.

My original unit is still going strong. I'm pretty careful, but it's still had numerous drops.

Tips after >2 years of use:

* I always use it on high, unless the battery is low.

* I bring my own N95 masks that I prefer, the (sadly discontinued) Harbor Freight N95s. Choose one you like. I change it about once a month.

* I (gasp!) convert my head straps to ear loops. Much easier to eat that way: open, shovel, close.

* The design is made to accommodate a carbon pre-filter, so I just cut rectangular prefilters out of standard surgical masks. Changed monthly, I still haven't needed to replace the original HEPA filter.

* Be sure to check out the review from "TX gadget nut" for how to seal the internal leak paths.[2] I potted the entire board with food-grade caulk, since I noted small through-holes in the PCB.

* To protect the silicone hose from strain, I hang the unit sideways using the lanyard.

* If you're really obsessive (guess how I know...), you can use a small file to remove the mold lines inside the outlet port, slightly reducing the pressure drop.

* As with any mask, it's important to perform hand hygiene before and after touching or adjusting it. A dollar store conical spray bottle and rubbing alcohol works fine.

* It's surprisingly nice to completely avoid wood smoke and diesel exhaust. I didn't realize how ubiquitous it was until I had the option to not breathe it in.

Fingers crossed, but so far it's been very effective and comfortable. All told I estimate it's about 15¢/day.

I'm ordering a couple spares, since I never know when a product I like will get discontinued...

(not exactly BIFL given the consumables, but before this I went through an N95 per week so I'm still ahead)

[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YWLBVF2/

[2] https://www.amazon.com/portal/customer-reviews/media-gallery...

I had one, then switched to an Ultramasx, riding the bus for hours a day in peak covid without issues.

That company went out of business as far as I can tell though, so it will be back to the Airpro when I run out of filters, if I can find it.

Are you on constant immunosuppressants or why do you wear this all the time?

At-risk family members, long COVID uncertainty, and no real downside. Easy choice.

Do you plan on wearing a mask for the rest of your life?

By that you mean in public indoor spaces.

"Don't you want to kill your family members?" No, not really. Just my personal choice.

A comfortable mask isn't some great burden to me. The whole line of questioning feels strange, like someone incredulously saying "Do you plan on wearing pants for the rest of your life??"

I find it’s actually pretty good to compare it to sun protection. Kids used to run around in the sun without sunscreen, still can in some places/times to a certain amount… but we collectively sort of realised the risks and so most people (at least in Australia) use sunscreen to avoid the easiest cancer to avoid, Melanoma. There are people who have a natural immunity of sorts due to darker skin and melanin concentrations, there are people that deliberately expose themselves for perceived benefits like “getting a tan” because “it looks healthy” and there are older people who got lucky and ran around unprotected who think it’s a rip off by big sunscreen and don’t see the point while also no longer needing it due to age and lifestyle changes out of lots of direct UV exposure.

Heaven only knows how humanity survived for 100,000 years while breathing air unmasked.

I mean I very much understand the other commenter line of questioning but any questions related to mask wearing will be highly dependent of where you are from.

I’m from Western Europe and mask wearing both never was political, was well followed during the much more stringent restrictions we had at the peak of the epidemic and has virtually disappeared from the past two years.

It’s a very different attitude that what it seems to be in the state but our relationship with diseases is already culturally extremely different than what it is in the USA.

A mask cannot be more comfortable than no-mask unless you're in some very cold environment. Suggesting that a mask in 2022 has anywhere near the utility of pants is off by orders of magnitude.

I'd honestly rather not wear pants for the rest of my life than go back to wearing a mask every day.

I think you’ve invented a new kind of porn

>A mask cannot be more comfortable than no-mask

As you may note, that's not what I said.

> Suggesting that a mask in 2022 has anywhere near the utility of pants

Didn't say that either.

It's simply strange to me that people get so worked up over it, just like it would be strange if people got super worked up over wearing pants.

In my experience, absent of the 'hot/stuffy mask face' it's no big deal. YMMV

Its a political statement/dogtag for them.

maybe even virtue signaling.

> Its a political statement/dogtag for them.

> maybe even virtue signaling

Or maybe even, as they said quite plainly, "at-risk family members".

Personally I wouldn't wear a mask any more; as others have said I think there comes a time where unless there's a specific heightened risk you have to accept that you either stop at some point or wear one for the rest of your life.

That said, I have immediate family who are extremely immuno-suppressed. I either wear a mask, or every day I increase the risk of killing them. So I wear a mask.

Sometimes the argument is pointless. The "other side" may even agree with you. Yet life often makes a mockery of our choices and forces behaviours upon us.

Do your at-risk family members have the same strict mask adherence as you?

I ask because this very much applies to me. I have very at risk family members and if by wearing a mask daily I make them 1% less likely to die, that's worth it to me. But these family members themselves have stopped wearing masks... That doesn't mean my masking will do nothing, but when they're not even trying I find it hard to justify.

Wozniak was just on Steve-O’s Wild Ride promoting this (it was one of his show and tell items)

If Woz likes it, must be doing something right...

Found it: https://youtu.be/CRi8r0XQFHU?t=5402

As always, a great sense of humor. I saw him speak shortly after the Intel Mac release, and got him to sign my computer "Woz Inside." Inaccurate, but he was a good sport about the joke!

Good on you mate for keeping yourself and your loved ones safe !

I must say I admire your ability to keep cool when the minimizers creep out of the woodwork.

when do you wear this?

Indoor public spaces, and sometimes outside during bad air. With ~zero hedonic disincentive, it's easy to wear whenever I feel the need.

I get about one inquiry a month, usually at the store. People seem to like it, especially when I mention the comfort.

Do you live somewhere where the air is particularily bad?

I'm very fortunate! Mostly good, except when neighbors fire up woodstoves or fire pits.

You do know that masks do nothing. There are no studies proving it’s effectiveness. And there are studies w negative effects (teeth, jaw issues, sinus infections)

Well, in india the purple masks were more effective than the red ones;)

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