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Comment by bookofjoe | Hacker News Reader

This is the model mask I've used and continue to use since the epidemic began (this is NOT a photo of me).

https://austintechsupply.com/blogs/news/benefits-to-wearing-...

You will note that, unlike the masks most people wear, it goes around the head, not over the ears, and employs not one but two flat rubber head straps.

IMHO ear-mounted masks cannot possible be as closely fitting over the face and effective as those that go over the head.

I first saw this mask in a photo of President Biden, who was wearing one.

I figured if it was good enough for him and his advisers it was plenty good enough for me.

Available (Amazon U.S.) here for about 60 cents apiece for a pack of 20: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FM2P1KF?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reord...

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I use these as well (3M Aura). They are much more comfortable than the more common types of FFP2 masks and I can wear them for prolonged periods of time without issue, but I would not classify them as “no discomfort whatsoever”. Also, they have a very good fit – other FFP2 masks I had to fiddle around with quite a bit to get a good seal around my nose.

A very important thing is that at least for some types of 3M Aura (the 9320+, at least), the nose clip is significantly stronger than that of cheap masks. So if you're used to pushing it onto your nose very strongly with cheap masks, you need to unlearn that with the Aura masks, or it will obstruct your breathing and become very uncomfortable.

With the Aura masks (at least those with a strong clip), it's not necessary to push it down very strongly; you just need to lightly shape it, and then the strength of the clip will ensure that it stays in shape, and the foam around the nose will ensure a good seal.

It seems to take some practice to find the right clip shape, but once you've found it, they're quite comfortable IMO - and most of the time I've seen people complain about discomfort with these masks, it seems to be because of the nose clip being too tight.

Thanks, I'll look for such a model europeside and give that a try!

Here they are at Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/AuraTM-Particle-without-Valve-Mas...

About 4x more expensive than in the U.S.

I'm not that big a fan of ordering from Amazon but thanks nevertheless!

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