Face masks - Please recommend the most comfortable vented mask

I bought a couple from mortonmulberrysilk.com/ and they were really nice and comfy.

Much nicer than wearing a normal mask and don't tend to rub your skin as much.

I used a medical grade mask for an hour today and felt panicked. My face was bright red and I was sweating profusely.

I’m not the fragile type Gabrielle56. Very simply when my breathing is restricted and my face is roasting my body reacts, my pulse and blood pressure soars, and I gasp for breath.
I can and do wear a mask indoors in public places (In Scotland about 95% of the people comply) but I restrict the length of time I am in that situation. I have no control over the length of time I will have to remain masked on the plane. I am doing everything I can to make the journey bearable.

Again silk? Nope don't stop anything. We have to be prepared for some discomfort, feeling as if we can't breathe? (When reality is that unless we have medical conditions, we can actually breathe and need to get over ourselves!) And just have the chutzpah to just get on with it in the interests of safety for all. I get annoyed at all the "ooh I can't wear" polyester/cotton/nylon/etc etc! Attention seeking ? It's a good job we don't have to wear gas masks like our parents isn't it? We're all so fragile, we'd probably explode.........what a joke

Esspee

Getting to see my granddaughters will require a long flight wearing a face mask. I hate wearing a mask as my glasses steam up but wear one in shops etc. to protect others.
I need recommendations for a vented, comfortable face mask plus ideas on how to cope with extended wear.

Vented masks are a complete waste of time! They stop precisely NIL emissions. Best masks? Those made with polypropylene layers preferably sandwiched between cotton in 3 layers. I use Bristol masks online shop , really good value brilliant masks and made in .... Bristol! They also donate to NHS with every sale what's not to like?!

Grandma 2014 This is what concerns me. With arriving at the airport 3 hours in advance, a 9 hour flight, and a couple of hours in immigration, makes about 14 hours in a mask. Not pleasant. I want to see my grandchildren, so I must do it somehow.

* Grandma2014* I wear a surgical mask when I travel and I change them often, every 4 hours, like medical staff, children in schools and others who have to wear them every day. I would wear them longer.

I've bought a plastic holed cage to put under my mask. It helps me breathe better.

I did a nine hour flight to Vancouver to see my granddaughters last month. I wore a surgical mask and by the time I’d travelled in a taxi to the airport, waited to board at the airport and travelled on the plane, I’d been in my mask for 13 hours. It was horrible. I felt very travel sick.
On my return flight I used a number of lighter cotton masks and changed them regularly. I trusted the PCR testing of my fellow passengers to keep me safe. The lighter masks made a massive difference and Air Canada did not ask for heavier masks, although vented masks were not allowed.
My only other advice is to print out all your paperwork. Do not rely on your phone to provide the relevant details when you’re tired and can’t actually read the screen!

Worth having a look on Amazon for silk masks. I bought two last year and find them more comfortable to wear.

Thank you poshpaws I’ve had a look. I’m afraid they are out of my price range at £36 each but must be popular as Amnesia is sold out.

Esspee

Yes, thank you everyone I had thought that a vented mask would be more comfortable as I get panicky when my breathing is restricted. I hadn’t realised it doesn’t protect others.
I am now thinking that medical grade masks might be best as nurses and doctors have to wear them for extended periods. The idea of silk being more breathable and kinder to the skin also appeals but know of nobody who has used them.

Is there anybody on here who is able to share their experience of wearing a mask for extended periods?

It's probably not as long as your flight will be, but I wore one for an 8 hour train journey which was so comfy that I truly forgot I had it on. I didn't get fogged up glasses because if one simply puts the rim of the glasses just over the nose of the mask it stops the fogging up.

It wasn't a cheap mask, but it is worth every penny, and you only have to replace the filter after 200 hours of actual use.

Check it out on u-maskstore.eu/collections/all

(I chose the "Amnesia" colourway and it's very pretty!)

Greciangirl

Where can I buy silk masks, please anyone,?

www.thebigsilk.com is the recommended one I am considering.
Just Google silk face masks to find other suppliers.

Don't know how much money I have wasted on anti fog wipes, cloths and liquid, and all seem to leave a film on my glasses that I feel I am looking through a fog. I have to clean my glasses with water and dry with a tissue to feel they are clear. I have worn glasses for 60 years and way back in the day I used to have a Calotherm cloth that worked wonders at keeping fogging at bay when on a warm steamy bus in the winter. Nothing compares nowadays.

V3ra

5 Pack Anti-Fog Wipe, Eyeglasses Cleaning Cloths, Cleaning Wipe for Eyeglasses, Tablets, Screens, Lens Wipe for Camera Lenses ]]

These are the ones I have, they're very effective.

Echo this recommendation- rinsing my glasses then using the wipes has been a game changer for me since mask wearing started. I can see clearly in shops etc wonderful!

Where can I buy silk masks, please anyone,?

Hi danceagran, we're flying with Aer Lingus, I think? My sister has made the bookings. I'm just home from a walk in the park with her, I actually asked her to check the guidelines with the travel agent/ airline, so I'll let you know as soon as we find out.

Hi Grannmarie. I'm going to the US to see family for Thanksgiving too. Are you travelling AA or BA? If you can get an answer from the airline I'd be interested to hear about it.

I hope you like them, Esspee. Safe journey. ✈

In that case Grannmarie I think I shall buy a couple. I expect everyone on the plane will have had a recent PCR test so I choose to convince myself that I have no need to worry.
I’m going, so no point in getting worked up about it.

The silk masks wash great, Esspee, and don't need ironing.
Mine were a present from my sister, who got a good deal on them when she bought her silk pillowcase!

If your glasses fog up then your mask is not working properly, I'm afraid. Fogging glasses mean that there is an escape of your breath around the top of the mask. So your aerosols can get out, and, presumably everyone else's can get in... Mask must fit snugly round the bridge of the nose and across the cheekbones. So you have to experiment with various masks to get ones that fit snugly.

Visors are useless (as are, incidentally, plastic screens in shops etc) All they do is deflect the aerosols to the bottom or sides where they then make their way freely into to air around you. And they'll let them in, too.

Of course, I hope that you will be covid free when you travel, esspee, as will, I hope, your fellow passengers. But if I were doing a long flight I'd want to be sure that the mask protected in both directions.

DH also uses the anti-fog wipes, they really do work.

Thank you Grannmarie My airline KLM only specifies a mask that covers nose and mouth. I have some medical ones, the type doctors and dentists use and the fabric ones I mostly use at the moment. As the air is changed every 90 seconds on the plane, everybody is facing the same direction and the air is introduced from above I'm not unduly worried about catching covid.
Are silk masks OK after washing?
Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving.

Hi, Esspee, I have some silk masks which are quite cool and comfortable to wear, but I haven't worn them for longer than an hour or so, mainly in church.

Like you, I am flying to America, for Thanksgiving with family, so I will follow GG13's advice and check with the airline. I would probably feel safer with medical grade masks, FFP3? but will accept airline's recommendations.

Enjoy your time with your grandchildren!

Yes, thank you everyone I had thought that a vented mask would be more comfortable as I get panicky when my breathing is restricted. I hadn’t realised it doesn’t protect others.
I am now thinking that medical grade masks might be best as nurses and doctors have to wear them for extended periods. The idea of silk being more breathable and kinder to the skin also appeals but know of nobody who has used them.

Is there anybody on here who is able to share their experience of wearing a mask for extended periods?