3M 8210 Plus Paint Sanding Dust Particulate N95 Respirator, Disposable Respirators, 20-Pack

I am doing a backyard project that involves blowing gravel and other debris and it's kicking up a lot of dust and dirt. The first day I worked for a couple of hours and wore just a plain surgical mask, but dirt/dust was getting through and into my nose and mouth. The next day I worked for another couple of hours and wore a bandanna around my nose and mouth (like many landscapers do in my area) and dirt and dust was still getting through. After the second day, I woke up with nasal and chest congestion and irritation. Not good. So I purchased the 3M 8120 Particulate Respirator. They really work. I have not had any dirt or dust get into my nose or mouth while wearing this product, and no nasal or chest congestion or irritation.On me they fit very tight around my mouth,nose, and head, which was at first was uncomfortable and took a little getting used to. But now after a couple of minutes I don't noticed it. Also, there is a metal nose clip that you should spend time adjusting for the best fit. After working for a while I can feel sweat accumulate above my upper lip while wearing these masks, but it's a small price to pay for the protection these masks offer.I have not noticed any dust/dirt in my nose or mouth since wearing these. Also, I didn't realize it before, but before wearing these my breathing was pretty heavy, and I thought it was just from the exertion of working. But I think it was actually because I was breathing in dust and dirt. Since wearing these masks my breathing has been normal.I would definitely buy these again.

Great value on these quality masks

I have a lot of trouble with my sinuses due to allergies. There are also a lot of risks of inhaling particulate matter around my house (I have pet birds, I scoop dusty cat litter, etc.). So I like to keep some of these around. Please note I am only using them to keep particles out of my respiratory system and I am not using them to ward off viruses, etc. (I'm not sure how good they would be for that.) I have also started using them when I am filing or sanding metal (or polymer clay) for jewelry making.I have a relatively small head (I am a small-boned woman) and these fit well enough. The metal around the bridge of the nose can be bent to help this better conform to your face. They do a great job of keeping dust out of my face when I am cleaning the room where I keep my birds; same for when I am scooping cat litter. If I remember to use these consistently when performing those tasks, I definitely breathe more easily at other times (without medication). For those tasks, I do tend to use the masks a few times, because I feel I am being wasteful if I only keep it on for 10 minutes or something. However, while you wear these and breathe, moisture can affect the mask material, rendering it less effective. If you are doing something like sanding or mowing the lawn (to avoid pollen here in Georgia) for a longer period of time, you would probably want to use a new one each time. And even for my scooping/cleaning tasks, I tend to not use one for more than an hour total. (I may be overcautious, but these are relatively inexpensive.)If you wear glasses (I do a lot of the time, especially at home), they will probably fog up some when you wear these. There is no way around it. When you breathe out, the moisture has to go somewhere. I won't hold it against the mask because I'm fairly certain this would be an issue for any mask. (I had some generic ones from the home improvement store with the orange logo and I had the same problem, for example.) This is more of a problem if you are doing any mouth breathing (something I tend to slip into when I wear these without really thinking about it).

product works as intended

These are very good and inexpensive respirators that are effective against nuisance dust, sawdust, pollen, etc. I got these as a more disposable option to supplement the other respirators I use on a regular basis. They are very high quality and comfortable for what they are, but they cannot compare to ones that have an exhalation valve to provide relief from moisture and heat build up. I consider these when I have a need for a N95 respirator and it is cool or when I will not be wearing it for a long period. While they are reasonably comfortable, they can't compare over the time with a vented unit.The straps are very good and lend themselves to frequent and repeated use, increasing the economy of the mask. I've never had one break, and the bands do seem to retain their tension much better than bargain brands. These have a thin metal strip that can be bent to conform to the bridge of the nose to provide a better seal and a custom fit.When you need a respirator, be certain you match the appropriate respirator to the job you are working on. You'd never use one of these when using solvents, for example, or for an environment where an N99 cartridge-style respirator is more appropriate.Very high quality, these are my choice for short-term, disposable particulate respirators when the length of the job doesn't warrant a vented style. They provide good economy as well as effective filtration. For the proper application, I recommend these. For superior fit and greatly enhanced comfort at the N95 rating, I go with the 3M surgeon-style masks with the cool flow vent.

These are good for mowing and anything dust related they're good for me since I have COPD and other breathing issues