Done an internet search for N95 masks locally for sale

[KS Toronado]

And was surprised how many places are selling them. With the Delta variant starting to balloon out of
control, and since they offer better protection and fit better around the nose I would encourage
everyone to buy some before they are only available to medical personal again. We don't need to catch
this Delta or spread it. I fear this 4th wave is going to be our worst because of antivaxers and politicians
unwilling to re-implement safety precautions. Currently over 500 people who were fully vaccinated
have died from the Delta variant, please don't add to those numbers, be as safe as possible.

[Phoenix61]

1. I've got 30 N95 masks. Figure I can always use them

when doing spray paint etc projects.

[Midnight Writer]

2. Watch what you buy. I have several variants of KN-95 masks, and some are poor quality.

The ones I have now are more expensive, but made in USA and certified to meet certain standards. There really is a notable difference in quality.

[KS Toronado]

14. My internet search showed a lot of KN-95 masks also

But reading the reviews at least for the ones locally, I got the impression the KN-95 were a lower quality
than the N-95 masks, but I could be wrong. The good N-95 masks can get expensive, although they're
still cheaper than one trip to the Doctor's office. My dad always told me when handing me goggles or
a face shield "Seeing eye dogs are only $10,000." An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.

[Rorey]

3. The thing I don't like about N95 is the headband

I prefer the ear loops, so I've been getting the KN95. I just got some today that fit very snuggly, and I think that along with my other practices (only going to stores during slow times, social distancing, etc.) I should be okay.

I still mostly wear the masks I made. They're three layers thick and fitted to me.

[LisaL]

5. Headband allows for the best fit.

With legit N95s, you know what you are getting. KN95s have varied quality-but most are probably still better than cloth masks.

[tanyev]

22. I've been cutting one side of the elastic strap and stitching it to the same side

of the mask to convert it to ear loops. I ordered some cheap plastic toggles so I can adjust the loop size and then I use a hook-on strap at the back to take pressure off the ears. Gives me a snug but comfortable fit.

[Rorey]

23. Ingenuity!

Maybe I'll do that. Honestly, though, I don't feel in danger because I hardly ever am around other people except for family, and we're all vaccinated.

[Duppers]

4. We've been using N-95's

And have continued to do so. Read enough to know variants were coming, so why even risk becoming sick for a minor inconvenience.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

6. I've still got my N100 masks, but I've only been...

... wearing a cloth mask in public lately (despite being vaccinated).



Distorted image of me (for privacy) wearing one of them that I own, with a cloth mask to cover the exhalation valve. Plus a face shield that I never wore in public:



My favorite! A tight seal on my face, and no fogged glasses since the exhalation valve is directed downward. N100 too, a better NIOSH filtration rating than N95.

[LisaL]

11. DeWine says no new mask mandates, so you can wear your N100 without a mask over it,

if you want.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

12. True.

I'll keep wearing cloth for now, unless the infection rates get a lot higher.

The Trend masks always attracted extra attention and comments in public anyway. (Complimentary, at least.)

[LisaL]

15. Infection rates are getting up there.

More than 800 new cases today.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

18. I'm still going to hold off awhile longer.

I'll probably wait until my county is red per CovidActNow, which I anticipate will happen eventually.

The vaccines still give me a greater sense of security than what I felt last Winter.

If I'm in a crowded situation that I can't avoid, I'm putting on the N100. I still always carry one of them in a large plastic freezer bag whenever I go anywhere in my car, but haven't used it for awhile. Plus I keep a cloth mask loop extender in the bag, which secures the cloth loops to the back of my neck. Instead of pulling down on my ears since the Trend masks protrude outward somewhat. I mean, if I choose to keep covering the exhalation valve.

[Initech]

7. That's not going to happen again.

Many of us still have our stockpiles from last year so I am not expecting a shortage any time soon.

[SoCalDavidS]

8. Still Waiting For Opportunity To Wear My Half-Respirator

As soon as I bought it last year, everyone essentially started banning any vented masks.

If things get bad enough, and we're still left with "mask suggestions," I'll probably break it out.

[Saoirse9]

9. We just bought a boatload of N95 masks

Fully vaccinated but live in Florida and Delta is taking over here.

[Crunchy Frog]

10. I just ordered a box of 50 directly off the 3M website.

They give you a link to a licensed vendor.

I don't like to buy from Amazon because I see too much talk of counterfeits.

[musette_sf]

13. How did you get around the affidavit

it wants you to acknowledge at time of order? I tried yesterday on the 3M site, but when I got to checkout I was required to acknowledge that I was not purchasing for home use.

[Crunchy Frog]

17. I checked both boxes and purchased.

They didn't ask for any further information, and the sale went through.

Maybe I did a bad thing?

[KS Toronado]

20. Protecting yourself and others is never a bad thing.

[StarryNite]

16. NIOSH-approved N95 Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators

NIOSH-approved N95 Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Updated July 22, 2021

Manufacturers Listed from A to Z – A
The N95 respirator is the most common of the seven types of particulate filtering facepiece respirators. This product filters at least 95% of airborne particles but is not resistant to oil-based particles.

This web page provides a table of NIOSH-approved N95 respirators listed by manufacturer from A-Z. You can find a specific manufacturer by clicking on the first letter of their name on the index below. Web links in the table go to the NIOSH Approval Holder’s website. See the Notes section for information about private labels.

[link:https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1-a.html|

[StClone]

28. Good info

[Liberal In Texas]

19. Just bought N95 and KN95s yesterday.

The ones we've been using for a year and a half are wearing out. I thought in late winter and early spring with things getting better and that we'd be done with masks pretty soon. But it is not happening.

[KT2000]

21. Kroger is handing out goody bags

of masks and hand sanitizer when you pick up a prescription there. Good stuff too.

[StClone]

27. Good for them.

[Guilded Lilly]

24. K&R. Ordered a quantity of disposables for double masking with my cloth ones.

[iemanja]

25. Thanks for the reminder

I just bought some.

[StClone]

26. If my experience is any indication do the best you can, or afford

My co-worker was reduced to wearing depends and lying on the bathroom floor (it was cooler and closer there). Maybe I am one in a hundred, but I think it is going to be found the virus's mutations are potent even if vaccinated.