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Where face masks for high-risk COVID protection are concerned, there are three types I would recommend: N95 masks (the American gold standard), KN95 masks (the Chinese equivalent), or KF94 masks (the South Korean equivalent). Surgical masks are better than nothing, but they tend to leak more air around the sides, making the protection they offer not as good. Like many thousands of other people, I prefer wearing KN95 masks: Their foldable beaklike shape and ear loops (as opposed to the hairdo-ruining head straps found on N95 masks) make them a more convenient and comfortable everyday choice for me. Plus I find they are easiest to stash in a coat or back pants pocket. All of this means I’m more likely to consistently wear one on the subway, in an Uber, and at the office when COVID levels are spiking, as they are right now.
The challenge with KN95 masks is that a lot of the ones you will find online are counterfeit and it can be hard to tell a fake from the real thing. So to help you find the best authentic KN95 masks, I reached out to four doctors, infectious disease specialists, and mask experts for advice and recommendations. Then I tested a bunch of KN95 masks at home and on friends to give you first-hand information about the fit and feel of each one. If you already know the type of KN95 you’re looking for, use the table of contents to skip ahead. Otherwise read on for the seven best options for adults and children.
What we’re looking for
Authenticity
Michael Chang, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston says it’s fair to assume that a lot of KN95s on the market are fakes. “The issue with KN95 masks is that there is no regulatory agency ensuring that manufacturers actually meet the KN95 standard,” he explains. Without a Chinese governmental agency similar to NIOSH or to Korea’s FDA, anybody can claim they are selling masks with KN95-level filtration.
That’s where people like Aaron Collins come in. The mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science has tested hundreds of masks using a Total Inward Leakage test, which measures for filtration efficiency and breathability (or pressure drop). To more closely replicate the way tiny COVID particles act, he tests using a smaller-than-standard aerosol size. This also makes his tests harder to pass. Though he is not an accredited lab, his data has shown good agreement with other published data. His public Google spreadsheet of the best children’s masks has become a lifeline for overwhelmed parents and lists his findings as well as recommendations for sizing by age. If you’re an adult looking for authentic KN95s, he suggests only buying from reputable sources. “Don’t buy random brands from Amazon or eBay. My recommendation is ProjectN95, BeHealthyUSA, KollecteUSA, or, if using Amazon, verify that you are purchasing from the brand’s ‘official’ store,” and that the mask you are buying ships from and is sold by Amazon, he says.
Otherwise, check for labeling that says the mask is made from multiple layers of non-woven polypropylene material and, ideally, includes a melt-blown filter layer. These materials use electrostatic charge to attract and catch tiny particles like a magnet, and unlike the gridded weave of cotton or other traditional fabrics, the random arrangement of fibers in non-woven materials does a better job at filtering tiny particles.
Availability
The perfect mask isn’t much good to anyone if it’s always sold out or stuck in shipping purgatory. At the moment, most masks are available to ship in a reasonable amount of time. And even if your mask of choice sells out, many pandemic-related supply-chain issues have been resolved, and there’s a good chance it will be restocked soon. That said, with this list we are prioritizing masks that are available to purchase on a regular basis.
Fit
Even the best masks can fail if there are gaps around the edges that allow air to flow around the mask rather than through it. “Look for a mask that fits your face well, assuring that it covers your nose and mouth and fits below your chin,” says Dr. Ravina Kullar, infectious-disease specialist, epidemiologist, and spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Dr. Stacy De-Lin, a family-medicine specialist in New York City, agrees the fit is extremely important, especially with KN95 masks. “I think the biggest thing that I see with the KN95 masks is they’re often not fitted well. It’s supposed to collapse along your cheeks when you inhale so that no air can enter in through the sides,” she explains. All of the masks in this article that I tested personally pass De-Lin’s inhale fit test.
Comfort
We all want our masks to feel soft rather than scratchy and not to leave deep lines across our cheeks, but comfort matters most when we think about buying masks for children. The younger a child is, the more important comfort will be. “Also how easy a mask is to breathe through becomes more important,” says Chang. The more comfortable and breathable it is, the less likely they are going to constantly adjust it or try to take it off. Additionally, a mask that’s hard to breathe through will actually end up being less effective. That’s because if your breath (or someone else’s) meets resistance from the mask, it will be more likely to find its way around the sides. If you can feel air coming out around your cheeks, nose, or chin, your mask is either too loose or not breathable enough. To get an idea of how breathable each mask is, Collins uses a magnehelic pressure gauge to measure the resistance his breath meets as it flows through each mask. That measurement is the mask’s pressure drop. The lower the number, the easier the mask is to breathe through. In both extremes, if the pressure drop is too low or too high, the mask isn’t protective enough.
Best KN95 mask overall
We have been recommending Powecom KN95 masks since as early in the pandemic as summer 2021. Back then, they were on the FDA’s emergency authorization list of approved face masks for health-care professionals when that list was still necessary. Like other KN95 masks, these masks claim to filter out 95 percent of small particles. But when Collins tested the children’s sized Powecoms, which are exactly the same as the adult masks in every way except size, he found them to have an even better filtration efficiency of 97.3 percent.
What we think: These masks are soft on the skin and create a tight seal all the way around the mask, from the bridge of the nose to the underside of the chin. In September 2020, I bought them for my husband, Jacob Cohen, to wear while teaching in person. He teaches fourth grade in Brooklyn and has tried a lot of KN95s. These remain one of his (and my) favorite masks for their combination of breathability, fit, and reliable and transparent sourcing. While they aren’t made in the United States they do have a dedicated distributor: Bona Fide Masks, based in Mount Vernon, New York and run by real humans I have spoken to. Powecom masks fit my husband’s face more snugly than most of the other KN95s he has tried and don’t move when he is talking. And they have made him feel safe in the classroom since before vaccines were available. I have also worn them comfortably — and with minimal glasses fogging, as the sides collapse in when I breathe — on the subway, on the Metro-North, at the airport, and to countless doctors appointments.
Best black KN95 mask
Along with Powecom KN95s, these black KN95’s are the ones I order on repeat. They are manufactured in the United States and have five breathable layers of non-oven material, including a middle active filter layer composed of electrostatically charged melt-blown polypropylene. They are even OEKO-Tex certified, meaning they have been tested and found to be free of harmful substances. And they are independently tested by Nelson Labs. The ear loops are stretchy yet secure and latex-free, good news for allergy sufferers.
What we think: My husband was given a few of these AccuMed BNX KN95 masks by a fellow elementary-school teacher, when we were unable to get new Powecoms fast enough. After wearing them, he made the switch for good, which is why I ended up testing them and wearing them on a regular basis as well. When Collins tested them, he found them to have a filtration efficiency of 95.03 percent, a few points below the Powecoms, but nothing to sneer at. One reason my husband prefers them is that they come in three sizes (small, medium, and large). The medium size is slightly larger than the adult Powecom and fits his face better.
Best colorful KN95 mask
Kaze sells its KN95 masks in sets ranging from neon hues with contrasting ear loops to desert neutrals, plain black and white, marble patterned, and placid pastels. In addition to looking cute, Kaze masks are made of five layers of non-woven material — including a melt-blown filter layer. They have been tested by Nelson Labs and certified by the Swiss lab SGS.
What we think: After trying a set of the desert neutrals, these stylish masks quickly became one of my favorites to wear out with friends or to events. The ear loops are adjustable, and a foam nose pad helps create a tight but comfortable seal. In my experience, they are comparable to Powecom masks in softness and breathability. They are also much more expensive, however, so I save them for special occasions.
Best multi-size KN95 mask
Most KN95 masks are one-size-fits-all, which could potentially result in a fit that’s uncomfortably tight or improperly loose. For a more custom fit, Vital Supply Store’s masks are available in five different sizes (the AccuMed BNX masks above only come in three), from extra-small to extra-large, to accommodate a wide range of face and head sizes. Though the variations in the masks’ measurements aren’t all that pronounced on paper — fractions of an inch, really — in practice they can make a significant difference in how comfortable a mask feels to wear, especially for long periods of time.
What we think: Vital’s small size felt snug and secure on my face and the medium size fit my husband well; I also had a friend with a beard test out the large size, and he reported that it more comfortably accommodated his facial hair than other masks he’s tried. As for the masks’ protective abilities, they’re constructed with five layers of nonwoven melt-blown fabric, with a 95 percent particle-filtration efficiency.
Best KN95 mask for kids overall
The only difference between these smaller w KN95s and the adult Powecom masks is the sizing (they are about 15 percent smaller, to be exact). They are made of multiple layers of non-woven soft and breathable fibers just like their larger counterparts. Collins says they will best fit children ages 7 through 12, depending on face size.
What we think: We tested these (and a number of other kids’ masks) on Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio’s two daughters, who were 4 and 7 years old at the time. And of the “bifold” KN95 masks we tested, these fit the best. We noticed that the Powecom KN95’s were somewhat softer and more pliable than other KN95 masks we tested, meaning they conformed to kids’ cheeks better than stiffer options. And the nose wire is flexible enough to get a decent bend around smaller, shallower noses, allowing for a better seal all around. Though we’ve found that KF94 masks tend to fit smaller faces better, these small Powecom KN95 masks offer a decent fit, even without adjustable ear loops. In addition to white, the masks are now available in two shades of blue, pink, yellow, purple, green, black, and red.
Best envelope-style mask with KN95 protection for kids
After seeing huge success with their pleated surgical-style masks, Evolve Together launched a second mask, this time with KN95-level protection and a shape that mimics a KF94 mask. The envelope-style masks, a design that tends to offer a better fit for people with a lower nose bridge, come in both adult and children’s sizes. They are made of five layers of nonwoven polypropylene material including two water-resistant outer layers, two melt-blown inner filter layers, and a moisture-absorbing interior layer.
What we think: Evolve Together’s adult masks have long been a favorite of mine because of how lightweight and soft they are against my skin, making them perfect for warm weather or running around town. I used to wear their surgical masks almost exclusively; now I switch among the adult version of these masks, Powecom KN95s, AccuMed BNX KN95s, and Kaze KN95s. All Evolve Together masks are independently tested and certified medical-grade type IIR by SGS, a world leader in consumer product testing. Evolve Together says these masks fit children ages 3 to 8 years old.
Best made-in-America KN95 for kids
Produced in the U.S. with American-made materials, these five-layer KN95 masks for kids feature a melt-blown filter sandwiched between two polypropylene layers on either side. They come in six different colors including gray and white. And are available to buy in packs of 20 or packs of 5 as well as on a subscription basis.
What we think: Armbrust USA publishes its own comprehensive mask-testing database and found its adult KN95 masks to have a filtration efficiency of 98.61 percent. But the company does not include results for their kid-size masks online. When he tested them, Collins found these masks to have a 97.8 percent filtration efficiency and told us they are best suited for kids ages 6 to 11 years old.
Our experts
• Michael Chang, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
• Aaron Collins, mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science; follow him on Twitter @masknerd
• Dr. Stacy De-Lin, a family-medicine specialist in New York City
• Dr. Ravina Kullar, infectious-disease specialist, epidemiologist, and spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor and mother to a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old
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