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Find a Free Mask
Call Your Local Retailer
An N95 Mask
DemeTech NIOSH-Approved N95 Face Mask (20-Pack)
A KN95 Mask
KN95 Disposable Masks (60-Pack)
Best Reusable Respirator
Envomask
Do you wear a face mask or don’t you? Currently, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers guidance that if you live in a community with medium or high levels of Covid-19, you should continue to wear a well-fitting mask or respirator (you can check local levels here). However, the Kraken variant is still spreading, and colds and the flu have continued to circulate. Local authorities can require mask wearing too.
A good face mask is a critical tool in helping slow the spread of Covid-19. We’ve been outfitting our kids and adapting our practices as new, science-based recommendations emerge. These are some of the masks, and masking practices, that I and other WIRED staff members are using. Keep a mask on, but remember to stay at home when possible, increase ventilation in indoor spaces, get tested regularly, and maintain at least a six-foot distance from others in public (preferably outdoors).
How We Pick Masks
The materials-testing organization ASTM International also recently published the first-ever manufacturing standards on what constitutes a good face covering in a workplace setting. Based on these guidelines, the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health now recommends that if you’re going into the office, you use a mask that meets the ASTM’s minimum Workplace Performance Guidelines.
This is a list of manufacturers who have self-reported that their masks now meet the new workplace guidelines, based on their own testing. It’s important to note here that these masks are intended for nonmedical settings, and if you are high-risk or protecting a high-risk individual, we still recommend an N95. The surgical masks below follow a separate ASTM standard. Generally speaking, reusable cloth masks will be less effective, but make sure any mask that you wear follows the recommended guidelines from the CDC, fits well, and is clean.
We’ve included some tips on mask care and choosing the best kind of mask straps at the end of this list. Be sure to check out our guide to the Best N95, KF94, and KN95 Face Masks, the Best Face Masks for Kids and How to Prevent and Treat Mascne.
Updated February 2023: We updated our guidance to reflect current information and checked prices and availability.
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Photograph: Mark Rightmire/Getty Images
Find a Free Mask
Call Your Local Retailer
Earlier this year, the Biden administration started a program to distribute free, high-quality N95 masks. You can’t order masks online, but pharmacy chains such as CVS, Walgreens, and Target are currently offering up to three N95 masks to walk-ins. If you urgently need a mask, you can call the location nearest you. You can also ask a sales associate, since they may be keeping stock behind the counter. For more tips, check out our How to Find a Free Face Mask guide. If you haven’t gotten your bivalent booster shot yet, this is a good time to get that as well.
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Photograph: DemeTECH
An N95 Mask
DemeTech NIOSH-Approved N95 Face Mask (20-Pack)
N95 masks are regulated by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the CDC has updated its mask recommendations to note that N95s offer the best protection. The agency also offers an online tool to help find the free masks closest to you.
This model is one of the CDC’s approved masks, and several WIRED team members (including myself) wear and recommend it. Instead of ear loops, it has two comfortable head straps for long-term wear and a molded shape that holds it off the face for easier breathing and less dampness. However, it doesn’t fold, which makes it harder to carry and store. And like most N95s at the moment, it fluctuates in and out of stock, so check back if it’s sold out.
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Photograph: Sengtor Ltd
A KN95 Mask
KN95 Disposable Masks (60-Pack)
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Photograph: Sleepnet
Best Reusable Respirator
Envomask
I purchased this mask on the recommendation of two colleagues on WIRED’s science desk for my high-risk, vaccinated, and boosted parent. It’s an investment, but worth it if you need to mask for long periods of time.
It’s easy to assemble and replace the filters, and the gel padding on the nose is shockingly comfortable. You can choose either traditional head straps or quick ear loops. However, the boxes of replacement filters are also expensive, and my Mom reported many stares in the airport. The best mask is the one you’ll use, and this might not be a great choice for people who are self-conscious.
