In the news headlines there's a study out from Duke on the efficacy of various types of masks and mask material.
https://advances.sciencemag.org/cont...sciadv.abd3083
Working from memory (and with a question of my own, or two, to follow):
Some of the highlights include:
Stretchy material, which I think means like that of "buffs" (a tube design that can be worn many ways) fared particularly badly. IIRC it performed worse, on average, than no mask at all! Knitted material performed worse than average.
Bandanas were barely better than no mask at all. It appears they tested bandanas in what some have termed "7-11 mode".
Short of FITTED N95 and surgical masks, poly/cotton blends performed best, with cotton masks also doing well.
Questions - assuming these findings can be replicated / are true:
Would bandanas perform as badly if folded to hold the shape of a more traditional mask? I.e., is it gapping around the jawline that allows relatively more particles to escape?
I ask because in the early rush for masks, I opted to wear bandanas. I already had many of them and I wear them tight enough to be uncomfortable over the bridge of my nose. In my observations they certainly seal as well as most masks I see worn, esp. the 2 of mine which are 100% polyester. They're very clingy, and larger than the others, so I feel they seal quite well. The rest of mine are cotton, save for 1 cotton blend. I don't feel these others seal as well along my jawline, if worn in "triangle" aka 7-11 mode. I briefly tried another folding method that cradles the nose to chin area better, but the elastics (hair elastics borrowed from Mrs. Cspan) pulled on my ears to an extent that makes them a bit more prominent than I prefer.
Maybe I'll work on finding a way to get a strap to wrap around the back of my head instead yanking open my car doors.
I've seen a couple non-surgical, non-N95 designs that are nicely shaped and probably seal better than the rest. They're shaped in such a way that the front of them is somewhat ridged or peaked, rather than flat. Some examples I've seen are the Keen-labeled ones worn by REI employees when their stores reopened. I think those would be good; I don't know how they are secured, though. Didn't notice.
Anyway, if these findings are accurate I realize I should change how I mask up, so for reusable masks, what's the retail landscape look like now? Any recommendations - particular brands, models, or stores to find them in? Prefer to buy in person. Thanks!!