3M™ Aura™ N95 Particulate Respirator, 9205PH-20-DC, Pack of 20 Respirators

The mask seals tight, is breathable, and comfortable. The straps are basically rubber bands and take a little getting used to. I have not experienced any of the straps tearing off or fraying. So far, these are the best masks I have worn. And I have tried four different brands. I cannot say they are the absolute best, as I have not tried all of the brands. I have reused them over several days and found the seals. Do remain tight over that period.

Not a fan of wearing masks but who is! I've been wearing ear loop masks and they really bother my large but lovely ears. Specifically, the area that bothers me is the furrow between the helix or outer portion of the ear and my head (the area where eyeglass temples rest on my head). Traditional earloop mask loops tug on that area which generally bothers me. I am a lifelong eyeglass wearer so I am used to having a "foreign object" touch that area. I say that as not to appear too sensitive to the idea of having loops around my ears. Some people don't mind and some do. I do - so earloop masks are not for me. Having tried numerous masks over the last couple of years starting with two band around the head types and ear loop types, I have concluded that for me (a bald guy who wears glasses and has large lovely ears), the two banded around the head type work best even though I have to remove my glasses to put the mask on and take it off otherwise I risk flailing my glasses off my head when removing the mask. Regarding the head loops themselves, they are elastic much like thin pliable rubber bands and are stapled to each side of the mask with industrial staples. I think the odd smell of the masks when first used may be attributed to the bands. These are single use masks but I can't see throwing them away after only one use or even one day's use so I usually wear one mask for a few days. After all, I am not an ER doctor or work in a Operating Room so true single use is relative. There are studies that suggest that bacteria can form on the inside of a mask but studies are inconclusive regarding the amount of bacteria that accumulates if used once or multiple times. Having said that, I wouldn't use a mask for more than a few days. Sweat, normal breathing, and coughing all contribute to reasons you need to dispose of a used masks and use a new one regularly. I was able to get two full days of use before one of the bands broke. Admittedly, I took the mask off and put it back on several times each day. And I adjusted the bands repeatedly to get a good fit so I am not disuaded by the fact that the one band only lasted two days. I was about to "retire" that mask anyway. 3M says you can use this mask up to 25 times based on wear, damage, etc. Last comment about using two banded versus earloop masks - I shave my head so I am comfortable with bands around my head. People with any amount of hair may be bothered by bands tangling their hair. My wife and children all have lovely manes and they DO NOT like two banded masks. Now as for fit besides the loops. Best facial comfort for any mask I've ever used. These masks come with a foam pad about 5" long that is affixed to the top of the inner side of the mask. This ensures a tight fit and reduces eyeglass fogging. Fogging is not eliminated but reduced. A note about men with beards or goaties as is my case. The mask fits over my goatie completely and that contributes to the tight fit. But my beard does get "damp" which isn't fun but oh well, when you need to wear a mask then go all in. Remember, N95 masks use head loops to ensure a tight fit. KN95 masks offer either head loops or ear loops. If they have ear loops, they are not N95 masks. Do I really need an actual N95 respirator? No, not really. I could get KN95s with head loops but I'm really digging these 3M masks. Summary: Great for bald heads. Best facial fit ever. Quality components that lasts for as long as intended. Final comment: They are Made In The USA (with globally sourced materials).

These are our go-to N95 masks in a fast-paced emergency room setting where exposure risk is constant and unpredictable. In the ER, standard blue 3-layer disposable masks are not sufficient for the level of protection we need with frequent patient turnover, aerosol-generating situations, and unknown exposures. The 3M Aura 9205+ is extremely comfortable even during long ER shifts. It provides an excellent seal around the nose and face without causing pressure marks or irritation, which is crucial when wearing an N95 for hours at a time. The adjustable design allows for a secure, customized fit and significantly reduces fogging when wearing goggles, face shields, or glasses during patient care. Breathability is a major plus in high-stress, high-movement environments like the ER. These masks do not trap the scent of your breath, even after extended wear, making them far more tolerable during back-to-back patients and busy shifts. The flat-fold design is lightweight, durable, and holds its shape throughout the day. We’ve tried multiple N95 brands in emergency settings, and none compare to the comfort, fit, and protection of the 3M Aura. With the variety of exposures ER Healthcare workers face daily, this is the only brand we trust and continue to use. If you work in the ER or any high-risk healthcare environment and need dependable, hospital-grade protection, these should absolutely be your go-to N95s.

I purchased these 3M Aura 9205+ N95 masks to use around the house and property for different projects, cleaning, and maintenance. I especially wanted them for dirt, dust, and debris when cleaning areas like the garage, barn, pool shed, or anything that gets really dusty. I also chose the N95 style this time because we have had a lot of smoke from the Canadian fires here in Michigan. What I like: • N95 mask • Individually wrapped • Good for dusty projects • Helpful for garage, barn, pool shed, and property maintenance • Useful when cleaning areas with dirt, dust, and debris • Good to have on hand for smoky air from wildfires • Comfortable enough for what I need • Works pretty well with glasses or eyewear • The nose piece can be adjusted to help reduce fogging • Folded style makes them easy to store • Nice to keep extras around the house • I received all 20 masks individually wrapped • They will work for the types of projects I purchased them for Things to be aware of: • My box arrived crushed and open, which was concerning • For a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator, I would expect the box to be handled with more care • Cleanliness, protection, and packaging matter with this type of item • The masks themselves were individually wrapped, which helped • There is a noticeable smell right out of the packaging • The smell was not too bad to me, but it was there • The straps look and feel like rubber bands • The straps are not extremely comfortable, but they feel pretty typical for this type of mask • You do need to adjust the nose piece well to reduce glasses or eyewear fogging • These can help with smoke particles, but they are not going to block everything in smoke • Smoke can also contain gases and chemicals, so I would not treat these like full protection for heavy smoke exposure • For heavy-duty fumes, gases, or stronger exposures, a different type of respirator may be needed Overall: These 3M Aura N95 masks will work for what I purchased them for. I use masks like this around the house and property for dusty cleaning, maintenance, and projects, and I also wanted N95 masks available because of the Canadian wildfire smoke we have been getting in Michigan. They are comfortable enough, work fairly well with glasses when the nose piece is adjusted properly, and I appreciate that each mask was individually wrapped. I gave them 4 stars because the masks themselves are useful, but my box arrived crushed and open, which was disappointing for a respirator product where cleanliness and packaging matter. The rubber-band-style straps and slight smell are also worth knowing about, but overall I will use them and they should work well for my needs.

This mask is the most comfortable, highest quality and extremely highly rated masks I ever wore. The elastic is super comfortable; no more tightness and discomfort from glasses. I can breathe comfortably, and the material has no odor and does not collect moisture. It adjusts easily over the nose bridge, and opens up to properly protect air from entering around my jaws or under my chin. Mask wearing made comfortably and medically safe.

Highly recommended based on price, comfort and performance. These masks are useful when going to the doctor's office for wearing less than an hour but are comfortable enough to wear for several hours at a time (though just barely...). I base this review on having to wear a mask for covid less than once a month and being 6' 3", 225lbs. For the first year or so of covid I had been using 3M N95 cool flow masks. I had these on hand pre-covid for my allergies when doing yardwork and topped them off with a surgical mask when needed for covid. The Aura masks are slightly more comfortable / better fitting than the cool flow masks. They have about the same breathability as the cool flow masks, particularly on exhale, and no need to pair with a surgical mask. Then I used a Castle Grade elastomeric mask with replaceable filters. Those masks fit well like a 3M respirator but the filter area is about 1/5 the filter area of the Aura so it is much harder to breathe. Walking up steps, or anything that got me breathing slightly harder, made me want to lift my mask to catch my breath which fairly defeats the point of the mask. I wanted to avoid wearing that elastomeric mask for more than an hour. The elastomeric mask is possibly not as good as it's rated because the same amount of breathed air is going through a much smaller filter which might mean less effectiveness. The Aura has much better comfort and breathability than the elastomeric mask and nearly as good fit so these are now my go-to masks for covid. I came across the Aura masks by recommendation and they are what I need. The price is right (~$2 a mask) and maybe can be worn for ~30 hours over several days (or whatever recommended lifetime is). I prefer these boxed packs from 3M and not the loose bundles from third-parties. The Aura 9205 masks are more comfortable than the 1870+ version because they are slightly taller. I did not like the feel of the 1870 mask.

These are good masks with good coverage

I have been a long-time user and fan of 3M masks. I have used them for years in woodworking with great success. I really wanted to like this mask when I got it, but alas some design problems prevented that. This is a folded up mask that you extend up and down to get face coverage. The Good: It is easer for the wearer to breath than other N95 masks I’ve tried. The seal around the adjustable nose piece is nice thanks to a strip of foam, no glasses fogging. The straps allow for almost anyone to wear it, just make sure you follow the illustrations, or the bottom of your mask will have a gap between face and mask. The Bad: If you have any kind of a beard, pass on this mask. It will not seal for you correctly. Even with removing facial hair, I found it is still difficult to maintain a good seal in the chin area. The mask appears to be designed to go under your chin, but it doesn’t stay. Sitting perfectly still you can feel the mask slowly creep over your chin. Once it is done moving you have a mask crease just below your bottom lip that your lips will touch when talking. Speaking of talking, with the mask in place as soon as you start to talk the mask will slip off your chin. Despite the problems listed above with the chin area the mask still gives you a good seal and is comfortable to wear, which is why I rated it the way I did. I think the design would have been better if instead of a foldable mask they made it, so it holds its intended shape better, Like their N95 8210’s & 8511’s. Unfortunately, when my allotment of masks is used up, I’ll be looking for a better fitting mask.

Cover the mouth and nose snuggly. My headaches improved after using it during my runs.

Buena filtración. Se acomoda bien en el rostro. Muy buen material.

Marca recomocida que fabrica productos de gran calidad.

Buena calidad de los materiales, buena protección contra humo de quemas agricolas (siempre que no haya quimicos involucrados y se guarde distancia adecuada) y el polvo/arena que levantan vehiculos con carga en caminos de terracería.