You don’t look weird being safe. Wear these masks and gloves to protect yourself from germs – but make sure they are a good fit for you.
One year ago this week, the COVID-19 outbreak that was first observed in China was labeled a global pandemic. For the past year, our entire world has been covered quite literally with face masks, hand sanitizer, and other personal protective equipment. Even though the pandemic has re-written our sense of normalcy, it’s also been a harbinger for creation and innovation. It’s amazing to look back on the past 52 weeks and realize all the incredible things we, as humans, have developed and brought to fruition from nothing. Even though we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel with the emergence of viable vaccines that will undoubtedly help to curb the spread of the virus, people must remain vigilant and make use of the resources they have at their disposal. Face masks have been a constant need in our pandemic-driven world and while many of us have made use of disposable ones, there are some available that can be reused. The är Face Mask is one of those reusable options that not only protects you from germs but is also a technology-driven pandemic-born invention.
DETAILS
The är Face Mask is designed to provide a stylish, comfortable piece of personal protection from viruses and other germs. The goal of the face mask was to give users a comfortable option for a face mask no matter what they were doing. The masks are made with materials sourced within the European Union and selected for the technical characteristics that are provided. Some of the main features that the masks have included a self-cleaning treatment that was developed in Sweden, Eco Acqua Zero water-repellant technology, and nanofilters that are produced with three laters of advanced materials. Each product is tested numerous times to ensure that they provide the highest quality to consumers.
There are six different technologies used to make up the face mask:
- ViralOff Technology: A treatment from the Swedish company Polygiene that is applied to textiles. The ViralOff chemical is a biocide: Silver Chloride.
- Eco Acqua Zero: A fluoride-free water repellent technology makes the mask water-repellant and it also helps remove water from inside the mask.
- Exhalation Valve: Allows users to breathe out more easily. The valve ensures that all the air that passes through the filter exits the mask through that valve.
- Nose-fitting Piece: The nanofilter is equipped with an aluminum strip for shape adjustment.
- Nanofilter: Each är Nanofilter contains three layers of nanotechnology. The nanofibers average in thickness between 100 nm and 500 nm. Filters are replaceable.
- Adjustable: The mask features small buckles on each ear loop strap. This allows users to adjust the length of the strap for a snug fit.
The är Gloves are labeled as “self-cleaning” gloves because they feature many of the same technologies as the face masks. The gloves are touchscreen-friendly and include the same ViralOff and Eco Acqua Zero treatments as the face masks. The main purpose of the gloves is to keep a user’s hands from touching germ-ridden surfaces.
UNBOXING – USER EXPERIENCE
Since I had the opportunity to try both the gloves and the face mask, I will be commenting on both experiences here. I love the material they are both made out of. It makes the gloves and the face mask very soft and comfortable to wear. The gloves were a perfect fit for both my fiancé and myself (XL). They are easy to slip on and off and even though it definitely feels like you are wearing gloves, I could see wearing them for longer periods of time when necessary simply because of how comfortable they are.
As much as we both love the gloves, I ended up having some issues with the face mask. After I got the mask out of its package, I pulled the filter out of its package as well. The filter is designed to simply Velcro into the body of the face mask. The assembly is easy enough and when I was done I lifted the mask up to my face and was immediately met with a very strong chemical smell. It was strong enough to make me gasp for air, cough, and it even caused a headache for a short time. At first, I wasn’t sure if the smell was coming from the filter or the mask itself. So I removed the filter from the mask and smelled each separately. The filter was definitely the culprit.
So, I set it aside to air out overnight. The next day, the smell was still present, but it was very faint. After letting it air out, I was able to wear it normally without it causing discomfort or breathing issues. Unfortunately, though, I ended up having fitting issues. The filter – even when it’s attached to the mask – tends to bunch up quite a bit. This is not conducive for a smooth, even fit, which is essential to an effective mask. In addition to the filter bunching problem, the outer mask was very loose around my nose – even with the ear loop cinched up. The filter has a metal pinch on the nose as surgical masks do, but it feels very loose all the way around to me. The masks do come in different sizes and after measuring my face as suggested by the sizing guide, my mask size should be a medium or a large since my face measures 4.5 inches. There is even a note that says to pick a bigger size if you are on a borderline. This approach didn’t end up working too well for me.
CONCLUSION
Even though the mask is very comfortable – especially around the ears – I don’t fully trust it for me since it isn’t a good fit for my face. I do love the design of it and the gloves are amazing. But, I have concerns about how effective it may or may not be due to the fitting issues I experienced.