DEMETECH N95 Respirator Face Mask, NIOSH Approved, Made in the USA, Pack of 20

Good fit, easy breathing.

I bought my first DemeTECH masks in March 2020, when I first found them online as one of the few N95 Masks "Made in the USA".The really important thing is the MATERIALS. Are THE MATERIALS manufactured elsewhere, China, etc.??? Free of toxins?I just wish I knew the answer to this question.I LOVE these masks, because the materials and construction seem good, and the 2 headbands, while a little challenging to put on and off, really hold the mask against your face for safer protection. They fold flat, so that they fit easily in your pocket.They are pricey, but I let them dry out at the window, in the sunshine, between wearings, so that I can use one for weeks.Retired MD

These USA-made masks are definitely very high quality. They arrived quickly and in perfect shape, but they didn't fit well over my admittedly small head-- the mask felt huge on me. (I wear an Adult XS motorcycle helmet, and even that rattles around a little). The bottom elastic was so, so loose on me, and the only way to tighten it was to cut the bottom elastic in the middle and tie it on instead, which worked fine for me.The inside of the masks are soft and pleasant, but I have no other commercial masks to compare it to. One of the other reviews said the inside of the masks felt "like sandpaper," but that reviewer said she used to be a nurse, so she probably had access to some really fancy masks during her time on staff. But to just an average person like myself, the inside of the mask felt perfectly fine. And bonus: They don't have a weird smell or anything like that.I think if you're a regular-sized person, you should be fine with these.

One of the best on the market

I bought these after reading an article about how they are some of the only made-in-USA masks available on the market. They are definitely a bit pricy, but overall they're my favorite mask! When I wear one I can feel that the air is mostly going through the mask and not around, which is an issue with a lot of disposable particulate respirators. Also, I'm personally a big fan of the headband style overall because I find it much more comfortable than the earloop style. For what it's worth, I've been using these masks for about a month now and the elastic bands haven't snapped off, so I'm not really sure what went wrong with some of the more-critical reviewers' masks.For comparison's sake, here's how I feel these Demetech masks compare with some alternatives that I've tried:Compared to fold-style headband KN95 masks:I also have a set of fold-style headband KN95 masks, which are very similar to these Demetech ones. However, I feel like the Demetech ones get a better seal around my face (mostly due to the foam insert on the nose bridge).Compared to earloop-style KF94 masks:The KF94 masks just don't have a strong seal like these Demetech ones do (or even the KN95s). They're super comfortable, but if "filtering the air that you are breathing" is your goal for a particulate mask, then KF94s just don't cut it, IMO.Compared to 3M molded cup style headband N95 masks:The gold standard of N95 masks! I've found I prefer the fold style over the molded cup style, because it's far more comfortable but I still feel like I'm getting a good seal. The 3M ones really grind into your face, which on the one hand is good (they get a great seal also), but also is a bit on the uncomfortable side. Also, this is entirely superficial, but I much prefer the aesthetic of the fold style masks over the cup style. Also 3M masks are I believe still made in China, for what that's worth.Overall, if you want to support US mask manufacturing, and you want masks that give you an optimal blend of comfort and sealing-to-your-face, I highly recommend this one.

The bottom strap is so lose and attached to the mask so low, the mask effectively only has one strap and that is the one that goes around the head. Bottom strap slips down the neck and is uncomfortable just hanging there. I cut it and tied a knot so it makes contact with the neck, but the knot is annoying so then I cut off the bottom strap completely. Makes no difference in seal. For the money and stingy number of masks, there is no excuse for the bottom strap to not have been made with any care as to length or placement on the mask. If there is only one useful strap, it is not an N95 as the mask does not make a secure seal on the face from the cheeks down. The inside of the mask is soft. For an extra large face and thick neck, this might work. The mask is extra long. The star rating reflects inadequate mention of sizing.

Estas máscaras me encantan porque me las puedo poner sobre mi cabeza y no tengo peligro que se me caigan como las que van en las orejas son grandes para mi estilo de cara me quedan perfectas yo siempre uso mascarillas para salir afuera porque no creo en las vacunas y la pandemia continúa Así es que por eso me cuido y uso siempre mascarilla de las mejores que hayan aunque así sean caras pero mi salud vale más cuiden se año 24 cómpralas que son buenísimas especialmente si tienes cara grande no la recomiendo para cara pequeña

I put the mask on. So far, so good. It fit pretty well, looked alright. Then I tried to remove it, and one of the straps popped right off. They are not joined to the mask with any kind of secure bond. I am not sure what I will do with the remainder of them. I guess I could try sewing the strap in place, but that is a whole lot of trouble for something that was supposed to be functional as purchased. And would doing so alter the effectiveness of the mask at filtering viruses?It doesn't really matter what the rest of the mask is like; if the straps can't even keep it on your face, it is worse than useless. I can only hope that the masks used by front line personnel are sturdier than this.