there

Does anyone have recommendations for air filter masks?

Background: I'm going to living and commuting in the city. I find it bad enough to walk near traffic, let alone be trailing buses every day.

Ideas: I'm thinking along the lines of a face mask such as this (https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Acti...dp/B01MAY6HCJ/). Not thinking of going so far as a respirator. If face mask is the solution, then I'm thinking along the lines of a 100% cotton outer with activate charcoal inner.

DrIsotope

Any of the masks from Respro (like the Techno or Sportsta) would suit your needs-- they are generally well reviewed, come in multiple sizes (thank god for no "one size fits most") and are readily available on Amazon, including replacement filters.

It's really quite smoky outside right now from the local forest fires, and I should probably have worn a mask for today's ride. I've got that "heavy" feeling in my chest like I spent the whole day in a pool.

fietsbob

Urban, Diesel bus exhaust particulates, , or smoke from all the wildfires , now?


Seems London England has need of those, I'm OK here, by the seashore..

Chris0516

Either the type of mask used in hospital ORs', or the type of mask used on occasion by people in lawn care. Those are two that immediately come to mind.

TheLibrarian

I'd get one with fangs or a red star.

there

Thanks. I do happen to have one of those (beard, that is).

there

Leisesturm

The mask linked from Amazon would be useless for the purpose. Even the Respro masks are probably more psychological benefit than actual. Those dual canister gas mask things that painters use ... now your're talking. I've worn one in traffic. Once. Even so, the hit to my street cred will remain for the rest of my life. I will NEVER live it down. The good news is there is so much awful stuff in our water and food, that we are all going to die prematurely, no matter what we may (try to) do about breathing in car exhaust. Yay.

MoAlpha

there

You can always blame it on crash protection. Hey, just like a helmet. If your street cred is okay with helmets, then just say the mask is to protect your face in the case of a nose dive into the concrete! (For that matter, I'm actually considering a leather jacket and long pants as mandatory for all of my upcoming rides. But that's another thread. Can someone point me in the direction of the full body-armor thread?)

Very interesting. Good info, I think you've got me sold!

MoAlpha

Cyclist0108

The bad news is how few affluent people there are now, and how much larger the gap between them and everyone else has grown with the collapse of the middle class.

Hence
https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/21/healt...udy/index.html

BikeLite

Political posts not allowed?

Leisesturm

You can do better than that ...

fietsbob

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-37906246
pollution masks.. newest designs use tech to analyze what they are filtering out.



...

Hokiedad4

The best thing you can do for your health is not to commute in the city by bike. The wrong mask or an appropriate mask without a proper fitting is a waste of time and money. I work in a lab and we do not permit scientists to wear masks without extensive training and fitting.

Leisesturm

Lack of exercise is the biggest killer of Americans by far. Commuting regularly by bike in the city is hands down the best thing you can do for just about everything that matters, including your health. Any risk to health that is involved in biking is not eliminated by avoiding the bicycle, you still breathe anyway, you still cross intersections anyway. Not living or working in a large city is another thing entirely. But if you work in the city, you may as well live in the city, and if you live in the city and you are not biking regularly in the city then you are contributing to the overall decline in the environment as well as your own overall decline, unless you commute exclusively via mass transit, then its just on you.

Hokiedad4

I agree completely but the OP seems more worried about filter masks and plastic helmets.

squirtdad

This may be of interest it is focuses on fire smoke, but it notes that common masks don't reall protect you need the n95 level.....I suspect that this would apply to general dirt in the air also

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Doc...bs/334-353.pdf

KraneXL

Fire smoke yes, bus particulate no. All that was cleaned up years ago. Its nothing like it was back in the day when every breath was a lung full of soot.