Donna M.
Design problems and poor fit around nose
I've tried lots of disposable masks but this is one of only two elastomerics I've tried and for me it's unwearable. I have a small female face and bought the small size. Issues are: 1) the attachment point where the headstrap meets the mask body (only one) is positioned so that the "rim" of the mask is pushed hard against your face and this pushes flesh against teeth inside the mouth. The standard length strap supplied with the small size mask is too short; even on the longest setting, meaning strong pressure against the face. Very uncomfortable. 2) I could not get a good seal around the nose, reliably, no matter what I tried. I have a small and narrow nose and the mask gaped no matter how I positioned or tensioned it. 3) The strap is single where it attaches to the mask, then divides and is supposed to go one strap above and one below the ear. But the two sections of the strap are not independently adjustable and the lower strap sags and the upper strap slides down over the ears when you have long hair, and ends up too low on the head. If the higher strap is positioned above the occiput as is usual for N95 masks, the angle is wrong and because of the single attachment point the mask gapes even more around the nose, while the lower part of the divided strap, again, is loose. 4) The surface area of the filter through which air can pass is very small, meaning that there is high breathing resistence. 5) It is almost impossible for people to hear me speaking in this mask. 6) I have not worn it for long enough to be sure, but I suspect the mask would accumulate condensation if used for long periods; it feels clammy even after a few minutes. Including postage I paid $80AUD for this, and I regret the purchase. I did not bother contacting castlegrade to express dissatisfaction with their product as they were emphatic with their "no returns" policy. Unusually these days, there was no followup email to seek feedback.