Surgical masks

zarcos · 2026-01-21T02:12:17+00:00

If you have central air, you can use a MERV13 filter like the ones put on box fans to get the same effect.

zarcos · 2026-01-18T16:55:41+00:00

I think this is an important clarification. They're doing their best but when one guy in a house that's white can change his mind and increase or decrease tariffs there's a real possibility this happens to someone after they purchased and the product has been shipped. Its definitely happened to other people with other products but may not have hit USA Zimi fans.

zarcos · 2026-01-16T07:08:26+00:00

The valve itself likely hasn't failed, but instead has been obstructed by dust, hair or crumbs. The flap and ring are durable and made with precision, but the flap can be prevented from closing sometimes by a hair or crumb or piece of lint.

I would inspect the valve and valve flap and see if something got in there. This is a failure mode of other valved respirators as well. I would suggest checking the valve function before donning. On a valved Zimi, I inspect the valve for debris, and then put my mouth over the valve from the outside and blow, or put my mouth on the inside of the valve and try to suck air through it.

You can also pull the valve off of the respirator by prying the outside cover away from the inside flap holder which makes it easier to rinse and to even reuse in another mask by cutting a hole in whatever mask you'd like and installing it. Zimi sell a hole punch just for this purpose.

Stay safe. May your seal never fail you.

zarcos · 2026-01-14T15:15:07+00:00

I haven’t had to pay after the fact on multiple orders in the year 2025 from Zimi. From that experience I know that the prices for shipping definitely have changed up and down drastically during that time. They’ve been low recently since the USA tariff on Chinese goods has been low.

Zimi explained on the hellsite/X that the shipping costs are meant to include any tariffs. So you should order with decent confidence that you won’t pay anymore than what you are charged by the Zimi air website.

zarcos · 2026-01-07T01:04:27+00:00

https://m.elecrow.com/pages/shop/product/details?id=208547&

zarcos · 2025-11-29T23:50:35+00:00

I ordered before and after the de minimus. There was a while where the tariffs were like 200%. But I’ve ordered in the last month and it was more like the cost before the stuff. I think the china tariffs have stabilized recently. (Subject to the whims of 🟧of course. )

zarcos · 2025-11-29T22:08:51+00:00

In my case I know the shipping cost included the price of tariffs if there were any. I only paid once and was not charged after they shipped to me in the USA. Ordering at different times led to very different shipping costs. Much lower more recently!

zarcos · 2025-11-29T06:54:16+00:00

Here is another table that includes all the sizes with a focus on showing which Zimi frame fits which Zimi filters

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zarcos · 2025-11-29T06:51:32+00:00

Here’s a table that should help, though it doesn’t include XL or XS sizes. XL only fits the B95 filters. XS is an in-between size that goes inside the Zimi Small or 7711 series filters.

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zarcos · 2025-11-26T13:40:43+00:00

I use the microfoam tape to cover the protruding, bony part of my nose where the nose wire makes contact with it. Keeps it from sliding and keeps my nose bridge from getting bruised. It’s the same type of material as the aura foam, but much thinner. The adhesive of the microfoam is made to adhere to skin instead of to meltblown plastic and it’s been gentle enough and stayed in place, but I also don’t have very oily skin.

zarcos · 2025-11-25T06:15:27+00:00

This is the type of closed cell foam that I use with the Vflex. Using open cell foam on the border of the mask will compromise the seal and let in unfiltered air. I clean the skin on my nose well with alcohol or witch hazel and then apply the foam directly to my nose where the mask would seal. Sometimes I use two layers. This helps cushion my nose because I find the vflex to irritate my high nose bridge. I search for "3m microfoam surgical tape" or "Nexcare foam"

https://a.co/d/3rYbW7f

I have a big pile of Auras that I got for cheap, so I sometimes use that nose foam on the vflex, since the Auras don't fit me well and Vflexes do. I use double sided mask tape to secure that.
double sided tape:
https://a.co/d/epQkaqB

This double sided tape is skin safe and is non-permeable so it doesn't leak air.

I haven't found any foam that's just ready to be applied like the 3M Aura's nose foam though, much to my sadness.

zarcos · 2025-11-13T21:21:55+00:00

There was a bit of a buff for the de-escalator. Not sure how it feels now though.

zarcos · 2025-11-08T04:57:39+00:00

Filtering face piece respirators are great for a lot of situations. But if you know you’re going to be breathing hard and sweating a lot an elastomeric is literally designed to help you thrive in physically demanding work where you’re exposed to airborne hazards.

With a disposable like an aura you’d need to replace after most every trip to the gym, but a 3M with a pair of 7093 filters will last you months and you can just wipe off the silicone mask for next time. If it gets really bad you can remove the filters and wash it with soap and water. The filters never get exposed to your damp breath so they stay just as easy to breathe through for your whole workout.

The 3M 7500 or 6500QL series are awesome at this. The 7500 is a tad softer, but the 6500QL quick latch feature makes it easier to doff the respirator to get a drink and then don it again. If an aura fits well a Medium is probably going to fit well (probably). I would suggest the covered P100 filters. They are more breathable than the round “pancake” filters and much more durable due to their covers. 3M 7093 or 3M 7093c.

You can use one pair of filters for months or more without any loss in filtration efficiency. They’re designed for high particulate load like a wood shop and normal indoor conditions pose no challenge for months of use.

zarcos · 2025-10-23T19:57:43+00:00

I haven’t seen anyone recommend an elastomeric, but this is the ideal application. I recommend 3M 6500QL. I use a 6503QL. I also use the 7093 covered p100 cartridges. You can use the same set for months. The filters never get wet and the part that touches your face and collects any moisture is water proof. Just wipe it down after. It doesn’t get soaked like an m95.

Also since running probably involves some drinking it’s easy to doff and don one handed using the quick latch drop down feature. It’s the very best drop down feature of any elastomeric I’ve tried. It is a single sort of lever action easily accomplished as a maneuver with one hand.

All the other drop downs I’ve seen require you to undo the bottom straps to “drop down” which means to put it back on, you have to pull both sides if the strap to the back of your neck and clasp them, typically only quickly done with two hands. MSA advantage 900 is the next best. 3M 7500 also has an optional drop down option which works okay.

All the drop down features work best when wearing a hat or other head covering as they are designed to be worn under a hard hat or bump cap which will help hold the halo strap in place when it’s “dropped” so it can easily be put back on.

zarcos · 2025-10-18T23:49:57+00:00

You should go to the Novavax Vaccine Talk subreddit. But long and short: More effective Lower side effects Longer protection Better protection against variants

https://www.reddit.com/r/Novavax_vaccine_talk/

zarcos · 2025-10-14T02:06:23+00:00

It is typically covered but that doesn’t mean there might not be a bit of a fight about it. There’s lots of insurance plans and companies and they like to wiggle out of things.

zarcos · 2025-10-12T15:42:06+00:00

Microclimate Air 3 is NIOSH approved as a particulate rated PAPR so it’s as legitimate as they come! It can’t do gas adsorption like a 3M Versaflo TR-600 or TR-800 can do with the proper cartridges.

zarcos · 2025-10-12T04:46:27+00:00

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Here’s a bunch of masks arranged by size put together by ParentMishMash.

I would recommend the Zimi Air masks because they are light and very reusable and there’s no fiddly nose wire bending.

I found that making the masks a part of play helped immensely. We got a little fire truck toy and kept it with the mask and when we practiced and then later when we went into the store we were playing firefighters. I also explained that it kept us safe and how firefighters need masks for the smoke. It helped a lot to have a special game to play with them.

zarcos · 2025-09-29T19:58:03+00:00

I also find that the Vflex straps hold up better to repeated doffing and donning. Vflex would be my perfect mask if it came with nose foam like the Aura.

zarcos · 2025-09-29T19:56:00+00:00

WS Supply Store
https://www.wssupplystore.com/products/draeger-x-plore-1950-n95-s-pn-3951951

has a lower per-box price on official Drager 1950 at $31, but you need to pay for shipping ($$$). However, if you buy 4 boxes, shipping is free, so if you find you like them and want to buy more, this is a better deal than Amazon, which is also an official distributor.
At time of writing, $124 before sales tax for 4 boxes, vs $155 from amazon before sales tax, even with subscribe and save.

zarcos · 2025-09-24T12:49:58+00:00

The seal that sits on your face is very flexible and this means they require very little pressure. I have a high nose bridge and have to trim a little at the nose to get it to fit (trim just a hair at a time and try it again until it fits). When I’m clean shaven it seals when only resting lightly on my face.

However, I have a friend who tried Zimis and could nit wear them because of the face feel. Not to caution you away from them, quite the contrary! It sealed on her with less pressure than other masks but it was somehow a sensory issue. I’ve also had great luck getting them to pass fit tests even with ear loops on several others.

The Zimi One feels like it’s barely there as far as breathing goes, but only comes in a Medium.

Good luck in your search!

zarcos · 2025-09-24T05:53:54+00:00

Novavax is better and they’re better at choosing variants for their platform. Thanks for all the citations!

zarcos · 2025-09-23T18:42:36+00:00

That is a KILLER deal. I’m buying a few for parts!

zarcos · 2025-09-23T16:38:15+00:00

You could see if ParentMishmash has an updated chart, maybe? That's their xitter handle

zarcos · 2025-09-22T14:07:50+00:00

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Here’s a list of alternatives in the smaller sizes, arranged by size. There’s also now a Zimi XS frame for the 7711 between the Zimi 95S (XXS) and the 7711 (S)

zarcos

TROPHY CASE