I am considering purchasing a respirator for cycling. You know the ones - face masks that filter out particulates and some organics. I ride along some fairly busy streets on the way to work and am not keen on continuing to inhale crap.
Anyone have views on these things? Do they obstruct breathing too much? Are they worth it, considering cost of replacing filters?
When you ride without one after a while, is breathing all of a sudden incredibly easy?
I used them occasionally at work, when I had some very dusty work to do. The ones I used were slightly restrictive on the breathing, but I got used to that. I didn’t find myself getting out of breath while in the mask, even when I was working pretty hard. There’s a little check valve, so you breathe in through the filters, and you exhale straight into the air.
Make sure you get the right size. Too big, and it’ll leak. Too small, and your nose is really gonna hurt after a while.
You can get a pressed fabric mask for particulates, but you don’t get a very good seal at the edges. If you go with one of those, get one with two elastic bands, not one. If it doesn’t have a NIOSH number, put it back on the shelf.
If you have a beard, you won’t get a good seal with any mask.
Also, once it becomes damp, from your breath, it’s no longer effective.
The ones I am thinking of are like this Respro mask as sold here or here which are more sporty, not the typical industrial respirator.
I am starting to think it is better to deal with the pollutants than heat and restricted breathing.
Considering the filters only last 60 hours and cost 30 to replace (30 what, I’m not sure, but 30 US dollars or 30 British pounds, either way, is a pretty good chunk of change), I think you’re better off just letting your lungs handle it. Quite frankly, I don’t see how you would be breathing more smog while bike riding than while sitting in your living room. It may smell more while you are out on the street, but the pollution is everywhere.
After seeing the Respro mask, and the stern look on the model’s face, I’d advise that you take off the mask before entering a store or a bank. Folks get panicky sometimes.