I do not like ear loops. Those few masks that do not have ear loops have elastic straps that go around the head. What I would like is to have two somewhat elastic straps that come together at the back of the head and can be adjusted quickly by a single sliding device. Basically, I would like to be able to let the mask hang around my neck comfortably and be able to bring it up to my face on a moment’s notice. Anybody know of a mask like that?
I took some of my side-loop masks, took out the loops and replaced them with a single Lock Lace. Plenty big enough for my very fat head, quickly adjustable with one press of a button, one pack can be used for two masks, and in 2025 when we’re over masking, now you have cool new shoe laces!
Not sure if this fits your needs, but I have a few neck gaiters I use for motorcycling. I keep it around my neck and only pull it up over my mouth and nose if I’m in a place it’s needed.
Google or Amazon “ear mask extenders”. They’re straps that ear looks slip into around the back of your head converting eat looks to a head strap.
https://www.amazon.com/EVGLOW-Extender-Anti-Tightening-Holder-Update/dp/B089SDJGJP#
Because of the serious nature of CV19, I feel I have to be pedantic and say you shouldn’t really lower your mask below your chin. If there is virus on your exposed skin below your mask, lowering and raising the mask could wipe the virus onto the inside of the mask and you could breathe it in. There’s also the problem of potential contamination on your hands getting onto the mask when you raise and lower it. It would generally okay to have your mask hanging if you’re just wearing a mask to prevent nuisance respiratory contaminates, like dust or pollen, but doing so with a respiratory virus is going to be a lot more risky. It’s certainly understandable why you’d want to raise and lower your mask as needed, but it’s risky unless you know you are in sterile environments.
I’ve seen comments like this, but isn’t the main point of the mask to prevent the spread to everyone else? And unless you have something like an N95, if your mask has the virus on it it’s going to get through.
To be blunt: This is not correct. Somehow the message has gotten mixed up and people think there is no benefit to them by wearing a mask. This is absolutely false. Just about any mask will filter incoming particles to some degree, including the droplets that carry the virus. Certainly different fabrics have different filtration capabilities, but it’s absolutely not an all-or-nothing situation. Here’s a chart of different materials and how well they filter .02-micron particles:
Masks should be thought of in terms of two different capabilities: How well they block exhaled particles and how well they filter incoming particles. These capabilities can be different for different kinds of masks. Thin cotton does a pretty good job at blocking exhaled particles, but it does a very poor job at filtering incoming particles. Other fabrics will do better at blocking incoming particles. When selecting a mask, pick the mask which offers the best filtration so that you are protected as much as possible. Even if some virus gets through, any virus captured by the mask will lower your initial viral load and your symptoms may be more mild.
One reason I asked this question is that I have workmen in my house right now. My interactions with them are infrequent, but sudden. Just now I found myself having a conversation with them without my mask. It happens so quickly that I forget. Certainly the right thing to do (as you suggest) would be to either wear a mask all the time or leave it on my chin. I don’t like doing this. Mind you, I don’t have a “medical condition” that prevents me from doing this, but whenever I am not around people, I take it off. Taking my behavior into account, it seems likely to me that the overall risk to myself (and certainly to others) would be mitigated by having a mask at the ready that I could comfortably remove and replace.