Mask for pollution
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Posts: 196
Bikes: 2011 Raleigh Sojourn, 2012 Marin Four Corners, 2013 Soma Saga, 2014 Scott Spark 940, 2017 Brompton H6E, 2016 Trek FX 7.2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Mask for pollution
I’ve got a new job in a heavy industrial area of Salt Lake City. Cycling to work is an essential part of my excercise routine. Though I’m finding, through biking into this part of the city, that the air is exceptionally dirty. Even when we aren’t dealing with inversions, the air at the ground level in the industrial area is full of road dust which has god knows what in it.
So I’m looking into solutions for cleaning up the air I’m breathing. I’m gonna get a filter for my desk, but I need something for the ride to/from work. I have N95’s but I have a hard time breathing through those when I’m just doing low cardio work around the house. I can’t imagine trying to bike with an N95 on.
I’ve come across the Respro brand. That seems like the big player in the mask-for-athletic-use space. Does anyone have experience with these or any other masks? I’m trying to avoid spending $50 on a respro mask if they’re basically the same flow rate of any other construction type N95. The stuff I’m trying to protect against is pretty nasty and I’m already a mild asthma case, so I’m not okay with just a cloth buff or a bandana. I need a high-flow solution that actually removes fine particles. Please share your saga on finding a suitable with mask for biking in heavy pollution! Bonus points if said solution works well with glasses.
Thanks!
So I’m looking into solutions for cleaning up the air I’m breathing. I’m gonna get a filter for my desk, but I need something for the ride to/from work. I have N95’s but I have a hard time breathing through those when I’m just doing low cardio work around the house. I can’t imagine trying to bike with an N95 on.
I’ve come across the Respro brand. That seems like the big player in the mask-for-athletic-use space. Does anyone have experience with these or any other masks? I’m trying to avoid spending $50 on a respro mask if they’re basically the same flow rate of any other construction type N95. The stuff I’m trying to protect against is pretty nasty and I’m already a mild asthma case, so I’m not okay with just a cloth buff or a bandana. I need a high-flow solution that actually removes fine particles. Please share your saga on finding a suitable with mask for biking in heavy pollution! Bonus points if said solution works well with glasses.
Thanks!
Last edited by urbanescapee; 01-29-23 at 12:01 AM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,157
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 809 Post(s)
Liked 1,389 Times
in
893 Posts
I have pulmonary problems so I have a box full of masks that work and don't. The mask I wear for street dust is the Fightech. It has a large face and allows for more air in front of my mouth and nose. I sewed up my own filters out of thick ShamWow material by using the disposable filters as a template. I remove the filter and wash out all the snot and dirt that gets deposited during my rides. The ShamWow dries fast and can even be used wet.

Amazon 20 USD

Amazon 20 USD
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
Likes For zandoval:
#3
Newbie
There are a decent number of options out there targeting athletes. Cambridge Mask Co., Craft Cadence, Supa Labs came up after a search. This is a more commonplace concern in Europe these days, where there are more diesel cars and geography has made smog pretty bad. It's also part of the reason you see a lot of those eBike commuter helmets with the flip down visors - to keep pollution out of your eyes. I don't have much experience with the masks myself but can sympathize.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 855
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 348 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 130 Times
in
77 Posts
I use to work in a industrial part of Denver. I couldn't find anything decent to keep me from breathing in all the junk. I resoled in using a double mask. Ok, not great but it work.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,404
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5181 Post(s)
Liked 3,485 Times
in
2,288 Posts
the only thing I was ever able to ride with during the worst covid times was a pull up neck sleeve type mask. it was helpful on dusty roads so it might help you. but chemicals/gasses in the air, are much finer than that thing was filtering
#6
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,737
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3098 Post(s)
Liked 2,074 Times
in
1,351 Posts
A year or two pre covid here in California there was a fire at the same time as an unusual wind that blew it into San Francisco. The techies all discovered N95 masks at the same time and wiped out the country supply for the year. The version for industrial, not medical is 3m 8511 as it is filtered in but not out and so it flows better and doesn't get full of moisture as fast. I have some for occasional use in fire season, as here in the central valley we get the smoke of whatever catches fire in the coastal range, and from the Sierras on days when the wind shifts and the fire slows down. (unpleasant irony that when the normal wind from the west keeps the smoke moving east away from us, it's stoking the fire) As long as you are using it for smoke and not sanitation they are good for a few rides. I have not looked for anything reusable or washable.
Respirator masks (for smoke not covid) | Mountain Bike Reviews Forum (mtbr.com)
Respirator masks (for smoke not covid) | Mountain Bike Reviews Forum (mtbr.com)
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Last edited by Darth Lefty; 01-31-23 at 08:30 AM.
Likes For Darth Lefty:
#7
Junior Member
I’ve got a new job in a heavy industrial area of Salt Lake City. Cycling to work is an essential part of my excercise routine. Though I’m finding, through biking into this part of the city, that the air is exceptionally dirty. Even when we aren’t dealing with inversions, the air at the ground level in the industrial area is full of road dust which has god knows what in it.
So I’m looking into solutions for cleaning up the air I’m breathing. I’m gonna get a filter for my desk, but I need something for the ride to/from work. I have N95’s but I have a hard time breathing through those when I’m just doing low cardio work around the house. I can’t imagine trying to bike with an N95 on.
I’ve come across the Respro brand. That seems like the big player in the mask-for-athletic-use space. Does anyone have experience with these or any other masks? I’m trying to avoid spending $50 on a respro mask if they’re basically the same flow rate of any other construction type N95. The stuff I’m trying to protect against is pretty nasty and I’m already a mild asthma case, so I’m not okay with just a cloth buff or a bandana. I need a high-flow solution that actually removes fine particles. Please share your saga on finding a suitable with mask for biking in heavy pollution! Bonus points if said solution works well with glasses.
Thanks!
So I’m looking into solutions for cleaning up the air I’m breathing. I’m gonna get a filter for my desk, but I need something for the ride to/from work. I have N95’s but I have a hard time breathing through those when I’m just doing low cardio work around the house. I can’t imagine trying to bike with an N95 on.
I’ve come across the Respro brand. That seems like the big player in the mask-for-athletic-use space. Does anyone have experience with these or any other masks? I’m trying to avoid spending $50 on a respro mask if they’re basically the same flow rate of any other construction type N95. The stuff I’m trying to protect against is pretty nasty and I’m already a mild asthma case, so I’m not okay with just a cloth buff or a bandana. I need a high-flow solution that actually removes fine particles. Please share your saga on finding a suitable with mask for biking in heavy pollution! Bonus points if said solution works well with glasses.
Thanks!
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/ppe/...ry-protection/

#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,435
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 121 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4479 Post(s)
Liked 3,563 Times
in
2,315 Posts
That ( bolded ) seems to imply a larger filtration surface area is needed. If airborne particles are the problem, this sounds similar to what welders, boilermakers, etc. have to deal with when welding galvanised steel, grinding, etc. The 3M ( and similar ) type masks shown in the photo use twin filters to help achieve greater surface area. Also the type of filters shown are specifically made for particles ( not solvent vapours, etc. ). There are several filter types available, depending on the particles. More info. on respiratory protection on 3M's web-site.
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/ppe/...ry-protection/

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/ppe/...ry-protection/

I used the older, heavier versions of this for years building boats. Yes, more than I want to wear riding but I got to breath better air inside fiberglass molds than out in the parking lot after the job on poor air quality days. (Alameda CA, early '80s)