The Face Masks Gear Patrol Writers Are Wearing Right Now

We test a lot of products here at Gear Patrol. We cover cars, tech, home goods, fitness, food, style and outdoors. And while some desks do overlap, most don’t. But there is one thing we’re testing a lot these days, across all desks: face masks.

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Whether it’s coming from a fashion brand, a culinary brand, or even a tech startup, just about every company is making some version of the PPE. We’ve written about a lot of them. God knows how many thousands more are out there. But out of all the options on the market, these are just a few of the face masks Gear Patrol staffers are actually wearing out and about.

Outdoor Research Face Mask Kit

Tanner Bowden

Courtesy Outdoor Research

“Of all the face masks I’ve tested — fitted face masks, face masks for running — Outdoor Research’s is my favorite. My main reason is comfort; its polyester fabric is lightweight and easy on the skin. That goes for the ear loops too, which are adjustable but won’t slip around on their own. It’s one of the few face masks that doesn’t drop beneath my nose when I’m talking (or otherwise trying to operate my face as I normally would).” — Tanner Bowden, staff writer

United By Blue Salvaged Hemp Blend Face Mask

Ryan Brower

Courtesy United By Blue

“United By Blue is making its face masks from deadstock fabric which is a great use of materials already on hand. The masks end up being a blend of hemp, organic cotton, recycled polyester and Tencel. The masks are double-layered and even have a pocket for filter insertion. They’re comfy and about as non-intrusive as masks can get. The bonus though is that for each three-pack sold, UBB donates to a mask to Chosen 300 to benefit Philadelphia residents experiencing homelessness.” — Ryan Brower, commerce editor

Madewell Face Mask

Tyler Chin

Courtesy Madewell

“When the CDC recommended people start wearing masks in public, I figured my disposable fabric mask wouldn’t cut it anymore for getting my fits off. I forgot how I ended up looking at Madewell for masks, but I liked that it came in a three-pack for $20, and they came in a variety of cool prints. (The specific style I have is blue glen plaid.) Each mask is made from excess clothing fabric, and the 100-percent cotton construction doesn’t irritate my skin. The masks have a slot for inserting a filter, which makes me feel like I’m being extra safe by doing the bare minimum of wearing a mask.” — Tyler Chin, associate staff writer

Bode Face Mask

Gerald Ortiz

Courtesy Bode

“I thought buying a face mask over $30 was insane. In ways, maybe it is. But like it or not, the face mask has become both utilitarian and a form of self-expression. So why not self-express? This mask from Bode was a treat to myself and a step away from the plain face masks I already have in my rotation. I wear it when I want to feel fancy. Is there much more to it than that? Not really. The point is that you should wear a mask when you’re around people. The fact that you feel good while wearing it is just a bonus.” — Gerald Ortiz, staff writer

Philter Face Mask

Zen Love

“Soft, simple and cheap, I got this mask from a charming cafe (with great coffee) in a charming little South Eastern Pennsylvania town. It’s apparently handmade locally along with a range of other art, objects and trinkets you can browse while waiting for your espresso. Not bad at all for $7 and the camo also works well for me stylistically.” — Zen Love, staff writer

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