Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
World Face Mask Market Growth could be Huge or
Just Robust
WIRED
Selects its Favorite Masks
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World Face Mask Market Growth could be Huge or
Just Robust
The world mask market has soared and will reach
between $30 billion and $40 billion this year.
This includes the range from bandannas to
powered
N95 respirators. Loose fitting
inefficient masks comprise the majority of the
market. Despite agreement that masks are the
best investment to battle COVID, only $5 or less
per person will be invested in masks.
Because of the importance of masks, revenues
could soar to $675 billion by 2022. A
classification of masks labeled CATE
(Comfortable, attractive, tight fitting,
efficient) generated less than $100 million in
revenue in 2019.
Because CATE masks are by far the best
choice to battle COVID
revenues could soar to $600 billion by
2022 ($77/person).
The total market could peak in 2024 at $700
billion or could shrink by 2026 to just $30
billion of which most would just be inefficient
cloth masks.
The low CATE estimate assumes that with a COVID
vaccine most of the demand will disappear.
Even with this most pessimistic scenario
the 2026
CATE
mask market would be five times greater than the
2019 market.
The high McIlvaine forecast for 2022 has three
billion people wearing masks costing from $50 to
$500 per year resulting in total yearly
purchases of $675 billion.
The CATE and other mask market could be larger
than the sports footwear market. It could be
30 times
larger than the market for hoodies and
considerably larger than the rest of the
filtration market. The combined mask and filter
market could be as large as $750 billion/yr.
The 500 million people who could spend $500 per
year each in 2022 will be wearing masks in low
virus load situations where the attractiveness
factor equals that for comfort, and tight fit/
efficiency.
The CATE mask market will be so much greater
than the industrial or medical respirator market
because the potential purchasers are measured in
the billions and not millions.
The uncertainty as to whether the CATE market
could be $650 billion or just $400 million six
years from now makes it very difficult for
suppliers to formulate the best strategy.
However this uncertainty can be reduced
with insights provided by McIlvaine. They
include continuing forecasts based on the
assessments of
·
initiatives
to make sure governments and individuals are
aware of the advantages of CATE masks
·
the future impact of wildfires, air pollution,
allergens, indoor pollutants, influenza, and
reoccurring COVID
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the potential in each country and each income
group
·
the potential in each application
o
industrial - from meat packing to wood working
o
medical - from nursing homes to ICUs
o
leisure - from sports to musical festivals
o
mobile - from airplanes to subways
o
buildings - from restaurants to grocery stores
o
Others
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Competition
o
by region
o
by mask type
§
disposable
§
reusable
·
washable
·
filter inserts
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Technology Developments
For more information on High Efficiency Mask
Market and Supplier Program
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Adrienne So, a senior writer for WIRED
who reviews consumer technology, gave the
following
evaluations of face masks. These evaluations
unfortunately cite CDC guidelines as the
qualifications for tight fit and efficiency.
These are all masks which McIlvaine believes
provide little protection but are popular.
Tom Bihn V4 Cotton Flannel Reusable Face Mask
One version or another of Tom Bihn's face masks
has been at the top of this list since April.
The latest version comes with a neck lanyard in
addition to the ear loops, so I can sling it
around my neck when I leave the house instead of
tucking it into a bag or pocket. The cotton
flannel is exceptionally soft, and it has three
layers. It passes both the light and the candle
test—I can blow at a candle until I get
lightheaded, without blowing out the flame.
There's also some evidence that cotton with
visible fibers may be one of the most effective
materials at slowing the spread.
Since it's flannel and three layers, it's a
little warmer than some of the other masks we've
tried, but it might double as a face warmer when
the temperature drops. They're also handmade in
Seattle, and for every mask you buy, Tom Bihn
donates one to a local charity. You can track
those donations in a public spreadsheet.
·
PHOTOGRAPH: OUTDOOR RESEARCH
WIRED’s
Second Favorite Mask
Outdoor Research Face Mask Kit
After the Tom Bihn masks, this is currently my
runner-up. Outdoor Research is a US-based
outdoor gear maker with domestic manufacturing
and fast shipping. It makes one of my favorite
rain jackets, and now it also makes a relatively
affordable mask kit. It has adjustable ear-bungees,
a nose wire, and a three-pack of filters. It's
polyester, relatively light, and seems to wick
away my hot breath while I'm walking my dog. I
don't have to wear a mask while running, because
I run on uncrowded trails, but this is the one
I'd pick if I had to.
It's worth noting the fabric has also been
treated with HeiQ NPJ03. This is a Swiss textile
treatment that has been tested in the European
Union for antiviral and antibacterial
properties. However, these tests have not been
replicated in the US as of publication. For our
purposes, it's just a very washable, adjustable,
and durable mask.
PHOTOGRAPH: SUNDAY AFTERNOONS
Best Mask for Workouts
Sunday Afternoons UV Shield Cool Face Mask
I don't have to wear masks while I run or
bike, because my neighborhood isn't densely
populated, and it's easy to maintain a distance
of more than 10 feet. Nevertheless, I've started
to wear one out of solidarity. Sunday
Afternoons' two-layer mask is light enough to
exert myself in without having to take it off to
gasp for air. It's made from a UV-protective
fabric and comfortably fits my medium-sized
face. It also passes both the light and candle
tests.
An almost identical mask that I also like is Boco
Gear's Performance X mask ($13). In this mask,
I'm a small. I wore it almost every other day
through August and September, but I did
eventually end up ripping off one of the ear
loops. I sewed it back on, but it's worth
mentioning since most of you are probably
reading this because you can't sew.
PHOTOGRAPH: CON.STRUCT
Best Cheap Mask
Con.Struct Cotton Pleated Mask 6-Pack
I've found the Con.Struct cotton face masks to
be shockingly durable and well made, considering
the price. This men's clothing store sells its
masks in six-packs on Amazon, and the price per
mask is around $4. The one-sized masks fit my
medium face well, and the ear loops also have
adjustable bungees. The light pleated cotton is
breathable and passes the light test. They also
have a pocket for an adjustable filter, as well
as a moldable nose wire.
PHOTOGRAPH: OLD NAVY
Best Kids Mask
Old Navy Variety 5-Pack Masks
I have two young kids, 3 and 5 years old, who
are big enough to wear masks in public. We've
tried several varieties, including ones from
Etsy and Vistaprint, but so far, the clear
winners are the affordable Old Navy masks, which
are made from 100 percent cotton. Synthetic
masks, like the Vistaprint, get soaked by kid
drool within seconds.
The masks fit both my kids' faces perfectly.
They like the playful prints, and they also
prefer pleated masks, which stretch as they
talk. (Constantly! They talk constantly.)
However, a mask that fits a 5-year-old probably
won't work for an 8- or 9-year-old. Tom Bihn,
Kitsbow, and Rickshaw Bags are just a few of the
companies that are making masks in small sizes.
PHOTOGRAPH: SAFE-MATE
These Disposable Masks Also Work
Disposable 3-Ply Face Masks (50 Pack)
My partner is an essential worker who has to
wear a mask all day, every day. Even though he
has access to a full bin of masks of every
imaginable shape, style, and size, he prefers
the bulk disposable face masks. Happily for him,
the world of science has vindicated his choice.
Disposable masks do a great job at blocking
respiratory droplets, and they're also the
lightest and most affordable masks I've tried.
They may get soaked by sweat and vapor, but at
least you won't have to wash them afterwards.
This 50-Pack of Disposable Masks for $9 ($21
off) at Amazon is also good.
PHOTOGRAPH: CARILOHA
A Great 4-Layer Mask
Cariloha Bamboo Face Mask
When wildfire smoke blanketed Portland, Oregon,
I did not have any N95 masks. Of the masks I had
on hand, Cariloha's thick, four-layer bamboo
masks did the best job of filtering out the
smoky smell and soot, without taking valuable
PPE from first responders. The very substantial
mask has a smooth, moisture-wicking bamboo
exterior and three interior layers, which
include a PM 2.5 filter. It also has a nose band
and O-rings on the ear loops to adjust the fit.
Cariloha is a bedding company, so the mask does
feel a little bit like wearing a tiny duvet on
your face. But otherwise, it's very comfortable.
I also later acquired a comfortable silicone CastleGrade
reusable respirator, which has been
FDA-registered and tested at Nelson Labs. This
is a good reusable mask if you already donated
your bin of emergency single-use N95 masks
earlier this year.
PHOTOGRAPH: COTOPAXI
A Great Mask Made of Repurposed Cotton
Cotopaxi Teca Cotton Face Mask
Most of Cotopaxi's colorful gear is also made
from deadstock. Likewise, the company's face
masks are made from tightly woven, repurposed
cotton, in bright, eye-catching colors, with an
adjustable nose wire and ear loops. The Teca
face masks are machine washable, and Cotopaxi
also donates one mask for every mask made. They
don't have a pocket for a filter.
PHOTOGRAPH: RAG & BONE
A Great Pleated Mask
Rag & Bone Pleat Mask Pack
WIRED
senior writer Lily Hay Newman likes these masks,
which are manufactured in Los Angeles. They're
pleated for a greater range of motion when you
talk, and they're also made from 100 percent
cotton (with a cotton-poly lining). Each month,
Rag & Bone picks a different charity to donate
$5 from the sale of each mask.
PHOTOGRAPH: HEDLEY & BENNETT
A Very Comfortable Mask
Hedley & Bennett The Wake Up and Fight Mask
WIRED's
managing digital producer, Kimberly Chua,
recommends these masks, and I also like them a
lot. Hedley & Bennett is a kitchen work ware
company that quickly pivoted from making aprons
and chef coats to making masks. It designed them
in collaboration with Robert Cho, a pediatric
orthopedic surgeon at a local hospital. They're
sturdy, comfortable, and made from either cotton
or a cotton-poly blend, with an adjustable nose
wire.
They also come with a pocket for a removable
filter. For every mask sold, the company donates
a mask to frontline health care workers and
farmworkers. I also love its recent
collaboration with Rifle Paper Co, which is the
prettiest mask I have right now.
PHOTOGRAPH: KITSBOW
A Very Adjustable Mask
Kitsbow Wake Protech Reusable Face Mask
Kitsbow is a high-end cycling apparel company
that, like many other clothing companies,
recently pivoted to making personal protective
equipment. The ProTech face mask was designed in
collaboration with Wake Forest Baptist Health,
and it comes in six different sizes. This might
be a good choice if you've had trouble finding a
mask that fits you.
This mask has four separate layers, with the two
muslin filter layers sewn directly inside the
masks. The jacquard outer lining looks very
nice, but it's one of the heavier ones we've
tried. It has cord locks, so you don't need to
tie the head ties every time you put it on,
which makes for a very secure fit. It's likely
safer than some masks on this list, but it also
retains more heat.
The company also makes one with a removable
filter if you like the secure fit and would like
the ability to lighten it up if you're not
indoors.
Most Popular
CULTURE
PHOTOGRAPH: THE MIGHTY COMPANY
A Glittery Mask
The Mighty Company Fabric Face Mask
Wearing a mask can feel depressing. It's harder
to see people smile or to make them smile
yourself. That's why WIRED writer Louryn
Strampe loves this glitter face mask from the
Mighty Company. The ear loops are soft and
comfortable, and the mask itself is breathable
enough. Also, for every mask sold, the company
donates one to the Midnight Mission Shelter in
Los Angeles. You'll have to take some care when
washing them.
PHOTOGRAPH: BILIO
A Mask That Won't Fog Up Glasses
Bilio Mask
In my bin of masks, this one is incredibly
distinctive. It's knit-to-shape from recycled
yarn. That means it's zero-waste—no cutting and
sewing pieces of fabric with scraps that will
have to be discarded—and it also stands off my
face. This shape, combined with the fact that it
points sharply over the bridge of my nose, means
it doesn't make my glasses fog. It also passes
both the light and the candle test. It's a
little harder to breathe on walks or longer
hikes, though.
Bilio uses proprietary SilverKiss antibacterial
tech, though we should note that coronavirus is
a virus, not bacteria. If you're having a lot
of trouble with mascne, silver,
copper oxide, or zinc oxide treatments like this
might help (maybe),
but you'd probably get more benefit from washing
your mask more often and doing spot treatments.
PHOTOGRAPH: PADI GEAR
A Mask Made of Ocean Plastic
PADI Gear Recycled Plastic Cloth Face Mask
Buying a mask can be a convenient and easy way
to support causes you love. The Professional
Association of Dive Instructors is currently
selling fun, marine-printed masks made from
polyester harvested from ocean waste. The masks
are machine washable and quick-drying, and they
come with five replaceable activated-carbon
filters.
The masks are sold at cost, so PADI doesn't make
a profit. At checkout, you're also given the
option to donate a small amount to Project
Aware, which is PADI's nonprofit organization
that helps volunteer scuba divers mobilize
around local causes like coral reef protection
and beach cleaning.
PHOTOGRAPH: GOODFIGHT
A Salvaged Mask
Blue Camo Salvage Mask
If you're going to wear a mask every day, it
should probably be a mask that you really love.
Photo editor Phuc Pham loves these salvaged
masks made by Goodfight, a POC-founded and owned
label. The one-size-fits-all cotton masks can be
worn independently or as a cover for an N95 mask
to extend its life. For every mask sold,
Goodfight donates a mask to a local institution
that's in need.
A Mask That's Easy to Store
BaubleBar Adjustable Face Mask Set
Louryn Strampe also likes BaubleBar's
comfortable, adjustable face masks for a few
simple reasons. When you order from BaubleBar,
you get two face masks for an affordable price.
And when you're done wearing it, you can fold it
into a neat little bundle and store it in the
included plastic bag! No more wadding up a
filthy mask in your pocket or dangling it from
the rearview mirror of your car.
PHOTOGRAPH: NW ALPINE
A Comfy US-Made Mask
Trew Two-Layer Face Mask
Another face mask made by a US-based outdoor
apparel manufacturer is this one from Trew Gear,
produced in collaboration with NW Alpine in
Portland, Oregon. The soft, stretchy mask has
two layers—a more durable stretch-woven
polyester and an antimicrobial inner lining.
Fifty percent of the proceeds go to the Oregon
Community Recovery Fund to help Oregon residents
who have been hit hard by Covid-19.
PHOTOGRAPH: RICKSHAW BAGS
A Gorgeous, Sturdy Mask
Rickshaw Bags Face Mask
WIRED's
director of audience development, Indu
Chandrasekhar, likes the masks made by bag
manufacturer Rickshaw Bags. Rickshaw offers a
handy shorthand to sizing for anyone who doesn't
have a tape measure. Faces tend to correspond to
body size, so if you're under 5 feet tall, go
with a small, and if you're over 6 feet, pick
large. Everyone else is a medium. Each mask is
made by hand in San Francisco from three layers
of 100 percent cotton, so you don't need a
separate filter.
PHOTOGRAPH: SOCIETY6
A Great Graphical Mask
Society6 Artist Face Mask
WIRED's
Kimberly Chua also likes these masks from
Society6 and LookHuman. They're comfortable, fit
well, and come in both pleated and flat mask
styles. Chua notes that they have a lot of fun
designs, which is an important incentive to
encourage people to wear them. They also have
filter pockets.
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