I usually wear an FFP3 at CCC events when I'm in an enclosed space. The only issues I've had so far is when carrying heavy loads (we need Engel, btw!) I sometimes soak the mask in sweat so quickly that I need to replace it every hour.

But the mask itself, if worn properly, provides no discomfort whatsoever.

"if worn properly, no discomfort whatsoever"

Teach me. I'm at an event right now (not CCC obviously) and wearing a mask for some hours and it's killing, making me look for any opportunity to get outside and take it off for five minutes. It pulls on both ears, pushes onto the bridge of my nose (that issue seems to be this particular mask though), and depending on how I adjust it, either shoots jets or air into my eyes or onto my glasses and fogging them up. How does one wear this "properly"?

Not like you can turn it upside down or inside out, I'm not sure what options I have? I've tried one of these plastic things for behind your head, so it doesn't have to hold onto the ears directly, but that trades added nose hurt for reduced ear hurt.

This has been the case with all masks in the past years btw, so unless there's a secret brand, I'd not guess it's brand related. The thing has to be somewhat leak-proof for it to work so that seemed to make sense to me

It's not like this is mandatory atm, just trying to do the right thing (most people don't wear one)...

This is the model mask I've used and continue to use since the epidemic began (this is NOT a photo of me).

https://austintechsupply.com/blogs/news/benefits-to-wearing-...

You will note that, unlike the masks most people wear, it goes around the head, not over the ears, and employs not one but two flat rubber head straps.

IMHO ear-mounted masks cannot possible be as closely fitting over the face and effective as those that go over the head.

I first saw this mask in a photo of President Biden, who was wearing one.

I figured if it was good enough for him and his advisers it was plenty good enough for me.

Available (Amazon U.S.) here for about 60 cents apiece for a pack of 20: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FM2P1KF?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reord...

Thanks, I'll look for such a model europeside and give that a try!

Here they are at Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/AuraTM-Particle-without-Valve-Mas...

About 4x more expensive than in the U.S.

I'm not that big a fan of ordering from Amazon but thanks nevertheless!

I use these as well (3M Aura). They are much more comfortable than the more common types of FFP2 masks and I can wear them for prolonged periods of time without issue, but I would not classify them as “no discomfort whatsoever”. Also, they have a very good fit – other FFP2 masks I had to fiddle around with quite a bit to get a good seal around my nose.

A very important thing is that at least for some types of 3M Aura (the 9320+, at least), the nose clip is significantly stronger than that of cheap masks. So if you're used to pushing it onto your nose very strongly with cheap masks, you need to unlearn that with the Aura masks, or it will obstruct your breathing and become very uncomfortable.

With the Aura masks (at least those with a strong clip), it's not necessary to push it down very strongly; you just need to lightly shape it, and then the strength of the clip will ensure that it stays in shape, and the foam around the nose will ensure a good seal.

It seems to take some practice to find the right clip shape, but once you've found it, they're quite comfortable IMO - and most of the time I've seen people complain about discomfort with these masks, it seems to be because of the nose clip being too tight.

First off, I use FFP3 instead of FFP2 because FFP3 masks usually have a strip of foam that sticks to your skin all around the mask. This means all air breathed in or out is forced through the filter of the mask, preventing fogging of the glasses.

These strips stop adhering to the skin, and in turn let air through, when they're soaked in sweat, so you'll have to swap masks somewhat regularly if you're physically active (e.g., volunteering at a chaos event — we still need Engel!)

Second, I use masks with two straps, both going on the back of your head. This prevents the mask from pulling on your ears, improves positioning and decreases the chance of the mask slipping.

I personally can recommend the 3M Aura, the Dräger FFP3 masks, and the JFM04 from Siegmund

Thanks for the mask info and recommendations!

> we still need Engel!

I tried volunteering the last two congresses, figuring I'd do my share instead of only making use of the volunteer efforts. The first year, a task came up and I went to the angel desk but they weren't sure what the task was supposed to be or where it was supposed to be or something. I was told to hang around for a while but nothing came of it. Nothing further ever came up, tasks either required training (which might be fine, but there wasn't time for that training anymore) or were already being done by others the second they become available. The second year I occasionally checked the open tasks but same story.

The system is overflowing with angels there for the free food, the ticket vouchers, the crew t-shirts, and the camaraderie. Maybe you mean on other CCC events, or during buildup more than a day before the start? (I'm always there on day zero, when the place is relatively empty but most things are set up.)

At least in the video crew (we usually have training sessions on day 0 and day 1) we always need Engel.

Aside from that during build-up (before day 1) and tear-down (after day 4) we also need lots of helpers.

It’s probably known by now but just in case if not: they’re dramatically nicer to wear without facial hair. Not just “no beard”, the most comfortable I had them (KN95) was from whenever I fully shaved up to a “medium stubble”.

Hehe, I've never heard that but during COVID I had a MASSIVE beard, like some crazy sea captain or something! I figured if I was hiding away at home and would rarely been seen by other people, it was a perfect time to go try and grow out a long beard! Since the end of restrictions, the beard is a more normal cropped length, but still probably what most people would consider "full", so possibly this is partially an explanation as I've never experienced wearing a mask without a beard.

Masks and beards: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/23/health/beards-affect-mask-fit...

I did not know that! But I heard that a beard makes the thing useless because that's just where the air will pass unfiltered, and I don't have / never had a beard so that's not the problem for me. Thanks though!

Again, it all depends on your frame of reference. I wore an N95 mask all day when I was out and about during the worst of the epidemic and didn't find it at all uncomfortable.

Diff'rent strokes