Love them or hate them; we’re probably going to be wearing them for a while. I’m talking about masks. Who knew in January masks would be predicted to be the newest fashion trend? With three essential workers in our family, we’ve purchased our share of masks; from Bryan’s masks featuring his favorite SEC football team, to Ashton’s galaxy masks, to my crazy cat lady mask. When the folks at Marena, a Lawrenceville, Georgia based company who has collaborated with medical professionals to become the leader in medical compression products, asked me to try their new antibacterial face masks, I said, “Sure.” After all, you can never have too many masks; especially if you have to handwash 2 to 3 every day.
I was provided masks for review for my honest opinions. No other compensation was received.
Marena Reusable Reusable Antibacterial Face Mask Review:
What Makes Marena Masks Special? Each mask is treated with Silvadur™ “an extremely effective, highly durable bio-activated antibacterial agent, which delivers silver ions to the fabric surface.” I know what you’re thinking. “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Is this safe?” Yes, Silvadur is approved as non-toxic by the International Oeko-Tex Association. I’ve had to research Oeko-Tex in the past, and they’re a group of 18 independent research and testing institutes in the field of leather and textile. It’s a rigorous process to get approved by their association. The masks are designed to protect against the spread of large respiratory droplets, large germ particles, and splashes.
Want to know more about Marena Masks? I’ve put together a list of Pros and Cons.
Pros:
1. They’re Comfortable. Made with TriFlex™ fabric, they are designed to be moisture-wicking and cooling, along with the ability to maintain a “consistent stretch on the skin’s surface without compromising fit or comfort.” Basically, it doesn’t constrict or bind when it stretches so it allows airflow and breathability. It’s designed to be lightweight and has comfortable earpieces. After wearing one for several hours I had no ear pain. That’s a plus because some straps cause my ears to feel funky. No one likes funky ears.
2. They’re Machine Washable. I usually hand wash our masks, but these are designed to withstand washing in temperatures over 160 degrees or sterilization temperatures between 210 and 270 degrees. And, although I won’t be doing this, they can be ironed in temperatures up to 365 degrees. *Note: Marena recommends washing or sterilizing masks after each use.
3. Kid’s Sizes Are Available in Small, Medium, and Large. We all know kid’s little faces are different sizes. We tried the small mask for Critter and it works well for a preschooler.
4. They’re Affordable. Masks are available for $12, although they sometimes go on sale. Considering I’ve paid $5 for cloth masks that are not treated with Silvadur™, I think this is a bargain for the added layer of protection. The antibacterial Silvadur™ protection is designed to last through 75 washings.
Cons:
1. These masks won’t protect you against small respiratory droplets and small germ particles, but this is not a feature of most any mask you’ll (probably) be able to purchase. Only an N95 respirator mask is designed to provide this protection. That doesn’t mean they are ineffective as they do protect against larger particles.
2. These masks are available in limited basic colors; green, light and dark pink, grey, black, tan, red, dark blue, teal, and one pattern, cheetah print. We tested the black and the tan masks, while Critter tested the teal mask. They do their job of providing protection, but, if you want masks that match your personality, these may be a little bland.
3. These masks are only available in one size fits all for adults. We tried this with three different sized heads; mine, Bryan’s, and Ashton’s. The mask was a little big for me but could be adjusted for a snug fit. It fit perfectly on Bryan. Ashton, however, had a problem, as he has had with all the masks we’ve tried. It was a little snug and made his ears stick out, which affects his comfort level.
Now, for the big reveal…
Would I purchase them for myself?
Yes. For the price and protection, I think these are a wise investment. While I like to envision a world without masks, we might as well be comfortable while we wait.
Have you heard of Marena Masks?
Thank you for sharing this Marena Mask Review. We all need to wear a mask when going out now for our safety. I will check this out.
These are some very nice looking and hefty masks! I would really like to snag one of these.
This looks like a great mask. I like how it really has full coverage on your face.
These look like great masks! I’ve found that I’m particular about the fabric that my masks are made of (and my skin is sensitive to it as well). This fabric looks pretty great!
I found KN95 masks the other day at a local store so I stocked up. My kids can’t handle them for long though so these cloth options are good for them along with social distancing.
There are so many masks that you can buy. But you never know which one is the right one! Thanks for this review!
These looks pretty cool! I may look into these for myself. Thanks for the recommendation!
I’ve seen tons of masks everywhere, and different styles. But this one caught my attention, I like masks with this kind if style. Simple but it suits anything I wear.
Whether you believe in their effectiveness or not, it is definite that a mask traps the water molecules that viruses travel in. I love the silver, it is a natural killer of germs.
This mask looks so comfortable! The biggest probably I have with cloths masks is that no mask wants to fit my face. They’re always too big and they fall down. I wonder if this will fit.
I think a lot of people aren’t understanding why we should wear masks when they aren’t N95s, but if we all did we would at least be a little less likely to pass on the virus. These sound like a great mask – I’m all for a comfortable one.
I mean, this mask does look rather comfortable and not restricting, which I like. I don’t like when my mask is TOO tight, cause then I feel like I am suffocating.
I love how much of the face this covers, and I love how comfortable it looks, too. Some masks are just miserable to wear.
Since I wear glasses, I need to have a mask that has the metal at the nose. I haven’t tried any cloth masks yet though. That would be so hot here in Florida.