It has been a rough couple of years for most of us coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, as we continue to process our ordeal of lockdowns, physical distancing, and the overall turbulence to our routine that the pandemic has brought with it. Armed with COVID-19 vaccines, we are working to regain and maintain a sense of normalcy starting with the simple pleasures in life and building up to special moments and occasions.

One of the things we used to look forward to and was pretty much abolished from our lives has been domestic and international travel. But now, with booster shots and the continued maintenance of the safe practices of physical distancing, frequent handwashing and mask-wearing, flights have been reintroduced into our lives once again.

 

To help reinstate airplane travel with as few glitches along the way as possible, current COVID-19 safe practices are very much in place. Masks are required while using all public transportation modes including airplanes as well as public transportation hubs such as stations and airports.

 

But while we are ok with tolerating certain types of masks for short excursions outside of our homes, selecting a mask for a long-haul flight comes with its own set of priorities and considerations.

 

So, what should we look for in a mask for flights and what are the makings of the best face mask for air travel? We’ve put together the 4 main points to watch for and consider to help you find the best travel mask for you.

Planes are a confined indoor space with a high number of passengers sharing it. Cabin air quality varies depending on whether air filters are used, but even on airplanes with advanced filtration systems, air filters are not operating at maximal capacity during takeoffs and landings. Add to that the fact that some people are still not wearing their mask properly to fully cover their nose and mouth with no gaps or leaks, and that others may not be wearing masks consistently throughout the flight or not choosing a mask with good filtration performance, and you have a closed space with potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

 

Finding a mask which offers you a high level of protection is crucial to filtering out any particles in the closed airplane space you are sharing with others for a good number of hours. A mask like the SonoMask™ Pro has been tested and proven to offer over 97% filtration of 3-micron particles . But the SonoMask™ Pro doesn’t stop there.

 

Sonovia’s SonoMask™ contains built-in antimicrobial properties to prevent the mask from becoming a reservoir of microorganisms.

Sonovia’s innovative ultrasonic technology blasts fabrics with an antimicrobial agent at high velocity. The antimicrobial agent becomes embedded in the fabric and is so well incorporated into the fabric that its capabilities are maintained for over one year of use based on 55 weekly washes. These built-in antimicrobial properties in Sonovia’s face mask fabrics were also tested at Vismederi Textyle S.r.l labs in Italy according to ISO standard 18184 and proven to prevent the growth of microorganisms on the mask’s fabric. The SonoMask™ Pro’s fabric neutralized over 99% of:

• SARS-CoV-2
• SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant

Over 6 hours.

This means that in addition to high filtration your SonoMask™ Pro neutralizes the viruses it traps, keeping your mask clean and hygienic.

 

Sonovia’s face mask fabrics were also tested according to standard AATCC100:2019 test method and proven to prevent growth of bacteria on the mask. SonoMask™ Pro demonstrated over 99% efficacy against:

• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Staphylococcus aureus

On the mask itself over 24 hours.

This means that in addition to high filtration your SonoMask™ Pro kills bacteria it traps.

And because the mask doesn’t become a repository for microbes, you actually only need to wash it as needed if it becomes dirty or stained. With the SonoMask™ Pro you get high-protection and low-maintenance!

The first rule of a mask providing you with any kind of protection is for it to fit well. The mask also needs to be comfortable and allow you to breathe easily for you to be able to keep it on for as many hours as needed. This is especially true inside the plane where you can’t step outside to take a breather. According to the CDC , you should look for cloth masks that have multiple layers of breathable fabric that is tightly woven, include a nose wire, do not have gaps around the nose or sides of the face and that should block out the light if you hold the mask up to a bright light source. If the mask has gaps, air can leak out and infect other people if you are sick.

 

The SonoMask Pro™ is made up of three layers overall: 2 layers of tightly knit, soft, breathable fabric with an additional middle filter layer. It has a robust nose wire so you can adjust the mask to the contours of your face and prevent air escaping from around your nose. It comes with your choice of either head straps or ear straps, both with adjustable sliders for full customization, as well as an ergonomic chin guard to keep the mask in place as you move. The SonoMask™ Pro offers 4 sizes ranging from S to adults looking for an XL mask as well as a separate kids’ collection to ensure everyone stays protected. Oh, and it comes in a variety of prints and colors so that you continue to look sharp even after the longest long-haul flight.

You may have heard of maskne by now – the pimples, skin breakouts and other skin irritations caused by long hours of mask-wearing. The friction of the harsh, plastic disposable mask against your skin combined with the humidity trapped in the mask has been causing all kinds of skin issues not just among people who have dealt with acne before, but among people who have never met a zit in their lives prior to the pandemic. 

 

Sitting on an airplane for many hours with your mask constantly on can get you to your destination with less-than-ideal skin. But acne caused by masks, or maskne, doesn’t have to be a given. Start off by reducing the friction and humidity and increasing comfort and breathability by opting for a soft, breathable fabric like the one found in the SonoMask™ Pro.

 

In addition to the SonoMask™ Pro’s high filtration, the SonoMask™ Pro’s antimicrobial properties protect the mask from becoming a reservoir of bacteria, so you will be getting a mask that stays clean and hygienic throughout your trip. In fact, Sonovia’s face mask fabrics have been proven to kill P.acnes bacteria with over 99.99% efficacy in 5 hours when tested at the Hy Laboratories Ltd under standard AATCC100:2019 (anaerobic conditions).
This means that in addition to high filtration your SonoMask™ Pro kills the acne-causing bacteria it traps.

During long hours of wear, food and dirt may remain on the inside of our mask. All the hours spent on the airplane with less-than-ideal conditions for proper human hygiene are wonderful news for bacteria that thrive on food particles and muck left behind on the inside of our mask. This growth opportunity for bacteria could not just be dangerous but could also cause bad odor inside our mask which we would pretty much be stuck with for the full duration of our trip. But our trip doesn’t need to stink. Because the SonoMask™ Pro remains clean and hygienic, odors don’t build up on and inside your mask, leaving your mask smelling fresh and your trip filled with good memories, not bad odors.

Air travel is picking up again and travelling for business and vacation will soon be a part of our lives once more. As we continue to exercise precautions to keep ourselves and others safe from COVID-19, we want to find the best face mask to keep us protected while up in the air. With its high filtration rate, built-in antimicrobial properties to keep the mask clean and hygienic, adjustable, snug fit, and high breathability, the SonoMask Pro™ goes the extra mile to keep you continuously safe in the air and after landing for a fun and memorable travel experience.