I had a green velvet choker in the late 70s or early 80s.
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So the original article (or first article I read regarding the study before the Washington Post picked this up) did NOT say that the poor performance of neck gaiters was related to being thin (that was the bandanas). Additionally, it does not sound like they tested lightweight, stretchy gaiters. It references “neck fleece” gaiters. Now I love polar fleece, but who the heck is wearing fleece in August in NC?! It DID say that the “neck fleece” broke the droplets up into smaller particles. I found all this information here: https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/duk…test/19225401/
A few days later the researchers came out and said that the intent of the study was not to rate the effectiveness of face coverings, but how a study like this could be done (at least that was my understanding). The researcher quoted in the first article says here: “Not all … neck gaiters are bad. There are plenty good ones out there,” Fischer said. “It depends so much on the material, on how many layers you wear.” I found this information here: https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/duk…ters/19232586/
Now I have not read the actual study (not my expertise) however, my take away is that the best face covering is one that fits snugly over your nose and mouth AND is made of a “durable” material.
For reference, WRAL is a local news station in the Triangle area of NC which encompasses Duke University.
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I’m very disappointed by how The Washington Post presented the information from the preliminary study. Here’s another useful breakdown of its problems, from a nonpartisan website that summarizes peer-reviewed research in layperson’s terms.
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I travel a lot for work and have made a habit of checking what flight attendants and pilots do. I got
these nifty straps that connect the ear loops of my mask behind my neck. Takes all pressure off of my ears and allows for custom adjustment of tension. Also allows me to let my mask hang around my neck if I’m eatiing/drinking --but then put it back up by only touching the straps.
As for the gaiters:. Haven’t reviewed the actual study, but Sorry to say, if the mask feels super comfortable and doesn’t feel like you’re breathing your own breath, them it’s not likely to be effective.
We’re all going to have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
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Using the original data from a study that was floating around in March, which said “tea towel” was the best material, I’ve made a neck gaitor out of tea toweling* that I use for riding. It’s not tight like the polyester gaitors – it’s a loose tube of toweling with an elastic at the top of the tube (One of mine also has a metal nose strip for shaping). I pull it up when in the barn, and pull it down when riding. It’s long enough that it isn’t “open” at the bottom but instead lies against my shirt.
Another benefit is, since it’s cotton, I can wet it and use it when I ride as a cooling device. I wet it just before I get on, put it around my neck, and the evaporation cools me the whole ride. Generally, it’s dry when I need to mask up again to untack.
It also serves as a mechanical sunblock around my neck.
*Since tea-towel is not defined, I used the close woven type that is often sold as a souvenir – made of linen (old type) or cotton. I did not use the terry cloth type of towel.
Do you have a link or name of these nifty devices you got?
They don’t work to contain droplets and those that wear them can spread the virus. However people on here are saying they will continue to wear them?!?
I guess this virus will be around a lot longer than we hoped.
Do your part and wear a real mask!
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I won a class in 1977 under <gasp> GHM with a green velvet choker and matching helmet 😜
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I loop elastic bands through each side of the ear pieces and connect them with a paper clip - add more elastics if you need it bigger.
No pressure at all on the ears.
Sorry, thought I had embedded a link, must’ve lost it. Here’s the kind I’m using
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0…?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you google “ear savers mask” you’ll see a million variants. I like these b/c they’re soft fabric (so I don’t notice them even when sleeping with one on, for trans-ocean flight) and they’re adjustible.
right but wearing mask around the neck is really not a good idea - this is one of the reasons why Fauci et al initially said wearing masks wasn’t a good idea. -while you have your face mask over your nose and mouth, your neck is exposed, meaning any droplets containing the virus could land on your neck. If you then pull your mask down below your chin, the inside of the mask will be contaminated, meaning that when you pull it back over your nose and mouth, you’ll be vulnerable to any bacteria, germs and viruses on your neck.
