to suggest NOT wearing masks, but instead wearing . . .

[Durgasarrow]

the charmingly named Neck Gaitors? They have been my all-purpose solution to the Great Mask Dilemma of 2020. They're washable, lightweight, stylish, useful, versatile, you can wear them as a scarf and pull them up as needed, or as a hairband or even a bracelet if it's too constricting to keep it around your neck. They're cheap to order from Amazon by the half dozen--they have seriously helped me keep my sanity.

@GinDaddyRedux

Jesus I actually can't even write what I want to.

What is wrong with the ego of British people that they can't get their act together and just wear a proper mask?!

Because there are alternatives that don't hurt your ears.

@Thomasina79 this is a pandemic - it's not about what's slightly uncomfortable around the ears you can buy adjustable masks, you can modify the elastic at home, I mean... there seem to be so many people in here queuing up to explain how a mask won't work for them, as if we're not in a pandemic and we're instead discussing preferences for drop off arrangements or timings for parish meetings. It's a pandemic - why can't folk stop looking for ways out of protecting each other and just wear a mask?!

dh uses them because he says the masks I got hurt his ears.

I had to wear one yesterday because despite having loads of masks they were all in the wash. It kept falling down.

@anon5000

The "alternatives" are not as good as containing the virus. Otherwise what is the point of anyone wearing a medical grade mask? Maybe the people treating us in hospital should wear a snood over their face?

It’s helpful if you really can’t cope with a mask but the advice is that the best masks are 3 ply (as recommended by WHO). Neck gators and scarves don’t have this and generally don’t have a tight enough weave pattern to be useful as an effective barrier/filter.

gov.wales/face-coverings-frequently-asked-questions

The problem with the ‘face covering’ advice means I have seen all sorts, most of which is useless and wouldn’t stop anything.

I know tell me about it. We have talked about it but he's a grown up and I can't actually make him be reasonable.

Mine hurt my ears to begin with, but guess what? I got used to it and now it doesn’t.

We have neck gaitors as well as masks. Dh wore his on the Eurostar as found it comfortable. Ours have a filter pocket for washable filters.

There's no requirement to wear a mask. It's a face covering. I'm not buying anything for this purpose, I have scarves and snoods and will simply use one of those when I have to go to a shop. This seems perfectly reasonable, if anyone has something similar to the OP then they should use that too.

Do remember that we're mainly wearing face coverings to encourage people to go out/ boost the economy (albeit the reception to this seems mixed, as many people saying it makes them more confident as saying they will now avoid high street shops and supermarkets). If they were essential to protect us we'd have to wear them everywhere.

[quote GinDaddyRedux]@anon5000

The "alternatives" are not as good as containing the virus. Otherwise what is the point of anyone wearing a medical grade mask? Maybe the people treating us in hospital should wear a snood over their face?[/quote]
I haven't seen many people wearing medical grade masks tbh, or wearing any mask properly. So I'll wear a snood or a scarf for as long as Boris tells me to and I can be a good Covid citizen.

The "British public" have specifically and repeatedly been told not to use a proper mask.

If people are following the rules and wearing a face covering like they’re supposed to, no one else has any right to criticise what type of face covering they’ve chosen.

Why would I bother spending extra money on buying masks that are horrible to wear, bad for the environment and expensive when I already own things that do the job adequately?

They look nice. We all know that fabric face coverings aren't the ones the experts recommend for people working with covid patients. They are just a bit better than nothing for protecting each other.
So it doesn't really matter whether we wear one of these or a more official looking mask.

This isn't new, people have been wearing buffs as face coverings since day one ? Am I the only one who thinks this reads as an advert, what are you being unreasonable about, apart from not posting in the corona topic

Well they are better than nothing so if nothing is the alternative for some then hopefully they will use this kind of thing instead.

Where wearing buffs / giraffes / neck gators in our house. All a waste of time but need must.

I've recently used one of my buffs as a sizing pattern and cut up an old stretchy dress to make more. Single and double thickness they'll last me through winter, wash easily and only need straight line stitching.

I may even make more with fleece lining. Once you've made one it becomes far cheaper to buy a fleece and / or a dress from a charity shop and make a handful of mask/buffs in less that half an hour that buying them at any price.

Borrow a sewing machine, ask on Facebook. I've lent my old machine out to a couple of people who wanted to make some face covers.

Do you realise people are advised to not wear medical grade masks and leave them for those in the field due to (potential) shortage?

People are instead advised to wear "face coverings" and scarves, old shirts etc have been cited as usable. People are even given guidance on how to make them at home.

All these mask frothing is unnecessary.

@GinDaddyRedux

Jesus I actually can't even write what I want to.

What is wrong with the ego of British people that they can't get their act together and just wear a proper mask?!

I agree 100%. Never seen so many supposedly grown adults make such a fuss about nothing. God knows where this country would be if they were asked to do something that is actually difficult.

Waste of time as they're apparently ineffective. If you're prone to skin tags I'd also think they'd increase the likelihood of those forming.

I've tried these and cloth masks. These are a lot hotter and slip down more easily.

@GinDaddyRedux

Jesus I actually can't even write what I want to.

What is wrong with the ego of British people that they can't get their act together and just wear a proper mask?!

It would appear that there is something unique to large numbers if them that they have endless reasons not to be able to wear a face covering that don't affect the rest of the world.

No idea why

I have loads of these £3 from decathlon. Dd uses them to keep hair off face when we piling on eczema cream. They're also the only thing I've found that preserves my curls so I get good second and third day hair.

My dad has been using his as face covering in shops.