The Best Face Mask for Air Travel in 2022

After over two years since COVID-19 took over our lives and upended our routine and sense of normalcy, we are now living alongside the pandemic, including bringing air travel volume close to pre-pandemic numbers. But with newer, more contagious variants being reported on a weekly basis, how can we make sure our travels remain COVID-free? Read on to find out what you can do to stay safe during your trip.

Throughout the different stages of the pandemic, masks have proven to be the ultimate weapon of mass protection. Mask policies on aircrafts now depend on the airline and destination, but for anyone who prefers to take charge of their own protection and safety level, masks are still the smartest choice.

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 helping 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. Furthermore, 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 at all) 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. Standard disposable masks offer passive filtration, meaning they trap particles in the mask like flies in a spider web. This means that after a few hours, these masks become contaminated with infectious pathogens and needs to be replaced with a new mask. What makes Sonovia’s SonoMask™ Pro stand out is that in addition to passive filtration, it also contains built-in antimicrobial properties to prevent the mask from becoming a reservoir of microorganisms.

Sonovia was founded in 2013 based on innovative ultrasonic technology developed at Bar Ilan University in Israel. Sonovia’s ground-breaking technology, which has been perfected for over a decade, 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 and even longer the less you wash it. These built-in antimicrobial properties prevent the growth of microbes on the mask, keeping it clean, hygienic, and smelling fresh over time. 

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 3 layers: an inner and outer layer made of soft, breathable fabric, and a middle filter layer. It has a robust nose wire so you can adjust the mask to the contours of you face and prevent air escaping from around your nose. It comes with your choice of either head straps or ear straps, both adjustable, as well as an ergonomic chin guard to keep the mask in place. It also offers 4 sizes and 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. 

With the SonoMask™ Pro’s antimicrobial properties that protect the mask from bacterial degradation the mask won’t become a reservoir of bacteria, so you will be getting a mask that stays clean and hygienic throughout your trip. 

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. The antimicrobial agent in the SonoMask™ Pro prevents the growth of odor-causing microbes, leaving your mask smelling fresh and your trip filled with good memories, not bad odors.

Air travel is back on and travelling for business and vacation alongside newer, more infectious variants is becoming the new normal. 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, 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.