Well before the N95 and K95 masks just dropped in price

The only medical supply store, Well Before, one of our readers’ favorite suppliers of masks, lowered the price of the vast majority of its stock by about a dollar just before the New Year. This is good news for anyone who wears masks.

Founded near the start of the pandemic as a supplier of PPE, the brand has recently expanded to provide gloves, cleaning products, disinfectants and more.

Among its most popular products is this black disposable 3 PLY face mask, individually wrapped, with a black outer layer for style, a melted intermediate layer for maximum filtration and a non-woven inner layer suitable for the skin to avoid irritation.

The new discount is possible due to the reduction in the price of the blown molten material that makes up this intermediate layer. Necessary for the production of N95 masks and other high-quality PPE materials, the price of melted fabrics skyrocketed during the height of the pandemic, but has since stabilized, and some experts expect it to return to pre-pandemic prices in 2024.

Disposable face masks 3 PLY – individually wrapped

Disposable 3 PLY face masks – individually packaged – wellbefore.com

0.29Buy now

Well Before’s KN95 and N95 masks come from trusted manufacturers, such as Harley, and offer extra protection due to their improved sealing and filtration, and should be reserved for high-risk situations, such as caring for an infected friend or family member.

The difference between the two is that N95 masks are certified by NIOSH, which means that they have passed the CDC test, as long as they avoid at least 95% of particles larger than 0.3 microns in width. KN95 masks, on the other hand, passed a similar test, but instituted by China. The CDC maintains an execution list of KN95 masks that pass the N95 test, and it is important to note that most masks are manufactured or have materials from China, and the N95 / KN95 label simply refers to the government that certified the test.

KN95 – Individually packed