... In the EU and UK, the FFP2 standard is my recommendation for the general public. It features both ear-loop and headband varieties, comes in a variety of colours, and typically costs less than a pound. Regulator oversight by various EU and UK government bodies helps to ensure a quality product.
In the US, the common NIOSH N95 is a great option, but it is limited to headbands only. Ear-loop masks are available via other international respirator standards, such as the KF94 (in South Korea) or KN95 (China). However it should be noted that the KN95 is a self-reported test standard, and lacks strict government regulation by China, resulting in many underperforming and often flat-out fake masks. The KF94 is less affected by this, as it is regulated by the Korean equivalent of the FDA.
In my year of testing nearly 100 different masks, I have found over and over again that there are high-performing masks that outperform cloth masks, while still featuring many things people like about their cloth masks. ...
