I have owned and used the V1 mask since it first debuted - I literally bought mine from the first production run. It is, to date, my favorite face mask and easily the most comfortable one I have tried. As an employee of an essential business, I have spent the entire pandemic working and wearing a face mask has become part of my daily life.
I was lucky enough to win a set of the new V4 masks from the raffle being held on the forums.
Awesome!
I wound up liking my V1 mask more than the V4.
Not so awesome!
Keep reading to learn more about why I prefer the original and what improvements might be made to correct my issues with the V4.
V1 (Dark Navy, Small/Medium)
65% Poly, 35% Cotton.
Removable nose bridge.
Does not have a neck lanyard.
V1, Front/Side View
V1, Front View
V1, Side View
V4 (Navy, Small/Medium)
100% Cotton Flannel.
Built in nose bridge and neck lanyard.
V4 (S/M), Mask Removed, Worn Around Neck
V4 (S/M), Front/Side View, with Eyeglasses
V4 (S/M), Side View, with Eyeglasses
V4 (S/M), Side View, without Eyeglasses
V4 (S/M), Side View, Mouth Fully Outstretched
V4 (Black, Medium/Large)
100% Cotton Flannel.
Built in nose bridge and neck lanyard.
V4 (M/L), Mask Removed, Worn Around Neck
V4 (M/L), Front/Side View, with Eyeglasses
V4 (M/L), Side View, with Eyeglasses
V4 (M/L), Side View, without Eyeglasses
V4 (M/L), Side View, Mouth Fully Outstretched
As an employee of an essential business, it was very important for me to find a comfortable face mask very early on during the pandemic. I purchased my first set from Tom Bihn just as soon as they started making them.
The version I have owned and worn exclusively since spring is what is now known as their V1 face mask.
What have I grown to like about the V1 mask?
1.) It fits my face well, without gaps.
2.) The ear loops are stretchy and soft enough to minimize discomfort.
3.) The nose bridge was essentially a removable twist tie, that, if misplaced, could be replaced with the household equivalent.
4.) The fabric not only was fairly wrinkle-free, but breathable, and had enough structure of its own that it didn’t collapse inward on my face, or get sucked in by my breathing.
Things I like about the V4:
1.) The integrated neck lanyard. I think all masks should include lanyards. Not only does it eliminate the risk of loss (as careful as I am, I lost one of my V1 masks!) but it’s enormously more hygienic. For two reasons. Once removed, without a lanyard, you either have to a.) fold the mask and place it into a pocket, or b.) set it down on a potentially unclean surface. While the latter scenario is obviously problematic, the former means the wearer will have the readjust the nose bridge after unfolding the mask to put it back on again. It would require touching one’s face to reform the nose bridge.
2.) Sewn-in adjustable nose bridge. I never had issues with the removable “twist tie” included with the V1 mask. Much the same, I don’t mind that the nose bridge in this version is permanently sewn into the mask. I wash my V1 face masks without removing the nose bridge and never once has it been removed by the wash cycle.
Things I don’t like about the V4:
1.) Sizing. My face is too long for a SM/MD but not large enough to fit a MD/LG. If I open my mouth wide, the SM/MD gets pulled under my nose. The MD/LG is just plan too large for my face, and therefore, loose. Both are unsafe for me to wear when in proximity to other people. Unless these masks were to be made in a middle size, I could not in good conscience wear them.
2.) Small ear loops. Regardless of size, both V4 masks have smaller ear loops than my V1 mask and take more time to put on my face. They increase in size, proportionally, to the mask, but while the ear loops on the larger mask fit my face most comfortably, that mask is also the loosest around my face because the mask itself is too big a cut. The loops on the SM/MD should be larger. The loops on the MD/LG are likely fine, but again, are smaller than the V1 and take more time to put on and off. More time spent on adjustment means a greater likelihood of touching one’s face. My V1 mask is VERY easy to snap on by pulling the ear loops further back than my ears, and letting it snap into place without further adjustment.
3.) Compatibility with eyeglasses/sunglasses. Even doing my best to bend the nose bridge exactly to the contours of my face, and even resting the glasses on top of the mask (instead of behind or under it), I still experience fogging. To be honest, I haven’t yet tried any mask which doesn’t fog. Out of curiosity, I asked my dentist during my last checkup (since he has to wear one every single day for the entirety of his shift) and he confided that the best solution was a piece of medical tape to seal the top edge of the mask against the face, forcing hot air out to the sides and not up the top. I cannot fault Tom Bihn since this is a fairly universal problem I have encountered, and is not unique to their mask design.
4.) The fabric. Cotton flannel, compared to the Cotton/Poly blend, isn’t as firm a fabric (keeping it off and away from the mouth) and more easily absorbs condensation. I might like it during the cooler months while I’m walking outside, but inside a business, it feels warm. The lack of rigidity in this fabric, combined with the oversized cut (when compared to the V1) doesn’t make for a flattering look. If you’ve ever seen Jim Henson’s prototype of Kermit the Frog - a little more rumpled in the mouth than the finished puppet - you’ve seen what my face feels like in this V4 mask.
So, as of right now, the cons outweigh the pros, and I will continue wearing my V1 mask.
My ideal mask would be a V1 (double layer) mask, in a Small/Medium size, with an integrated neck lanyard.
I would like to wrap up this review with a huge THANK YOU to Tom Bihn. It’s obvious to recognize their generosity. They gave me the chance to review a product, free of charge, ahead of its release date in exchange for feedback. What do I want to thank them more, and most for? They listen. Tom Bihn is a company who literally pulls suggestions from their message forums and, on a fairly regular basis, turns them into either upgrades to existing items, or reasons to make completely new items.
This review is not overwhelmingly positive, and - if anything - a case for why one should purchase the V1 instead of the V4. Did I love these two new mask designs? I didn’t. Does it impact my trust or love in the company overall? Not one bit.
Here’s the thing. People are so enthusiastic and so opinionated about Tom Bihn bags because they make products people use ALL THE TIME and EVERY SINGLE DAY. They become interconnected with your daily life, your work commute, and even your summer vacations. Items either work really well, or they don’t. By now, I’ve bought and either kept or returned most the items they make. The most important thing I have learned is that the bags I like best adapted to my lifestyle, and not the other way around. If you have to change your organizational habits to make a bag work, well, it probably won’t work.
I hope that, one day, when the pandemic is no longer a problem, and flights are easier to take, I can thank and high-five Tom (and the rest of his company!) personally for how much better his products have made my own life.
For now, I’d like to thank them for the opportunity to review their new product and for the trust they place in their customers to return their favor with an honest opinion - even if it’s not entirely a positive one.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Originally Posted by ayazgood
But, everyone has their own way of doing things, and the mask has to fit *you*. I will be interested to hear if the tape route works for you!
