Fit Test Battle of the N95 Tri-folds: 3M Aura 9205+ vs. Black BNX F95B

A particle counter mask fit test comparison of the 3M Aura 9205+ vs. Black BNX F95B.

Includes bonus tests of the LG Airwasher KF94, and a hacked version of the BNX with the nose wire from a 3M.

I wanted to find out if the fit of the BNX F95B would be good enough to justify ditching the Auras for the cool look of the black BNX. So, I put them to the test on my face using a TSI particle counting mask fit tester - sort of like if if you accidentally ordered Aaron Collins on Wish dot com.

(Yup, I’m totally copying some of Aaron Collins’ testing methods, but without any of his specialized knowledge or expertise - just letting you know in advance :-) I really wanted to know how well these masks would work on my face so I had to do some tests myself. YMMV.)

2:15 - LG Airwasher
2:34 - LG Airwasher Fit Test
3:32 - LG Airwasher w/ Fix the Mask Fit Test
4:08 - BNX F95B
5:09 - BNX F95B Fit Test
5:55 - BNX F95B w/ Fix the Mask Fit Test
6:39 - 3M Aura 9205+
6:57 - 3M Aura 9205+ Fit Test
9:46 - BNX F95B Hacked by Replacing with a Solid Metal 3M Nose Wire.
9:55 - BNX F95B with Nose Wire Hack Fit Tested

*Measurements*
(Measured by opening the tri-fold mask fully, then folding in half so it looks like a bi-fold.)

3M Aura
Nose bridge to bottom of chin - 17mm
Interior Depth – 9.5mm (Working part of the mask, not counting tabs.)


BNX F95B
Nose bridge to bottom of chin - 16mm
Interior Depth – 8.5mm (Working part of the mask, not counting tabs.)

The measurements seem similar, but the BNX F95B really is, as advertised, a small/medium mask. It is not as big as the 3M, in spite of the front panels being essentially identical in size. The top panel is shorter, and the nose wire pocket slightly lower. The interior depth of the working portion of the mask is also a bit shorter.

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Note that I'm using an N100 style fit test of all ambient particles not the officially designated OSHA N95 protocol that counts only non-penetrating particles so that only leakage around the mask is measured – some filter penetration of ambient particles is expected. Because of that fit factor can be below 100 and still be within minimum expectations for a perfectly fitted N95 mask using the N100 test. I'm also not doing the official 4 stage OHSA fit test.

The actual NIOSH tested filtration efficiency test results will be different than my results because I’m not doing calibrated testing using just a specific penetrating particle size at a high flow rate, nor am I using lab grade equipment. Also, not an expert.