My guess is no, as it looks like a gaiter. Having a mask with clearly visible ear loops is the best way to avoid getting any questions. If you're worried about your ears getting tired, you can loop them through an "ear saver" on the back of your head.
MIAODAM Adjustable Mask Extender Strap, Mask Ear Saver, Mask Holder, Mask Strap, Masks Extension Masks Buckle Ear Protectors (5PCS, Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874Q4J3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_03Q2PRK3JA5DAZZ0Z97Z
Amazon sells plastic clips that you can hook your mask to, rather than your ears. Sets to the back of the head without squeezing. Try those. You can get about 5 for $10, I think? Great for long shifts. I can barely handle my glasses on my nose, let alone anything else. These clips are great.
i recently purchased this one off etsy. it has adjustable straps but i haven't worn it because it gets too hot and damp for me. it is comfortable though and i've seen a lot of people wearing these kinds instead of blue surgical masks.
another suggestion - not a mask but i got these mask extenders off amazon when i first started work and having to wear the blue masks all day
I'd try TinHiFi T2 DMC, they're smaller and only the eartips and the cable will be in contact with your ears. (And they sound much flatter than the Starfields).
Also an earsaver product for your mask elastic to keep it from irritating your ears is probably a very good idea. Like https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Comfortable-Ear-Strap-Hook/dp/B0861BD157
Mask elastic for hours on unpracticed ears gets sore and even more so if there are IEM wires going behind yours ears at the same time.
I like a mask to fit snugly but also don't like the pressure on my ears, so I use a silicone mask ear saver from Amazon (like this) to take the pressure off. If it's ridiculously tight, I will gently stretching out the earloops a bit (pinch the end so you're not just going to rip it off the mask).
I stole the idea to clip the hook on one side from someone on one of the other mask subs. Haha!
I have a very similar Velcro brand face mask extender that I rarely ever grab. I used to like it, but now I reach for the s-hooks or cinching lanyard.
NOTE: My add-ons may change when I am regularly wearing ear loop masks. Right now I am full-time N95 because caseloads are still so crazy in my area.
From your description, I am guessing the flaps that the straps attach to are digging into the front of your ear? Is that accurate?
If so you might be better off picking up a 3 or 10 pack of 3M Auras as Home Depot which are a different shape and very comfortable.
If the issue with the vflex is the straps rubbing against your ears, you can use something like this to help better position them. These are usually used horizontally but can be used vertically as well. https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Comfortable-Ear-Strap-Hook/dp/B0861BD157/ref=sr\_1\_16?keywords=mask+tie+behind+head&qid=1664819950&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjgwIiwicXNhIjoiNS4zOCIsInFzcCI6IjUuMzAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=Mask+tie%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-16
That's a good point. It's why I always wear an ear saver to pull earloops behind my head. Feels way more comfortable and improves the seal. There's a lot of options, I like the silicone ones from Amazon with little knobs (like this)
I am partial to the silicone mask ear savers like this one. KF94 with such an ear saver has been my go-to for daily wear.
Some (3M) come with an "S" clip in the package, I use this and like it. There are tons of different styles and options though, no affiliation. This one isn't perfect, but if you bend out the pin in the middle of the clip a little it makes connecting to the ear straps a little easier. I put the first ear loop into the strap before I put it on myhead, then pull it around back and clip the second ear loop in. Can just look on amazon or wherever for mask strap extenders if want a different one.
I've been wearing a mask for 7 hours a day for the last few weeks. I don't have an active job so it's OK, but definitely go for ones that wrap around your head, the ear ones can really start to hurt (you can also get or make things that you can hook the ear loops around to take the strain off of your ears).
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https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Anti-Slip-Protector-Dust-Worker-Food-Worker/dp/B085J24XZF
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The 3M Aura mask is pretty comfortable. I've been wearing an envomask, which is OK but the gasket is starting to come apart. I can buy another body (it is nice that they are replaceable) but I'm thinking about a FloMask instead. I've also heard really good things about the 3M SecureClick with the P100 filters. Stay safe! (I'm not wearing a mask for dust, but for covid protection because I have a kid who is too young to be vaccinated, and the possible long term effects of covid are really scary, I know a few people who either have long covid or no someone who does and some of them are on disability now)
Have you tried ear savers? They're cheap in bulk, but if you known someone with a 3d printer they could probably make you one for next to nothing.
After wearing a couple hours I've had ear discomfort from ear loops with my glasses as you describe. I have used these "ear savers" https://www.amazon.com/Extender-Anti-Tightening-Accessories-Extension-Relieved/dp/B087LX7TJN/ref=sr_1_11?crid=1EFQBQKIBJKHL&keywords=ear%2Bsavers%2Bfor%2Bface%2Bmasks&qid=1652899806&sprefix=ear%2Bsavers%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-11&th=1 Sometimes I wear this ear saver over the back strap of a baseball cap to anchor the ear saver higher up on my head and take pressure off my upper ears. I'd also consider wearing a head strap mask like the Powecom KN95 or an N95 to give my ears a break for a few hours.
My ears hurt after wearing a while, I prefer an adjustable strap... this one has been good. Have to bend out the print in the middle a little on first use to make the second loop easier to attach behind my head but after that it's quite simple. Think there are many varieties of same idea, not endorsing this vendor... but have no complaints with the product either.
Can you use the adjustable ear loop holder or tie the mask loops so it’s tighter? I’m an adult with a small face so I have to tie the mask loops to get a tight fit.
Not the greatest video, hopefully you can get what I'm doing. Sorry for the cloak and dagger appearance, I'm camera shy. Always forget that when recording a video with my phone it comes out funky on YouTube https://youtu.be/YT__3RzOQbU
The ear saver I'm using (the one I'm putting on the crown of my head which probably cant be made out) is this: https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Extender-Extension-Adjustable-Protector/dp/B0896441GH/
I cut the ends off so it wouldn't stick out as much. I use the innermost slots for the tightest fit.
The lanyard that I put on the mask at the begining is from BeHealthyUSA. I actually could have pulled it even tighter but I thought the jist of it was shown. This gives me a little more tension coming from the lower end so its a bit closer to a headstrap tension without having to cut anything. Not practical but that wasn't my goal.
This is what I use to keep the loops off of my ears. I had otoplasty surgery as a teenager and have very sensitive ears. MIAODAM Adjustable Mask Extender... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874Q4J3Y?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
If you don’t already have something like these I’d recommend getting them to prevent any excess irritation due to mask wearing. Best wishes for smooth healing
There are these “ear savers” they make that are a lifesaver for wearing masks for long production days.
Something like these:
Ear loop straps that go around the back of your head and hook onto the ear loops are a lifesaver for me.
These are my favorite:
FCXJTU Mask Strap Extender Ear Savers for Masks Adjustable Extender Strap Ear Protector Mask Hook Holder Clip for Relieving Ears' Pressure&Pain for Kids, Teens and Adults (6Pcs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085R8KZFS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_TVK4BQVACV30QF4ASA6S?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Two separate people in my house (me and one of my housemates) in a house of six people got COVID separately, but we quarantined, and ran air filters all over the house. We have five HEPA air filters in the house running all the time.
The other housemate had her own bathroom in the master suite (her husband slept in our living room for the period of her isolation; she was super diligent to mask up with an N95 once she suspected she got sick and was quick to isolate herself, and somehow he didn't catch it from her). I shared a bathroom with three other guys, but we ventilated the bathroom all the time.
Between isolating, masking, ventilating, and all the air filters we were running, somehow, nobody else in our house caught it from the two of us. Both of us appear to have caught the omicron variant; sore throats were our main symptom, and we didn't lose our sense of smell or taste.
When you mask up, really mask well; use at least a surgical mask, and crimp the wire so there's no gaps around your nose, and if you need ear savers to pull the mask tight on your face without hurting your ears, use those. That's what I did. Having gaps around your cheeks and around your nose defeats the purpose of wearing the mask.
Looks great! I especially love that conch jewelry. Best wishes for smooth healing. If you haven’t looked into ear savers for your mask I’d highly recommend it to proactively avoid any irritation
These have been a a lifesaver for me and I only wish I started wearing them earlier https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Comfortable-Ear-Strap-Hook/dp/B0861BD157
Tape over the nose will stop the heat coming up. I also found a behind the head attachment for the mask instead of over the ears has helped a lot.
Something like this. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0882KNCG3/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_NDXXR5TFDV5RZQ8BA5KS
Been wearing masks for about a year now. Sucks but we had a couple people catch covid and no one else got it.
You should get one of those plastic ear-savers that go around the back of your head. Like this https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Extender-Strap-Adjustment-Flexibility/dp/B08DXTTKVD/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=18GJ6R78MVR7A&keywords=Ear+savers&qid=1636645587&sprefix=ear+savers%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUX...
Don’t touch, and just spray twice a day (morning and night) with saline. That’s it. Soap, even a mild, I scented formulation, is still full of chemicals that will dry out your skin. My 5 (!) new cartilage piercings are healing extremely well because of my low-maintenance care. Sometimes less is more.
As for masks, you can get ear savers on Amazon so the straps go over the top of your head. You can also arrange so the straps sit around your neck, right under your ears. They look pretty dorky but at least you won’t irritate your piercings!
they have those mask extender things that a kid thought up, one of my coworkers uses it Ear Savers
I hate the ear loops after about 30mins start to get annoying and after about 1hr painful. I bought this and works very well. Not affiliated with seller / no incentives (if you believe me). Fit is at least as good, if not slightly better, with it in use. Ear comfort is much better, can go prob 4-5hrs without significant pain. After about 8hrs it was very uncomfortable but I was able to move the headstrap part higher on my head and still wear the mask... but it probably looked dumb.
Anyway, many products out there that offer similar. If you get this one, I clip one side onto one earloop put the mask on and clip the other side behind my head to the other earloop. I had to bend out the metal sprong in the center of the clip a little to make that easier to click the loop in behind me.
Anyway, about 1000 different versions of these out there, I like this one but sure others work as well or better.
Maybe a star extender like this would work?: 4 Pcs Mask Strap Extender, Anti-Tightening Mask Holder Hook Ear Strap Accessories Ear Grips Extension Mask Buckle Ear Pain Relieved Four Colours https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087LX7TJN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_V68Q6JP7ERV4MDKPE2N7
I use these. I bought mine from Staples on clearance. though. https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Anti-Slip-Protector-Dust-Worker-Food-Worker/dp/B085J24XZF/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=ear+savers&qid=1630381599&sr=8-6