As multiple wildfires continue to burn across Los Angeles, millions of people are being exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution. “Smoke carries a lot of particulates, and they can range in size,” says Monica Kraft, professor of pulmonology and system chair for the Department of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “If they’re inhaled, depending on the size, they can deposit themselves throughout the lung.” Robert Gillio, a pulmonary critical-care physician, says smoke inhalation can cause coughing, scratchy throat, burning eyes, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, and even asthma attacks.
According to the doctors I spoke with, the best thing you can do to protect yourself from smoke inhalation is to stay indoors whenever possible. But, with hundreds of thousands of L.A. residents forced to evacuate their homes, the next best thing is a face mask or respirator to help avoid inhaling dangerous smoke particles. As we saw with COVID-19, the masks most effective in protecting against smoke inhalation are N95 respirator masks and KN95 masks.
However, Lang emphasizes that even a fabric mask or bandana is better than nothing: “The goal is to reduce risk as much as possible,” he says. “N95 masks provide the greatest risk reduction, but a good cloth mask with a center filtering layer does still reduce risk substantially.” That said, according to Ronaghi, smoke particles are one-30th the size of a single strand of hair and can easily slip through the gaps of a fabric face mask. So ideally, you’ll want to choose one with multiple nonwoven filter layers. Below, we’ve rounded up some available N95s and acceptable alternatives.
Update on January 24, 2025: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Best N95 mask
For a NIOSH-approved N95 mask you can likely find online or at a local retailer, the 3M Aura mask is a solid and affordable choice. It offers protection from both smoke and virus particles.
Best KN95 mask
Kraft says the convenience of KN95 masks — they typically have ear loops rather than straps that go behind your head — makes them another good option, and regular people are more likely to have them lying around at home. You’ll just want to be careful about where you buy them. While the FDA initially authorized many different kinds of KN95 masks for emergency use during the pandemic, Lang points out that it later retracted its approval of several brands that failed to meet NIOSH standards. We’ve recommended these Powecom masks in the past because they are distributed by a reputable U.S. company and come in a range of sizes. They are also recommended by Aaron Collins, a Minneapolis-based mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science who created a comparative guide to children’s masks during the pandemic. Collins’s testing showed that Powecom masks filter out over 95 percent of airborne particles.
Best reusable respirator mask
According to Lang, a respirator mask with a P100 filter is very effective at stopping smoke inhalation (“The P also filters out oil-based particles, which can get through the N respirators to some extent,” he adds). This one is made by 3M and can be used over and over again, but you’ll need to replace the cartridge filters. The life of your filters will depend on the substance you are trying to filter out and the intensity level of that substance — in this case, smoke. A good rule of thumb is to change the filter if you start to smell strong odors through the filter or if it becomes harder to breathe.
One important note: While the respirator’s exhalation valve makes it easier for the wearer to breathe — a good thing when dealing with hazardous air quality — it renders the mask useless in preventing COVID transmission, as all of the wearer’s respiratory droplets are dispersed outside the mask.
Best KF94 mask
KF94s are another type of high-quality mask we have written about before. Where KN95s are the Chinese equivalent of N95s, KF94s are the South Korean equivalent. Evolvetogether masks are soft against the skin, have a bendable nose strip to help achieve a good fit, and are third party–tested for efficiency. The brand also makes kid-size masks.
Best KN95 for kids
Like their adult-size counterparts, Powecom children’s KN95 masks are high-quality, sold by a reputable source, and comfortably soft on the skin. Compared to other “bifold” masks, these fit our young test subjects — Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio’s two daughters, who were 4 and 7 years old at the time — the best. Trolio noticed that the Powecom KN95’s were a bit softer and more pliable than other masks her family tried, so they conformed to her kids’ cheeks better. While they are better suited to older kids (Collins recommends them for children ages 7 to 12, depending on face size), they still offer a decent fit for this style of mask, even without adjustable ear loops.
Best KF94 mask for kids
Of the consistently in-stock KF94s Collins has tested, these Dr. Puri masks have one of the highest filtration efficiencies: 99.4 percent. According to Strategist writer and mom of two Lauren Ro, the masks come individually packaged and are very soft. When she tested them, her son was almost 5 years old and they were a little too big for his face, but they are well-suited for older kids. The masks come in three sizes, the smallest of which is recommended by Collins for children ages 6 through 9.
Best KF94 mask for preschoolers
According to Ro, this KF94 is the best, most comfortable mask her family has found for preschool-age children. It also comes recommended by Collins, who featured it on his mask guide after testing it. For children under 2 years old, who should not wear masks, according to the CDC, staying indoors when possible is the best option during periods of poor air quality.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
