Masks. Anybody know why we are asked to bring g kn95 and surgical

Who is asking you to do this?

And, I've never heard of are g kn95 masks? What is it?

I suggest you wear N95s at airports and on board during your flight. They provide maximum protection.

that's a new one. Who requires that?

KN95 or FFP2 masks have been required on German public transport, and in some other countries too. I do not know if it is still the case as of today, but that might be the reason for the requirement!

We just returned from a RS tour. N95 masks are preferred in European airports and were required on the RS tour bus. We wore surgical masks outdoors.

Because masks. The rules and protocols on the aircraft and in the countries you will be visiting can change daily. (BA.2!)
Why would you not want to have your own supply of reliable personal protection equipment? Shoot, I still carry sanitizer and a wad of gloves.

I assume you are seeing this in tour information. KN95, N95, and FFP2 masks are required in some places, at least currently. Many however find them uncomfortable to wear, especially as it gets warmer, so the Surgical masks a more comfortable and lighter.

I carry both, but mostly just wear a surgical mask. I have not been on tours, or have one planned, so they may impose their own requirements as to when N95 masks are required, and when you have the option for either or, or no mask.

If you really just prefer to wear an N95 mask full time, that would likely be fine.

N95 is the North American designation, KN95 is the Asian designation and FFP2 is the European designation for the masks that filter 95% of particulates. They are all equal. Many European countries require that level of protection in public spaces and on public transport.
Last October when traveling from Poland to Austria with surgical masks, we were kindly told we needed to be wearing FFP2 masks in Austria. We popped into a pharmacy and were quickly outfitted with a stash of the appropriate masks.

Just do it.

still want to know about the g- and who is requiring such an unusual version...

I think the g is just a typo.

I just got the same email from RS because I am within one month of my tour.
I haven't used surgical masks, and plan to just bring kn95s.
Perhaps mention of surgical masks was a way of saying not to bother bringing cloth masks.

frankiedolls
Welcome to the forum!
The majority of posters on the forum do not travel on RS tours, it's always a good idea to give as much info as you can to receive the best advice.

Yes the g is a typo
Yes the letter for our tour to France mentioned kn95 and surgical masks and no mention of N95.

N95 are supposedly more comfortable for long trips?

And no I don’t object to bringing them. Just confused as to what differentiates the surgical from the kn95 (which are similar but not identical to the standards for N95 from what I am reading on CNN and CR etc)

If the surgical are the pleated blue things they don’t look like they seal…

I have a stash of Kimberly Clark duckbilll kn95s which are supposed to be great but they don’t quite fit my face as far as a real seal goes but they aren’t bad

Yes, N95 (US) KN95 (Chinese) and FFP2 (Europe) are all essentially the same. Any of the three can take different forms, but should all fit tightly to the face. Comfort is in the opinion of the person wearing them. KN95 masks are more readily available, true N95 masks can be hard to find. Just do not bring the N95 masks with an exhaust valve on them. Surgical masks are the pleated thin paper masks of various colors. A lower level of protection, but depending on the viral load at the time of the tour, may be perfectly fine, that is what I usually wear, I think they are more comfortable, and are fine for the plane. There are times when no mask will be fine as well, I doubt the expectation is that you will be masked 24/7..

If you are not getting a good fit with the duck-bill type mask you might look at the 3M Aura N95. I've been getting them at Home Depot. The last time I looked for them (January)they were in short supply but in looking at the Home Depot website they are back in stock at my local store. The Home Depot website will give you the Aisle and Bin number of the product as well so you don' t have to wander around. Hint - they're in the paint section. They are overwrapped with plastic and I find they have a chemical smell when first unwrapped. I'll open them at night and by the AM when I need to don them the smell has dissipated.

These fit me well and are made in the US. I've got friends who've used them and did not like them so it really depends on your facial structure. They are cut down a bit under the eyes and I like that as it accommodates my glasses a bit better.

I'm leaving in a couple of weeks for France, Belgium and Netherlands. I've got enough packed for a new one every day and plan to wear them even though I'm not on a Rick tour.

Have a wonderful time on your tour!

N95s have the two elastic bands that go over your head. Most people find this holds the mask closer to your face. KN95s have the two ear loops. Many brands, all with different fits and quality. I see N95s commonly available around here.

I wear KN95s because they're easier than N95s to put on and remove. I'll bring a supply on my next trip, but not a fresh one for each day. You can reuse these masks for a long time as long as they stay dry and the elastic doesn't stretch too much. I switch off a pair each day, leaving the unused one on a shelf where any virus will die overnight. I'd switch more often if I had to wear them for long periods each day, like on a flight or long bus ride or long times indoors.

As others have said, you really do need to test out the masks you plan to use when you're going to be in an environment requiring extended use. I've tried three types of KN95 masks, none of which seal as well as I'd like; all the ear loops are a little loose. My N95s (3M brand but made in China) seal considerably better, but keeping the upper band in place can be a challenge, especially if you have a sun hat you keep taking off and putting back on.

I see that Amazon has a variety of behind-the-head straps intended for use with masks, I guess intended to adjust the fit. I haven't tried any of those and don't know how well they'd keep the mask in position, or whether they'd affect the seal.

I purchased 2 boxes of 3M-brand N95 masks at Home Depot - NIOSH approved. That is the key to know they are the real deal. I read that the "K" on KN95 means they are from South Korea and equally effective. I cut the head bands of the N95's to make shorter ear loops. Ear loops may not provide as tight a seal as over the head bands but I'm able to wear them comfortably all day as a high school substitute teacher. I keep track to rotate the masks order of wear and get five wearings from each one. On an Air France flight to Paris in August 2021, the flight attendants provided N95 masks to a family of five who were boarding wearing cloth masks.

We just returned from a RS tour. N95 masks are preferred in European airports and were required on the RS tour bus.

Did everyone on your tour comply with the mask requirement and wear them correctly?

PJ, the KN95 masks are from China, not South Korea. Korea does have its own mask standards, which make the masks essentially as effective as the N95 masks, but the Korean masks are known as KF94 masks. This is a good article explainng the differences. KN95 and KF94 Masks

Austria.info states "FFP 2 masks" only acceptable mask on public transport/airports. Leaving in a month-do I need to purchase beforehand or will my KN95 be accepted??

I'm pretty sure on one the MNT with Rick he said he bought he KF95 masks - I could be wrong but we bought those plus we have some N95s to pack as well

You should always wear masks that are NIOSH approved if you are going to wear N95's. N95's are fit tested for individuals in hospitals, etc. In the open market, you have to try to make them fit to your face.

Definitely test them out before you go. My glasses pretty much don't stay on with any type of approved mask so I've gone through a lot of trying. In the end KN95 are the best though I'm going to have to get a non-fog spray for my glasses and connect them to a neck thing so if they fall off my face, which if I look down they will, they at least won't hit the ground.