When I learnt that the COVID-19 virus could be airborne, I went on the hunt for a good reusable mask for my family. But many international stores were (and the point of writing, are) sold out of their reusable masks. Besides, I am extremely wary of the rampant internet scams going on now and prefer to buy locally.
I chanced upon Totobobo in a UK news article reviewing anti-pollution masks for cycling. I was thrilled to find out it is a Singaporean brand and made locally. I did more research and liked that the mask is very light (a mere 20g), and can be reshaped to fit the user’s face better (I have a very small face so most masks don’t fit me well). The mask was also found to have an average filtration factor of 135 (the passing mark is 100, while fitted tested N95 masks clock in at 193). The Totobobo’s filters can be used for up to 2 weeks before they have to be changed.
But what really sold me was seeing photos of people pulling out their Totobobo masks from 7 years ago and using them during this pandemic. I was simply amazed the mask could last so long.
So I placed an order for 5 masks and to my delight, they arrived very promptly within just 3 working days via Singpost. (It is just as well as Singapore has made the wearing of masks mandatory from today onwards.)
The mask was easy to reshape using just hot water (70°C), and after a few tries, fit my face to a T. I took it for a spin, and brought my son out for a scooter ride around the neighbourhood for our daily exercise. I found the Totobobo mask surprisingly comfortable to wear as it adheres to my face well but doesn’t cut into it. It has an air seal but isn’t too difficult to breathe out of. In fact, I much prefer it to the cloth mask I’ve been wearing, which makes my face feel very warm and stuffy, especially when I am out cycling. The clear plastic body of the Totobobo mask looks really cool and not too shabby either.
A major plus is that my mum (who is extremely resistant to change) loves it too! Now I just wish Totobobo would make a mask small enough for my little boy to wear (he’s 29 months old).
The Blithe Bard 
Hi. I have a couple of questions about the mask. Was there condensation inside the mask from wearing it? And did your glasses fog up? I wear spectacles and find that with the cloth or disposable masks, they fog up and that’s a big problem for me.
LikeLike
Hi Asha! Yes I get condensation inside the mask especially when I wear it to exercise. But it doesn’t make my glasses fog up. I have to add that when I first got the mask, I had to reshape it to enhance the seal and prevent my breath from escaping at the top and fogging up my glasses.
LikeLike