
Was looking for a new respirator to replace my large bulky 3m that i have, and cam across the "RZ" filter mask. definitely smaller and lighter than a regular respirator, and they state that it filters out organic vapors, so i gave it a shot. 30 dollars later (and another week to get a storage bag that they forgot to ship ) I tried it out. First off, this thing is uncomfortable. A lot of pressure across your nose, and not much against your chin. this has more to do with the design of the mask than anything else. it fastens to the back of your neck. Unlike a traditional respirator that goes over your head and then around your neck to fit comfortably and create a seal around your nose and mouth. this thing forces pressure around your nose, and provides little to no seal around the chin.
then we move on to paint. grabbed a couple of cans of spray paint and went out to paint the kids swing set. had the mask on for about ten minutes, and had to go grab my respirator instead. every breath came along with a nice helping of paint fumes. then you have this constant pressure of the strap around your neck forcing your head down to alleviate some of the pressure around your nose. made for a very unpleasant and uncomfortable experience.
In the end, the Rz mask seems more like a new gimmick, fad, novelty, take your pick. but if your working with any form of aerosol paint, airbrushing, spray painting, or any fumes in general, do yourself and your lungs a favor, and stick to a traditional well fitting respirator that's rated for organic vapors. your lungs will be very thankful you did












