You'll Actually Forget You're Working Out In A Mask With These Breathable Picks

Anyone who’s set out for a heart-pumping run, bike ride, or hike as of late knows how hard it is to perform with a face covering on—enter: the best masks to work out in. But “finding ways to safely and comfortably wear a face mask while exercising is important because wearing a face mask is essential for the prevention of the spread of SARS-Cov-2, [the novel coronavirus],” says Cordelia W. Carter, MD, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the NYU School of Medicine and director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center for NYU Langone Health.

That said, with vaccination, some people are finding that they may not need a mask at all. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that people who are fully vaccinated can do all the things they did prior to the pandemic. (So, yeah, that means a return to working out like it's 2019.) If you are unvaccinated, the CDC says that it's safe to walk or run outdoors with the people you live with unmasked, though you will still continue to have to wear a mask indoors.

Your fitness facility may decide to continue masking requirements for exercisers or you may feel safer wearing one, even if you're fully vaccinated. (It's your prerogative!)

According to Dr. Carter, when looking for the best masks for exercising. it needs to securely cover both your nose and mouth; otherwise, “[they] undermine the goal of preventing the release and inhalation of respiratory droplets, which impairs their effectiveness in preventing viral spread,” she says.

Material is another key factor, but Dr. Carter warns of synthetic or “hi-tech” performance fabrics, like spandex and lycra. “I tried running over the summer in a mask made from swimsuit material. It did fit well and didn’t lose its shape with washing, but it would get soaked with sweat, and I then couldn’t breathe through the added moisture.” Instead, masks made from cotton or other higher thread count fabrics like breathable polyester are the safest because they offer higher filtration efficiency to more effectively block the transmission of viral particles, she says. Dr. Carter also recommends multi-layer masks over single-ply styles and says to avoid non-breathable materials like plastic or leather when exercising.

One thing you should def not look for in a protective face covering? Valves. Dr. Carter explains: “This feature undermines the purpose of the mask, which is to prevent the release of potentially virus-containing respiratory droplets into the air.”

If you’re wondering whether or not working out in a mask affects performance, Dr. Carter says there have been a few studies, but little data shows unfavorable effects. An MDPI study resulted in no difference in peak power, time to exhaustion, oxygen saturation, heart rate, or perceived exertion. “They concluded that ‘wearing a face mask during vigorous exercise had no discernible detrimental effect on blood or muscle oxygenation, and exercise performance in young, healthy participants,’” Dr. Carter explains.

A more recent study titled "You can leave your mask on" basically tells you all you need to know. Researchers asked 20 adults to take cardiopulmonary exercise tests masked or unmasked. While facial coverings provided some airflow resistance, which affected performance slightly, overall wearing one was found to be safe, concluded the 2021 study in the European Respiratory Journal.

Bottom line: “Go ahead and mask up! And I’d bring an extra one in case it gets wet,” says Dr. Carter.

Keep scrolling to shop 15 of the best masks to workout in, taking Dr. Carter’s advice into account, plus rave-reviews from users.