Honeywell DF300 (50) review

Who it is for

A box of 50 is for a household, not a pocket. When wildfire smoke settles over a region for a week or two, a family of four changing respirators every day or two gets through a lot of them; the same goes for mucking out after a flood or clearing ash. Honeywell's sell sheet lists the DF300 as a NIOSH-approved N95 particulate respirator under 42 CFR 84, approval number TC-84A-8480, with no valve, a nose clip and welded cloth straps, 50 to a box. Each one weighs about 0.2 ounces and folds flat, so a few fit in a go-bag or a glovebox.

Our wildfire smoke guide explains when the EPA's Air Quality Index says a respirator is worth wearing outdoors, and our air quality page shows today's readings.

What N95 and NIOSH approval mean

CDC's NIOSH explains that an N95 filters at least 95% of airborne particles and is not resistant to oil. The approval number must be printed on the respirator, and NIOSH says that if a respirator does not carry all the parts of the required label, it is not NIOSH approved. You can check any approval number against the NIOSH Certified Equipment List. The DF300's number appears on Honeywell's sell sheet; the respirator itself should show it too.

Honeywell's sheet also cites OSHA's assigned protection factor of 10 for this class, which is a workplace figure that assumes a fit test. At home, the practical point is the same: NIOSH says a filtering facepiece's effectiveness depends heavily on proper fit and use.

Fit and comfort

The DF300 is a flat-fold design with two head straps that Honeywell says are latex free, comfort-stretch and welded for a secure fit, a concealed adjustable nose clip and a soft foam nose cushion to help seal. Head straps seal better than ear loops, which is one reason to prefer an N95 over a surgical-style mask for smoke. Pinch the clip to the bridge of the nose, pull the lower strap below the ears and the upper strap over the crown, and check for leaks by breathing in; the respirator should pull slightly toward your face.

Facial hair breaks the seal, and fit varies by face shape; a flat-fold suits some faces better than a cup style. There is no valve, so the DF300 filters what you breathe out as well as in, which makes it the right choice around other people.

What it is not for

Honeywell's sheet is specific: do not use it for gases, vapors, oil-based mists, asbestos, paint spray or sandblasting, and not where particulate concentrations exceed 10 times the permissible exposure limit. An N95 does nothing for carbon monoxide, smoke's gases, or the fumes from a generator; it filters particles only. For those hazards, see our guide to carbon monoxide poisoning.

It is a disposable respirator. Replace it when it gets dirty, damp or hard to breathe through, and do not try to wash it.

How it compares, and the verdict

On our N95 mask comparison, the 3M Aura 9205+ is the individually wrapped three-panel N95 many people find the most comfortable, and the 3M 8511 adds an exhalation valve that makes it cooler for cleanup work but lets exhaled air out unfiltered. The 3M 8210 and Moldex 2200 are the classic cup-style N95s by the box. The DF300 is the bulk flat-fold for stocking a household.

Verdict: a sound, NIOSH-approved N95 to buy by the box for smoke season and cleanup. Skip it if you want individually wrapped respirators for a go-bag, if a flat-fold has never fit your face, or if you need protection from gases or vapors, which no N95 provides.

Is the Honeywell DF300 NIOSH approved?

Yes. Honeywell's sell sheet lists it as a NIOSH-approved N95 under 42 CFR 84 with approval number TC-84A-8480. NIOSH says the number must be printed on the respirator itself, and you can check it on the Certified Equipment List.

Does the DF300 protect against wildfire smoke?

It filters at least 95% of airborne particles, which is the harmful part of smoke, when it fits well. It does not filter gases such as carbon monoxide.

Can I reuse an N95 respirator at home?

Honeywell sells the DF300 as a disposable respirator. Replace it when it is dirty, damp or harder to breathe through, and never wash it.

Does the DF300 have a valve?

No. Honeywell's sheet lists it with no valve, so it filters your exhaled breath as well as what you breathe in.