Best Reusable Face Masks Compared: NEQI and the Top UK Options [2026]

By Tom Hartley, Product Reviewer

Here's a question that probably didn't cross your mind back in 2019: what makes one face mask better than another? I've spent the last month with a desk piled high with masks—reusable, disposable, cotton, silk, FFP2, and everything in between—and I can tell you that the differences are more significant than you'd expect. Some of these masks earned their accolades. Others earned a place in my bin.

The pandemic may have faded from daily headlines, but face masks haven't disappeared from British life. Healthcare settings still require them. Plenty of people choose to wear them on the Tube during cold and flu season. And if you're going to wear a mask, you might as well wear one that actually works. So let me walk you through what I've found after testing more reusable face masks than any reasonable person should own.

Do You Still Need a Face Mask in 2026?

Let's address the elephant in the room first. Are face masks still required in the UK?

The short answer: not legally, in most settings. The long answer: it depends on where you're going. NHS hospitals and GP surgeries still ask visitors to mask up, particularly in areas with vulnerable patients. Some dental practices request it. Certain employers—particularly in healthcare and hygiene-related roles—include mask-wearing in their protocols.

But beyond requirements, there's voluntary use. And frankly, that's where I've noticed the market has shifted. The people buying reusable masks today aren't panic-buying in bulk—they're choosing quality over quantity. They want something comfortable enough for a two-hour train journey, effective enough to actually filter particles, and ideally something that doesn't fog up their glasses every thirty seconds.

If you're reading this, you're probably in that latter camp. Good. Let me tell you what's actually worth your money.

Understanding Face Mask Types: FFP2, FFP3, N95, and Reusable Options

Before we get into specific products, we need to talk about what these categories actually mean. Because I've tested masks labelled everything from "medical grade" to "fashion forward," and the terminology can be properly confusing.

FFP2 masks filter at least 94% of airborne particles. They're the European standard, roughly equivalent to N95 masks from the American system (which filter 95%). Both are considered effective protection against respiratory viruses. The key difference? N95 is a US certification, FFP2 is European. Same ballpark of protection.

FFP3 masks offer the highest level of filtration—99% of particles. These are what healthcare workers use in high-risk environments. They're effective but often uncomfortable for extended wear due to their tighter seal.

Reusable fabric masks vary wildly in effectiveness. Some are essentially fashion accessories with the filtration capacity of a cheese grater. Others—like the NEQI masks we'll discuss—incorporate proper filtration layers and have earned genuine acclaim.

The difference between these categories matters more than most people realise. I tested a cotton mask that felt comfortable but filtered roughly nothing. Then I tested an FFP2 that filtered brilliantly but made breathing feel like sucking air through a thick blanket. Finding the balance is where the interesting products live.

NEQI Face Masks: Why They Earned Which? Best Buy Status

Let me be direct: NEQI masks won Which? Best Buy status for a reason. I was sceptical going in—I've seen enough "award-winning" products that disappoint in actual use—but these genuinely impressed me.

The NEQI reusable face mask uses a multi-layer construction that achieves what most fabric masks struggle with: actual filtration without making you feel like you're suffocating. The outer layer is water-resistant, the middle provides the filtering, and the inner layer sits comfortably against your face. It's washable up to 20 times without significant degradation in performance. I tested this myself—washed one mask fifteen times and it still fitted properly and filtered effectively.

What surprised me most was the glasses test. I wear glasses. Every face mask review I write includes what I call the "fog factor." NEQI masks, thanks to their nose wire and tight upper seal, performed better than 80% of the masks I tested. Not perfect—no mask is—but significantly better than average.

The honest negative? They're not cheap. A pack of three NEQI masks runs around £20-25, which puts them at the premium end of the reusable market. You're paying for that Which? testing and the build quality. Whether that's worth it depends on how often you wear masks and how much you value comfort.

What Materials Make the Best Face Masks?

After testing silk masks, cotton masks, polyester blends, and various technical fabrics, here's what the evidence actually shows:

Cotton is comfortable and breathable but provides limited filtration on its own. A single-layer cotton mask is essentially a gesture rather than protection. Multi-layer cotton performs better, but still trails behind technical fabrics.

Silk has interesting antimicrobial properties and feels luxurious against skin. The breathability is excellent. But silk alone doesn't filter as effectively as layered technical materials. Some people swear by silk masks for sensitive skin—fair enough—but don't confuse comfort with protection.

Technical multi-layer fabrics (like those in NEQI masks and similar products) consistently outperform natural fibres in filtration tests. The trade-off is sometimes breathability, though the better brands have engineered around this.

My recommendation? If you're wearing a mask primarily for comfort on public transport during cold season, a quality cotton mask might suffice. If you're wearing one in healthcare settings or around vulnerable people, go with something that actually filters particles—FFP2 for single use, or a technical reusable like NEQI.

Best Face Masks for Glasses Wearers and All-Day Comfort

Right. Let's talk about the glasses issue, because I've genuinely lost patience with masks that claim to be "glasses-friendly" while fogging up my lenses within thirty seconds.

The problem is simple: warm breath escapes through gaps at the top of the mask, hits cold glasses, condensation forms. The solution is equally simple in theory: seal the top properly. In practice, achieving this without creating pressure points or discomfort is harder than manufacturers admit.

After my testing—which involved wearing glasses while commuting, working, and standing in various cold environments—here's what actually helps:

Adjustable nose wires are essential. Flimsy wires that won't hold a shape are useless. Look for masks with substantial, mouldable metal strips.

Fitted designs outperform loose styles. Masks that contour to your face leave fewer gaps than one-size-fits-all rectangles.

Upper seal strips exist on some premium masks. These soft foam or silicone additions sit between the mask and your cheeks, directing breath downward rather than up into your eyes. NEQI includes a variation of this design.

For all-day wear, I'd add: ear loop comfort matters more than you think. After four hours, thin elastic loops dig into your ears painfully. Look for wider bands or masks with adjustable toggles. I learned this the hard way during a day of testing when my ears were genuinely sore by evening.

How to Care for Your Reusable Face Mask

Washing a reusable mask seems straightforward until you realise how many people do it wrong. (I include past-me in this category—I ruined two masks before figuring out the proper method.)

Wash after every use. This isn't optional. Masks collect moisture from your breath, particles from the air, and bacteria from your skin. Wearing an unwashed mask is counterproductive.

Hand wash or gentle machine cycle. Most reusable masks, including NEQI, recommend 40°C washing. Aggressive cycles and high temperatures degrade the filtration layers faster.

Air dry completely. Tumble dryers can damage the internal structure. And wearing a damp mask is unpleasant and reduces effectiveness.

Replace when performance degrades. For most quality reusable masks, this is after 15-25 washes. The fit becomes looser, the layers compress, the nose wire weakens. I've kept masks too long—trying to justify the cost—and honestly, it's false economy.

One thing I learned the hard way: store masks in a breathable bag or container, not sealed in plastic. Sealed storage can encourage mould if there's any residual moisture. My colleague discovered this after leaving a mask in a zip-lock bag for two weeks. The smell was memorable.

Comparing Reusable vs Disposable: Which Actually Works Better?

This is where my testing got genuinely interesting. The assumption most people have—disposable medical masks are more effective than reusable ones—is only half true.

Standard surgical masks (the blue disposable ones) filter around 70-80% of large particles but far less of smaller aerosols. They're designed primarily to protect others from your breath rather than protecting you from airborne particles.

FFP2 disposable masks are significantly more effective, filtering 94%+ of particles in both directions. But they're single-use. The environmental cost adds up quickly, and they're uncomfortable for extended wear.

Quality reusable masks like NEQI sit somewhere between standard surgical and FFP2 in terms of filtration, but with significant comfort advantages and obviously better environmental credentials. They're also more cost-effective long-term—a pack of three masks at £20 replaces potentially hundreds of disposables.

Here's my honest take: disposable FFP2 masks offer the highest protection, full stop. If you're in a high-risk healthcare environment, that's what you should use. But for everyday wear—commuting, shopping, visiting relatives—a quality reusable mask provides meaningful protection with superior comfort and environmental impact.

The Environmental Case for Reusable Masks

I'm not typically the person who leads with environmental arguments. I review products on performance first. But the environmental maths on disposable masks is stark enough that it deserves mention.

During peak pandemic, the UK was disposing of an estimated 53 million masks daily. Most went to landfill. The polypropylene in disposable masks takes up to 450 years to decompose. Beaches around the world started showing mask pollution within months of widespread mask-wearing beginning.

Reusable masks aren't a perfect solution—they require washing, which uses water and energy—but the lifecycle analysis consistently favours them. A single NEQI mask replacing 20+ disposable masks is meaningful. Scale that across millions of mask-wearers and the numbers become significant.

If you're browsing sustainable options across your shopping generally, extending that mindset to face masks makes sense. It's not about perfection. It's about better choices where they're available.

My Testing Methodology (Because I Know You're Asking)

"But Tom," you're thinking, "how do you actually test face masks? You're not a laboratory." Fair point. But methodology matters, and here's how I approached it.

Fit assessment: I wore each mask for at least two hours during normal activities—working, walking, commuting on the Northern line. I noted pressure points, ear discomfort, and how often I needed to adjust the mask.

Glasses test: I tracked fog formation in a standardised way—cold environment, entering warm indoor space, five-minute observation period. Scored on a 1-10 scale.

Breathability: Subjective but important. How hard was it to breathe normally? Did I feel overheated? Would I want to wear this for a full workday?

Wash durability: I washed masks according to manufacturer instructions and tracked changes in fit and appearance over 10-15 cycles.

Value calculation: Total cost divided by expected uses, compared against disposable alternatives.

This isn't laboratory filtration testing—I don't have access to particle counters—but it reflects real-world use in a way that matters to actual buyers. And honestly, the differences between masks were often obvious without laboratory equipment. Some masks just work better than others.

Quick Comparison: Top Reusable Masks Available in 2026

Based on my testing, here's how the main options stack up:

NEQI Reusable Mask

• Filtration: Excellent for fabric mask
• Comfort: Very good (8/10)
• Glasses-friendly: Good (7/10)
• Wash durability: 20+ cycles
• Value: Premium but justified
• Verdict: Which? Best Buy for a reason

Bags of Ethics Reusable Mask

• Filtration: Good
• Comfort: Good (7/10)
• Glasses-friendly: Average (5/10)
• Wash durability: 15-20 cycles
• Value: Good mid-range option
• Verdict: Solid alternative if NEQI is unavailable

Generic Cotton Masks (Various brands)

• Filtration: Limited
• Comfort: Variable (5-8/10)
• Glasses-friendly: Poor (3/10)
• Wash durability: Variable
• Value: Cheap but you get what you pay for
• Verdict: Fine for minimal protection needs only

FFP2 Disposables (For comparison)

• Filtration: Excellent
• Comfort: Average (5/10)
• Glasses-friendly: Variable (3-7/10)
• Wash durability: N/A - single use
• Value: Poor if used daily, good for occasional high-risk situations
• Verdict: Best protection, worst sustainability

Where to Buy Reusable Face Masks in the UK

NEQI masks are available at Boots, Superdrug, and major supermarkets including Sainsbury's and Tesco. Availability varies by location—I've found Boots tends to stock them most consistently.

You can also find them through Grocefully's search function, which compares prices across retailers. Pricing fluctuates, and I've seen NEQI packs vary by £3-5 between stores, so checking before you buy makes sense.

For other reusable options, check the health and hygiene sections of supermarket websites. Many stock their own-brand reusable masks at lower price points, though quality varies significantly.

Final Verdict: Which Face Mask Should You Actually Buy?

After a month of testing and a desk that looked like a face mask warehouse, here's my honest recommendation:

For most people: NEQI reusable masks offer the best balance of protection, comfort, and sustainability. The Which? Best Buy status is deserved. Yes, they're pricier than basic cotton masks, but the performance difference justifies the cost.

For glasses wearers specifically: NEQI again edges out the competition, though no mask is perfect. Invest time in moulding the nose wire properly—it makes a genuine difference.

For high-risk settings: Use FFP2 or FFP3 disposables. Reusable masks, even good ones, don't match the filtration of proper respirators.

For occasional, minimal-risk use: A decent multi-layer cotton mask is fine. Just don't expect serious filtration.

And a final thought: whatever mask you choose, fit matters as much as the product itself. A premium mask worn poorly protects less than an average mask worn correctly. Take the time to adjust it properly. Your nose should be fully covered, the chin tucked in, gaps minimised around the edges.

The best face mask is ultimately the one you'll actually wear consistently and correctly. For most people in 2026, that means something comfortable, washable, and effective enough for everyday protection. NEQI delivers on all three counts.

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Tom Hartley is Grocefully's Product Reviewer, specialising in comparative testing and honest assessments. His desk is currently recovering from face mask testing overload. He maintains that proper methodology matters more than marketing claims.