BreatheX™ Nose Filters
3M Advanced Electret Media · Independently lab-tested · Up to 99% airborne capture.
On Shift Case
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BreatheX
Is this a NIOSH-certified respirator?
Is this a NIOSH-certified respirator?
No. NIOSH covers respirators that fully seal the airway. BreatheX does not seal: that is the point. 3M Advanced Electret Media. LMS-tested under modified ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2. For high-silica or other regulated work, layer with your written-program respirator. The honest answer matters more than the technically-impressive answer.
What about mouth breathing?
What about mouth breathing?
Nose-only does not cover mouth breathing. When you are arc-welding stainless, breathing heavy through the mouth, or shouting across the shop, the air going past your lips bypasses BreatheX. For those moments, layer with a respirator. BreatheX covers the rest: cleanup, talking, walking, breaks, lighter tasks. That is 60 to 80 percent of the day for most workers.
How efficient is the filter?
How efficient is the filter?
Depends on particle size and breathing rate. LMS Technologies (modified ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2) data:
- 1 micron particles: 40 to 50% capture
- 5 micron particles: 70 to 85% capture
- 10 micron particles: 75 to 87% capture
- Gentler breathing: higher capture
3M's published data for the underlying media platform: 92 to 99% capture for 1 to 10 micron at typical low-flow airflow. The respirable range (under 5 micron) is the size that reaches the gas-exchange region of the lungs.
What our customers are saying:
How they work
INSIDE YOUR NOSE. REPLACES NOTHING.
1. Find your fit
4 sizes. Check our Sizing Quiz. Most start with Medium.
2. Insert and forget
About 30 seconds in, you stop feeling them. Weld, grind, cut, lift, climb. They hold position.
3. Check the filter
End of shift: the white filter membrane will look darker than it went in. That is the proof of what you did not breathe.
Who wears them
SMART TRADES WORKERS WEAR PROTECTION.
Welders between welds. Framers during cleanup. Stone masons after the cut. HVAC techs in the attic and the crawl. Concrete cutters on the walk to the truck.
Between welds. During grinding. When the hood comes off.
You wear your respirator under the hood for the long bead. The rest of the day is tacking, lighting up, grinding the prep, walking the shop, talking to the apprentice, eating lunch in the same air that just held a half-shift of fume. That is the window. That is why you blow black at end of shift.
✓ Catches metal fume, grinding dust, hexavalent chromium, zinc oxide.
✓ Fits inside any hood, half-face, or full-face respirator. Zero added bulk.
✓ MIG, TIG, stick, flux-core, grinding, cutting, gouging.
Silicosis has no cure. It has prevention.
Concrete cutting. Core drilling. Demo. Drywall sanding. Mortar. Silica is so fine you cannot see it, and it scars lung tissue every shift. Young stone masons in their 30s are being diagnosed. A recent jury verdict awarded a stone mason 52 million dollars for occupational silica exposure.
Wear your N95 or P100 for the cut. Wear BreatheX for the rest: the cleanup, the walk to the truck, the end-of-day sweep, the conversation with the foreman.
✓ Catches concrete dust, drywall gypsum, respirable silica, lead, mortar.
✓ No nose-bridge gap. No chin strap by lunch. No soggy mask.
✓ Wear standalone on light-dust days, or layer inside your respirator.
You mask up for the big cuts. What about the other 50?
The quick rip. The fast sand before stain. The miter dust you walk through 20 times a day. The MDF you can taste in the back of your throat. The router work in a client's living room with a tarp. You are not putting a respirator on for any of that. BreatheX sits in your nostrils all shift and catches it without you thinking about it.
✓ Catches fine sawdust, MDF, oak and hardwood particulate, lacquer overspray.
✓ No fogged safety glasses at the table saw.
✓ Quiet protection during client-facing work in occupied homes.
Where BreatheX fits when your respirator is off.
Your respirator does its job for the cut, the bead, the spray. The rest of the shift (60 to 80% of the day for most workers) is what BreatheX is for. Not a replacement. The bridge between sealed-airway gear and nothing.
| Moment | BreatheX | Nothing |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanup after the cut, the bead, or the sand | Yes | No |
| Talking with the crew, walking the site, breaks | Yes | No |
| 3M Advanced Electret Media, independently lab-tested | Yes | No |
| Catches respirable particles (under 5 micron, the size that reaches gas-exchange tissue) | Yes | No |
| Fits under your welding hood, hard hat, or half-face respirator | Yes | No |
| Wearable for 8 to 12 hours without fogging or chin-strap fatigue | Yes | No |
Not compared to your N95 or P100 because we are not the same thing. For high-silica, regulated, or other sealed-airway work, wear your written-program respirator. BreatheX is the layer for everything else.
Why we built this
FROM A BLACK PRE-FILTER TO A PAIR IN EVERY SHOP DRAWER.
"A welder showed me his respirator pre-filter after one day of hard facing. It was black. Then he told me most guys do not even wear one. Too hot. Fogs the helmet.
Will not seal over their beard. I built BreatheX to fill that gap. Not a respirator replacement.
A 3M-grade filter that sits inside your nose, catches what slips through, and actually gets worn."
"Your lungs are the one tool you can't replace."
- Chris, founder
EVERYTHING ELSE WORTH ASKING.
Can I wear these under my welding hood and respirator?
Can I wear these under my welding hood and respirator?
Yes. Zero added bulk. Wear under your welding hood, hard hat, half-face, or full-face respirator. The 3M filter layer catches what slips past a nose-bridge seal.
Does it restrict breathing?
Does it restrict breathing?
No. The 3M Advanced Electret Media captures electrostatically. Charged fibers hold particulate without needing dense material. Airflow stays free while filtration stays high.
Does facial hair affect fit?
Does facial hair affect fit?
No. They sit just inside your nostrils, not against the skin. Full beard, mustache, three-day stubble: none of it changes the fit.
How long does one pair last?
How long does one pair last?
One shift, up to 12 hours in normal jobsite conditions. About 4 hours in heavy dust. The white filter membrane will look visibly darker at end of shift. Replace daily for best filtration. Your monthly subscription includes 30 pairs.
Is it HSA eligible?
Is it HSA eligible?
Coverage varies by plan. Most HSA/FSA plans cover air filtration items used for occupational respiratory health. Check with your benefits administrator. We can provide a receipt with the relevant product description for your claim.
What if I get the wrong size?
What if I get the wrong size?
We send the right size free. No returns needed. Keep the originals or give them to a coworker.
See what customers are saying.
Real feedback from BreatheX customers, with new reviews added over time.