The 3M 8210 is the benchmark N95 cup — soft nose foam, adjustable noseclip, and the availability that makes fit-testing and resupply effortless.
The 3M 9205+ Aura is the widely distributed flat-fold N95 you’ll often find in 20-packs. It carries the full Aura design — flexible three-panel fit, embossed top panel to cut fogging, and individual wrapping for hygiene.
The Moldex 2200N95 is a USA-made, unvalved N95 cup with the collapse-resistant Dura-Mesh shell and a soft Softspun lining. Because it filters exhaled air too, it suits source control and is the lower-cost option.
A surgical N95 is dual-certified: NIOSH N95 for airborne particles and FDA-cleared for fluid resistance against splash and spray. It is always unvalved so it also contains the wearer’s breath. Examples include the 3M 1860/1860S, 3M 1870+ Aura, and the Gerson 3230+.
A molded-cup N95 holds a fixed dome shape: durable, simple, and the cheapest option in bulk boxes. It’s the workhorse for steady dust where masks are donned and worn through a task. Examples include the 3M 8210, Moldex 2200N95, and Gerson 1730.
An unvalved N95 filters the air you breathe in and out, so it protects the wearer and contains the wearer’s exhaled breath. That makes it the required choice for source control and sterile areas, and it’s usually cheaper. Common examples include the 3M 8210, Moldex 2200N95, Gerson 1730, and SAS…
The 3M 8210 is the standard N95 cup for general dust and particulate — economical, widely available, and unvalved.
The 3M 8271 is a P95 valved cup — oil-proof and rated for at least 95% of all particulates, oil or not. It’s the cost-effective pick for oil mists, paints, and general particulate where P100 isn’t required.
