Though mask restrictions are easing across the country (and around the world), officials say you shouldn’t be taking off your masks just yet – especially if you’re in crowded places or starting to travel. Even if you have received your vaccine, medical experts continue to promote the wearing of face coverings as an effective way to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the Delta variant, the new Omicron variant and other potentially harmful viruses in the air.

Airlines are also still requiring the use of masks when traveling, with FAA guidelines mandating the wearing of face masks in-flight, except for brief periods when eating or drinking. While there are a number of good face mask options for traveling, the most effective face masks according to researchers continues to be a protective N95 mask.

Also sometimes referred to as N95 respirators, these masks are not to be confused with KN95 masks, which have a similar name, but are held to entirely different standards. Once reserved for construction, medical or lab jobs, the best N95 masks are now available to the public, with a number of companies pivoting to manufacturing and selling N95 masks for sale online.