Testing masks for teaching

I had three family members turn away from me while I read two prepared philosophical sentences, using three different masks and no mask, and they ranked each reading for comprehensibility. The scale is:

1. Incomprehensible
2. Somewhat comprehensible
3. Mostly comprehensible
4. Comprehensible
5. Completely clear

Here are the results:

• No mask: 5.0
• Cheap ebay "KN95": 4.3
• Sonovia cloth antiviral mask (modified with nose wire): 3.7
• Surgical mask: 4.7

The ordering between these also matches how I sounded to myself. Since the surgical masks provide very little in the way of protection--I can feel lots of air leaking around the edges--I think I will teach in the "KN95". Maybe I will try to tighten the straps on it for better fit.

For pictures and further descriptions of the masks, see my mask collection.

I would love to hear comments suggesting other options. Those of us who are not in a high risk category are expected to be teaching in person in the fall--with students and faculty all wearing masks, and with social distancing apparently less than 6 feet--and if anyone has ideas that balance comprehensibility with protection, I would love to hear them. Unfortunately, I don't project well normally when I speak.