Totobobo Mask Reviews: What Cyclists Say After Years of Riding

Real reviews and long-term experiences from cyclists riding with the Totobobo mask in London, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Delhi and beyond. Looking for specs, sizing and buying options instead? See the Totobobo cycling mask guide.

Breathing in the Modern City

For many urban cyclists, the daily ride is both liberation and endurance — freedom alongside fumes. Despite the joy of weaving through traffic, there’s an unmistakable truth in the air: every breath carries invisible pollutants from buses, taxis, and heavy trucks. As concern about air quality rises across London, Los Angeles, and Singapore, cyclists are experimenting with tools like the Totobobo mask — not as a fashion statement, but as protection. The reviews below are from riders who have used the mask on real commutes, some for over a decade. New to this? Start with our guide on how to choose a cycling mask, or learn why cycling in polluted air affects long-term health.

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Claire’s Story: From Sore Throat to Clear Air

Claire, a London commuter cycling twelve miles twice daily, began her journey on the London Cyclist blog seeking relief from a pollution-induced throat irritation. Her experience with a Respro mask left her frustrated — “like wearing a muzzle,” she wrote, where condensation fogged her glasses and each breath felt like “heaving for air”.

Totobobo, by comparison, changed her ride. The lightweight transparent mask molded neatly to her face and allowed comfortable breathing on fast urban segments. “Thirty minutes in, I was horrified how dark the white filters turned. In a few days, they were nearly black,” Claire shared. Her recurring sore throat disappeared after weeks of use. She added, “I’d much rather look odd for a few minutes than inhale that much grime every day.”

Even sceptics in the comment section acknowledged her results illustrated what’s at stake: visible proof of what London cyclists breathe daily. Read Claire’s full month-long report.

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Marcus K: Seeing the Pollution Problem Up Close

Marcus K, another contributor on the same thread, pointed out how driver exposure often exceeds that of cyclists, citing studies from London’s Department for Transport showing car occupants can face two to three times more pollutants in congested streets. His verdict was simple: “The muck on the mask shows particulate matter, yes, but not gases. Still, it’s clear — what’s caught there isn’t in your lungs.”

For Marcus and other riders, the Totobobo mask became not just a gadget but a reminder to consider routes and policies that make city cycling cleaner for everyone.

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Dr. Anil Simhadri: A Decade of Use and Medical Perspective

Dr. Anil Simhadri, a London-based medical practitioner, has been a Totobobo user since 2010. In his open letter on the brand’s blog, he explains, “I’ve used this mask for over 10 years in London traffic and find it genuinely helpful in reducing sore throats and runny noses caused by diesel exhaust.” His medical background brings additional weight: “I appreciate that its filters work electrostatically to trap ultrafine particles including PM2.5 and even smaller sizes down to 0.1 microns.”

He adds that the mask’s design encourages sustainable long-term use because “if it doesn’t fit well, people won’t wear it. Totobobo reduces this barrier with its moldable fit and light weight.”

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Other Cyclists Speak

Reviews from riders like Ross in Los Angeles and OilcanRacer echo similar experiences. Ross noted, “When I change the filters, they’re visibly discolored — I’m just glad that stuff’s in the filter, not in my lungs.” OilcanRacer added, “It’s like breathing at 5,000 feet higher altitude, but totally worth it — no wheezing and no smog lungs.”

From Bangalore to Bangkok, riders describe a pattern: less throat irritation, clearer breathing, and a sober awe at how polluted urban air truly is once they see it trapped in the filters. See one rider’s filter after a month in London, or how Bangkok riders Sahathatna and Daniel ride in heavy traffic.

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Where Science Meets Reality

These results aren’t just anecdotal. Laboratory testing by Nelson Labs (USA) verified that the F96 filter blocks 99.86% of 0.1-micron particles — a scale smaller than most PM2.5 pollution. Comfort holds up under independent scrutiny too: in a 2022 study published in the Journal of Industrial Textiles (Li et al.), 91% of participants rated the mask comfortable overall, consistent with two earlier Hong Kong hospital studies (Au et al. 2010; Hui et al. 2017) across separate participant groups. Fit does take practice: in the Li study, 45% of first-time wearers achieved an adequate seal on the first attempt, rising to 77% after re-fitting — the transparent body exists precisely so you can check your own seal. More detail on all the studies: does Totobobo actually work scientifically?

Still, cyclists recognize its limits: the Totobobo filter does not remove gases like benzene or nitrogen dioxide, and it requires consistent cleaning and filter replacement. That honesty has reinforced user trust rather than undermined it — because transparency, both literally and figuratively, is the brand’s strength.

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Long-Distance Tests: Across Asia by Bicycle

Goska Romanowicz and Hervé Bonnaveira, eco cyclists, rode from France to China on a year-long trip in 2008.

“The TOTOBOBO masks came in very useful in India! We’ve tested the masks in Delhi, the Indian countryside and Calcutta. The masks were comfortable for an hour or two; when we used them for longer periods of cycling they were OK but started to get wet inside (especially as it was very hot here) and became less comfortable. But that’s still preferable to breathing the air of Calcutta or most other Indian cities.”

“Attached a photo of the filters after 6 hours’ use in Delhi, Calcutta, the Indian countryside and Bangkok. The countryside one was especially shocking — even far from cities and factories the air is very polluted.”

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Kenneth Koh, Advanturenomad, Singapore

“I had a chance to use the Totobobo mask during my recent bicycle tour of Vietnam. Weighing just 20g, the mask is both lightweight and compact, making it easy to pack. It is made of soft plastic and doesn’t absorb sweat or moisture and is easy to keep clean. The soft plastic conformed well to the shape of my face, creating a good seal that is needed for the mask to be effective. Once in place, it is also very comfortable, and breathing resistance is very low. The replaceable filters are electrostatically charged and filter out very fine particles (0.3 micron or even smaller).”

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OilcanRacer: Ride Test in Fog and Smog

Totobobo Mask Review and Ride Test

“Today’s ride was a short, easy loop: up Emigration, down the backside, and back home. The fog and pollution made for a gloomy atmosphere, but I had my Totobobo mask, and that made all the difference.

I’ve been using the Totobobo regularly, and it’s fantastic. I use the densest filters, which can make breathing a little tough on steep climbs — almost like being 5,000 feet higher than you actually are. Still, it’s worth it. Knowing that I’m breathing clean air instead of smog and exhaust feels amazing. No wheezing, no heaviness in the chest — just clear lungs.

Fit is important: the straps need to be adjusted just right — one high, one low — to keep the mask secure as your breathing intensifies.

After two hours of moderate effort, keeping my heart rate below 170 bpm, I finished the ride feeling fresh.”

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Ross, Lawyer and Cyclist Advocate, Los Angeles

“The SuperCool mask is great — hands down. I don’t work for Totobobo, nor am I paid to say this, and I’ve been using this mask for a few months now. I breathe in through my mouth, which is in the mask/filter, and out through my nose.
When I need to talk to other cyclists, I simply pull the mask down around my chin, then pull it back up when I ride on. The straps are very stretchy.
Since I am no longer exhaling into the mask, the fogging glasses issue has completely disappeared. Actually, I think I get a better seal with this smaller mask than I did the full one. And I find there is much less condensation collecting in the mask, which means I do not need to wash the mask as often.

Big props to the company — who has seemed to design a great, simple product — and whose customer service has been very responsive and helpful. When I change out the filters they are visibly discolored — and I’m glad that at least some of that stuff that I otherwise would be breathing (dirt, pollution, particulate matter, brake shoe dust, etc.) is in the filter instead of in my lungs.”

Oshri Feldman, Bangkok, Thailand, Using the SuperCool Mask

“I appreciate having more of my face and my nose out of the mask when I ride around Bangkok in the heat.
My wife tried to create her own earloop on her original mask and she likes the new model. The only suggestion she would make for the earloop mask is to have a mechanism to adjust the length of the string and hold it better in place. We also like the little blue bags to carry our masks when we’re not wearing them.”

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What These Reviews Have in Common

Across a decade of reviews, the same themes recur: low breathing resistance compared to disposable N95s, a moldable fit riders can verify through the transparent body, and the startling visual evidence of blackened filters. The design details behind these experiences — the 20g weight, fold-flat body, one-hand on/off, heat-moldable thermoplastic (silicone-free and latex-free) — are covered in 12 useful features of the Totobobo mask for cyclists. For sizing, filter grades and current models, see the cycling mask guide.

FAQ: Questions Cyclists Often Ask

1. Does the Totobobo mask make breathing harder?
Slightly, especially at high intensity — OilcanRacer’s “5,000 feet higher” line above is with the densest filter. Lighter filter grades breathe easier, and the SuperCool model, which covers only the mouth, improves airflow while maintaining protection.

2. Can the filters remove chemical gases?
No. They target fine and ultrafine particulate matter (PM2.5, down to 0.1 micron). No particle filter removes gases like nitrogen dioxide — choosing lower-traffic routes is the honest answer for gas exposure.

3. How often should filters be changed?
Every few days of city riding. When filters turn grey, they’ve trapped enough particles to justify replacement — several photos on this page show what that looks like.

4. Is it comfortable for long rides?
Users like Claire and Dr. Simhadri report extended comfort once the mask is trimmed and fitted properly. The soft thermoplastic body (silicone-free and latex-free) and stretchy straps reduce pressure points. In hot, humid conditions moisture can build up on multi-hour rides, as Goska and Hervé found in India.

5. Why do cyclists prefer Totobobo over others?
Because it’s moldable, visually shows trapped pollution, and lasts for years with minimal upkeep — proving small design details can make a big daily difference. Riding a different way? See our mask for motorcycle riders or the fog-free option for glasses wearers.

last update: 2026-07-14