> Respirator masks work much better

I haven’t observed this to be true; I generally find them to be very uncomfortable. Do you have a brand recommendation?

I also have a pretty big beard which makes them less effective.

100%, and even aside from cost I personally don't want another thing with batteries to manage. Elastomeric respirators can be even more comfortable with a better seal, and cheaper over repeated wear. Probably what I'll do if I need to be outdoors in heavy smoke again this year.