Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've been using these filters for years and have virtually zero dust to speak of. The individual bags they come in are easy to tear open straight across the top so you can slide your used filter into it (avoiding getting dust all over the place). Don't get suckered into thinking the more expensive, higher MPR-rating filters are the way to go, unless you know you need them. I use the 300-rated filters and it's plenty for the vast majority of people. Higher rated filters will only reduce the efficiency of your heating and A/C systems and end up costing you more for the filters and in utility costs. A tip I was taught to improve your filter's MPR rating without impacting air flow is to give the filter a quick spray with Pam (or similar) each time you replace the filter. It will attract even more particles to the filter. Oh, and the box these come in has a tear-off portion so that it serves as a dispenser for the filters - nice bonus feature! (as of 2014, this feature no longer seems to exist) UPDATE: as of late 2013, it seems like 3M has decided to save some money and produce a *dramatically* inferior product. There is now very inconsistent fiber coverage -- to the point where there are rather large gaps that clearly won't capture dust. Because of this change, I've dropped my 5-star rating to 3-stars. UPDATE 2: it is now mid-2014. My most recent box still seems inferior from the original product I had been ordering for years, but there seems to be less inconsistency in the product compared with the box that prompted my update above. Based on this, I am sufficiently satisfied and will keep ordering and will continue to update my review based on what I find. If the next box is ok I may bump up the stars, but for now I'm still concerned there may be significant variability in the quality of the product and am leaving at 3-stars. UPDATE 3: it is January 2015 and I am now officially giving up on these filters and dropping the review to 2-stars. The most recent filter I used wasn't strong enough to resist the air going through it and completely flattened in the vent - completely defeating the purpose of the ridges and presumably reducing the efficiency of the furnace. I've also noticed a marked increase in the amount of dust in my house, though there are other possible reasons there and it may or may not be the filters . If these filters were as cheap as the no-name ones you can find at any store then they'd be adequate, but these just aren't worth $6/filter. As much as I want to switch brands entirely, I am giving 3M's 600 MPR filters a chance first (Filtrete Clean Living Dust Reduction Filters, 600 MPR, 20 x 25 x 1, 6-Pack). 3M claims they provide better filtration AND are more efficient at allowing air through then the 300 MPR filter, which makes very little sense, but, OK. At first glance they seem a lot like the 300 MPR filters used to be before the quality went downhill. I'm a bit concerned the construction doesn't seem any more solid and so it may also flatten, but at least the fiber coverage is more consistent, and even the exterior packaging is more like the quality of the old ones that generated my initial review. I'll put up a review of those ones in a couple months after I've had a chance to evaluate them. UPDATE 4: It's January 2016 and I've made the switch to the comparable Nordic Pure product (Nordic Pure 16x25x1M8-6 MERV 8 Pleated AC Furnace Air Filter, 16x25x1, Box of 6). The 3M product I linked in Update #3 was better than the product on this page, but still not even as good as these were in the past. In contrast, the Nordic Pure product has consistent coverage but is structurally way stronger than the 3M product. No flattening, no difficulties getting it in and out of the vent. Wish I had switched earlier.