diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/storage/boxes.dm b/code/game/objects/items/storage/boxes.dm
index 3ab7f7df073..4af8b64aebf 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/storage/boxes.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/storage/boxes.dm
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
 
 // Mining survival box
 /obj/item/storage/box/survival/mining
-	mask_type = /obj/item/clothing/mask/gas/explorer
+	mask_type = /obj/item/clothing/mask/gas/explorer/folded
 
 /obj/item/storage/box/survival/mining/PopulateContents()
 	..()
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/equipment/explorer_gear.dm b/code/modules/mining/equipment/explorer_gear.dm
index 0c19ac49b13..a0aa24dd944 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/equipment/explorer_gear.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/equipment/explorer_gear.dm
@@ -63,8 +63,18 @@
 	adjustmask(user)
 
 /obj/item/clothing/mask/gas/explorer/adjustmask(user)
-	..()
-	w_class = mask_adjusted ? WEIGHT_CLASS_NORMAL : WEIGHT_CLASS_SMALL
+	. = ..()
+	// adjusted = out of the way = smaller = can fit in boxes
+	w_class = mask_adjusted ? WEIGHT_CLASS_SMALL : WEIGHT_CLASS_NORMAL
+
+/obj/item/clothing/mask/gas/explorer/examine(mob/user)
+	. = ..()
+	if(mask_adjusted || w_class == WEIGHT_CLASS_SMALL)
+		return
+	. += span_notice("You could fit this into a box if you adjusted it.")
+
+/obj/item/clothing/mask/gas/explorer/folded
+	w_class = WEIGHT_CLASS_SMALL
 
 /obj/item/clothing/mask/gas/explorer/folded/Initialize(mapload)
 	. = ..()