Mike’s Gear Reviews has reviewed a few gas masks that may be the ideal product for you, depending on what you need them for. The specs and prices mentioned below are lifted from Amazon unless otherwise specified.
The 3M Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator 6100/07024(AAD) is a handy piece of equipment that is perfect for people with smaller stature. From the multi-product manufacturing giant 3M, these half-face gas mask is NIOSH-approved for occupational workplace use. It’s a protective equipment that is intended for use for protection against particulates and a wide variety of gases and vapors.
It helps reduce exposure of the user to contaminants at concentrations up to 10 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) when the proper and approved 3M cartridges and filters.
If price is a key decision driver, this is the cheapest item in the list. At first look, this seems the best gas mask for the workplace. It’s not exactly the best value for the money, though. To explain, here are the pros and cons of buying this:
Pros
Cons
Comfortable
No filters included
Cheap
Comfortable fit
Lightweight
Here are the specs of the product:
This series combines comfort and convenience
Comfortable soft, lightweight facepiece with easy-to-adjust head straps
NIOSH approved for negative pressure air purifying and supplied air dual airline applications
Can be disassembled, cleaned and reused
Replaceable cartridges and filters allow reuse of facepiece for cost savings
The first thing you need to remember when ordering this is that this doesn’t come with any filter at all, not even starter ones. You have to buy them separately, and they are a lot more expensive than the respirator itself. The price of the filters depends on what you need it for, but they can go from $20 to $40.
That’s why many of the reviewers were disappointed at the product. It doesn’t even have a starter filter. It first seems to be the cheapest item on Amazon, but if you factor in the filter that you need, it’s actually about the same price as the others.
Next thing you need to know that this is a size small. For people with petite face or for children, it will fit very well and comfortably. But if you have a medium build, this would be a too tight fit. You would feel the mask resting a little tightly around the nose area.
Apart from that, the straps are the most commonly complained about this half gas mask. They are apparently not that sturdy, even for an inexpensive mask. Other reviewers, meanwhile, complained of how the straps are complicated to secure.
Nevertheless, this is a good respirator. With the right filter, it works well to block airborne particles and other toxins. But again, as this is a half-face mask, it should be noted that the eyes are not protected from contaminants in the air. It’s an advantage, though, for eyeglass-wearers as the fit of the gas mask won’t interfere with the glasses. The fact that it’s made in the USA and by a well-trusted brand works well in its favor.
A surplus military gas mask, OEM’s Czech and East German M10 Gas Mask is the real deal from Czech Republic. You will get a true retro-looking riot-control mask that has the extras you need. It was designed to protect against chemical and biological warfare agents, such as gases, vapors, aerosols and more. It was even used for protection against radioactive particles back then.
The name is M10, but because this has an integrated drinking straw, it should be called M10M, the upgraded version of M10. Guess what, the M10M is still in used in Czech Republic and is their military tactical respirator. Both do not have a canister because their filters are located in the cheek of the mask. The M10M includes a microphone but is hard to come by, making the M10 an easier choice.
However, as it is already a surplus, it is doubtful it can still do all those things with the lastest efficiency. It has been in the storage for years, decades even, so it’s safe to say that it’s not fully functional as it was back in its heyday.
Still, it is the real deal operation tactical respirator. So you can trust it’s design is up to the highest standard. The full rubber
ever get caught unprepared for a chemical emergency. Our Czech M10 Gas Mask Kit is authentic military surplus equipment in new and never used condition, complete with sealed filters. Protect your respiratory system from harmful toxins with a rubber face mask that gives you full face coverage and keep your eyes clear with impact resistant goggles that lock out dust, plus an additional set of eyepieces
Here are its pros and cons:
Pros
Cons
Military grade
No instructions included
Inexpensive
Tends to fog easily
Includes filter and other accessories
Hard to install filters
Comfortable
Manufactured a long time ago
These are the specs, according to Amazon:
Adult size, adjustable
Mask and head strap
Mask inlet covers for filters
If you are looking for cool gas masks that you can cosplay in, this is the perfect choice. It looks authentic and vintage just it really is authentic and vintage. It was manufactured in the early ‘80s and intended as a military gas mask to protect against biological and chemical contaminants.
That said, it is a superb military collectible, and not for actual use. The gas mask itself is at least three decades old, and then there are the included filters, which are just the same age as the mask. It is just too old to be functional. Not to mention, the shelf life of filters is usually just several months if unused, not years.
And if you happen to change its filters, better treat it as a riot control mask rather than an NBC mask. It can protect you from tear gas, pepper spray and others, but not from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, much less radiological.
The item is a surplus and has been in a storage for a long time, that’s why you might receive it looking old. Another common complaint is that the lenses tend to fog easily and the filters were difficult to install. There are also no instructions included, but you can watch videos online on how to put it together. The bag that it comes with is a cheap plastic bag, but again, that’s a minuscule concern as you would probably put it elsewhere anyway.
This is the real deal but you still wouldn’t want to use this in actual situations. This can pass as one of those cool gas masks made for cosplay or collectibles. Display this one if you must, but look for another product if you need a respirator that you can actually use.
The second 3M brand in this list, the 07193 Dual Cartridge Respirator Assembly, Organic Vapor/P95 is just a dash more expensive than the first one. And unlike that one, the Dual Cartridge Respirator has dual cartridges that are perfect for painting, sanding and dusting.
And as most of 3M gas masks, this is also NIOSH-approved as solvent and particulate respirator. If you are a hobbyist, artist or just someone who works regularly with paint and dust, you would find this respirator a life saver. But if you need a respirator for anything heavier than dust, paint or other organic vapors (liquids that dissolve quickly), this is not for you.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this respirator:
Pros
Cons
Fits comfortably
Disposable
Filters included
These are the specs:
NIOSH approved solvent and particulate respirator
Good for 40 hours of light solvent filtering work and 8 hours of concentrated solvent filtering
Resealable package
At a starter price, it really is a steal. It’s cheap even though it already comes with filters. But it’s not really affordable if you factor in that it’s disposable. The product specification listed on Amazon does not include that it’s a disposable item. That is why many reviewers complained that they were not warned that that is the case.
This gas mask uses two cartridges, the outer one is particulate filter and can be replaced. The other is an active carbon filter that is non-replaceable. Once the active carbon filter fails, then you need to dispose of the whole mask.
As stated in its specs, it provides a maximum 40 hours of protection when used with light vapors, and 8 hours when used with heavy vapors. So if you are regularly exposed to such elements, it may not be practical for you to buy something that you would dispose of after a few uses. But if you only need it occasionally, this is a good alternative to a tactical gas mask.
The 3M 07193 Dual Cartridge Respirator is not by any means a cheap mask. After just one or a few more uses, depending on the elements that you are exposed to, you would have to dispose of the mask and buy another one. It’s not a practical choice for many, and not to mention, disposing of hard plastic regularly is not a good environmental practice. But it is still a good half gas mask. If you don’t mind that you would have dispose it after a few uses, then this one would do for you.
A straightforward tactical gas mask, the Holulo Organic Vapor Full Face Respirator is the most expensive item on this list, but still it’s averagely priced. It protects against harmful gases but it doesn’t claim to protect against anything else more complicated like an NBC scenario.
It has dual cartridges with activated carbon and filter sponges. This full face gas mask is best used as protection against paint, chemicals, pesticides, organic gases and vapors, alcohols, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and more. It is not an oxygen mask, though. So if you need an emergency gas mask to escape a burning premises, this is not it. It can protect you to some degree from tear gas, but, as the seller itself said, it is not the best gas mask in that situation.
Also, according to its seller, it is approved by NIOSH.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of buying the Holulo Organic Vapor mask:
Apply in paint, chemicals, polish, pesticides protection, chemical laboratory, fire inspection equipment, petroleum, mining, metallurgy, fire fighting, disaster relief, health and epidemic prevention and environmental technology
1x mask, 1x filter with activated carbon, 1x filter sponges
The mask does what it says it does. However, it falls flat on some areas. The most popular opinion by users about this is its design was not thoroughly thought out. The side filters apparently fall off easily. Another user claims the filters were stripped when the mask is being put on.
The plastic face shield also scratches easily. If you are looking through it, you will notice that there are scratches. It’s a very tight fit for adults as well. It might be ideal for people with small faces. And if you wear glasses, you will have to take them off as they wouldn’t fit inside the mask.
There are no user instructions in English included. As it is made in China, the package is in Mandarin Chinese as well. The good thing about this is the product has a very responsive seller. The seller on Amazon answers questions and even criticisms about the product.
It is not a military gas mask. Its effectiveness against tear gasses is questionable at best, much less NBC situations. It is a good product nonetheless.
The third and final 3M product on this list, the 3M Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator is the Large size version of the first 3M. It is just as affordable as well, with this respirator clocking at just a few cents more expensive than the first one. Like the first one, it also doesn’t come with filters.
3M tout that reusable gas masks such as this is more cost-effective as they are reusable, with only the filters and cartridges being replaced as often as needed. So essentially, what you are buying is the case (mask) for the filters. Without the filters, it is rendered useless. There are several filters compatible for the gas mask, each with their own NIOSH approval label. You just have to choose which one do you need for a specific situation. Again, this half-face respirator can provide protection at concentrations up to 10 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).
Here are the pros and cons of buying this mask:
Pros
Cons
Lightweight
No filters included
Comfortable
The specs are:
This series combines comfort and convenience
Comfortable soft, lightweight facepiece with easy-to-adjust head straps
NIOSH approved for negative pressure air purifying and supplied air dual airline applications
Can be disassembled, cleaned and reused
Replaceable cartridges and filters allow reuse of facepiece for cost savings
The strength of these 3M Half Facepieces is on the filters that you would need to buy separately. Although these masks appear to be really cheap, they actually are more expensive than other half-face gas masks. For one thing, the recommended filters for these masks are double the price of the mask itself.
But no matter what filter you attach to it, it is still not applicable for NBC and CBRN attacks. It is recommended to be applied at chemical clean-up and handling, furnace operating, grinding, masonry, woodworking, painting and more. It is not recommended that you use it for emergencies where there’s chemical attacks.
Before anything else, let’s make it clear that the Outgeek M50 Airsoft Mask, as its name suggests, is not a tactical gas mask but an airsoft mask. This is a wildcard entry on the list. This does not offer any protection from biological or chemical toxins, not even from dusts and paint fumes. This is a novelty item, one of those that look like cool gas masks but not really.
Marketed as an airsoft mask, it is made of TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane, a type of plastic that is elastic and tough. It has two pairs of inner glasses that are said to be both explosion and sunshine-proof. It uses fan canisters, which need two AA batteries each, to vent out hot air from the inside. It can withstand hit of a 350 FPS airsoft gun from 3 to 5 meters, according to its specs.
Here are the pros and the cons of buying this airsoft mask:
Pros
Cons
Looks good
Novelty mask
No protection against fumes, toxins etc.
Fogs up easily
The following are the specs as listed on Amazon:
Shock resistant engineering plastic, very tough and sturdy, tested them with a 350 fps gun on semi and full automatic from about 3-5 meters away. They work well, didn’t show any signs of cracking or breaking. The goggles also have a secure lock-in system at the edges when you fix the visor into place on the mask so there is no chance of it popping out.
Each mask set has two pair of inner glasses (black and transparent) which is explosion – proof and sunshine-proof
The fan canisters work well, two AA batteries are required for each canister (due to shipping safety, package without battery) and the switch is on the outside of the canister below the clip, it is simple push on/off button. It still does the job, however the other side of the mask does fog up slightly when just wearing the left or right.
It looks good with pretty much every combination of canisters and helmets if you purchased it in black and wear it with a black uniform, can’t be more cooler, and there are two visors: clear and tinted, matched for your favor. Very good for airsoft-related activity against green gas and full face protection.
Excellent mask for airsoft game or movie shooting, cosplay, Halloween. Give you a feel of Fallout series.
The first thing that you would notice about this mask is how good it looks. At first glance, it looks like a real military gas mask straight from a video game or movie. But upon further inspection, you would see that it’s really just a toy or a costume. It won’t do anything for your protection at all. It doesn’t have a filter or any of the sort, just two fans.
It is marketed as an airsoft mask, but according to some of its reviewers, it shouldn’t be used as such because shots from airsoft guns would crack the glasses. On the other hand, there are those who could attest that this is a good airsoft mask.
The glasses will fog up unless you turn on the fan canisters, which push out hot air from the inside of the mask. If just either one of the fans are turned off, expect the glasses to fog.
Treat this mask as it is meant to be treated: a novelty item. It can be the perfect costume accessory to your cosplay or Halloween costume. If you can use it as an airsoft mask as its name says, that’s still up for debate.
Mike’s Top Choice
Based on the reviews stated above, Mike’s Gear Reviews thinks that the 3M 07193 Dual Cartridge Respirator is the best gas mask on the list for people who are occasionally exposed to air toxins and fumes. Yes, it is disposable, and yes, it could be impractical, but only if you are using it as your everyday uniform. But if you use it just whenever you need it, then you would find it delivers what you need exactly. There’s one reason why this is a good choice: It actually works.
It does what it says. It protects users from inhaling light and concentrated solvent fumes. It’s not wonder it receives awesome reviews for most of its users. .
And if you’re the type to collect military paraphernalia, buy the Czech M10 as well. It’s a good value collectible for a tactical gas mask. Change the filters and clean the equipment, and then you will have a functional gas mask.
Should the worst thing happen, gas masks wouldn’t solve the problem. There would still be fire or the weapon attack that tainted the atmosphere would still be present.
A gas mask can buy you time. It can give you hours of breathable air.
Keep in mind that a tactical gas mask can be effective only if you use the correct type at a given situation. If you are facing a chemical attack, you need your eyes to be protected as well, not just your nose and mouth. A half-face respirator wouldn’t do in that situation.
It will also only be effective if the respirator is in top condition when you use it. As mentioned above, filters have a shelf life and need to be replaced regularly even if you don’t use it. If you have a gas mask that you keep in your house for years, that is likely not effective anymore.
Also, if there’s an emergency, you should be able to wear the respirator immediately and not a minute later. It’s better if you can wear one before an attack because even a momentary exposure from contaminated atmosphere can prove to be fatal. This is the tricky part because you probably don’t carry a military gas mask, which you would need in times of a biological attack, with you all the time.
So how do you choose the right respirator? When looking for a tactical gas mask, check the following criteria: the type of filtration system it uses, what it is rated for, its NIOSH certificate, and where it’s made.
Filtration System
If you are using a gas mask filter, you should check what type of filter it uses. It could be particle filtration, chemical adsorption, or chemical reaction.
Particle filtration is the simplest and most common form. If you’ve ever held a handkerchief or even your own shirt to your nose to avoid breathing dust or pollution, you have filtered particulate matter. These filters block particle sizes as small as 0.3 microns. Surgical masks and dust masks use particle filtration. And while very fine particulate filters can be used against biological threats, they are not strong enough to be used for gas masks.
For chemical threats, you need chemical adsorption filtration system. Chemicals are generally immune to particulate filtration. This system uses chemical reactions to neutralize the dangerous air. For example, activated charcoal adsorbs – or the accumulation of molecules at the surface of another phase – traps carbon-based impurities. Other non-carbon-based agents that may be as equally hazardous, will pass through the activated charcoal filter.
The third type is chemical reaction. In this system, the chemicals in the filter are designed to defuse the toxins in the air. For example, a gas mask filter with sodium thiosulfate can neutralize chlorine in the air.
The problem with chemical adsorption and chemical reaction filtrations is that you need specific chemicals to adsorb or neutralize different toxins in the air. And if you are under attack, you aren’t likely to know which contaminant you are being attacked with. The gas mask you are using will only be effective if it has the right filter.
What It’s For
If you need a military gas mask that is effective for different situations, choose one that has an NBC or a CBRN rating. NBC stands for nuclear, biological and chemical, while CBRN stands for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear. An NBC gas mask filter can protect users from sarin gas (chemical), anthrax (biological) or radiation (nuclear) attacks. A CBRN respirator can protect users from all those things plus radioactive elements.
NIOSH certification
Not all gas masks are the same. There are some that just won’t be enough for certain situations. Some are just good for light activities, such as spray painting. Some are just cool gas masks. They look good for cosplay but not much else.
What makes a true tactical gas mask stand out from others is its NIOSH certification. NIOSH is National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the federal agency of the US that makes recommendations for the prevention of work-related illnesses and injuries. It is responsible for several regulations that outline procedures and requirements for health and safety issues. It also tests and certifies respirators used in workplaces.
If a gas mask is NIOSH-certified, it could mean that it can protect against specific hazards, depending on what it is labeled to protect against. Look for the Approval Label to identify the hazards that the respirator is certified for.
Where It’s Made
A gas mask for sale in the US doesn’t necessarily mean it is made in the US. For some, the place of manufacture is important because there are different standards imposed on different countries.
What is a Gas Mask?
A gas mask, also known as a respirator, is a device designed to protect wearers from inhaling airborne matters and gases. It can be a full face gas mask or half-face, depending on the type and use.
You might have seen medical professionals and patients wearing cloths over their nose and mouth. These are not gas masks but surgical masks. They protect surrounding people more than the wearer from the spray of liquid, like saliva or mucus, coming from the wearer’s mouth and nose. A gas mask, however, protects wearers from pollutants and toxic gases like organic paint chemical spray.
It is also different from a dust mask, which is a flexible pad covering the nose and mouth by elastic straps. A dust mask, as its name suggests, protects wearers from dust, as well as from allergens. It is normally used during construction or cleaning activities.
4 Types of Gas Masks
There are four common types of gas masks: half-mask, full-face, supplied air, and SCBA.
Half-Mask Respirator
A half-mask respirator, as its name suggests, only cover half of the face, particularly the nose and mouth because those are the important parts. There is no protection for the eyes, making it ineffective for times when chemical agents infiltrate the atmosphere as these agents can use the eyes as entry points.
Nevertheless, a half gas mask allows the user to breathe at least normally through its filtration system, which means it only filters the air or gas to make it safer for the user to breathe. It has a tight-fitting plastic with filter cartridge, covering the nose and mouth and nothing else. It should be a perfect fit so the gas will not be able to enter.
Full Face Gas Mask
Like the half gas mask, the full face gas mask also uses an air filtration system. A full-face respirator, however, is a more effective type of the two. It has a clear face mask for the upper part of the face or clear eye pieces so the eyes are also protected from the gas.
Both the half and full-face gas masks are less expensive types than the next two types of a tactical gas mask. They are also the least complicated because all you need are filters and replacement filters to use them. However, if you have a full beard, you should probably get rid of it when wearing these respirators just because facial hair does not work well with the fit of gas masks.
Air Purifying Respirator
Air purifying respirators are also prone to leakage, especially if they are not the perfect fit to the user’s face. Their filters should also be replaced after just several hours. And even if you are not using the gas mask, you should still replace the filters because they have a shelf life.
The third one doesn’t just filter the contaminated air around you and sift it for a cleaner one, it has its own clean air for you to breathe. Supplied air respirator already has a filter but the filter is attached to a battery-operated canister. The canister then uses a fan to force air through the filter so purified positive pressure air runs through a hose to the mask.
The first two types – the half and the full face gas mask – will be rendered useless and even dangerous if they catch a leak as contaminated air would enter the mask. But if there’s a leak supplied air tactical gas mask, it would just push out purified air through the leak rather than let contaminated gas enter. This is why it’s the safer choice.
But then again, it’s not foolproof. Since it relies heavily on batteries, it will be ineffective if the canister runs out of them.
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
The fourth type is one which you might see firefighters carry in action. The Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, or SCBA, is an impractical but the most effective type. If you notice that it looks like the acronym SCUBA, it’s because they are similar, except that for SCUBA, there’s an extra U, which stands for underwater. It makes sense because SCUBA is for underwater exploration.
SCBA also has an air tank attached. The air tank contains high pressure purified air that provides constant positive pressure to the mask. And if there’s a leak, the pressurized air will leak out, preventing the air outside from coming in. Unlike supplied air gas masks, SCBA does not use batteries. Nevertheless, it can only be used for 30 to 60 minutes before the content of the air tank runs out. You would need a special equipment to refill the tank and reuse the mask. Aside from being heavy and bulky to carry around, it is also expensive.
Firefighters exposed to thick and heavy smoke need SCBA because they need total protection from the air around them. They aren’t also likely to spend a lot of time in an enclosed room surrounded by smoke. Once they’ve rescued the people trapped inside a burning building, they will leave the premises immediately. And if they need more air in their tanks, their fire engine can carry extra tanks.
But if you aren’t fighting fire or doing something similar, then an SCBA is not the best gas mask for you as it’s an impractical choice.
This is why you need a Gas Mask
Wearing a gas mask doesn’t make breathing easier but it makes it safer. In fact, it makes it harder to breathe than you would normally in open air. If you have trouble breathing in open air or have lung disease, you would find it even more difficult to breathe using a respirator. But you shouldn’t wear it every day and all the time anyway.
You wear a tactical gas mask when it is needed, not when you just feel like it. It may be a matter of life and death, or even a health risk. It is a temporary solution to defend yourself against potentially dangerous particles, smokes and gasses. If the nature of your work requires you to be exposed to such elements, you would need to wear gas masks while working. If there’s an emergency or catastrophe that would limit the breathing air around you, you need to wear a gas mask immediately to survive.
You maybe don’t want to wear a gas mask, but you would have to if circumstances call for it. It’s like a fire extinguisher in your house that it’s also an added expense, not to mention the maintenance of it should be regular, but it’s necessary and life-saving in case of emergencies.
