The Best Gas Masks: A Buyers' Guide [2023 Update]

The Benefits of a Modern Gas Mask

Today’s masks and respirators are radically more advanced than their predecessors from just a century ago …

With lightweight, standardized filtration cartridges and a massive variety of gas mask and visor options to choose from, you can create a custom configuration of a modern mask that fits your exact preferences.

If you’re a busy professional, in law enforcement or the military, or working as a first responder, you probably already know what types of masks and filters you’re looking for.

If, on the other hand, you’re an individual looking to enhance your family’s disaster readiness, you need to carefully consider the threats you want to prepare for …

Is your biggest concern a pandemic—for which you only need P100 filtration—or are you looking to prep for chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) threats, which requires something more advanced? Does your family live in an area that’s prone to forest fires or an urban center that might be targeted for attack?

Those with a knack for civil defense take into consideration all possible worst case scenarios, which is why they tend to gear up for the possibility of a dirty bomb. A dirty bomb is not a true nuclear weapon. It uses conventional explosives to disperse a payload of radioactive material over the target area. This spreads dense concentrations of radioactive particles throughout the immediate area, contaminating the air. When it comes to a dirty bomb, civilians, law enforcement, first responders, and the military will all benefit from having CBRN-rated personal protective equipment (PPE).

Those in the medical field typically prefer P3 protection, as we learned in 2020. Another thing we learned in that same year is how rapidly stockpiles of P3 protection can be depleted, especially in the event of a global health crisis or pandemic.

Gas mask users can get practical protection from the aforementioned forest fires using specialized CO2 filters.

Suffice it to say that a modern gas mask can protect you from a myriad of threats. For general preparedness, you should look for masks that protect against CBRN contaminants:

Remember, when it comes to protecting you from these contaminants, it’s not the gas mask itself that protects you, but rather the combination of the gas mask and filter you use. Let’s break down both of these components and see what options are available … .

Basic Respirators

A respirator gas mask fits over your face and is used to ensure the inhaled air is clean. There are two main categories of respirators:

Air-purifying respirators (APR)

These respirators use portable filters to clean contaminants from the inhaled air. These filters have limitations, so it’s important to be aware of the potential contaminants the wearer might face. It’s also important to consider whether the oxygen level will be sufficient (19.5%). This is the most common type of respirator by far, comprising the vast majority of those you’ll see in civilian and professional use.

Atmosphere-supplying respirators

These respirators supply uncontaminated air from a separate source. Dealing with unknown or especially deadly threats or insufficient oxygen levels requires one of these respirators. They are rarely deployed and only by highly trained professionals.

Respirator Fit

Before we move on, another important factor is how your respirator should fit and function.

A modern gas mask uses a rubber barrier to create an airtight seal with the face and neck. This seal must be intact for the gas mask and filter to function as intended, which can make for a tight fit. Loose-fitting respirators, like the escape hoods and SCBA suits mentioned above, work by creating a positive pressure environment inside of the gas mask/hood itself.

For the vast majority of adults, a tight-fitting gas mask is more practical and far more affordable. Anyone with the lung power to inflate a birthday balloon has enough lung power to operate a gas mask with a standard filter. For younger family members, a looser-fitting escape hood may be a better option.

Note that either system can be combined with a PAPR for enhanced breathing ease, especially during long hours of use. A PAPR can vastly improve the user experience for almost anyone, but for some people, it’s a necessity.

Types of Filters

Color	Mask type	Application	Class	Gas Concentration	Standard
	P3	Particles	1 2 3	low efficiency medium efficiency high efficiency	EN143
	A	Organic gases & Vapours-boiling point > 65°C	1 2 3	1000 ML/M3 5000 ML/M3 10000 ML/M3	EN405 Disposable EN14387
	A	Organic gases & Vapours-boiling point > 65°C	1 2 3	1000 ML/M3 5000 ML/M3 10000 ML/M3	EN14387
	B	Inorganic gases and Vapours (not CO), i.e chlorine, H2S, HCN,…	1 2 3	1000 ML/M3 5000 ML/M3 10000 ML/M3	EN14387
	EA	Acid gases	1 2 3	1000 ML/M3 5000 ML/M3 10000 ML/M3	EN14387
	K	Ammonia and organic derivatives	1 2 3	1000 ML/M3 5000 ML/M3 10000 ML/M3	EN14387
	AX	Certain organic compounds with boiling point <65°C - of low boiling substances groups 1&2	gr.1: 100ml/m3 max 40' gr.1: 100ml/m3 max 20' gr.2: 1000ml/m3 max 60' gr.2 5000 ml/m3 max 20'		EN371
	NO (+P3)	Nitrogen oxides e.g NO, NO2, Nox		Maximum allowed time of use: 20min	EN141
	Hg (+P3)	Mercury vapours		Maximum allowed time of use: 50 hrs	EN141
	CO*C	Carbon monoxide		Local guidelines	DIN 3181*
	Reactor P3	Radioactive iodine		Local guidelines	DIN 3181*

Other filters will not have these colors, but will instead be a solid color, such as olive, indicating they are “multigas” filters.

Keep in mind that along with the stated respirator and filter types, there are rating requirements that gas mask manufacturers must meet for their gas mask/filter combos to be approved for certain dangerous situations.

Gas Mask Rating System

Ratings systems are set up by government agencies to ensure that manufacturers maintain appropriate standards for their gas masks and other respirators. The primary ratings you should be aware of are the following:

Legal Implications

There are controls on shipping US-made respirators to other countries. Specifically, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) apply to the export of certain gas masks.

EAR controls the export of products with commercial and other potential applications (dual-use items).

The U.S. government has established safeguards to prevent a gas mask from being shipped to destinations where it could be used to counter the efforts of the U.S. military.

ITAR regulates defense products and operates under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). If a specific gas mask is listed in the ITAR United States Munitions List (USML), you must have a license to send it out of the country.

At this time, the only masks listed under the USML are those made by Avon Protection (including the M50 and C50), but that could change.

The point is this: if you plan to send your family or friends a gas mask overseas, make sure you can do so legally. The penalties for not complying with these laws can be severe.

If a foreign-made gas mask enters the U.S. temporarily for re-export, it is not controlled by ITAR. The export of PPE is, however, regulated by EAR, and falls under classification code 1A004.

To make sure you’re in compliance, contact the U.S. State Department (administrator for ITAR) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (administrator for EAR) to let them know what you’re planning on shipping and where.

That way, if you’re ever investigated, you’ll have a paper trail showing you made an effort to contact those in charge about how to proceed.

CBRN Logistics

Logistics and long-term storage are another important factor for any CBRN protocol or preparedness plan.

Sure, you might just start with one gas mask and a few filters. But as time goes on, you might get additional masks for other family members or additional filters for added protection against different threats. So, it’s important to think ahead and plan to the best of your ability to make the most of your investment.

Consider, for example, that most gas masks have a shelf life of up to 20 years, whereas the majority of filters are only designed to last 5–7 years in storage. However, some premium filters, like our NBC-77 SOF, have a longer 20-year shelf life. That makes things simpler, since the filter lasts as long as the mask, and you won’t need to rebuy protection nearly as often.

Beyond the gas mask and filters, you should consider the accessories, spare parts, and replacements you might need. “Two is one, and one is none,” as the old saying goes. So, it’s good to keep a backup gas mask around if possible. Accessories like canteens, microphones, and even replacement parts like filter covers should be in your kit. You should keep this kind of support gear around for every gas mask you’ve got. To keep things simple, MIRA Safety CM-series gas masks all use the same parts.

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to building your own CBRN stash. The best protection is ultimately going to be the protection you have on hand, so any plan is better than no plan. In a perfect world, we recommend a gas mask for every member of your family (plus one or two backups), a few CBRN filters like the NBC-77 SOF, and at least one or two specialized filters like the VK-450 (which protects the wearer from smoke inhalation).

Storage is relatively straightforward with most gas masks and filters. Filters sometimes come in a vacuum-sealed bag and almost always with a cap over the filter intake (leave this cap in place until you need to use the filter). Pay close attention to storage parameters, especially when it comes to duty use, and store your gear in a cool, dry, and safe place.

Now that you know about gas masks, let’s look at the types of gas masks that are available. This will help you decide what’s right for you and your family.

Recommended Gas Masks and Respirators

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics, you can probably see why it’s crucial to make sure you get the right gas mask for your needs.

A full-face gas mask provides unmatched protection from some of the deadliest threats known to man. But to guarantee that protection, you need the right fit, the right filter, a perfect seal, and a handful of other key features.

After all, you’ve seen how a gas mask is not a simple respirator only designed to protect from particulates in the inhaled air. A gas mask is a full-face mask that, with the proper filter, protects against vapors, gases, and particles

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A gas mask is rated based on the threat they are designed to protect the wearer from. The ratings are as follows:

• CBRN

• Chemical Blowing and Riot Control Agents

• Specialty Ratings – designed to protect the wearer from specific HAZMAT or CBRN threats

For civil preparedness purposes, you should choose a CBRN gas mask. When researching, check the following features:

• Certifications

• Presence of a speech diaphragm

• Hydration system compatibility

• Compatibility with optics

• Whether the rubber is resistant to chemical warfare agents

• Whether government and/or law enforcement agencies currently use the mask—an extra indicator of quality

With this in mind, there are many popular gas masks to choose from. Your choice will depend on personal comfort, the fit of the gas mask, your budget, and the considerations listed above.

Now, we know full well which gas masks we think are the best—ours! Our MIRA Safety gas masks stand up against the competition every single time (shameless plug).

Having said that, we want to make sure that you make an informed decision. So, here’s a list of the most popular masks:

How to Make Sure Your Gas Mask Fits

The proper functioning of your gas mask relies entirely on a snug and airtight fit. The gas mask must make a vacuum seal, meaning it must be the proper size and a good fit for the shape of your face.

Medium-size gas masks are a good choice for many people, but a good fit is not guaranteed. You can find the measurements for all MIRA Safety masks in the product listings on our website. You must try the mask on ahead of time to be sure it will work when you need it. Here’s how you do that:

• 1 Make sure the straps are completely loosened and pulled to the front of the gas mask, where they won’t get in your way.

• 2Place your chin in the chin cup and roll the gas mask onto your face from the chin up. Make sure your nose is in the nose cup. You may need to seat the gas mask a few times to get the right fit.

• 3Holding the gas mask in place, pull the straps into place on the back of your head.

• 4Tighten each strap securely, in the following order: middle strap, top straps, and then bottom straps.

• 5Cover the filters with your hands and inhale deeply and quickly to test the seal. This is a negative pressure test. You should feel the gas mask tighten around your face and no air should enter the gas mask. If this doesn’t happen, repeat steps 1–4.

Must-have Gas Mask Mods and Upgrades

As you now know, the right gas mask and filter combination can protect you from a wide range of threats.

The next crucial step is to make sure you can take advantage of that protection.

Something we like to say at MIRA Safety is that “your best protection is what you have with you.” That means, to do its job, your gas mask absolutely must be available to you. You need to be familiar with how to use it. And you may need a few other things to make sure it’s perfect for your needs.

First and foremost, as mentioned in the last section, you should absolutely practice donning and doffing your gas mask. In an emergency, you’ll be at least somewhat stressed when you’re putting it on, so it’s important to get familiar with the process beforehand. Ideally, you want to be able to do this with your eyes closed or at least in extreme low-light environments.

The next step is just… wearing the gas mask.

Remember, the protection you get from a gas mask could save your life, but you’ll still need to see where you’re going.

But what happens if your gas mask gets messy?

What if you’ve got the right corrective lenses, good communication, but you slip and fall, fouling your visor with mud?

It might not sound like much of an issue, but you can’t always just wipe your visor clean. And if you’ve been exposed to hazards or threats—taking the gas mask off isn’t always an option.

Next up, are the crucial considerations of airflow and fatigue.

With a basic gas mask and filter, your lung power keeps the circuit going. Thanks to low-resistance filter media this usually isn’t too much of an issue, but it can gradually sap your energy—especially with any exertion.

Next up, are the crucial considerations of airflow and fatigue.

We’ve all heard the adage, “Two is one, and one is none,” but few of us have ever had to face a CBRN threat while missing one of our gas mask’s crucial components. Suffice it to say, the feeling is far worse than just losing your car keys.

Fortunately, ALL adult MIRA Safety gas masks share the same interchangeable replacement parts kit. And while we must stress the fact that users CANNOT service their own masks, this kit still provides some crucial spare parts you’ll want to keep around just in case.

Going Beyond the Gas Mask

From history and basic details to the specifics of certifications and the best (and worst) gas masks available, we hope this guide is a reference you’ll return to as you learn more and more about protecting yourself and your family or group from a wide range of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

Now more than ever, this kind of protection is both extremely accessible and easily customizable, allowing you to build a PPE stockpile that’s customized for your needs and situation. While these optional accessories add to the overall cost of your kit, they also add invaluable utility that can help ensure you get the results you want (or need) from your gear.

Another key consideration before you move on is what happens beyond the mask?