The 10 Best Gas Masks: Comparison and Buyer’s Guide

1. Our top picks
2. Comparison table
3. Quick Buying Guide
4. Mira Safety CM-8M
5. Mira Safety CM-7M
6. Mira Safety CM-6M
7. ExecDefense USA 2-Eye Gas Mask
8. ExecDefense USA FreshTac
9. Parcil Safety SGE 400/3 BB
10. Parcil Safety NB-100
11. Parcil Safety SGE 150
12. Parcil Safety ST-100X
13. Parcil Safety Aria 19
14. Bottom line

Summary of Our Top Picks

Gas masks should be part of any safety, tactical, or doomsday preparations. They serve as a principal means of protecting ourselves from irritants, chemicals, smoke, and even nuclear fallout. If you’ve shopped for one, you know that the market has an abundance of knock-offs and surplus materials, and it’s nearly impossible to tell which ones are suitable for your application.

If you keep reading, you’ll see a comprehensive list of the ten best gas masks and a quick explanation of things to look for to ensure your purchase can meet your demands and keep you and your family safe.

Top 10 Gas Masks Comparsion Table

Gas Masks: Quick Buying Guide

Gas masks probably owe their name to their history of use in the trenches of World War One, where they were the principal means of protection from chemical weapons attacks. More than a century later, they are a staple for people preparing for disasters, protests, wildfires, and other dangerous situations.

Gas masks are practical tools for anyone working in a hazardous environment where airborne viruses, particulates, or chemicals are in the air. For example, gas masks became frontline Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic’s worst days.

When shopping for yours, you must remember three major criteria: Fitment and seal, ease of use, and filters.

Fitment and Seal

Gas masks fall into two major fitment categories: Half-face and full-face. Full-face masks seal around your whole face, and half-face masks protect your nose and mouth but leave your eyes exposed.

While a half-mask might be ideal for a spray painter or handyperson, they don’t meet the requirements for protection from chemicals, gasses, or nuclear fallout.

Whichever style of gas mask or respirator you buy, make sure to consider the size of the potential wearer. Kids and those with small frames and faces don’t match up well with adult-size gas masks. You must have a mask that fits properly, as poor fitment can compromise the seal between the mask and the face, rendering the mask useless in a hazardous environment.

Look for masks with small or youth labels for people with smaller faces. And make sure to test fitment before you use the mask in an emergency.

Ease of Use and Practicality

There are a few features of masks that help make them easier to use and more practical for wearing, especially for long periods.

Hydration

Voice Projector

It can be hard to hear someone talking while they are wearing a gas mask. So, many masks have design features that try to amplify your voice. A voice projector can be a simple diaphragm or membrane that helps project your voice outside the mask.

Poor-quality masks, like knock-offs and old government surplus models, block most of the sounds the wearer makes. It is tough to project your voice, making it impossible to communicate verbally. Newer masks almost all have a diaphragm to help you communicate. 

Some masks go the extra mile and use electronics to amplify your voice. Microphone speaker masks use battery power to pick up your voice inside of the mask and project it outward from an external speaker. Some microphone masks have a headset adapter for plugging directly into a radio headset.

As you can imagine, electronic kits for communicating can get expensive. Plus, if the battery dies, you might be unable to communicate. It might be wise to stock several batteries for your masks and replace them periodically so you’re always ready.

Field of Vision

A gas mask, particularly older or very inexpensive models, can severely limit your field of vision. These models usually have large, protruding binocular eye lenses. They have almost no peripheral vision, making it harder to work on tasks, more difficult to wear, and more dangerous to the wearer, who might not see hazards around them.

Especially for extended operations, you probably want to look for masks that offer a wide face shield and an ample field of vision. Some newer binocular masks are an improvement over past models. They have contouring to improve the field of vision.

Older binocular masks also make it nearly impossible to aim down the sight of a firearm accurately. So, if that’s part of your mission, you may want to steer clear and look for models that offer a good cheek weld.

Filters

The filter on your gas mask is the workhorse that keeps your air safe to breathe. There are many different types of filters, so each has a string of letters and numbers that serve as a label indicating its ABEK code, class, and color code. This way, you can determine if a given filter is suitable for your application.

Keep in mind that your gas mask is separate from your filter. To use an analogy, a plate carrier holds armor plates. Together, they are bullet-resistant vests. You choose the proper level of armor plates for your threat level, then slide the heavy armor into the pockets of a plate carrier. It’s up to you to choose a model of plate carrier that is comfortable, the right size, and set up the way you want.

Similarly, a mask goes over your face. Then, you attach a filter appropriate for the threat environment. Together, the filter and the mask provide respiratory protection and become a gas mask. Some people might also call a gas mask a respirator.

Look at the information on your filter to ensure it is adequate for your threat level. Most modern gas masks have industry and NATO-standard attachments for various filters. A filter and mask combo might have various labels, like Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), or Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC).

ABEK Code

Additionally, there are filters that might carry an ABEK code for a particular or specialized hazard. For example, a ‘P’ designation is for filtering particulates, while a ‘Reactor’ designation means the mask is suitable for use by those working with nuclear materials. You might also find the same designation spelled ‘Reaktor.’ There are also many additional codes for specific applications.

Color Code

A gas mask filter’s ABEK code can be pretty complex to translate. So, to make things easier and to standardize the coding across multiple languages, each filter has colored stripes that indicate the threat it works against. The color code corresponds to the ABEK code.

• Orange labels indicate a Reactor filter
• Blue labels are for nitrous gasses
• Red labels are for mercury vapors
• Black labels are for carbon monoxide
• Green labels are for ammonia
• Yellow labels are for sulfur dioxide and other acids
• Gray labels are for inorganic gasses
• Brown labels are for organic vapors

Class

A gas mask filter’s class refers to how well the filter works. As the concentration of a hazard builds, your filter’s parts per million (PPM) rating needs to withstand the increasing threat.

• Class One filters are suitable for concentrations of up to 1,000 PPM
• Class Two filters can handle up to 5,000 PPM
• Class Three filters can handle up to 10,000 PPM.

The Top Ten Gas Masks

Now that you know the basics, let’s look at the ten best gas masks available on the market.

The CM-8M Full-Face Respirator is the top gas mask on this list. It’s a brand new design and has the features and fitment to stand up to rigorous duty for long periods.

This military-grade gas mask is made in the Czech Republic, offering easy integration with most high-cut helmets. It is impact-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about it becoming damaged during a work detail or in a riot situation. The visor has a vast field of view at 92.5%, and the mask works with night vision goggles and other optics. 

If you are in a battle situation, you can use the mask with only one filter, maintaining the ability to get a cheek weld when aiming down the sights of your rifle, whether you’re a lefty or a righty. And, thanks to its design and construction, this mask remains fog-free, even under exertion and heavy use. 

This is a true CBRN mask made from tough rubber. The mask’s two filter adapters can take any 40-mm cartridges, a standard NATO size, making them among the most available and versatile. Since this mask is suitable for a wide variety of uses, you’ll have to buy your own filters for whatever application you’ll be using it in. 

There is a pre-installed hydration system; you can mate it up with your favorite CamelBak water reservoir. It can also work with an integrated voice microphone and headset system, but you’ll have to buy them separately. Even without the microphone kit, you enjoy 95% intelligibility. 

This model gas mask has some bells and whistles, but it’s ideal for both civilians and police or military applications. It can keep people safe against various threats and is practical and comfortable enough to wear for a long time if necessary.

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The MIRA Safety CM-7M Gas Mask is very similar to the CM-8M model, which is our top model. It has two significant differences. First, instead of a single visor, the mask has a binocular construction, with a separate lens for each eye. This feature may improve depth perception, which is helpful for working or if you need to fire a gun. Plus, the mask’s design, with recessed visors, is ideal for operating a rifle with mounted optics, like a red dot sight.

But, this design has only about a 70% field of vision, much narrower than the CM-8M.

While the narrower field of vision is a bit of a negative, the next feature is a significant advantage. The CM-7M comes in large, medium, and small sizes, so you can find one to fit any family member. 

Keep comparing the features of this mask to the CM-8M. You’ll see that it has most of the same benefits, including a standard NATO filter attachment, fog-resistant lenses, solid ratings for field use against various threats, a long shelf-life, and an integrated drinking system. You’ll also have the same 95% intelligibility when talking while wearing your mask. 

Again, you’ll buy your own filter to use with this mask. That offers flexibility, but keep it in mind when comparing prices. 

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The MIRA Safety CM-6M Tactical Gas Mask is the protective equivalent to the CM-7M. It has the same type of construction and resistance to various threats, but it has a different design. It has a much wider 77.6% field of view that is an asset for general operations and tasks. But, the visor makes it much harder, if not impossible, to obtain a cheek weld for firing a rifle accurately. 

It might be best to think of the CM-6M as a mask for the less tactical and the CM-7M as the rifleman’s choice. 

Aside from the significant visor differences, the CM-6M carries the same high-quality construction as the other masks from MIRA. Unfortunately, it is only available in one size, which might not work well for the very big or the very small. Think of it as one-size-fits-most. It’s also slightly heavier than the other two models. 

When considering this mask, look for two separate options. One mask is slightly more expensive but comes with an integrated hydration system. The less expensive option doesn’t. Both still have 95% intelligibility when speaking.

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The ExecDefense USA 2-Eye Gas Mask has a single-filter design, unlike the dual-filter MIRA’s. That means the mask projects farther off your face as the filter sits in front of and below your chin. This gas mask has a binocular design, with relatively wide visors for each eye. However, the binocular view combined with the forward-projecting filter may make firing a rifle difficult. 

The mask is only available in one universal size, so it may not fit the biggest or smallest in your group. The filter adapter is a standard NATO size and thread, making it quite compatible with most filters on the market. You’ll even get one filter for free. 

This mask has a shelf-life of only five years, so it might be better to think of it for use against a looming threat rather than something that might happen in the future. During its service life and with the appropriate filters, this mask can handle CBRN or NBC threats. It also looks fairly intimidating, which can be an asset in some situations. It will also fit on your face while wearing most riot-control helmets. 

Where this mask excels as a patrol mask for operating in short-duration events, like riots or while seeking shelter, it doesn’t have integrated hydration or microphone attachments. Keep that in mind if you’re considering this mask for protection from long-duration events.

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The ExecDefense USA FreshTac Gas Mask is the single-visor version of the ExecDefense USA 2-Eye Gas Mask. It has the same feature limitations, lacking a hydration system or integrated microphone mount. It will fit well while wearing most military or police helmets, but due to the lack of creature comforts, it’s probably not the best choice for long-duration operations. 

That said, the single-visor construction offers a wider field of vision that can be quite helpful for performing tasks and even just walking around. This mask also differs from the binocular model in that it has dual-side filters, so the mask doesn’t protrude quite as far off your face. 

The dual-filter design may also make it slightly easier to breathe in and out, as they accommodate more airflow than a single filter. You’ll pay only a few dollars more for this single-visor mask than for the binocular model. 

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The SGE 400/3 BB Ballistic Grade Gas Mask is for heavy-duty applications where only the toughest materials will do. It has a wide, clear, full-face visor that offers a wide field of vision but remains compact and low-profile. In addition, the visor material is made from ballistic polycarbonate. 

This material can withstand a significant, high speed impact from a steel sphere of 6.35mm, so this mask is among the toughest out there and suitable for riot control or even more violent circumstances. Plus, in both cold and warm weather, the visor remains fog-free. 

Plus, the mask’s butyl rubber seals can resist and withstand extremely acidic gasses, like mustard gas. When you use this tough mask with an appropriate filter, you can handle almost any application with confidence. 

This mask also offers three 40mm NATO attachment points for filters. So, you can set it up in many different configurations to make it suitable for your mission. But, at its basic price point, it doesn’t come with all the features you might expect for a high-end mask. 

But, if you spend a few more dollars, you can add optional filters, a PVC hood, a canteen and canteen adapter, a spectacle mount for wearing glasses, and a universal hydration tube for pairing your mask with a hydration bladder. 

This is a top-shelf mask, but it is too expensive for most shoppers.

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The NB-100 Tactical Gas Mask has a lot of appeal for civilians seeking protection from contaminants, hazards, chemicals, and other dangerous irritants. It doesn’t have a ballistic visor, but it’s tough enough to stand up to blunt attacks without cracking. And it’s also scratch resistant. 

It has 40mm NATO-style filter attachment points on either side of the mask, and you can use it with either two filters or one. You install a simple plug on the unused side to seal the mask. With just one filter attached, it’s ideal for sighting down the barrel of a rifle. One N-B-1 filter is included with each mask. This mask also has an integrated voice diaphragm, so you can be confident in its ability to keep your voice intelligible. If you wear glasses, you may want to purchase the optional spectacle kit. The kit is pricey but necessary if you need prescription lenses. Your regular glasses’ frames will not fit inside this mask.

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The SGE 150 Full Face Gas Mask might be best thought of as a stripped down version of some of the more expensive masks on this list. If you want a high-quality gas mask but don’t want to spend for features like an integrated drinking system or fancy microphones and headsets, this might be your pick. 

Since every feature is available as an add-on, you can set the mask up to fit your needs and budget. You can also add a spectacle kit, MS-203 NATO filter, speech diaphragm, and PVC hood to your order if you want. 

The SGE 150 allows you to save a few dollars, but it comes in two sizes, it’s lightweight, rugged,  and has a ballistic-rated, full-face visor with an excellent field of vision. It can stop the same 6.35mm steel sphere at 150 meters/second as the more expensive SGE 400/3 BB Ballistic Grade Gas Mask. 

The front-mount filter adapter fits a single filter, which makes it project a bit in front of you. But the overall design is quite compact. 

Despite the forward-mounted respirator, many users report that this respirator works well when shooting. It remains fog free in a range of temperatures. This is a solid pick for people who work with chemicals, preppers, and others seeking respiratory protection in a high-threat environment.

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The ST-100X Full Face Survival Respirator is a sturdy, compact, and real-deal gas mask. But it’s also one of the most affordable gas masks on our list. It doesn’t compromise on safety to bring the price down. 

It has an industry-standard 40mm, front-facing cartridge attachment and a heavy-duty visor with a wide field of vision. The visor is also quite compact, giving great visibility. Shooters can still get an accurate sight picture when aiming as well. 

The ST-100X also has a unique option you can use to customize your mask further. There is a range of tints available for your visor, with options for clear tint, dark tint, moderate tint, and various colors. This might appeal to workers who might have to wear the mask during industrial applications where there are sparks or bright light. 

If you’re looking for the reason that this mask is so inexpensive, it’s likely due to the harness and lack of features. The rubber straps and their plastic mounts aren’t the best quality. You might be able to customize a mask with an upgraded harness and still save some money, but that’s up to you.

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The Aria 19 Youth/Kids Gas Mask takes a different approach to respirator design. This is among the best masks you can find for children and kids. It has a unique, modular design that allows this mask to convert from a recreational snorkeling mask to a full-on respirator in seconds. 

The top-mount standard filter adapter can accept a specially-fitted snorkel adapter, so your young family members can enjoy water recreation and fun. Since the filter sits on top of the mask, it’s very unobtrusive. 

That time wearing the mask can help them learn how to work the harness and familiarize them with the feeling of wearing the mask. Then, if a crisis presents itself, the snorkel adapter comes off, you attach an appropriate standard-thread NATO filter, and your kids stay safe from airborne threats. 

The ARIA 19 also has another innovative feature. There is a one-way valve inside of the adaptor, ensuring that exhaled air doesn’t push the intake open. Instead, the exhaled air exits through the bottom of the mask through a separate one-way valve. The result is a mask that is less likely to allow unfiltered air in. 

This same system and the integrated float valve also ensure that water doesn’t enter the mask during snorkeling applications. 

This mask is for kids, but it’s not child’s play. It has a generously wide field of vision, offers clear intelligibility when speaking, and the visor is both impact-resistant and fog-free.

The Best Gas Masks Bottom Line

You never know when a disaster might unfold. When COVID-19 began infecting people worldwide, it seemed like many governments were left flat-footed and unprepared. If you want protection from airborne threats and you want to take the bull by the horns and maintain your own safety, buying a gas mask is relatively inexpensive insurance against future threats. 

A gas mask is also a practical safety measure for those who work in fields that expose them to contaminated air. Some industries are known for higher incidence rates of certain respiratory diseases and cancers caused by breathing in dangerous particulates. 

A gas mask is a powerful line of defense, and it’s guaranteed to be more effective than a paper mask. Get yourself and your family the protection you need today.