A full-face respirator can save your life in an emergency situation. These products can protect you from a wide range of threats, including pollutants, dangerous chemicals, and biological weapons.
However, you should know that not all gas masks offer the same level of protection. Whether you’re shopping for a survival product or need a reliable respirator for law enforcement or military use, it’s crucial to research products and understand how they keep you safe.
Let’s take a closer look at the MIRA Safety CM-8M, a full-face respirator that is popular with police and military organizations around the globe.
At a glance
What we like
- Panoramic visor provide wide field of view
- Its compatible with vision devices, thermal optics, scopes and red dot sights.
- Can be used with one or two 40-mm NATO filter cartriges
- Compatible with Mira Safety gas mask microphone
- Meets CBRN protection standards
What we don't like
- Mask is not recomended for people with below-average and above-average head shapes.
About MIRA Safety
Based in Austin, TX, MIRA Safety is a leader in the military and survivalist gear market. The company designs and manufactures security and preparedness products as well as PPE equipment.
MIRA Safety has an impressive number of contracts with military and police agencies around the globe and has years of experience when it comes to developing field-ready solutions that keep people safe.
It’s an innovative brand with a strong R&D department and a focus on quality. The thorough testing process used for new products, the high-quality materials, and the sturdy construction turn MIRA Safety products into professional-grade equipment. Founder Roman Zrazhevskiy is also behind the company Read to Go Survival. This brand specializes in preparedness products like first aid supplies, tools, weapons, or PPE equipment besides offering consulting services.
MIRA Safety CM-8M Full-Face Respirator Review
The CM-8M is a full-face respirator designed to protect you from a wide range of airborne threats. Whether you’re in the market for preparedness gear or comparing gas masks for a law enforcement or military organization, the following review will give you a better idea of what to expect from this product.
Mira Safety CM-8M Latest Generation | |
 | |
Website Link | |
Mask Type | Full-face respirator |
Filter | Fits up to 2 standard 40-mm NATO filter cartridges |
Suported Filters | NBC-77 SOF CBRN Gas Mask Filter VK-450 Smoke / Carbon Monoxide Filter DotPro 320 40mm Gas Mask Filter ParticleMax P3 Virus Filter P-CAN Police Gas Mask Filter |
Shelf Life | 20 years |
Prevents Fogging | Yes |
Manufactured | Czech Republic |
Compatible With | With a variety of high-cut helmets CamelBak water bladders with a Type A or M adapter MIRA Safety gas mask microphone MIRA Safety gas mask replacement parts kit With popular night vision, rifle scopes and thermal optic setups |
Warranty | MIRA Safety’s 1-year manufacturer warranty |
Materials | Facepiece: Bromine-butyl rubber Visor: Polycarbonate |
Size | Universal |
How Does the Mira Safety CM-8M Work?
The CM-8M full-face respirator features a tight-fitting facepiece that acts as a seal and keeps fine particles out.
The respirator uses a filtration system to deliver clean outside air. The product can protect you from a wide range of threats, including chemicals, biological weapons, radioactive dust, or pollutants.
Note that your level of protection can vary based on the filter cartridges you use with the mask.
Full-face masks like the CM-8M are typically a go-to solution for short-term use. You would use this mask to protect yourself while reaching a safe location. For long-term use, a respirator with a fresh air supply might be a better fit.
Who Needs the CM-8M?
The MIRA Safety CM-8M is a professional-grade respirator. It’s ideal for anyone looking for reliable protective gear they can use in a shelter-in-place scenario. With the right cartridge, the mask can protect you from dangerous chemicals, pollutants, and biological warfare attacks, which makes it suitable for a wide range of preparedness situations.
There are relevant use cases for law enforcement agencies that need protection from smoke bombs and other threats. The respirator is also suitable for military use in combat situations where chemical or biological warfare is a possibility, or even to improve comfort and visibility in an environment with dust or smog.
What Makes the CM-8M Better Than Other Respirators?
This full-face respirator represents an investment. Before you determine if it’s the right solution for you, it’s important to understand what sets this product apart.
CBRN Respirator
Not all air-purifying escape respirators are the same. The CM-8M belongs to a group of respirators called CBRN or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear.
These gas masks protect you against a wider range of threats compared to a standard escape respirator that might be permeable to dangerous particles.
Standard Cartridges
The CM-8M respirator works with 40mm 1/7” NATO filter cartridges. This format is a common standard, and the cartridges are affordable and easy to find.
You won’t have any issues with stocking filter cartridges, and you can choose to lower your level of protection if you want to save on cartridges and can safely rule out some threats.
European Standards
The product meets advanced safety standards used in Europe. Meeting these standards indicates that the engineers behind this full-face respirator created a safe and reliable product, and you can also be confident that the product went through a comprehensive testing process to meet these standards.
The CM-8M gas mask meets the EN 136:1998 requirements for full-face respirators, which creates a point of reference for clearing the product for use in a law enforcement or military setting.
It also meets impact protection requirements under the EN 168 standard. This standard indicates the visor is a suitable solution for offering eye protection. It’s somewhat similar to the ANSI Z87.1 standard in use in the U.S.
Testing
When putting together a survival kit, research is crucial. You might not get the opportunity to test your gear in a real-world scenario, which is why you need to look for manufacturers that take preparedness seriously and put their products through advanced testing.
The CM-8M is a highly reliable solution due to the testing process the product went through to meet the different requirements mentioned above.MIRA Safety also tested the product by exposing it to mustard gas. The test revealed that the respirator offered protection for close to 30 hours against this poisonous gas with a fatality rate of 2 to 3%.
MIRA Safety CM-8M Features
Learn more about the standout features of the CM-8M full-face respirator.
Filtration System
The filtration system is arguably the most important feature to consider when choosing a respirator.
Protection and Communication
The CM-8M offers a tight fit that protects your entire face from exposure to the outside air. You’ll find two nodes where you can mount filter cartridges on each side of your face.
There is also a frontal valve you can use when you breathe out. This valve doubles as a speech diaphragm that allows others to hear you while you wear the respirator. Since clear communication can save your life in an emergency situation, the speech valve is a noteworthy addition to the mask.
Breathing Resistance
The gas mask delivers an inhalation resistance that won’t exceed 30 Pa and an exhalation resistance of less than 60 Pa. Breathing requires some effort, but it’s something you should expect with any full-face respirator.
The inhalation and exhalation resistance is relatively low, which makes the CM-8M comfortable. It also allows you to be active while wearing the respirator, and you shouldn’t have any difficulty breathing provided that you’re in good health.
Filter Cartridge Compatibility
You’ll find two slots with Rd 40mm 1/7” connection thread that can accommodate standard 40mm 1/7” cartridges. This format is a NATO standard, which means the filters are easy to find around the globe.
These cartridges are compact and lightweight. They typically weigh around 10 oz and have a shelf life of five to ten years depending on the brand. Note that you can purchase these filter cartridges from MIRA Safety.
However, not all filter cartridges offer the same level of protection. The facepiece protects you from harmful airborne particles, but you can still breathe in some dangerous micro-particles if you choose a filter cartridge with a low level of protection.
It’s also worth noting that you don’t need to use two cartridges at once. You’ll be more comfortable with two filter cartridges, but you can remove one to make your supplies last longer or to keep one cheek free, for instance, if you need to aim with a firearm.
Visibility
The downside of wearing a full-face respirator is that this type of protective gear can reduce your field of vision or restrict your movements and make it difficult to turn your head.
Visibility is an area where the MIRA Safety CM-8M truly stands out. The compact filter cartridge format keeps the respirator system lightweight and doesn’t restrict your movements.
Plus, the mask uses a contoured visor that allows for a 92.5% field of vision. There is a slight restriction when it comes to peripheral vision, but it’s an acceptable compromise given the level of protection the respirator offers.
The contouring allows for a tight fit and protects your eyes from exposure to chemicals, pollutants, or biological agents. You won’t have to worry about the visor being a point of entry as long as you have properly adjusted the harness.
The visor uses a clear polycarbonate material. It’s a type of thermoplastic polymer that is easy to mold. This material offers exceptional resistance and durability.
The clear visor means you can use the respirator with a wide range of optical solutions, including binoculars, night vision gear, or the sight of a firearm. The visor sits relatively close to the face to reduce inaccuracy when using an optical sight.
The standard shape and size of the visor mean you can add a peel-off lens cover. You can stack these covers to enhance vision and protection. You can find tinted lens covers to improve visibility and reduce fatigue in bright conditions or use several layers so you can peel off your top lens cover if it gets dirty.
Durable Rubber Harness
The facepiece uses bromine butyl rubber. Butyl rubber is a common material in the automotive industry because it resists oil and chemicals.
It’s an excellent choice for a full-face respirator because it has a low permeability. Plus, it’s an incredibly durable material that resists changes in temperature and humidity levels. Bromine is an additive that enhances this material’s low permeability, especially when it comes to gasses.
The respirator uses a six-point harness that you can adjust for a tight and comfortable fit. Each strap features a buckle with a low profile so the gas mask can fit under a low-cut helmet system. MIRA Safety has tested the respirator with a wide range of helmets to offer a product you can combine with other protective gear.
You’ll also find a comfortable mesh element in the back of the harness that ensures a reliable fit. This material is lightweight and breathable and is an excellent choice for helping you regulate your temperature when wearing the respirator.
Build a Custom Emergency Response Solution
One of the great things about the CM-8M is that the respirator is compatible with different accessories you can use to customize your emergency response solution.
We’ve already discussed how the product works with different helmet systems, but you can also connect a hydration system thanks to the hydration valve present on the side of the respirator. It works with any water bladder as long as you have an adapter.
MIRA Safety also offers a gas mask microphone that you can add to the gas mask if communication is a priority.
How Does the CM-8M Compare to Other Products?
Not sure if the CM-8M is the right fit for you? MIRA Safety makes two other gas masks with similar features.
CM-7M
The CM-7M is a professional-grade respirator that shares a few key features with the CM-8M. Both masks use the same filter cartridges and feature a similar rubber face piece.
However, the CM-7M uses silicate glass goggles instead of a visor. This feature reduces your field of vision to 71.5%.
The CM-7M also comes in three sizes while the CM-8M is a one-size-fits-all product. The harness is slightly different with five points of contact, and the CM-7m is slightly lighter at 17.6 oz (500g) versus 19 oz (540g) for the CM-8M.
Overall, the CM-7M could be a good alternative if you don’t mind the reduced field of vision.
If you want to learn more about the CM-7M gas mask, you can read our full review.
CM-6M
The CM-6M uses a different design that integrates a full-face panoramic visor into the mask. It’s slightly heavier at 2.1 oz (560g), and the five-point harness is different from the six-point harness used for the CM-8M.
The polycarbonate panoramic visor improves visibility, but it’s a downside if you need proper cheek weld for shooting. We still recommend the CM-6M if situational awareness is a priority for you.
If you want to learn more about the CM-6M gas mask, you can read our full review.
Conclusion
The MIRA Safety CM-8M full-face respirator is one of the best professional-grade gas masks money can buy. It’s a trustworthy product thanks to the quality of the materials used, the official requirements the product meets, and the thorough testing process the manufacturer went through to meet these requirements.
Abdo is a Zoopy writer who loves spending his free time outdoors, camping, and enjoying the peace that nature brings. He also enjoys fixing things - he's particularly good with electronics. His favorite movie is I Am Legend, and he's fascinated by survival gear and safety.