Do I Really Need a Gas Mask?
Of all the survival gear you could buy to prepare for a crisis, nothing has quite achieved the cultural stigma of the humble gas mask. Most tend to think of a gas mask as something to don in case of doomsday. In reality, there are many real-world scenarios where having a gas mask could make the difference between getting off the X, or not.
If you think that’s a stretch, here are some examples:
- Chemical spill / industrial accident
- Wildfire
- Pandemic
- Civil unrest / riot
In each of these cases, having the ability to breathe uncontaminated air would enable you to think clearly, make good decisions, and get out of harm’s way. With the exception of a pandemic, the most likely gas mask use cases involve an evacuation of some sort, or transit through a problem area (i.e. civil unrest).
Whether it’s toxic fumes, smoke, an airborne virus, or a tear agent, if you can’t breathe, you can’t function. So if you like the idea of breathing during a crisis, keep reading.
What NOT To Buy
When you decide to purchase a gas mask, your life hasn’t gotten any easier. It can be an intimidating shopping experience for those new to the market. There are many potential pitfalls with used, expired, and novelty gas masks. Rule of thumb: if the mask is more than a few years old, has any signs of wear/damage, or costs $13.49, just do yourself a favor and move on.
Military Gas Masks
If you’re willing to shell out $500, you can get yourself a real-deal Avon gas mask as used by the US military and SWAT teams at a location near you. If you want filters to go with that mask, that’ll be extra.
Don’t interpret this as me throwing shade at Avon masks – I own one and it lives in my personal go-bag.
But most people I know don’t want to spend a car payment’s worth of their paycheck on a gas mask they may or may not ever use.
Mira Safety CM-6M
Lucky for you, thanks to the innovation of Austin-based company, Mira Safety, you can get yourself a shiny new gas mask for a fraction of the price without sacrificing quality.
Coming in at $250, Mira Safety’s flagship CM-6M is the best bang-for-your-buck gas mask you can buy. It’s manufactured in the Czech Republic, has a 20-year shelf life, and offers several premium features at an entry-level price point.
If you’ve seen the movie Tenet, you’ve already laid eyes on the CM-6M whether you knew it or not. This mask was showcased prominently throughout the film. While cool-factor shouldn’t necessarily be on your list of pros and cons, it doesn’t hurt that the CM-6M is a good-looking mask.
A Gas Mask Trusted by Government Agencies
According to Mira Safety, the CM-6M is used by law enforcement and government agencies all around the world. The CM-6M complies with EN 168 impact protection standards, which makes it a good option for riot situations where an object could strike your face. Even more importantly, the CM-6M meets CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) protection standards. This is critical. Many cheap or used gas masks will not meet this standard. A respirator from your local hardware store will absolutely not.
Standout Features
The CM-6M’s large polycarbonate lens offers a generous 77.6% field of vision, which aids in situational awareness and comfort. This is far from a vintage Israeli gas mask that makes you claustrophobic just looking at it.
One of the standout features of the CM-6M is the inclusion of a built-in hydration tube. As we all know, after air, water is the next most important resource for survival. The problem is, in a contaminated environment, it may not be safe to take off your mask and gulp down a cool glass of H20. Thankfully, Mira Safety already thought of that.
Like the higher-priced Avon masks, the CM-6M solves the hydration dilemma by way of a hydration tube. The hydration tube connects directly to a canteen that allows the user to drink water without exposing the contents of the canteen.
Inside the mask, the user slurps down the good stuff via a short drinking tube, fully insulated from compromised air. It may not be fun, but it works. The canteen is included with the purchase of the mask.
A Filter for Every Crisis
Another great perk of buying a Mira Safety mask is that Mira manufactures and sells high-quality, affordable gas mask filters. You don’t have to guess which filter is compatible – anything sold by Mira Safety will work with the CM-6M, as will any other standard 40mm filter.
Mira Safety offers a variety of filters for a wide range of threats. Some filters, like the NBC-77 CBRN filter, protect from a wide range of toxic substances, including CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) agents. This is the top of the line filter from Mira if you want to cover all your bases.
The P-Can filter from Mira Safety is specifically designed for use in situations where riot control agents and tear gasses are deployed. This would be a good filter to carry with your mask in a get-home bag.
And if you’re concerned about a pandemic, you can stock up on the compact ParticleMax filter, which is rated to stop 99.9995% of viral and biological particulates.
Parting Thoughts
If you’re new to crisis readiness, yes – there are other more important things to check off your gear purchase list first, such as emergency lighting, radios, and essential evacuation gear for your family go-bags. However, if a gas mask is in your budget, it could be a wise investment.
Ideally, at least one, if not multiple adults in your group should have a gas mask in the event that the air in your environment is compromised. This will allow one or two leaders to stay focused on getting the rest of the group out of harm’s way without becoming incapacitated.
Mira Safety isn’t the only option out there, but for the price, I do believe it’s the best. Do your own research, but be careful to avoid the pitfalls we’ve discussed. If you’re ready to pull the trigger on a mask, you really can’t go wrong with the CM-6M. With its quality and features, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better gas mask for under $500.
