Don’t Buy A Gas Mask…Unless You Read This First

The moment the German Army unleashed chlorine gas and then sulfur mustard gas on the battlefield during World War I, the arms race between delivering chemical weapons and protecting troops from them was on. Despite the fact that numerous treaties and conventions prohibited or restricted the use of chemical weapons, every member of the United States military has been trained in CBRN or NBC warfare protection for approximately 100 years or so.

As the progression always goes; the military experiments and does it first, then law enforcement does it, and then finally it crosses over to the world of the citizen. Consider the use of modern, ready-made tourniquets; US Military trials and use, then police training and use, and now civilian training and use.

On a smaller, but growing scale, we are seeing that same phenomenon with field protective masks or, more as they’re more commonly called, “gas masks.” The US military has a century of experience with masks. During the riots of the 1960’s and 70’s, the use of CS and CN gas by American law enforcement became prevalent, though it had been used prior to that. Riot police understood that gas is an equal opportunity agent and it can blow back onto those who deployed it. Therefore, all the SWAT teams and riot squads were trained to use gas masks. 

Personally, like hundreds of thousands of veterans, I first learned how to use a gas mask in Boot Camp and discovered that it really worked when we entered the “gas chamber.” As an infantry Marine, I engaged in constant training with masks and other protective gear. During Operation Desert Storm, my unit went into combat with our protective suits and boots on. A few hours later, we went to MOPP-4 and put on our masks and gloves. That was interesting.   Additionally, I also went through “crowd control” training in the Police Academy a few years later.  

Now, thanks to the good old American free market, there are companies producing and advertising field protective / gas masks to the citizens of the United States. Mira Safety is one of the biggest. Yes, there have been military surplus masks for sale for decades, but those were marketed to a niche audience. Today, gas masks are going “mainstream” on social media. 

Do Not Buy a Gas Mask Until Your Read This

If you have already purchased some type of gas mask, I will address you later. However, if you are thinking about buying one or more, please read this article before you spend your money.

Consideration #1, you need to have an honest conversation with yourself. Are you willing to actually put the mask on, fit it properly to your melon, learn how to test the seal, and wear it during training? If your honest answer is “no”, then do not waste your money buying a gas mask.

 

I fear that too many people are buying gas masks “just in case” and then sticking them on a shelf somewhere never to be thought of again. The middle of a crisis is NOT the time to try and learn how to use a field protective mask. In the Marine Corps that standard to “don and clear” a gas mask with hood was 10 seconds.

Consideration #2, who gets to breathe? What? What are you talking about? Well, if you are the patriarch of the family, the defender of the sheep, and buy one mask for yourself, what do the rest of the members of your family do during a genuine emergency? Four people sharing one mask is not a good plan. Unless your mask is part of a proactive tool kit, you need to factor in purchasing one for each person in the house and teaching them how to use them.

Consideration #3, if you are buying a surplus/old gas mask, what condition is it in? The head harnesses are made of nylon and elastic and these break down and fail over time. If the harness won’t keep the mask tight against your face, it is useless. Masks are made of rubber and the enemy of rubber is direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Military masks are extremely durable, however, a surplus mask could have been sitting on a shelf or in a crate for decades baking in the heat or freezing in a warehouse or Conex box. Let the buyer beware!

Consideration #4, do you have a big head? If you were blessed by the Lord with a gargantuan cranium, the average mask may not fit your noggin. Before you order, check to see if the gas masks come in different sizes. If they only come in one size, chances are very high that that size is a medium or average. Brothers, if your Stetson is sized 7 ¾, you are going to need a size “Large” gas mask.   

Choosing a Field Protective Mask

There are two basic styles of gas mask; full face shield and goggle type. The full face shield has a single window with no obstructions in the field of view. The goggle type has two separate eye holes or lenses. The size and shape of these viewing holes will vary based upon the manufacturer. Some are round and some are three-sided ovals.

As for pros and cons, the full face shield type does not fold for easy storage in a pouch and may be more prone to damage in a field environment. However, the feeling of claustrophobia that you get from wearing a mask is greatly reduced with a full face shield and your field of vision for shooting, etc. is much better. 

Dual lens versions tend to be the choice of military units. They do have that dead zone or blind spot right in the middle that you only seem to notice when you are trying to shoot your rifle or pistol. 

Today, the standard for Military and LE masks are those which use a 40mm screw-in filter. There are myriad types of filters from those designed to keep out dust all the way up to those which will filter radioactive fallout. Unlike the old-style masks where the filter screwed in the middle, modern masks allow the user to choose a side. PS: the filter goes on the opposite side of your rifle shoulder.    

Threats

You are an adult, you can read the news. Over 17,000 Georgia residents were evacuated after a chemical plant caught fire and spewed toxic smoke into the atmosphere and 90,000 residents were told to shelter in their houses and not go outside. The East Palestine train derailment and then subsequent chemical fire, set deliberately, poured toxic smoke into the air, the damage of which we will not likely know for decades.

When I went through the Police Academy we had a HAZMAT class. Our instructor brought up something that most of us had never considered. He stated, “If your town has railroad tracks running through it, there are toxic and deadly chemicals passing by daily or weekly, but regularly. If your city has a railroad depot, there are containers of toxic chemicals sitting there. All it takes is a derailment or leak to cause a major disaster.”

As I mentioned, you are all adults, you can make your own decisions regarding whether you think owning a gas mask makes you prepared or paranoid. Regardless, you should make an informed decision. 

Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.