Best Gas Mask Filter Cartridges (Including Affordable Options)

A gas mask is only as good as the filter you put in it. Unfortunately,  quality filters, such as ones with the NIOSH CBRN rating, are not cheap. On top of that, gas mask cartridges also expire – which means you could spend a lot of money on a product you will hopefully never use.   

The good news is that you don’t need an expensive filter for most disaster situations. I’ll review your gas mask cartridge options here, including what protection they offer and thread compatibility.

Also read: Best Gas Masks for the Average Prepper

Best Gas Mask Filter Cartridges

Filter and Mask Thread Compatibility

Thread compatibility is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a gas mask filter.

If you haven’t bought the gas mask yet, I highly recommend getting one with 40mm NATO threads. This will let you use the mask with many brands of cartridges. You are stuck using these if you chose a mask that only uses proprietary filters (such as from Avon).

Pro Tip: Get the 3M Filter Adapter

The 701 40mm filter adapter by 3M lets you use bayonet-type filters on any 40mm NATO gas mask (the reverse does not exist: you can’t use 40mm cartridges on a bayonet mask).

Bayonet filters are cheaper than 40mm cartridges, readily available in many hardware stores, and come in various protection levels. This means you’ll be able to use your gas mask for everyday things, such as spraying weed killer on your lawn, as well as in a SHTF situation.

Protection Level and Certification

Gas mask filters are certified by what threats they protect against. These certifications can be very confusing unless you have a strong chemistry background.    

To keep things simple, choose:

• Disposable N95 or N100 filters: For airborne debris, such as if there is building debris in the air after a hurricane or earthquake.  
• P3 or P100 filters: For pandemics or wildfires.
• ABEK filters: For industrial disasters such as factory fires.
• Combination filters: For riot-control agents such as tear gas.
• CBRN or NBC filters: For nuclear threats and chemical attacks, or when you are unsure what threat you are facing, but know it is serious!

Particulate Filters

• Purpose: These filters capture solid particles such as dust, smoke, and aerosols. Some can capture oils as well. They are often disposable.
• US Designations: Filters are labeled with N (not resistant to oil), R (resistant to oil), or P (strongly resistant to oil), followed by a number indicating how efficient they are. Different government agencies use different designation systems.
• European Standard Designations: Filters are labeled with the letter P or FFP, depending on the testing standard. This is followed by a number indicating how efficient they are.

Examples:

• N95 filters are 95% efficient against particulate matter but not resistant to oil.
• P100 filters are 99.97% efficient and highly resistant to oil.
• P3 filters are 99.5% efficient and considered the gold standard. To achieve this designation, the mask must be full-face. If not, it is considered P2 protection.

Gas and Vapor Filters:

• Purpose: These filters are designed to absorb specific gases or vapors. Different types of cartridges are available for protection against different chemicals.
• Designations: Cartridges for specific gases are labeled with letters and numbers, indicating the type of gas they protect against.

Examples:

• A for organic vapors
• B for inorganic gases and vapors
• E for acidic gases and vapors
• K for ammonia and amine gases
• AX for organic vapor and acid gas combination
• Hg for mercury vapor

You can often find combinations of these labels, such as ABEK filters, which protect against multiple gases and vapors.

With the exception of mercury, these types of filters are also broken down into classes.

• Class 1: For up to 1,000ppm (0.1% of air volume) of the substance in the air
• Class 2: For up to 5,000ppm (0.5%)
• Class 3: For up to 10,000ppm (1%)

If the concentration of the hazardous substance exceeds this amount, the filter may not work properly.

Combination Filters:

• Purpose: Combination filters protect against particulates and specific gases or vapors in a single cartridge.
• Designations: Combination filters often have alphanumeric codes indicating the types of protection they offer. For example, a filter labeled P100/Hg would protect against particulates and mercury vapor.

NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) Filters:

• Purpose: These filters provide comprehensive protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.
• Designations: NBC filters provide comprehensive protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. CBRN filters also protect against longer-lasting radioactive isotopes. The CBRN designation has mostly replaced the older NBC designation.