Customer Reviews

Israeli Civilian Military Gas Mask w/ Nato Filter

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have used and trained with several types of gas masks, including Scott and other brands.

Thank goodness for the Israelis! Why? For one reason: do you know of any U.S.-made gas mask that is as economical and available for any member of the U.S. public? I'm talking about "gas masks" and not "escape hoods" which the latter is a joke compared to gas masks.

You may ask, "Well, what would they think about me at work if I brought in a full gas mask?" Pardon me, but if you're dumb enough to tell them, then you can probably expect a negative reaction. Or worse, when you reach into your (locked) work cabinet to get it, you'll notice it missing and see one of your coworkers wearing it while she is evacuating from the building. So store it and the sealed filter in bag and keep your mouth shut!

In the Israeli line of gask masks that is available to the general public, the Military model is far superior than the "civilan version" (the immediate visual distinction is that the civilian version has round eyepieces, while the military version has triangle-shapped eyepieces, plus a fluid intake apparatus built onto the mask.) Neither product is compatable with the operator wearing eyeglasses under the mask (contact lenses are okay), as opposed to other brands (Scott) which have an attachment for Rx lenses under the mask.

One main caution: the filters that come with the Israeli masks are generally okay for low-scale toxins, but if you want a filter that will cover you for a full scope (or near full scope) of biological and chemical agents you should get some for that specific purpose. They are available (at a higher cost) over the internet. Consider chemical suits and protective clothing too. Keep the filters sealed and in airtight containers so they will last you for years. Use the NATO filters that came with your Israeli masks for training purposes for you, your family, your loved ones, and those whom you have stewardship over. Think of ideal ways to make practice fun, especially with children and the elderly!

Remember that if a time comes (a critical incident) that you DO need the higher end bio-chem filters, you probably will not be able to obtain any at least for the immediate future.

what's nice about this mask is that it will accept NATO filters, but these masks come with Israeli filters that are of the same production year as the mask. This is a fairly good mask. It isn't as good as a SEA or current issue military masks, but for the price, it's hard to beat. Don't expect your life to be saved by a thirty dollar gas mask. If you want something that will save your life, expect to spend a couple hundred dollars unless you find a really good deal on a mask and filter that isn't expired. even with that said, I dare say this is the best mil-surp mask on the market.

Pros - Collectible. scary looks. 40mm NATO threads. drinking tube. comes with filter. straps are easy to use/adjust AND... i dunno about you guys, but mine shipped in the Israeli box with the hebrew writing on it which i thought was pretty cool.

Cons - 1983. Age is a big issue with a gas mask you plan on using and i wish i had known what year i was going to receive before i bought it. I would have still purchased it if i had known it was a 1983 production, but it would have been nice to know beforehand. no canteen. Dual lenses cause perspective problems so consider buying a single lens - visor type mask if that will be an issue for you.

The gas mask, considering its journey from Israel to the US, is in very good condition. The only problem I found with it is that the lens for the eyes were both a bit scratched. Despite the lack of some sort of a manual or instructions, it was easy to figure out all of the functions of the gas mask. I got the gas mask exactly on the estimated delivery date. I would easily recommend this gas mask for its quality and PRICE.

The saying of "you get what you paid for" is very valid here. It is surplus, which means that it is old. These masks have a 20 year rating. Mine was made in 87, so its 24 years old. Its therefor, not as effective as it could be. I wish I had known before I bought it that way I could at least be aware of if its efficacy. That said, something is better than nothing. My next mask will be 100% recently made, new.

Length:: 6:30 Mins

My girlfriend and I test our recently purchased masks off Amazon with a CS grenade.

i didn't buy this for a collection, or to save my life during a bio hazard outbreak. i bought this to be full face protection for airsoft. However, this actually works very well.(actually works for being 30 years old). some reviews are saying its outdated and it would never work. however modern nato filters still fit this mask. so just buy a new filter and you would be good.

back to why i bought it though. i wanted something that looked cool/ intimidating for airsoft, who wouldn't be scared of a big guy in tactical gear with a rpk and gasmask? the best thing so far is it doesn't fog up! before i got the mask i used a balaclava, swat helmet,and antifog safty glass/ tactical goggle. however they would still fog because the balaclava directed my breath right behind the glasses causing them to stay fogged up. This mask actually has a noes piece that seperates the air down and out, keeping the mask from fogging.



pros

fits snug(will fit most any sized head)
drinking tube included
anti-fog
great face protection( no bruise when hit on the check with a 445fps sniper bb)


cons

the eye pieces are not completely lined up with each other, one piece is rotated about 10 degrees,(not really a con unless your ocd)
drinking tube is kinda hard to get to, you have to wiggle the outer part of the mask where the tube fits to get it near your mouth
drinking tube doesn't really have enough pressure to get a good drink of water, barely enough to get a sip or to before you need to stop sucking and get some air.

I just received my IDF M15 Military gas mask three days after I ordered it through USPS normal ground shipping. It is brand new, comes with a new filter cartridge and fits very tight and comfortably with easy to use tighteners and straps. These IDF gas masks were designed for saving lives and use in combat situations. "They work!", and I would highly recommend them for anyone aware of the fact that bio-chemical attacks are on terrorist agendas. I also purchased two civilian IDF masks which are new, fit very comfortably and work just as well as the M15 model with the exception the M15 is designed for gun sighting ability and has greater sight range. Thanks IDF and Amazon.com!

Although I wouldn't risk my life by using it instead of leaving a dangerous area, it works fairly well. I used too much bug killing spray, which smelled really bad, but the gas mask was able to filter the smell. It was a little hard to adjust it to fit just right, but if you needed to use it, you would have had to learn how to use it or even adjust it before hand. Unfortunately, my nose is not big enough to make good seal between the eye/face area and the mouth/nose area. Having those separate, I think, will reduce condensation on the inside of the lens, as the air you breath out wont hit the lens. I would not recommend that someone should use it under extreme circumstances, as I think the filters are expired and wont work.

i did some research on these gas masks while i was waiting on it to arrive, and i found out is that these masks have a shelf life of 20 years.
i received my mask from allergy be gone and it was dated 73, which means that my mask expired 16 years ago...

the only really noticeable problem, is that the plastic visor has microscopic cracks in it. i don't think that this will cause air to pass through, but i do worry that it may crack if i play paintball in it, which is one of the reasons i wanted one so much. also, it is way over priced compared to some places i found while i waited for it to get here. ($30-$40 with shipping)

edit: It also had quite a smell when I got it, but it never really bothered me. And i had no plans on wearing this for paintball (I don't play paintball), but i do play airsoft, and at one point considered wearing it at CQB arenas where you are required to wear a full face mask (I'd have worn safety glasses under it, but that doesn't mean I would want the lenses to crack.

The one i got was made in '81. I loved wearing it, bought it for photography reasons. I had bought it on a Thursday and it was at my house on Monday w/ standard shipping!!! Super cool buy, Wont really trust my life on it though.