Option Gray – Preparedness, Gear, Security, Travel

If you can’t tell from the title, we are going to have a quick discussion on gas masks. Particularly, the Mira Safety CM-7M Military Gas Mask. In full disclosure, Mira Safety sent us this mask in exchange for an honest review. No money has or will exchange hands and whenever I work with a company we always have an agreement that I will give my personal opinion, whatever that may be. Mira Safety had no problem with this. A little background...for 10 years or so, I worked in a program within my agency that responded to CBRNE incidents. That being said, I have quite a bit of experience responding to these events utilizing various forms of PPE up to Level B (SCBA). So, many of my opinions will be based on those experiences and the equipment I used within that job. It will basically provide a framework for this discussion and will largely influence my opinion of the CM-7M. Enough about that, let's get started. What is the Mira Safety CM-7M Military Gas Mask and What Does it Do? In simple terms, the CM-7M is a civilian version of a military gas mask (OM-90) that offers protection from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats if paired with the proper filters or breathing apparatus. According to Mira Safety, this includes protection against the full spectrum of CBRN Agents and toxic industrial chemicals in the form of gases, vapors, and aerosols. What about the materials and specs? I’m glad you asked. Take a look below: Materials Facepiece: bromobutyl rubber, non-irritatingInner Mask, Other Rubber Components: natural rubber, non-irritatingVisors: silicate glassPlastic Components: polyoximethylen, polyamideSpeech Diaphragm: PETHead Harness: five-point, rubber-textile Technical Specs Average Weight: 500gColor: blackNumber of Sizes: 3Effective Field of Vision: 71.5%Binocular Field of Vision: 34%Filter Connection Thread: Rd 40x1/7”Resistance Against Penetration of NBC Agents: >48 hoursBreathing Resistance:Inhalation Resistance at 30 L/MIN: max. 20 PaInhalation Resistance at 95 L/MIN: max. 50 PaExhalation Resistance at 30 L/MIN: max. 60 PaMinimum Intelligibility: 95%Intake of Liquid: 230 ml/minFunctional Reliability: -30C up to +70C Features of the CM-7M Military Gas Mask Mira Safety lists the following as some of the key benefits and features of this mask: Outstanding resistance against all kinds of CBRN agents, industrial toxic gases, riot control gases, etc.Compatible with the Scott 804442-01 spectacle kit (sold separately)High user comfort for superior all-day protectionEasy donning and doffingLow breathing resistanceFits up to 2 NATO-standard 40 mm gas mask filters (widely available with a variety of protection levels)Compatible with optical devices (night-vision goggles, etc.)Allows for safe and easy drinking during use in a contaminated areaComes with a pre-installed hydration system and canteenCompatible with CamelBak water bladders with a Type M adapter (not included)Sweat drainage through the exhalation chamberCompatible with helmets and breathing apparatusesA high-quality speech diaphragm enables easy communication with or without communication devices. Alright, now that we have some of the technical jargon out of the way, let me share my thoughts. Personal Opinion of the Mira Safety CM-7M Design Mira Safety offers a variety of products related to personal protection, but they have two main masks that pretty much steal the show. The first is the CM-7M military-grade gas mask, which we are discussing today. The other is the CM-6M Tactical Gas Mask, which offers a full-face visor for increased peripheral vision. Mira Safety CM-7MMira Safety CM-6M For most folks, the CM-6M would be a great option for standard preparedness. However, for those when wanting great protection and a little more, the CM-7M steps in to fill that role. That brings us to the design of the CM-7M. The design of the CM-7M came from cooperation with folks within the Czech Army. This particular design is optimized for a large variety of optics for use in tactical situations. Who needs to shoot with a gas mask on? Hopefully no one! But, we live in a crazy world and you never know. We used to train and qualify at the range wearing full Level B SCBA PPE and that is something I never thought I would be doing either. While a handgun may not be an issue for most mask designs, shooting a rifle/optic usually is. Mira solved this and made shooting a rifle super easy. Just make sure you are running a single filter on your support side and you are good to go. Getting a proper cheek weld is not a problem at all. Is the CM-7M Comfortable? In my opinion, this mask is on par with other masks I’ve used in regards to comfort. In my early years, the masks I used could be really uncomfortable due to the head straps and the way they tightened to create a good seal. The rubber compounds that were used combined with the method of tightening caused the mask to pull your head hair. This may not sound like much, but it felt like someone was pulling out small chunks of your hair every time you moved around. That’s not an issue with this mask due to the head straps and the mesh cradle that fits over the crown of your head. This eliminates the “hair-pulling” problem and distributes the force of the tightening over a larger area of the head. All of this combined makes for a comfortable fit. How Does the CM-7M Fit? Mira offers three sizes for this model of gas mask. According to their website, the medium fits approximately 95% of adults. The small and large fit the limited amount of folks on either end of that spectrum. I ordered the medium and the fit seems to be spot on compared to all the masks I’ve previously owned and used. I do not have the luxury to get fit tested as I’ve done with all the previous masks I’ve used but based on my experience, I would not have a concern using this mask if needed. In full transparency, I do have a beard now and do not get a proper seal, which would be needed for adequate protection. No, I didn’t shave it off for this review...sorry to disappoint. What Protection Does the CM-7M Offer? With the CM-7M, I received one of Mira’s NBC-77 SOF filters. These particular filters offer quite a bit of protection. I could sit here and type out everything, but I figure Mira did a better job than I could. Take a look at the protection they offer below: As far as cross-compatibility goes, these filters will fit any mask that has a 40mm NATO configuration. In terms of shelf-life, Mira states the MBC-77 SOF should be good to go for 20 years. Not too bad, when it comes down to saving money over the long term. Most filters advertise a shelf-life of 5 years. It's your call on this! Field of View I’ve always used masks with full-face visors and was hesitant as to how well I would be able to see with this visor design. I can say I’m truly impressed. The visibility is way better than I anticipated and I don’t feel like it impeded me in any way. However, for increased visibility, you should definitely go with the CM-6M. This is especially true if weapon compatibility (rifles not pistols) is something you are not concerned with. Extras The integrated hydration capability is something I’m not used to and is something I’m on board with. I’m not big on adding extras that create potential points of compromise, but when you are working or operating in an extremely hot environment, this feature may be a big deal. Being able to use this capability is not the easiest, but it is to be expected given the level of protection that has to be maintained. You can utilize this feature with the included water bottle or use an adapter to integrate a CamelBak or similar hydration bladder/system. While there are other masks on the market that offer hydration compatibility, this is the first I’ve used. Therefore, I’m impressed. Why should I buy a gas mask? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeubMy81j9g When it comes to civilians, the “need” to have a gas mask is pretty much limited to catastrophic events whether natural or man-made. Things of events like chemical spills, industrial accidents, air-borne pollutants, etc. While these types of things are few and far between, they do happen and have huge impacts on the folks they impact. Do I really need a gas mask? Do you need a gas mask? That is up to you. I encourage each of you to take an assessment of your and your family’s needs and make that decision. Where are you in terms of preparedness? What local threats do you have to address? what are your intended uses? What is your budget? These are just a few of the many questions you should be asking yourself. Don’t let other people tell you what you do and don’t “need”. Take ownership of that decision and make a choice based on all of the information particular to you. Final Thoughts on the CM-7M My personal opinion is the Mira Safety CM-7M is a quality piece of kit manufactured with quality materials. The fit and functionality are spot-on for me and my head shape/size, but that’s not to say it will be for everyone. The comfort is on par with others I’ve used and I feel like I would be able to work in it for extended periods of time. In regards to value, some folks complain over the price. I get it...everyone has a budget and everyone values different things. Some people buy expensive houses and cars and some spend their money on gas masks and AR-15’s. The CM-7M is listed at $249.95 on the Mira Safety website and you can get it for 10% off by clicking here (limited time) and using the coupon code MIRA10. That puts it right at $225. Is this too expensive? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Again, just like telling you if you need a mask, I can’t tell you if this is too expensive for you. What I can say is that I’m impressed with the quality and functionality of this mask and would not hesitate to use it for its intended purpose!

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