Hello, Recently Ive been in the market for a new pair of winter boots, and have been considering the vented military black "mickey" or white "bunny" boots. I've researched the boots and on paper they seem like exactly what I'm looking for but would like to hear from someone that has some experience wearing the boots, and what your thoughts on them are, as well as which boots you wore/wear, -20 rated black pair or -60 rated white pair?
And... If anyone can help me out in the way of shopping for a gas mask, I'm looking at a few at the local army surplus and was wondering if there are any things I should keep in mind or make sure of before I buy?
Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any advice anyone may leave.
a gas mask isn't something you want to buy second hand! you need something that will work if GOD forbid you ever need it.
a lot of the big sellers in the US won't ship them to the Canada. but find a place that will. i don't have any current sources for them, and buy the best filters you can afford.
you also want to make sure you have carbon filters, these will come sealed with an expire date on them, disregard the date, if there are no cracks and the thing was sealed, it won't go bad.
adsum. . . aut viam inveniam aut faciam
I agree with Entrop, don't buy used. I found Ebay has a great selection of gas masks and filters. I personally bought mine with a sealed packaged NBC filter. The price wasn't the cheapest, but at least I know it's new, and that it will perform when I need it. Like Entropy said, a lot of places won't ship to Canada, but keep looking, you'll find someone. You can try and private message them and ask if they can make an exception, this has worked for me multiple times.
There are many options for gas masks and filters. You can buy surplus which may or may not be used. Regardless, it is one that has been around a long time and may be degraded in the rubber seals. Light, ozone and higher temperatures will all contribute to degradation. As well there are different size filter rings. The newer ones are 40mm. You can also get old filter elements and they MAY still work. I agree that there isn't much to degrade in them but you are putting your life on the line with this stuff if you ever have to use it. Another thing to consider is how long your filter will last. Depending on the type of filter and the contaminant... it may only be good for 15 minutes. You are NOT going to be able to use one filter for hours or days. You also need training. If you are in a poisonous environment how do you change your filter without contamination? How do you drink or eat? What if the agent is absorbed through the skin? You can get new with filters in Canada but they are NOT CHEAP!!!! You need to decide what you want the gas mask to do then buy accordingly. Chemical, biological and nuclear contamination all require different filters. If you think you are going to buy a mask and be protected you are kidding yourself. Here is one link to full face respirators available in Canada.
http://www.sycorp.ca/safety/full-face-respirators-en/
a very good point, you can have the gear, but you need to know how to use it.
personally i'd rather people have it and get some training then not have it. . . but Justabear is right, there is a way of putting it on, a way of taking it off, a way of keeping anything on it off your skin and a way to undress from your suit (if you're wearing a mask, you better be in tivek, with proper boots and gloves.) but once contaminated it's not just taking it off.
i did training in the reserves to learn then, then i did training with CBRN, it's not something you just do . . .there is reasons for each step in undressing. . . i'm not sure how one could learn online or outside of a good class on it.
adsum. . . aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Been there and done that in Germany as a shelter commander. Pre-cleanings differs with the different types of agent that you come across. In most cases DE was used on the suits to absorb the agents and brushed off before entering the shelter. Once in the shelter (exhaust room) you need 2 sides in the room, one is the contaminated side (close to the air exhaust) and the clean-side of the same room. Often just a board that you have to step over will be the divider on the clean air side. Believe me when I say that this is not fun at all and will take 5-15 min depending on if your alone or someone helping you. 😐
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
It depends what you want to use the mask for to a great extent. Outside the chemical, biological and nuclear contaminates, dust from volcanic ash might be a concern. The Alaskan State 72 hour kit actually recommends a dust mask as an important item. http://ready.alaska.gov/outreach/documents/Ready%20Alaska%20Emergency%20Kit%20Checklist.pdf
We do not usually consider volcanic ash as a problem here but with the lurking super volcano in Yellowstone National park maybe we should reconsider. For dust, ash or smoke a reusable respirator should be sufficient.
Dont worry about a dust mask if the Yellowstone Caldera goes up, they figure that if it goes, there will be the equivelent of a nucular winter, world wide.
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. hic, boom. 😈
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."