Eight surplus NBC respirators, ranked by grade, filter condition and price, so you know exactly what you're buying before it goes in a prepper kit or bug-out bag in 2026.
- The British Army S6 respirator is the best NBC respirator for collecting and display at £45 in 2026 — Buy.
- Skip the British S10 for real protection — Military Mart lists it for decoration only, not certified NBC use.
- Polish MP4 respirators ship with a new set of filters, the freshest seal on this list — Buy.
- Finnish M61 masks were made by Nokia between the 1960s and 1971 — treat the filters as decorative, not protective.
- Prices run £1.50 to £65; none of these surplus respirators replace an in-date CBRN filter for a real threat.
Why this matters
Search "NBC respirator" and you get two very different products lumped together: genuine surplus gas masks sold as collectibles, and modern rated masks built for actual chemical, biological and nuclear threats. Military Mart stocks the first kind — real army surplus, honestly graded, filters that range from new-in-bag to over 50 years old.
That distinction matters more in 2026 than it did a decade ago, because surplus stock is thinning out and prices on genuine kit are climbing. A prepper buying an NBC respirator needs to know which masks are wearable kit and which are shelf pieces before money changes hands.
This guide ranks what's actually listed right now, by grade, filter status and price, with a straight verdict on each.
How we ranked
Every respirator here gets judged on four things: grade (new, Grade A/A+, reissue, or used), filter status (new and sealed versus decades-old and unsealed), completeness (mask, filter, bag, straps), and price against condition. Grading notes come straight from each listing — Military Mart states condition upfront rather than glossing over it, which is the only honest way to sell 40-year-old gear.
One thing to get straight before the list: a surplus respirator with an original 1970s or 1980s filter is a display piece, not a protective one. Rubber perishes, filter media degrades, and nobody's testing these for actual CBRN protection. If you need genuine NBC protection for a real scenario, that's a different product line entirely — in-date, certified, sealed at the factory. Everything below is graded for collecting, reenactment, costume and general kit-building, not for betting your life on.
The ranked list
1. British Army Issue S6 Respirator — the collector's grade pick
Genuine British Army Issue S6 Respirator at £45, complete with filter and graded A or better. This is the mask that replaced the S10 in later British service, and it's the most complete genuine set on this list — mask and filter as issued, no substitutions. For a prepper building a display kit or a reenactor after the accurate later-pattern mask, this is the one to start with. Buy.
2. Polish Army MP5 Gas Mask and Bag — Olive — the budget starter
The Polish army MP5 gas mask respirator and bag - Olive runs £40, graded A+ and close to new, with a filter described as new and unused. That's the best filter-to-price ratio on this list bar the MP4 reissues. Comes complete with a carrying bag, which most budget picks skip. Buy.
3. Polish Army MP4 Respirator — Grey — the freshest filter on the list
The Polish Army MP4 Respirator Grey sits at £20 in reissue condition with a new set of filters, filter caps and a spare lens, complete in its bag. A green version is listed at the same £20. Of every respirator on this list, this is the one with genuinely current-condition filter media rather than decades-old stock. If filter freshness matters more to you than mask pedigree, this is the buy. Buy.
4. Finnish M61 Type 3 Gas Mask — the Cold War survivor
The Finnish M61 Type 3 Gas Mask / Respirator was made by Nokia between the 1960s and 1971 as standard issue for Finnish defence forces. At £30 it comes with filter, bag, gloves and accessories — genuinely the most complete accessory set here. Treat the filter as a museum piece, not a working component; it's over 50 years old. Hold — great for a militaria collection, not for anything you'd rely on.
5. British Army Issue S10 Gas Mask — the icon you buy for looks
The British Army S10 Gas Mask / Respirator is the mask most people picture when they hear "NBC respirator" — it's the one British forces wore for decades. At £65 it's the priciest single mask on this list, and Military Mart is upfront that it's sold for decoration only. Buy it for a display cabinet or a costume, not for a bug-out bag. Skip for anything beyond display.
6. Polish Army MP5 Gas Mask and Bag — Desert — the desert twin
Same respirator as the olive version, in desert pattern, at £35. The Polish army MP5 gas mask respirator and bag - desert is graded A+ with a new, unused filter. If your kit skews desert camo rather than woodland, this is the better colour match at a lower price than the olive version. Buy.
7. British M44 Respirator and Bag — the cheap complete set
At £14.58, the British M44 Respirator and bag is the cheapest complete British set on this list. There's no filter-age detail on this listing, so treat it as a display piece by default rather than assume anything about the filter. Good entry point for a first militaria purchase on a tight budget. Consider.
8. Dutch Army M89 NBC Mask — the £1.50 curiosity
The Dutch M89 NBC mask, new in original packaging under NSN 4240 17 053 6679, costs £1.50 — cheaper than a bus fare. Military Mart sells it for display purposes only, full stop. It's a genuine piece of NATO stock history at pocket-change money, but don't expect it to do anything functional. Skip for use, buy if you just want the NSN tag and packaging for a collection.
Comparison table
| Respirator | Price | Grade / condition | Filter status | Best for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British S6 | £45 | Grade A or better | Issued filter, complete | Collecting, reenactment | Buy |
| Polish MP5 Olive | £40 | Grade A+, like new | New, unused | Budget collecting | Buy |
| Polish MP4 Grey/Green | £20 | Reissue | New set of filters | Freshest filter media | Buy |
| Finnish M61 Type 3 | £30 | Standard issue, dated | 1960s-1971 stock | Militaria display | Hold |
| British S10 | £65 | Sold for decoration | Not for use | Display only | Skip for use |
| Polish MP5 Desert | £35 | Grade A+ | New, unused | Desert-pattern kit | Buy |
| British M44 | £14.58 | Ungraded on listing | Unknown age | Entry-level display | Consider |
| Dutch M89 | £1.50 | New in packaging | Display only | NATO history buffs | Skip for use |
Where to buy
- Check the grade before the price. Grade A+, reissue with new filters, and "sold for decoration" are three different products at three different price points — don't compare a £1.50 display mask against a £45 complete set as if they're the same purchase.
- Buy new filters separately if protection matters. None of the filters on genuine surplus masks here are current-dated. A respirator you actually plan to use needs a filter you trust, bought fresh.
- Store spare filters properly. A sealed container like a 50 cal ammo tin keeps spare filters and accessories dry and away from UV, which matters more with rubber and filter media than most other militaria.
FAQ
What is an NBC respirator?
An NBC respirator is a gas mask designed to filter nuclear, biological and chemical contaminants from the air a wearer breathes. Military surplus versions like the British S6 or Polish MP5 were built for issued forces, but surplus units sold today are graded for collecting, not certified for live CBRN use.
Is the British S10 respirator still in service?
No, the British Army has moved on from the S10 to later-pattern respirators. Surplus S10 masks sold in 2026 are graded for decoration and display, not functional protection.
Can a surplus gas mask filter still work in 2026?
Original filters on decades-old surplus masks, like the Finnish M61 dated to the 1960s and 1971, should be treated as expired. Rubber and filter media degrade over 50-plus years regardless of storage.
What's the difference between the S6 and S10 respirator?
The S6 is a later British Army pattern than the S10, and the S6 listing at Military Mart comes complete with its issued filter graded A or better. The S10 currently in stock is explicitly sold for decoration only.
Do preppers actually need an NBC respirator?
A surplus NBC respirator suits collecting, training drills and costume use, not reliance during a genuine chemical or biological event. Preppers wanting real protection need an in-date, certified mask and filter, not 1970s surplus stock.
How do you store a spare gas mask filter long term?
Keep spare filters sealed, dry and out of direct light in an airtight container such as an ammo tin. Heat and humidity degrade filter media faster than age alone.
Which surplus respirator has the newest filter?
The Polish MP4 respirator, in grey or green, ships in reissue condition with a new set of filters and filter caps at £20 in 2026. That makes it the freshest filter on the current lineup, though it's still surplus kit, not a certified modern mask.
Is a Finnish M61 gas mask worth buying?
Yes, for collecting. The M61 was made by Nokia between the 1960s and 1971 as Finnish standard issue, and at £25 to £30 it's a genuine piece of Cold War history complete with bag and accessories.
One last thing
Nokia made gas masks before it made phones. The Finnish M61 on this list was manufactured by Nokia between the 1960s and 1971 as standard Finnish Army issue — same company, decades before the 3310. That's the kind of detail that makes a genuine militaria piece worth more than its £25-£30 price tag to the right collector, even with a filter you'd never rely on.
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