Boomstick.
I can vouch for ASOD. They are very knowledgeable and very trustworthy!
I took 2 of their First Responder / Fire-Rescue courses and also host some of their web stuff. (I actually do it at n/c because I believe in the educational value of the site)
I have a few masks myself. The M95 is by far the best but is not the only decent mask out there. The M40 is great and so is the MCU/2P.
MSA makes some great gear. Especially their SCBA's. I am VERY familiar with these because we have 'em on our rescue trucks.
I don't know much about the Advantage 1000 but, if it's like the rest of their products, it's probably a great mask. I just don't know if it's NBC rated. I think the 2000 IS NBC rated though....
(If it's got a 40mm NATO threaded filter, just get a M95 or C2A1 filter for it.)
The Israeli stuff is total crap. I have a few that I have set up w/ M95 filters (yes -- they do fit) for my in-laws, but don't think I'd trust MY life to 'em.
ASOD has sold more than 2000 masks in the past 2 weeks and has actually stopped selling product because of lack of availability.
The director, Jade Edwards, e-mailed me a note stating that they are only selling protective gear to their existing students now. (I'm kinda glad my dept. shelled out the $250 for the courses -- hehehe)
I really don't believe that this is fair to all of the folk who need protective gear but do not have the time (and/or $$) to take their classes.
Goatboy and I just ordered some M95's from Botach. (yeah.. I KNOW! -- they are the most unreliable firm ever.!) They supposedly shipped 'em out this week but are now backordered for 3 months.
Although I firmly believe in obtaining protective gear, it might not really benefit you if you have no notice of an impending event.
We live close to NYC and my brother lives right next to the WTC "Ground Zero Pit", so I feel that I'd rather be safe than sorry. I don't think that I'd be as motivated if we lived in Nebraska or some other desolate area.
BTW: Masks are NOT the panacea that you might think that they are. You need training, proper mask/filter, other gear, etc...
(and it might not be a bad idea to stock up on some antibiotics -- doxycycline and cipro are the "best" broad-spectrum antibiotics -- e-mail me if you want dosage/treatment charts)
Here's a GREAT site for NBC info:
[url]www.nbc-med.org/SiteContent/HomePage/WhatsNew/MedAspects/contents.html[/url]
We are contemplating adding a "Survival" forum here. Does anyone think that there would be any interest in this? (we'd try to get Jade Edwards to moderate it and be available for assistance and info)
He was a chief Army NBC Instructor and left the military after getting injured during the Gulf War. (I screwed up and posted that he was a Marine a while back and got yelled at)
[:D]