[Mithlas]

As Prodigy already mentioned, there are a variety of styles and people with the money to customize and a lack of rules to tell them not to would likely have the better gear. The military, being a government-associated bureaucracy, tends towards the lowest bidder for equipment, and issues it to everybody. I've seen exterminators with full-face-covering gas masks with a tiny compressed air tank, and I'd bet that there are other even better ones.

In Arsenal, the Bunker Helmet is mentioned as having integrated Thermographic, Low-light Vision, and Flare Compensation with a Gas Mask, so it's at least possible if you're going for a helm-type setup.

[CanRay]

I know I've been tempted at the Israeli-Surplus Gas Masks my FLGS/Army Surplus store sells.

[JoeNapalm]

I wonder how much attention a gas mask would draw in 2072?

I mean, it's not like the air is clean.


-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

[Aryeonos]

The one my husband bought was Israeli, it's gotta little drinky straw in it! And some other nice features, like a metal plate that allows you to speak and be heard normally. Though I think those are common place now.

I doubt very much that a respirator would draw undo attention. Even a rain slicker, cap, goggles, and respirator doesn't sound too outlandish to me, if it were say a bad weather day. If it's out in the country or a cleaner city though, it might not pass so nicely, though I would guess the locals would just label you as city folk.

[CanRay]

I wonder how much attention a gas mask would draw in 2072?

I mean, it's not like the air is clean.

-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

Depends on the city.  In Aztlan, decorating your air mask is part of doing your make-up for the day.  Even for men.

Really makes Día de Muertos an interesting day, let me tell you!

A full-on gas mask, OTOH, would draw some attention.  Mostly it's paper filters (like you see in construction sites and can buy 10-for-a-dollar) ranging to simple breath masks (The lower-face part of the gas masks, no headpiece above the nose) would be part of Lifestyle for the area you're living in.  Including Seattle when the Ash Content in the rain (er...  Air) gets too bad due to Volcano Rainier being a little more cranky than usual.  Or the wind is blowing the wrong way.  Or the "Tacoma Aroma" smells less like money and more like industrial pollution.  Or the magician researched a "Stinking Cloud" spell after one-too-many games of D&D 32nd Edition.