Is there any reason to pay $1,200 for a PAPR?
Complete kits from the big brands list from about $760 to $1,830. Some of that is certification and a dealer network, which matters if your employer requires it. If you are buying for yourself, the mechanism you are paying for - blower, filter, full visor - is the same shape at $499.
The expensive units are not a con. They carry certifications a workplace safety officer can point at, spare parts through a dealer network, and in some cases genuinely better tooling.
What you need to decide is which of those you are actually buying. If your workplace mandates a specific certification, buy the unit that carries it — nothing cheaper will satisfy that requirement, and we would rather you did not waste money finding out.
If you are an independent woodworker buying for your own lungs, the relevant comparison is the mechanism. A powered blower, a particulate filter, a full face visor, and enough battery for a working day. The Breathie Thingy is EN 12941 TH3 P R SL, at least 99.95% particulate, at $499 for the first 30 units of each batch, with a spare filter kit included. It is not NIOSH-certified, and if that matters for you, it matters.
We sell direct, one batch a month, built to order and shipped straight to the customer, which is where the price difference mostly comes from.
Related questions
Do I actually need a respirator for woodworking, or is that overkill? Does the carbon pre-filter mean it handles fumes? Why do my glasses fog up under a dust mask, and what stops it? How often should a PAPR filter be changed?The Breathie Thingy
A powered air-purifying respirator for woodworkers. $499 for the first 30 units of each batch, including a spare filter kit.
See the current batch