Honeywell North 75SCL vs 3M 6006: Multi-Gas Cartridge Comparison
By the WC Safety Editorial Team — Last updated: 2026.
Short Answer
Choose the Honeywell North 75SCL if you use Honeywell North respirators and need gas-only multi-gas protection. Choose the 3M 6006 if you use 3M bayonet respirators and need a 3M multi-gas and vapor cartridge without integrated P100 particulate filtration. Do not mix cartridge brands with the wrong facepiece. Both cartridges cover the same multi-gas families — organic vapor, acid gas, ammonia, methylamine and formaldehyde — and neither includes a P100 particulate filter, so the decision is driven by respirator compatibility first. For the broader lineups, see the Honeywell North cartridge guide and the 3M cartridge guide.
Specs: Honeywell North 75SCL — SKU 75SCL, GTIN 0883940107622 (multi-gas, gas-only, North bayonet). 3M 6006 — SKU 6006, GTIN 0051138541866 (multi-gas / vapor, gas-only, 3M bayonet).
On this page
View the Honeywell North 75SCL →
View the 3M 6006 →
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Honeywell North 75SCL | 3M 6006 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respirator compatibility | Honeywell North bayonet | 3M bayonet | Depends on your respirator |
| Protection type | Multi-gas (gas/vapor only) | Multi-gas (gas/vapor only) | Tie |
| Organic vapor (OV) | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Acid gas | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Ammonia / methylamine | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Formaldehyde | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| P100 particulate filter | No | No | Neither (gas-only) |
| Best for gas-only exposure | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Best for dusty environments | No | No | Neither (need P100 combo) |
| Breathing resistance | Lower (gas-only) | Lower (gas-only) | Tie |
| Buyer recommendation | Honeywell North users | 3M users | Depends on your respirator |
Compatibility Comes First
These two cartridges cover the same multi-gas families, so the first and most important question is not chemistry — it is fit. The Honeywell North 75SCL seats only on Honeywell North facepieces, and the 3M 6006 seats only on 3M bayonet facepieces. The two bayonet systems are physically different and there is no adapter between them. A cartridge that does not lock into a sealed, NIOSH-approved connection is not providing protection, so a cross-brand mismatch is never an option.
Decide the brand by the respirator you already own. Honeywell North half mask and full face respirators take the 75SCL; 3M 6000, 6500 and 7500 series respirators take the 6006. Buying on contaminant class alone is the classic mistake here, because both cartridges look interchangeable on a spec sheet and are not interchangeable on a facepiece. Settle compatibility first, then confirm the protection matches your hazard.
Protection Difference
The honest headline is that there is very little protection difference between these two. Both the Honeywell North 75SCL and the 3M 6006 are gas-and-vapor cartridges that bundle several gas families into one cartridge, and crucially, neither includes a P100 particulate filter. That shared limitation matters more than any small chemistry nuance: if your air contains particles — dust, mist, mold spores, spray aerosol or welding fume — neither of these cartridges will filter them. They are built for gas and vapor exposure where particulates are absent. The real "difference" buyers should focus on is brand fit and the particulate gap, not a contest between the two gas chemistries.
Multi-Gas Coverage
Both cartridges are multi-gas designs, which is what makes them convenient for mixed-gas work. Each covers organic vapor (the solvent fumes from paints, thinners and degreasers), acid gases such as chlorine and hydrogen chloride, ammonia and methylamine, and formaldehyde — all within their NIOSH-approved use limits. That breadth means a single cartridge can handle a job where several gas hazards appear together, without swapping cartridges between tasks. Because the coverage is comparable, neither the 75SCL nor the 6006 earns a clear win on gas chemistry; they are peers that happen to live in different brand ecosystems. To confirm which classes a job requires, use how to choose a respirator cartridge and the respirator cartridge color chart.
What the Honeywell North 75SCL Is Best For
The Honeywell North 75SCL — the "Defender" multi-gas cartridge — is the right pick when you run Honeywell North respirators and the exposure is gas and vapor only. It suits chemical handling, mixing and transfer, and process work where several gas hazards may be present but particulates are not. With no particulate filter in the air path, it keeps breathing resistance low for long shifts, and it keeps you inside the Honeywell North cartridge ecosystem for stocking and re-ordering. See the Honeywell North 75SCL review for a closer look, and browse Honeywell North respirator filters and cartridges.
What the 3M 6006 Is Best For
The 3M 6006 is the right pick when you run 3M bayonet respirators and need the same kind of multi-gas, gas-only coverage. It is a strong all-rounder for solvent and acid-gas work, ammonia handling and formaldehyde exposure on 3M 6000, 6500 and 7500 series facepieces, and it benefits from the broad availability of the 3M cartridge ecosystem. Like the 75SCL, it is a gas-only cartridge and should not be used where particulates are present. See the 3M 6006 review, the 3M cartridge guide, and browse 3M respirator filters and cartridges.
How They Compare to P100 Combination Cartridges
The most important thing to understand about both of these cartridges is what they leave out. A P100 combination cartridge adds a mechanical particulate filter — capturing at least 99.97% of airborne particles and rated oil-proof — in front of the same gas chemistry. The 75SCL and the 6006 do not have that filter, so they handle gases and vapors but nothing particulate.
That means if your work involves dust, mist, mold, spray aerosol or fume alongside the gas hazard, neither of these is the right cartridge — you should step up to a combination cartridge with a P100 particulate filter. On a Honeywell North respirator, the multi-gas-plus-P100 version of the 75SCL is the Honeywell North 75SCP100L. On a 3M respirator, the multi-gas-plus-P100 equivalent of the 6006 is the 3M 60926. Choosing a gas-only cartridge to save weight or breathe easier is only sound when you have confirmed particulates are truly absent.
Which One Should You Buy?
Buy the Honeywell North 75SCL if you run Honeywell North respirators and your exposure is gas and vapor only. It fits your North facepieces, covers the multi-gas chemistry, and breathes easily.
Buy the 3M 6006 if you run 3M bayonet respirators and need the same gas-only multi-gas coverage on your 3M facepieces.
Buy neither — step up to a P100 combination cartridge — if particulates may be present, or if the exposure is unknown or mixed. And never use any air-purifying cartridge when the concentration is unknown or the atmosphere is IDLH, oxygen-deficient, or otherwise requires supplied air or an SCBA. Base every selection on a documented exposure assessment, and confirm fit testing and medical evaluation for the respirator you use.
Related Guides and Reviews
- Honeywell North cartridge guide and the 3M cartridge guide.
- How to choose a respirator cartridge and the respirator cartridge color chart.
- Honeywell North 75SCL and its 75SCL review.
- 3M 6006 and its 6006 review.
- Browse Honeywell North filters and cartridges and 3M filters and cartridges.
FAQ
Does the Honeywell North 75SCL fit 3M respirators?
No. The Honeywell North 75SCL uses the Honeywell North bayonet connection and only fits Honeywell North respirators. It will not seat on a 3M bayonet facepiece, and a cross-brand cartridge must never be forced onto a respirator.
Does the 3M 6006 fit Honeywell North respirators?
No. The 3M 6006 uses the 3M bayonet connection and only fits 3M bayonet respirators such as the 3M 6000, 6500 and 7500 series. It will not fit Honeywell North facepieces.
Does either the Honeywell North 75SCL or 3M 6006 include P100 protection?
No. Both are gas-and-vapor cartridges only, with no integrated P100 particulate filter. If particulates such as dust, mist, mold or spray aerosol are present, you need a combination cartridge with a P100 particulate filter instead — the Honeywell North 75SCP100L on a North respirator, or the 3M 60926 on a 3M respirator.
Which is better for multi-gas protection, the 75SCL or 6006?
They are comparable. Both cover organic vapor, acid gas, ammonia, methylamine and formaldehyde in a single multi-gas cartridge. The deciding factor is which respirator you own, not the gas coverage.
Which is better for ammonia, the 75SCL or 6006?
Both include ammonia and methylamine in their multi-gas chemistry, so both protect against ammonia vapor on their own brand of respirator within approved use limits. Choose by respirator compatibility.
Which is better for chlorine, the 75SCL or 6006?
Both cover acid gases such as chlorine as part of their multi-gas chemistry, so chlorine protection is comparable. The brand of respirator you use is what decides which cartridge to buy.
Which is better for formaldehyde, the 75SCL or 6006?
Both cartridges' multi-gas chemistry covers formaldehyde, so protection is comparable. Match the cartridge to your respirator brand.
Which is easier to breathe through, the 75SCL or 6006?
Both are gas-only cartridges, so both have lower breathing resistance than a combination cartridge with a P100 particulate filter, and they breathe comparably to each other. Gas-only cartridges feel easier over a long shift because air does not pass through a particulate filter as well.
Which one should I buy, the Honeywell North 75SCL or 3M 6006?
Buy the one that fits your respirator: the Honeywell North 75SCL if you run Honeywell North respirators, or the 3M 6006 if you run 3M bayonet respirators. Both are gas-only, so if particulates are present, step up to a P100 combination cartridge instead. Base use on a documented exposure assessment and never use air-purifying cartridges in oxygen-deficient or IDLH atmospheres.
What is the 3M equivalent of the Honeywell North 75SCL?
The 3M 6006. It is the 3M multi-gas and vapor cartridge that, like the gas-only North 75SCL, covers organic vapor, acid gas, ammonia, methylamine and formaldehyde without an integrated P100 particulate filter.
Safety note: Cartridge selection depends on the specific contaminant, its airborne concentration, and the oxygen level, under applicable OSHA and NIOSH requirements including fit testing and medical evaluation. This guide is for research and does not replace a workplace hazard assessment. Never use air-purifying cartridges in oxygen-deficient or IDLH atmospheres.
Disclosures & editorial standards
WC Safety participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We accept no manufacturer payment, sponsorship, or product samples. This content is not medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Safety equipment selection is governed by applicable OSHA standards and your facility's safety program.
WC Safety participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We accept no manufacturer payment, sponsorship, or product samples. This content is not medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Safety equipment selection is governed by applicable OSHA standards and your facility's safety program.