Drager X-plore 8500 Short PAPR Hood

The Drager X-plore 8500 Short Hood is the standard-length replacement hood for the X-plore 8500 PAPR system, designed for workers of average to shorter stature where the extended-length long hood would result in excess drape at the shoulders. The short hood connects directly to the X-plore 8500 blower via the Drager breathing hose and receives the system's 175 L/min airflow to maintain positive pressure within the hood. For most industrial applications and most workers, the short hood is the default hood selection before evaluating whether the long variant is needed.

The short hood provides full head, face, neck, and shoulder coverage using the same soft, lightweight fabric as the long variant — the coverage area is equivalent at the front and sides; the difference is in the additional back-and-shoulder length of the long version. In environments where workers are performing seated assembly, bench work, or upright tasks where bending or reaching overhead is minimal, the short hood provides complete coverage without the additional material of the long variant. This makes it the higher-comfort choice for tasks that don't create coverage gaps with standard-length hoods.

Facilities specifying Drager X-plore 8500 PAPR programs should keep both short and long hoods in inventory to accommodate the range of worker heights on their team. The correct approach is to fit each worker initially and determine which size maintains adequate neck and shoulder coverage during their specific work tasks. A proper PAPR hood should cover the neck completely and have the front panel resting on the upper chest, not the chin — if the chin is the lowest coverage point, the worker needs the long variant.

drager x-plore 8500 short papr hood — what the listing actually specifies

Key Features

An air-purifying respirator filters air, it does not supply any. Under 29 CFR 1910.134 no air-purifying respirator may be worn in an atmosphere that is IDLH or oxygen-deficient (below 19.5% oxygen). Those conditions require a supplied-air respirator or an SCBA, and no filter or cartridge rating changes that.

• Short (standard) variant — correct fit for average to shorter workers
• Compatible with Drager X-plore 8500 PAPR blower and breathing hose
• Soft fabric hood — lightweight, lower heat load than hard headtops
• Full head, face, neck, and shoulder coverage
• Wide-vision visor for unobstructed situational awareness
• Part of the Drager X-plore 8000 headtop family

Technical Specifications

Pros & Cons

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