An air purifying respirator kit comprising: an elongated hollow belt body having open first and second ends; and at least one filter for supplying purified air to the interior of the belt body; characterized in that: the belt body has multiple inlet openings along its length; the at least one filter is a filter canister, the at least one filter canister being adapted to be mounted in at least one of the multiple inlet openings; and the air purifying respirator kit further includes: a self-contained powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) module that includes a motor, a fan, a power source, a fan inlet and an outlet, wherein the PAPR module is configured to be mounted in one of the multiple inlet openings and wherein, when the at least one filter canister is mounted in one of the multiple openings and the PAPR module is mounted in another one of the multiple openings, the fan inlet is in communication with the at least one filter canister and the outlet is arranged to supply purified air to a user; and a pair of end caps (68, 108) that are attached to the open first and second ends of the belt body to seal the same. an elongated hollow belt body having open first and second ends; and at least one filter for supplying purified air to the interior of the belt body; characterized in that: the belt body has multiple inlet openings along its length; the at least one filter is a filter canister, the at least one filter canister being adapted to be mounted in at least one of the multiple inlet openings; and the air purifying respirator kit further includes: a self-contained powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) module that includes a motor, a fan, a power source, a fan inlet and an outlet, wherein the PAPR module is configured to be mounted in one of the multiple inlet openings and wherein, when the at least one filter canister is mounted in one of the multiple openings and the PAPR module is mounted in another one of the multiple openings, the fan inlet is in communication with the at least one filter canister and the outlet is arranged to supply purified air to a user; and a pair of end caps (68, 108) that are attached to the open first and second ends of the belt body to seal the same. the belt body has multiple inlet openings along its length; the at least one filter is a filter canister, the at least one filter canister being adapted to be mounted in at least one of the multiple inlet openings; and the air purifying respirator kit further includes: a self-contained powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) module that includes a motor, a fan, a power source, a fan inlet and an outlet, wherein the PAPR module is configured to be mounted in one of the multiple inlet openings and wherein, when the at least one filter canister is mounted in one of the multiple openings and the PAPR module is mounted in another one of the multiple openings, the fan inlet is in communication with the at least one filter canister and the outlet is arranged to supply purified air to a user; and a pair of end caps (68, 108) that are attached to the open first and second ends of the belt body to seal the same. a self-contained powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) module that includes a motor, a fan, a power source, a fan inlet and an outlet, wherein the PAPR module is configured to be mounted in one of the multiple inlet openings and wherein, when the at least one filter canister is mounted in one of the multiple openings and the PAPR module is mounted in another one of the multiple openings, the fan inlet is in communication with the at least one filter canister and the outlet is arranged to supply purified air to a user; and a pair of end caps (68, 108) that are attached to the open first and second ends of the belt body to seal the same.