Its a contingency, but if you need it, you really need it. I think I’d otherwise be fine with the other 3. My next choices are probably tent, body armor, first aid kit, flashlight, then NVGs.

A tent would be useful, but tents are super common, I can probably loot one from somewhere. My current neck of the woods it wouldn’t really be necessary though.

Body armor might help if I get surprised by one or two zombies and let me get away, but I reeeeally don’t want to be in melee with zombies. Even with body armor that could easily be a loss, especially if its not just one or two.

First aid kit is useful, but unless a tourniquet can prevent zombification, its mostly gonna be for mundane stuff, blisters, scrapes, strains, and sprains. They are also commonly available and should be lootable. If not, most of its contents are probably improvise-able.

Flashlight, genuinely useful but probably lootable, reliant on electricity, probably draws unwanted attention.

NVGs, are cool and probably slightly useful. Going on the offensive against either zombies or other survivors is not in my game plan, I guess they could help hunt.

All these seem to be somewhat limited in their utility. Whereas the respirator is either vital, or a light encumberance.