Which Mask is Right for you?

^Great mask if you don't like your teeth.

My personal favorite
The Raven NVX



This is a mask that can be found relatively cheaply. I bought two pair on sale for less than $20 a piece, Gunmetal Gray and Emerald Green, but they tend to run about double that. I tried this mask out for the first time when Raven was still its own company, but they have been bought out and replacements can be tricky to find.

Pros:
Very comfortable
Excellent field of view
Photochromatic lens (tints in sunlight)
Soft material and thick padding
Very breathable and easy to hear/speak through
Excellent anti-fog

Cons:
Padding can sometimes come loose from sweat
Breathability can lead to some nasty tasting paint in the mouth (though the paintball itself is still stopped and I have felt no impact on my face at any time)
Replacement lenses can be difficult to find


Edited by reifidom - 08 March 2007 at 9:27am

Not wrong. Most manufacturers recommend that you change the lens after a direct hit. Even though most people dont this is no reason for you to get up on your high horse and talk a load of pish.

Cuthbert wrote: Say you have thermal lens and the outer lens developes a crack near the edge and your not awear of it. You take a shot to the lens and they break. Does the inner lens offer the same protection as the outer ones?

You ar supposed to change the lense very time you take a direct hit even know most people don't... But if it has cracked it's get a new one, now.

tonton wrote: i have a JT elite headshield.  it protects the back oof you head, the top, and the front.  any thought an this mask?

Too big I think just becasue it sticks out to much.

JT Products Flex 8.

 The flex 8 is more or less a Proflex with a different bottom.  It shares the same frame as a Proflex so it can easily be changed to any style you want.  I own the Flex 8, Proflex, and Profiler and I prefer the 8 over the other two.  It has a wide range of vision, nice thermal lenses, and adequate coverage of all the important areas. It   The only draw backs I have found it changing the lenses (my way of beating this is just keeping an extra frame with lenses and just switching that in when I need it).  Its breath ability is slightly less than the Proflex because of its structured design, which is still flexible yet solid, but unless you breath like a vaporizer I don’t think you’ll have any problems.  Overall I found this to be the best mask Iv tried out.

 

Price: Priced at $60 they are more affordable than other high end systems. The one I have pictured (mine) would cost you about $75-$80.

 

I put this on the Special Ops Forum, I don't know why I didn't put it here:

A mask is the most important piece of gear in paintball that you own and is the only reason why our sport is safe. Your mask is so significant that it should be the first piece of equipment you buy. It is also must recieve the most attention when it comes to maintenance so that it does not fail you in a game. This post will come in 2 segments. The first is my mask selection guide for 2006, and the second will be Femur Breaker's tips on maintenance and storage.



Tolga K.'s Mask Guide Spring 2006

What to look for in a mask (Most Important to Least in my opinion):


Remember that before you buy any mask, find a way to try it on. This is an absolute must.


Safety:

The lens should be secure in the mask and not easily moved around. Same goes for the sides and the "grill." If the strap has any potential of coming loose, don't even consider buying it. Make sure it has enough protection too keep paint from hitting your jaw or temple. A shot to the temple has the potential to knock you out or even kill you. Masks come in all shapes and sizes so those of you with big heads (like yours truly) really need to check this out. The last thing you want to do is buy a mask for its reputation only to find that it doesn't cover your sensitive areas.


Comfort:

If the mask squeezes your head or the foam can shred your skin off, don't buy it. Wear something that has soft foam and that can fit snugly. When trying on a mask, do it with any headgear that you play with. Also, ALL of the foam around the lens should contact your face for proper fit, if it doesn't work out, raise or lower the strap to figure out where it should be. I find that I'm most comfortable with a backwards Flexfit hat on. It puts the strap where it needs to be and keeps my hair out of the goggles. If you wear glasses under your mask, avoid double pane lenses (unless you want to take the thermal pane out) because glasses wont fit under most of those.


Optical Clarity and Fogging:

In paintball, the most important sense you have is sight. You'll never hit an enemy without knowing exactly where he is (or just rare cases of luck). Having a mask with a variety of good lenses available to you is very important. Airflow behind the lens should come from the outside and the area should be separated from the bottom half to prevent moist air from getting up behind the lens and fogging it. Yes there's foam on all masks (except the V-force Vantage rental version), but if you look at the nose area on your masks, many will have vents that allow moist air to come up from your mouth.

The field of vision should be a factor too. Some masks only allow a small range to be seen without turning your head. This doesn't help in looking for people but just knowing your distance from a bunker or where your comrades beside you are.


Breathing, Speaking and Hearing:

This all has to do with the ventalation around the ears and lower half of the mask. When at the store, take a buddy with you. When you try on the mask, ask him to talk to you and also talk to him to see how well the sound travels. You'll also want to try breathing heavily or with short, quick breaths to see how it feels. If the mask slows your breath down enough so that you will have to struggle to breather during these tests, don't buy it. A lot of masks have huge holes (like the old Scott mask that used to come in the 98 Custom power pack, but they do no good.


Quick Change Lens:

More masks these days allow you to change out a lens in just seconds. This is not just some novelty, it really helps. The best thing about it is how it helps in cleaning the goggles. My lens is double pane so I really don't want to risk getting water in the unreachable part by drenching it. To clean, all you have to do is remove the lens and (though it is not recommended) dunk the mask for a few seconds. If you get shot in the lens in a game, the best way to clean it (afterward) is to take it out of the frame so that you can get every corner and clean out those places on the mask that could be holding paint from the impact. If the lens cracks, or you need to change from a tinted to non-tinted lens, you can do it before the next game starts.


Weight:

Light is obviously better. You should be able to hold your head up without fatigue and be able to quickly look to the right or left.


Profile:

You want it to be slim but not to the point where the mask is actually touching your face. In some parts it's inevitable but if it's in front of your mouth where it's touching, forget it. Nobody wants to go home with a bloody lip.

Make sure it covers all of your parts. Some people with larger heads find that their chins stick out below the mask. For example, I can't fit in a JT Proteus. No part of your ears or jaws should be exposed. If you can't stand forhead shots, make sure it has a visor or at least a brow shield. If you have to sacrifice profile for a bit more coverage, do it. You don't want to risk your temple or something just because the mask has a less of a chance of getting hit.

If you have a stock or something on your gun, bring it. You never know if that mask will fit with a stock or not.


Ball Deflection:

Most likely, a ball that hits will break. But with a softer lower section, that chance is reduced and you can extend your time in the game. Don't buy something that flexes enough that it will let the mask slap against your face when hit. Hard masks are ok to buy if you don't mind the 99% chance of breakage.


Color and Shape:

You want to play in style. YOU WANT TO. It's the least important factor but still, you don't want to play with something that you will think is ugly every time you lay eyes on it. Besides, most good quality masks look awesome anyway. They do that to draw your attention to the expensive stuff. Enjoy the fact that you can look like a BAD BUTTOCKS!, or that all your apparel matches color, or you look like you're some visitor from space. Almost all masks are available in some sort of subdued color scheme if you'd like. Proto offers the Switch in black but a black lens comes seperately.

About lenses:

I have a smoke lens (black) and I love it. It's just like wearing sunglasses. It is so much easier to see in high light conditions and can help you hide in the woods because it's so dark. Mirror lenses have the same effect and if there's no direct sunlight, the reflectiveness will actually reflect the flora around you to aid in camouflage. Amber elminates certain colors so that other colors stand out. Think about wearing shooting glasses. Bright colors will stand out and contrast is greatly increased.

Other Tips:

Like I said before, try on the mask through a friend, fellow player, or pro shop.

Don't just try on your target mask, try on a bunch. You may never realize that the mask of your dreams only costs $30 when you had your eyes set on an Invision.

If the mask has some sort of special capability, try it out. I mainly mean a quick-change lens system. Some systems are easier than others for certain people.

You don't have to buy it in a pro shop. You could try it on at a store and buy it online for 1/2 the price.

Buying a USED mask IS OK. Sometimes really good ones sell for very cheap. I recently acquired a Profiler for $20. Just remember to inspect for cracks or any signs of weakness. The mask guide works for used masks too.


Mask Suggestions:

Keep in mind that I'm stating price ranges, not quality. Better quality usually comes with a higher price tag but there are exceptions where cheap masks have quality.


High Budget:

Proto Axis: Same great features as Proto Switch FS with a little bit of the Invision (very light) thrown in there. In my opinion it will be the best new mask on the market. The lens can be changed in seconds and it is a very clear lens. The only difference you see when putting on the mask (the F.S.) is that everything gets a little bigger. I’ve tried it on and it’s easily one of the lightest I’ve worn. The foam is as good as the F.S. and the visibility is about the same.

Empire E-Vent: I've read much about it and looks just as promising as the Axis. Comes with one black lens and one clear. It's light, has high projection, low profile, no fog, and I'm not sure but I think the lower and side parts are soft. They haven't shipped because of a foam problem so I can't tell you how it could end up. Bookworm v.1.5 found this from Empire's website: The Vents lens system is a very advanced and optically correct lens. Although at first glance it looks like a "flat lens," it actually changes in thickness to maintain the best optical quality possible. The power imbalance, which means how your eyes see for straight ahead, is 0.00 for both Spherical power imbalance and Astigmatic power imbalance (the value is so small it can’t be read with conventional testing equipment). What does this mean? It means what you are seeing is really where you think it is, so you can be more accurate in your shooting."


Profiler: V-Force is known for their outstanding optical clarity in their lenses. There's some sort of test used to measure clarity of camera lenses and the V-Force line (before the Profiler came out) measured at 91%. The Profilers use the same lens (which is really freakin' thick) as was used in this test. Even some professional camera lenses couldn't match that. The field of vision also extends really far.


Medium Budget:

Proto Switch F.S.: All around awesome mask. It's a bit on the heavy side but that is it's only shortcoming. Very good breathability and projection of voice. I have one and it has only fogged on me once after I removed the thermal pane. I've never played on a day more humid. With the thermal pane still in there (it comes with one) you will NEVER fog. This is coming from a guy who lives in the hell we call South Florida.

DYE Invision: Right now it's about $67 on Action Village and that's slightly under the price of a Profiler. Invisions are insanely light and extremely comfortable. Voice projection is great. Unfortunately it is reported to have one of the longest lens switching times in any mask system.

JT Flex 7 and 8: Light, comfortable, and around $50. I've tried on the Flex 7 once and was pretty satisfied. The lens isn't a quickchange but it takes less time with the Spectra lens then it does with the Invision. I did not like the Flex 8 as much. The foam was of mediocre quality and like most JT lenses, not very wide at all. The protection around the chin was lacking.


Low Budget:

Proto Switch E.L.: As you can see, I'm a big fan of the Proto line. Maybe it's just because I have one, but I've never been more satisfied with a mask. Slightly less coverage than the F.S. and doesn't come with a thermal lens. I'm not sure but I don't think the bottom section is soft like the F.S. but don't let that be a factor if you have a limited budget. Everything else is on par with F.S. version.

V-Force Shield and Morph: Great low cost masks. It uses the same lens as the Profiler so you know optical clarity will be good. I've seen a review where someone put one in a hot shower (on someone's face) and it still did not fog. I'm not sure but I believe the Morph has a soft lower section. The Shield is hard plastic and also comes with a hinged extension to go lower so that you can protect your upper neck as well.

Vents Cylus: Now, these masks haven’t come out yet so I've never been able to try them, but the entire Vents series looks promising. You can start at the lowest level mask and interchange parts all the way up to their best model, the E-Vent. They advertise breathability, voice projection, and no fog at all. These masks look really light so you might want to try them out. Having superb optical clarity is advertised.


Super Low Budget:

V-Force Vantage: This is one of those examples where you don't need to pay much to get good results. Though I don't like the lens (I've tried on the Armor which has the same type of lens) as much as I like their spherical kind, the features seem pretty good. To be honest I've never really held one of these in person but from the looks of it the front end is a combo of soft and hard materials to keep shape but deflect paint. These masks come with foam that is supposedly very comfortable. The rental version uses a rubber seal (much like a SCUBA mask only goes in instead of out) that folds inward to act as cushioning between the mask and your skin. Some say it's comfortable, I really don't know. It's to make it easier for field operators to clean the rentals.

Thanks NinjaoftheNight79 for the revision.
If anyone has experience with this mask PM me so I can update this section with more factual information.

If you don't have at least $40 to spend on a mask, save up. You don't want to buy a mask of low quality only to loose satisfaction the first time you use it. The low-budget masks I mentioned stood out above all others in the same categories and make excellent primary or loaner masks. Again, I strongly advise you to go to a pro shop or test other peoples' goggles before you buy.

I actually just bought an Invision3 and its really comfortable. Tad bit bulky but i have had way worse! I love this mask. 

well i dont know about paintball masks, but i snowboard all the time and have a pair of $130 goggles that had anti fog stuff on em

it did wear off after a while, but there is this stuff u can buy for like $4 that is an anti fog liquid and after u rub it onto ur lenses they WILL NOT fog up for at least a week of every day use and the bottle will last u for quite a few applications

If anyone wants to do a write up about any mask, they are more than welcome too. I only wrote about what I have experience with, as I have never even heard of "20/20's" therefore I wouldn't be able to write an effective review about them. Feel free to do that in the same format as the guide and pm it to me.