Paintball Approved Goggle Systems
So, you are interested in playing paintball and want to buy a mask. What masks are available out there? What do they look like? What features to they have? An important thing to remember is that paintball has goggle systems specially developed for the sport and you should only buy such a system. All goggle systems on this page are designed for the sport of paintball.
This page is here to answer those questions for you, and help you decide on the mask to buy. We have approximate prices quoted for you, in CANADIAN funds, and pics to help you decide on the mask for you.
Goggle Basics
Before we start there are a couple of things you will need to know before you can make a well informed decision. A goggles system has three standard parts; the mask (protects your face, temple, head), the goggle (the piece which holds your mask onto the system), and the lens which goes into your goggle.
Masks come in flexible, rigid, plastic, neoprenish material, and different colors.
Goggles come in two versions; standard and OTG (Over The Glasses). If you have glasses you will want the OTG since these are developed to fit a set of glasses into the goggle and helps to keep glasses from fogging.
Next are lenses, which come in single pane, dual pane (or thermal) and different colors. Single panes are good in some goggles but most will fog easily without anti-fog treatment or anti-fog inserts. Thermal are the suggested lens and are well worth the extra money. If plan on playing any more than once a day then get Thermal, most single pane lenses will not make it past one game without fogging.
Colored lenses, why use them? Colored lenses offer some advantages over clear lenses in some situations, but clear are the best all round lenses for all conditions. Amber are good for all but extremely intense glare. Smoke are good for bright days and general. Rose are good for overcast days. Some find that using a different tinted lens can help to pick out the camouflage patterns of some combats. Though I have no scientific prove of this, some believe it is true.
Where to Buy Your Goggle System
Most of these systems can be bought through MR Paintball or Superior Firepower Inc.
Sorry for the very few pics. Hope the have this remedied soon. 8-)
JT USA Mask Systems
JT USA is known throughout the paintball world as a supplier of superior paintball safety products. They manufacture paintball goggle systems, protective equipment, and clothing. JT has been developing goggle systems for paintball for a long time and this shows with their innovations in their new systems and the number of different systems available. Most JT systems come in your choice of Black, Olive, or combo (Blk&Olv). Some masks come in Yellow for refs, Clear for the famous conscious, and BLue or Pink for speed ballers. You can check out JT USA on the web at http://www.jtusa.com/.
JT Flex-7
The JT Flex-7 is the newest goggle system from JT USA. IT incorporates their new WETEX system (a removable goggle foam system) and has a removable bottom mask piece (unlike the Spectra) which is also flexible. This is the current top of the line from JT and comes with thermal lens only (I am informed). The WETEX system allows a players to remove their goggle foam between games so the foam can be replaced with a new clean and dry piece. The foam is adhered by velcro and is washable.
The new JT Flex-7 system is around $110.
JT Spectra
The JT Spectra is JT's answer to the Vents system (see below). It has a 260 degree field of vision and good coverage. The coverage on the Spectra is comparable to the JT X-Fire and has a rigid lower mask section. This system is considered one of the top of the line systems on the market today.
The JT Spectra runs for around $80 for single pane lens and $90 with the thermal lens. The system usually includes a visor, but if not the visor is around $20.
JT Whipper Snapper
The JT Whipper Snapper with mask is the bottom line of JT goggle systems. The mask provides limited coverage of the face, but does allow great air flow and is found by some to be more comfortable. I would only suggest this as a back-up mask, not as your frontline mask. There is too little coverage on it to give peak safety performance. The mask can be improved through Ambush hoods which give temple and ear protection, though these hoods may be hard to find now. Ear protection can also be found for these masks but since it is now less popular, the ear covers are hard to find. You may want to invest in a sun shade for this mask. The sun shade is around $14.
The JT Whipper Snapper with mask is around $38 for a single pane lens and $65 with the thermal pane lens.
JT X-Fire
The JT X-Fire system provides one of the best all round coverage systems on the market. The mask is a favorite of many field owners due to it's coverage. The mask accepts JT Whipper Snapper goggles, so you can upgrade your JT Whipper Snapper with mask to a X-Fire by just changing the mask piece. This is a good investment if you want more coverage than the JT Whipper Snapper with mask.
The JT X-Fire Thermal System runs around $93.
JT Cyclonic Fan
The JT Fan fits all JT goggle systems and is only for the serious player who has fogging problems. The fan is around $105 and uses one AAA battery. The fan attaches to the top of your goggle and can be turned on with the flick of a switch. I own one and find it works well to clear minor fogging. Depending on the conditions of the day though, sometimes even the fan does not work.
Vents
Vents are known for their superior goggle and mask systems which are considered by some to be the best in the business. The Vents system works good and this is even shown in their single pane lens which fogs seldomly. The Thermal lens and mask system will rarely fog up and is worth the extra money over the single pane. If there is only goggle system you could own this is the one to buy.
Vents Rage
Vents currently only produces the Vents Rage. The Rage is available with the well known vents armor system which includes; Cheek Armor, Throat Guard, Forehead Armor, Splat Cap, and Visor. The Vents Armor is made of a flexible material unlike plastic which conforms to the players head so as not to increase the head outline of the player. This special Armor provides good protection. Like the JT Spectra Goggle the Vents Goggle gives the player wide field of vision, a big inprovement over the JT Whipper Snapper goggle. One thing about the Vents to think about is that some people find the fit uncomfortable. Due to this I suggest testing one before you buy. I also suggest you test any mask out before you buy it.
The Vents Rage is around $100 for Thermal regular, $110 for Thermal OTG, $70 for single pane regular, and $80 for single pane OTG.
Scott
Scott Strategic Gear
Scott's basic goggle system is the Scott Stalker which offers adequate protection (between a JT Spectra and a JT Whipper Snapper mask), and comes in different versions. Scott Single Stalker $55, Scott Single Field Vision OTG $77, Scott Thermal Stalker $77. Then there is the Scott Intruder which is a Scott Thermal Stalker $100 with their Panaflex system (extra protection, giving you the almost the same protection as a JT X-Fire.) They also have the VisAir OTG for $106, which I think is the same as a Thermal Stalker with OTG goggles.
Leader Sports Optical
To quote the Superior Firepower catalog:
"Leader Optical Sports is a very highly regarded manufacturer in various speciality sports markets. Producing eye and head guards for the sports of hockey, football, baseball, swimming and racket sports"
I am told this company makes their products for other companies who then sell under different names. This may explain the fact that later this year the Eaglevision will be released by Brass Eagle and some other Paintball companies under different names. I am also told that this company uses a lens treatment to prevent fogging, unlike the other lens companies who just cut the lens from Lexon (Lexon is the standard plastic used to create paintball lenses). This lens treatment is supposed to be superior to any other companies lens, so good supposedly that the single pane is as good as any thermal. Rumor has it they only released a thermal because people expect a thermal to be better.
Leader UP System
The Leader goggle system comes in two versions. The UP-10+ (a single lens) and the UP-20+ (a thermal lens). Both come with Armor like the Vents and are similar in design and look to the Vents systems.
The UP-20+ is around $65 and the UP-10+ is around $55. The Leader system can be bought from Brass Eagle and Superior Firepower.
Eaglevision
The newest goggle system to hit the market, this system is expected to be released by mid-summer. There is no cost on the system yet. The system incorporates a curved/bubbled lens which is supposed to have the best lens clarity of any lens on the market. The system makes an attempt to lessen paintballs militaristic look by being shaped something less militaristic (I am told.) Look for this goggles system from Brass Eagle and Superior Firepower.
By: Mark "Sparkie" Thistle
Email: mat@thezone.net
