As a new guy in the paintball world, the first thing I had planned to purchase was a new gun. So, I started asking around about the type of gun I should buy. Everyone had an opinion, but it seemed the better, more experienced players gave me some surprising advice. They said the first piece of equipment I should buy is a good set of goggles and to get a marker sometime down the road. “Goggles!” I thought. What’s wrong with the rentals I have been using? “Why would I want goggles BEFORE my own gun?” There were many answers, but most of them centered on the fact that rental goggles generally suck. The lenses are often scratched. The masks may or may not fit. Their factory new integrity is often long gone. They rarely provide any kind of anti-fog ability. And, worst of all, they’ve been sweated in by hundreds of other players. “That may be true,” I said, “but can’t things like that be said about most other rental equipment?” The reply I got made a lot of sense. Summarized, I was told the one piece of equipment used most in paintball is your goggles. Whether you’re shooting or not, in play or walking off the field, your goggles are on your head. Goggles are used more than your gun. More than that, even with the best marker out there, if you can’t see through the fog, scratches, or poor fit, then you can’t shoot well. I was convinced. I needed to own some decent goggles. My next question: What masks are available? I found out. There are lots and they have a ton of different features. So, I began to research goggles. The first thing I learned was something very important to remember. Paintball goggle systems are developed specifically for the sport and you should only buy such a system. To make sure we’re all speaking the same language, let’s discuss some goggle basics. First, goggle systems have three standard parts, the mask, the goggle and the lens. Mask The mask protects your face, ears and head. Masks are available in many colors and are generally made of a flexible neoprene material or a rigid plastic. Goggle The goggle is the piece that holds your mask onto the system. Standard goggles are for those with good vision or contacts. Over the glasses (OTG) models are designed to fit a set of glasses into the goggle and to reduce fogging on the eyeglasses. Lenses The lenses fit into the goggles and protect primarily your eyes. Lenses fall into two categories, single pane and double pane, also referred to as thermal lenses and are available in many colors. Generally, lower priced, single pane lenses serve the protective purpose of their design but fog quite easily. Their biggest advantage is generally the cost (check your rental goggles, they’re more than likely single pane). Thermal lenses cost a bit more, but are definitely worth the extra money. Unlike single lens systems, where if you’ve been playing for a while and then try to hide to snipe someone or protect the flag, or just stop for a minute they fog almost instantly, the extra pane greatly reduces fogging. This allows you to focus more on winning the game than trying to see. Speaking of seeing, what about the lens color? Generally, clear lenses are the best all-around for any condition, but if you can afford to purchase extra lenses, here’s the skinny on lens colors. Amber colored lenses sharpen everything up just a bit. They are the next best multi-purpose lens after clear. The one time they do not perform well is during intense glare. If the day is to be very bright, then choose a smoke colored lens. If it’s overcast, pop in your rose colored glasses. The red tint “adds” some light to the environment. Experiment with different colors. Some players swear they can see certain camouflage patterns better with certain colors. But, maybe that’s just urban legend. Ok, you now know almost everything there is to know about goggles except which ones to buy. Lucky for you, I’ll give you some suggestions. Let’s start with the creme de la creme: The JT Proteus . JT USA is known for their innovative paintball safety equipment. The Proteus is no exception. This low-profile model makes your head and mask combo a smaller target and comes with a 360 degree rotating ear cover that allows you to hear better in whatever direction you choose. It also has baffles to help prevent your voice from being heard loud by your own ears. Plus, they’ve designed the front of the mask to allow you to be heard more clearly. More than that, this system can be upgraded with a fan (see below) for cooling and even more anti-fog for its thermal lenses and a neck guard. Next is the VForce Morph Goggle . Every now and then, a product actually works as it’s advertised. With only three steps, the lenses are more than simple to remove and replace. The spherical lens improves optics and allows almost no distortion. Of course, it comes with an anti-fog coating. The Morph may be for you if you wear glasses as it provides you with generous room for your nose and mouth. Even if you do not wear eyeglasses, the Morph is good for the claustrophobic. The lens actually sits a good distance from your face. The entire top of the mask and most of the bottom is heavily ventilated, providing superb airflow and preventing fogging of the lens. The sides and lower half of the mask are made of a soft and flexible rubber. This system can also support an optional neck guard. For an entry level thermal there’s none much better than the JT Invader. It accepts all JT accessories including X-Wind Fan, goggle straps and after market lenses. This mask looks cool and fights fog. The lenses are a bit more difficult to change than the JT Proteus or VForce Morph Goggle, but hey these cost a lot less too. The VForce Shield is a true OTG style lens. The long wrap-around lenses allow for maximum peripheral vision. They feature a quick-switch lens replacement system, come with a swivel-hinged throat plate, anti-fog lenses and a visor. Like the Invader, this is an entry-level system. However, it provides a lot of protection for just a few dollars. Finally, although this is an accessory and not a mask, you’re going to it want on your upper-end mask. It’s the JT Vortex Fan. This fan will fit any JT USA mask and significantly improve your comfort by blowing cool air into your mask. I know, you’re going to buy a thermal mask so you don’t need it. If you wear glasses, then you’re unquestionably wrong. A few games into it and you’ll be playing blind. Even with the best thermal lens system and perfect vision, this fan is more than helpful. Thermals can fog a bit with aggressive play and this fan will help cool you and your lenses down. For all you new players out there, I hope this helps. Please keep the emails coming to marty_may@hotmail.com. Send me advice, a joke, a cool pic (virus free please), or a question. Put Splatdogs in the subject line and I’ll write you back. Would you like to write an article for SplatDogs? Send us an email with a sample article. Email |
