Paintball Mask Buyer Guide
Getting your paintball gear together can be a lot of fun, but it can also determine how well you will perform on the paintball field. For example, a paintball mask needs to do more than just protect your eyes. There are many things to consider before putting on your mask and hitting the field for a game of Capture the Flag.
The first thing people tend to forget is that paintballs travel fast. They can be moving at roughly 275 miles an hour. Sunglasses, prescriptions, ski goggles, even safety glasses, are not designed to withstand that kind of an impact. Make sure whatever your mask is, that it was designed for paintball and not any other sport.
One of the most important considerations is to make sure you will be able to see. Have ever been on the field and your mask started fogging up and then out of nowhere you get beaned in the chest with a paintball, only to find out later your opponent was right in front of you and you just didn’t see him?
A fog resistant paintball mask would have prevented that. Not only must you be able to see to avoid getting shot, but you also need to see to hit your target. The best way to prevent fogging is to get buy thermal lenses, which are two lenses separated by a layer of air, very similar to a double paned window. If a lens only has an anti-fog coating, that is better than no coating at all, but at some point it will wear off.
Also, as far as vision is concerned, masks made especially for paintball are usually wider, allowing for greater peripheral vision. This can be quite important in a sport where being aware of you surroundings can mean the difference between life and “death”.
A good paintball mask should do more than just give you great vision capabilities. It also needs to cover you ears, nose and preferable your mouth. The paint in the paintballs may not be toxic, it is not very pleasant, either. Getting paint up your nose, in your ears, or even down your throat can take away the thrill of the game very quickly. For masks that cover the ears and mouth area, just be sure they also allow you to hear, breathe and speak. Having good communication with your teammates is almost as important in paintball as having good visual ability.
Do you wear glasses? There are masks that have plenty of room to wear glasses or shades. If this is important, take the effort to double check that you will be able to meet your needs.
If buying online, you may not be able to try it on for a good fit, but remember that it must fit well, as you will be very active for the time you are wearing it. If you do not have the ability to try it on first, then check to see that it has lots of padding and that the strap is adjustable.
If you keep all of the above in mind when buying a paintball mask, you will wind up with a great mask that will be comfortable and you may even improve your skills on the paintball field.
