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Paintball - Choosing A Quality Paintball Mask?

The paintball mask is the most significant protective gear when playing the sport of paintball. It's main purpose is to shield the eyes from the balls that have a traveling speed of up to three hundred feet per second. Most paintball masks completely cover the face and the ears but there are those players that prefer to wear goggles protecting only the eyes.

Paintball masks are designed to absorb a direct shot from any distance or range. An ordinary pair of goggles will supply only a false sense of security and put a player at great risk since it they are not constructed with enough strength. All paintball mask manufactures meet or exceed DOT safety criteria and safety standards.

The choice of the mask’s material is also of significance. There are paintball masks made of different material such as rubber, plastic or foam. It is a smart idea to buy your own face mask rather then renting one. It should be the first equipment purchased before playing in a paintball game. Be sure to properly test the fit of the mask to your face and make sure that you can see clearly in all directions. The lens is the mask’s most significant asset so make sure to check it carefully. You will then want to examine the foam and see if it is comfortable to wear and the design is both functional and attractive.

Paintball masks will typically have either non-thermal or thermal lens and be fog resistant. Thermal lenses will cost more but they are a good choice because they just won’t fog up in the middle of the game.

The foam inside a paintball mask is another important factor to consider because it will determine your level of comfort. A “Vforce Armor” is a neoprene type of foam which is considered good quality but can be uncomfortable. The “Vforce Shield” and “Vforce Profiler” is an open cell with two layer foam which is very comfortable to wear. The open cell foam can be compared to a memory foam similar to that used in pillows.

Style is another factor to consider. There are paintball masks that are more expensive even when the foam and lens are the same quality as cheaper models. The only difference being in the styling of the mask.

Choose wisely when choosing a paintball mask and never sacrifice cost over quality...your safety should always come first!

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