Eyepro - Ski-goggle Type or Glasses-type?

[Little White Balls]

Hi folks,

In the past I've used mesh goggles, but I've heard horror stories about poor quality BBs shattering into pieces small enough to get through, and I suspect that mesh is quite a lot weaker in general. So I figure I'll have a look at solid lens ones.

I'm a touch concerned about fogging though. I appreciate there are sprays and things, but I'd like to keep the chances of it to a minimum. My feeling is that the goggles that seal against your face like ski goggles are likely to be less susceptible to it, since your breath doesn't get up inside them as much, but could someone confirm? If I'm not right about that then I might go for glasses-type ones so I get less sweaty wearing them.

Thanks all! 

Tom

 

[Shamal]

Hi folks,

In the past I've used mesh goggles, but I've heard horror stories about poor quality BBs shattering into pieces small enough to get through, and I suspect that mesh is quite a lot weaker in general. So I figure I'll have a look at solid lens ones.

I'm a touch concerned about fogging though. I appreciate there are sprays and things, but I'd like to keep the chances of it to a minimum. My feeling is that the goggles that seal against your face like ski goggles are likely to be less susceptible to it, since your breath doesn't get up inside them as much, but could someone confirm? If I'm not right about that then I might go for glasses-type ones so I get less sweaty wearing them.

Thanks all! 

Tom

Hi Tom 

I think pretty much all glasses/goggles are prone to fogging especially if you sweat a lot. Its not all down to breath.there are various magical sprays and unctions available but I've not found one that works. Some of the guys swear by their particular anti fog brews though.

I am thinking about some active eyepro with built in fans to see if that helps.

At the end of the day if you wear goggles or glasses chance are your gonna fog ☹

Regards 

 

[EDcase]

Yep, anything other than mesh is gona fog at some point.  Depending how efficiently your body cooling system works. (ie how much you sweat) ?

I haven't tried it yet but read/heard good things about 'Cat Crap' (yeah stupidest name ever)

My biking buddy swears by it for motorcycle helmets and airsoft goggles.  I got some to try at my next game.

I've got some (cheap) FMA fan goggles and while they're quite effective they still don't get rid of the fog problem completely.  Maybe in combination with the above CatCrap might be the solution? (will try)

I've seen quite a few people use mesh and I have too on occasion when fogging was too bad.  In four years of woodland games I've not come across anyone who witnessed any incidents involving mesh.

CQB is a different story and I wouldn't use mesh for that. 

Forget shooter glasses type.  Worse than mesh.

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

I tried a pair of sealed glasses type Bolles.   They fogged too badly to get the car out of the driveway...

Ski type goggles are not as bad but still fog.  With special coating and Cat Crap they are slightly better.

Homemade extraction fans, a row of double countersunk 0.5mm holes around the edge of the goggles, anti-fog coating and Cat Crap still fogs at times.  (Tested these with a point blank shot from a 40Mike)

Ignore advice from bikers, I rode in all weathers for a living and never had the issues that airsoft gives.  If you sweat enough the moisture gets to dew point and fogs the lens.   I gave up and used mesh.  

When riding bikes for a living, I did get one numpty to try rubbing his visor with a raw onion as an anti-fog agent...  

 

[Adolf Hamster]

Tested these with a point blank shot from a 40Mike

have you tried anything more potent than that? i'd be seriously worried about how much strength will be lost by adding a bunch of holes.

 

[Mad-Al]

I sweat a lot and use bolles, i wont lie they do still fog sometimes but just lifting my head to let them clear naturally once every 1/2 games is all i need to do if i use anti fogging solutions and reapply half way through the day.

 

[MiK]

When I used to wear contacts back in the day I never fogged up when paintballing but I would always fog up when I just went glasses mode and it would only ever be the glasses themselves which would fog up not the mask.

ive tried all manner of shiznit to stop my glasses fogging and it was never that great - lots of smudging/lens glare so I just mounted some 15mm fans in top of my goggles and a quick buzz of them now and then cleared them nicely - they do have a little hum when using but usually it makes people think they have a air leak. Cheap fix but limits you to that set of goggles.

 

[djben9]

I've got some (cheap) FMA fan goggles and while they're quite effective they still don't get rid of the fog problem completely.  Maybe in combination with the above CatCrap might be the solution? (will try)

be careful with FMA ones, ive seen video's on you tube on the lens not withstanding shots well, 

on another note, i have both Revision and ESS fan goggles and they still fog a little with me, i just move away and lift up a little to let in some air. Best solution ive found so far is Fogtech wipes

 

[MadMole]

Just get a Warq. No more fogging ever. I've had Dye i4, Bolle X800. all fogged eventually even with Revision wipes. Upgraded to a Warq, never fogged, summer, rain, running, sitting, indooors or out

No more hassle with straps for helmet, mask and googles, just one chinstrap, light, comfy, superb vision and comms built in

 

[Druid799]

Revision sawfly anti-fog wipes , I wear glasses with prescription inserts so in reality I’ve got THREE lens surface to fog on me ! Give them a wipe first thing then every now and again throughout the morning , good clean lunch time and then same again the odd wipe through the afternoon . When I’m sweating like a pig in a synagogue I do find when I go static they may fog a bit bounce once I start moving they clear and away to go . So yea I swear by sawfly wipes .?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Just get a Warq. No more fogging ever. I've had Dye i4, Bolle X800. all fogged eventually even with Revision wipes. Upgraded to a Warq, never fogged, summer, rain, running, sitting, indooors or out

No more hassle with straps for helmet, mask and googles, just one chinstrap, light, comfy, superb vision and comms built in

Would love a Warq as it would match my unique slightly sci-fi-ish loadout, plus providing excellent protection and it would allow me to wear glasses if I ever fancied a day off the contact lenses whilst skirmishing. Problem is they're feckin expensive.

I have considered a Future Warrior (slightly Warhammer 40k-ish and has built-in fan) or a G4. Again however they're dear.

 

[Little White Balls]

Thanks folks! Sounds like I have some experimenting to do! My current thinking is to get the cheapest pair of fan-ventilated goggles I can find, then pull the fan out and stick it in a pair with quality lenses and anti-fog spray/wipes, and see how those work for me.

But yeah, next time I find a wad of cash down the back of the sofa I might just look at a WarQ. I'm keen to have as few straps/pads on my head as possible.  ?

Thanks again, everyone!  ?

Tom

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

have you tried anything more potent than that? i'd be seriously worried about how much strength will be lost by adding a bunch of holes.

I've tried a hot sniper rifle and impacts from a small ball peen hammer.  

I was testing an old pair with a baggy strap for amusement/learning rather than actually playing.  I did test them running/standing etc.  I did get a hole to fracture at the edge slightly, I think from an uneven/rough countersunk bevel.   The holes were drilled at differing distances to see how proximity effected strength.  The sniper actually dented the plastic, or an external coating to the extent that it effected optical quality, but the damage was cumulative.  You may catch a 550fps at 2" once in game, but the damage took about three magazines.  

If I find them up, I'll stick them on here.  Obviously we don't abuse our eyepro, so doing just that was informative to observe.  It was a pair of Uvex Ultrasonic.  They are great as log as you don't leave them full of water overnight, as the antifog coating if destroyed.  I discovered this getting pissed at a Namsoft weekend...  

 

[EDcase]

be careful with FMA ones, ive seen video's on you tube on the lens not withstanding shots well...

Yeah, I've seen the 'test' videos of several 500fps shots at point blank but I don't consider that a real world test.

When motorcycle helmets are tested they don't drive a truck over them even though that can theoretically happen.  (and more likely than being shot twice point blank by a sniper)

 

[Adolf Hamster]

Yeah, I've seen the 'test' videos of several 500fps shots at point blank but I don't consider that kind of testing real world.

the general idea with the bolt gun thing is that if it can withstand the hottest thing on the field well within the distances they're allowed to operate then it'll be proof against all but the most insanely egregious users of creative game mechanics (read: spring swappers/regulator twiddlers).

it's the most extreme scenario that you'd hope, if it ever happened, you'd be protected from.

 

[EDcase]

the general idea with the bolt gun thing is that if it can withstand the hottest thing on the field well within the distances they're allowed to operate then it'll be proof against all but the most insanely egregious users of creative game mechanics (read: spring swappers/regulator twiddlers).

it's the most extreme scenario that you'd hope, if it ever happened, you'd be protected from.

That's what I mean.  Why test 500fps at point blank when min engagement is 20m?   If a sniper were to shoot someone closer than 10m they should be automatically banned from the site.

 

[Druid799]

Yeah, I've seen the 'test' videos of several 500fps shots at point blank but I don't consider that kind of testing real world.

When motorcycle helmets are tested they don't drive a truck over them even though that can theoretically happen.  (and more likely than being shot twice point blank by a sniper)

Do agree with you on this . Comes down to making your own educated decision in the end , same as you do wether to wear mesh goggles or not ? What are the chances of a BB hitting the mesh shattering and penetrating your eye ? and equally what are the chances of a BB hitting the lens at the right point that it’ll break through and still have enough energy to damage your eye ? All the eye injuries I’ve ever seen or heard off have been the result of either the glasses slipping down or the player lifting there glasses for what ever reason in game , now not saying it won’t or hasn’t happened but me personally I’ve never actually seen or heard of an injury through the eye pro failing like this , I have seen a pair of normal glasses inside a pair of fan goggles shatter because the player took a full auto blast to the face from less than 10ft and the goggles flexed against the glasses shattering the one lens and the shards of glass ended up in the eye(luckily no permanent damage done because I was able to get the player NOT to rub his eye) Equally your asking for trouble if you wear £2.99 goggles from B&M’s or Poundland but I think you can make an educated choice to trust the ‘named’ Chinese brands like Emerson , FMA , etc they’ve got way too much invested in the sport to risk there standing and as a result there profits being trashed ? 

 

[Piman]

That's what I mean.  Why test 500fps at point blank when min engagement is 20m?   If a sniper were to shoot someone closer than 10m they should be automatically banned from the site.

While I agree point blank range is unrealistic it should still be close e.g. 550fps at 1m (hot gun catching someone just as they pass in front of a hidden sniper as they fire their shot). I is these unitended circumstances you want to account for. Sure you can ban someone for being over fps limits or shooting within minimum engagement but that will be after the act and too late to save your eye.

Do agree with you on this . Comes down to making your own educated decision in the end , same as you do wether to wear mesh goggles or not ? What are the chances of a BB hitting the mesh shattering and penetrating your eye ? and equally what are the chances of a BB hitting the lens at the right point that it’ll break through and still have enough energy to damage your eye ? All the eye injuries I’ve ever seen or heard off have been the result of either the glasses slipping down or the player lifting there glasses for what ever reason in game , now not saying it won’t or hasn’t happened but me personally I’ve never actually seen or heard of an injury through the eye pro failing like this , I have seen a pair of normal glasses inside a pair of fan goggles shatter because the player took a full auto blast to the face from less than 10ft and the goggles flexed against the glasses shattering the one lens and the shards of glass ended up in the eye(luckily no permanent damage done because I was able to get the player NOT to rub his eye) Equally your asking for trouble if you wear £2.99 goggles from B&M’s or Poundland but I think you can make an educated choice to trust the ‘named’ Chinese brands like Emerson , FMA , etc they’ve got way too much invested in the sport to risk there standing and as a result there profits being trashed ? 

Again it is a risk verses probability choice. While highly unlikely, if you are that 1 in 100,000 that loses their sight in one eye then the impact is huge. People do win the lottery even is most of us never will. For the sake of a little checking and the cost of a couple of bags of BBs why is there even a discussion. Just get the proper rated eye protection.

 

[kasaran]

Mine broke with a tm shotty at point blank

 

[DrAlexanderTobacco]

That's what I mean.  Why test 500fps at point blank when min engagement is 20m? 

Because you're testing worst-case, not edge-case. If you lose an eye due to a hot gun, whether they were under the MED is going to be the least of your worries.