Advice on goggles with built-in fan or fan kit

[Jedi_Master]

Thanks for the feedback, I might pick up a set the fogging I am getting in ballistic glasses drives me nuts.

Yes, the fogging I had with goggles just ruined the day, at times could hardly see anything and it made playing very difficult without return trips to the safe zone to clear them. Paying £100 for a better game experience is worth it, and the protection is good.

 

[simonh]

What I find odd is that the first time I used the goggles - in the middle of summer - they were brilliant all day. No fogging, no issues at all. The next time I played it was cooler and eventually just reverted back to mesh which in CQB isn't great.

 

[Jedi_Master]

What I find odd is that the first time I used the goggles - in the middle of summer - they were brilliant all day. No fogging, no issues at all. The next time I played it was cooler and eventually just reverted back to mesh which in CQB isn't great.

Cannot remember the science but I think fogging is caused due to a temperature difference between the inside of the goggles and outside and the lens. Getting hot and sweating heats up the inside of goggles / mask causing condendsation due to lower lens and outside temperature. I know I get worse fogging when the ambient temperature is cooler, i.e. playing CQB in The Bunker at 10 degrees. A hotter day could also help with evaperation of sweat and moisture. Not sure how much humidity plays its part.

[someone from the forum should be able to clarify the causes, I have not searched other threads]

 

[Sacarathe]

Like in cars. It has been my experience that my goggles are obscured worse the higher the ambient temp is. But i am not distinguishing between fog and rain out. I certainly prefer the latter though as it can be remedied through air flow by the vents on my goggles.

 

[jcheeseright]

Fog is caused by moisture condensing on the lens, for this to happen the lens needs to be colder than the ambient temperature (which is not the OUTSIDE temperature, it's the temperature inside your goggles), which it pretty much always will be since your face heats the air up. Fan goggles work because they force the air inside the goggles to be constantly replaced with fresh cool/dry air which doubles up on the effect; less moisture in the goggles and the ambient temperature should be largely the same as the lenses.

The 100% fog proof solution would be a heated lens, even 1 degree would be enough to completely eliminate fog but it'd be power hungry and you'd have to deal with looking at filaments in the lens!

 

[djben9]

shame its not in tan....or is it, ive not looked in depth yet as just got on here! haha

is the bob stuff any good for goggles?, still tempted by the basic des loc fans....although FMA have a set now, similar to smiths lens (but needs cutting to fit)

had similar issues, normal day in October, V12s were fine, in December, used both the rev ants and V12s and drips more than fog...have now removed foam so will see how Saturdays game goes.....

but it is time to invest I think for a better game experience

 

[SinisterWeasel]

I have just bought a pair of cheaper ESS copies which on first inspection seem rather good. Very nice carry case, very clear lenses (one clear one sunglasses) with no micro scratches and they are comfy too. The fan also has two power settings so you can leave the minimum setting running all day and they are so quiet I have to look at the fan to check if it's on (slight purr on the max setting).

However I haven't used them at a game but I will on Sunday and will let you know how they perform. They were £35 so it's not the end of the world if they disappoint.

 

[simonh]

picked up a set of the Dye I4 - should arrive today

 

[djben9]

Cheaper ones, are they the FMA ones where the lens becomes marked if hit from close range??

 

[proffrink]

I have just bought a pair of cheaper ESS copies which on first inspection seem rather good. Very nice carry case, very clear lenses (one clear one sunglasses) with no micro scratches and they are comfy too. The fan also has two power settings so you can leave the minimum setting running all day and they are so quiet I have to look at the fan to check if it's on (slight purr on the max setting).

However I haven't used them at a game but I will on Sunday and will let you know how they perform. They were £35 so it's not the end of the world if they disappoint.

Are they properly rated too?

 

[simonh]

Well if anyone is questioning or on the fence about buying the dye i4 then don't hesitate.

Absolutely bloody brilliant.

In the dry and in the rain today with me sweating like a paedophile in a playground and not a hint of fogging. Got hit several times directly on the lens which tbh is a little disconcerting when you see the BB coming at the last minute!

If I had any criticism at all then t would be putting it back on for a new game with soggy foam is gross, but that is being really really picky.

 

[Sacarathe]

If I had any criticism at all then t would be putting it back on for a new game with soggy foam is gross, but that is being really really picky.

If you mean, for a new game, on a day which you already used it, there are things you can do to mitigate that. Heck, even kitchen roll between games has a positive effect.

 

[simonh]

Yeah I know for next time now

 

[SinisterWeasel]

Are they properly rated too?

I can't find what ballistic rating they which is annoying but they are but they are definitely a tougher polycabonate than my other rated goggles. I don't have any worries with them myself but I understand many people not wanting them without knowing the rating. Anecdotally though I can say I took several shots to the goggles no problem at close range and by snipers shooting 0.40 and it didn't leave a mark (I tested them myself before using them too).

Here's a video review:

Sunday was an incredibly humid and murky day so it was a great day to put them to the test especially as I was running around a great deal. The fan worked 90% well I would say although as they are so quiet I managed to accidentally switch the fan off and didn't realise until my goggles were steaming up. However even with the fan on the max setting I did get some fogging around the edges when I was particularly warm so they aren't a magic bullet, still a 100X improvement on my others though.

I did find that I had to blow on the fan to get it moving the first time, possibly as they are new but something to look out for and probably a sign of the lesser quality than ESS, but at about a 1/3 of the price I expected some compromise.

 

[djben9]

I see, those ones. They do another set, similar to smiths optics, review on Airsoftpeak didn't rate them, these have a side fan?

I found my rev turbos had some fogging issues on low setting but I did have a helmet on which I may need to cut a hole in the material near forehead...,

 

[Sean]

Well if anyone is questioning or on the fence about buying the dye i4 then don't hesitate.

Absolutely bloody brilliant.

In the dry and in the rain today with me sweating like a paedophile in a playground and not a hint of fogging. Got hit several times directly on the lens which tbh is a little disconcerting when you see the BB coming at the last minute!

If I had any criticism at all then t would be putting it back on for a new game with soggy foam is gross, but that is being really really picky.

Where did you get them from? How much did you pay?

They look just what I'm looking for.

How did you find the breathing? Was it at all restrictive?

 

[Jay85]

Search a few of the FB groups for a guy called Paul Fair he sells them for about £80-90 I've bout 4 X pairs off of him!

 

[djben9]

I thought they were around £35??, otherwise I'd pay that bit extra for ESS/REVS/Smiths to be sure they don't fail and the quality..... Curious now

 

[Jay85]

What dye i4's? No they go for between £100 - £140 depending on lens' etc

 

[simonh]

I bought two pairs, one was £89 the other was £114 (the cheaper one was for my son and mine had a fancy tinted lens because I am a tart.

Breathing is fine, much of the time it feels like you have no lower mask on at all which is very nice. I bought from BZ paintball, great service!