Good Goggles?

[eXo_oUtSiDeR]

Im in the market for a pair of new goggles. Price is not an object and I want some opinions and recommendations from you guys. Comfort is key and of course style is a plus as always. I was thinking of events or grills, i just dont want dye goggles...

[PumpMag]

I recommend JT Proflex or Flex8. Wide 260 degree vision. JT has been a paintball goggle manufacturer for years.

[Ninjeff]

Well, coming from someone who has owned both the Vents, and the Grillz within the past year, i can say i MUCH prefered the Vents. The grillz are nice, dont get me wrong, but i liked the Vents much much more. Better field of vision, slightly more airy, and cooler (temp wise) around the eyes. I dont know why, but my "eye area" sweats like mad in the Grillz.

I will say the Grillz are lighter, and the Vents tend to be "boomy sounding" when shouting. But you get used to it.

Also, of very important note, the Vents lenses held up better than the Grillz. The Grillz tended to get small hair scratches easier than the vents. Both lenses are a snap to change and clean however,

Also keep in mind that when i use a pair of goggles, they get used. I play saturday and sunday, every weekend, from march till December, baring, of course, weather or illness. Since i work at the field also, Im usually at the field from 7:30 till 4:00 so i wear the foam out quite quickly. The grillz foam is initially more comfy, but as the day wears on, again, i prefered the Vents.

This year i plan on trying the i4s, when they make the bigger mold they are supposed to make, but if those dont fly, i'll be going back to the Vents.


Of note, however: I was fortunate enough to try a pair of the Save Phace goggles for a few games. They were pretty good. I wanted more "flex" in the mask itself, but the lenses were nice, the foam comfy, and the look absolutely killer. I also was fortunate enough to speak with the main guy at Save Phace, and he was super super nice, very informative, and an all around good guy to deal with.

The most comfortable mask on the scene is still the Profiler however. But i didnt have a good experiance with my profiler lenses. They stopped paint great and were safe, no doubt, but the "coating" of the lense got......flakey.....and started coming off after awhile. So i moved on.

Again, your mileage most likely will vary, as not too many people use their masks as much as i do.


OH! Also, fogging was never an issue with the Vents, and the Grillz fogged ONE time. But it was 90 some odd degrees outside, had just rained, and i was laying down in the woods.

[gunman_2000]

I think when you say price is no object it comes down to what really is most comfy to you.
I stand by my profilers and proflexes. I will wear these things till I can no longer replace parts. I really haven't tried any of the other high end masks. I find Dye's masks to be butt ugly, and the Vents, they seem like over priced Profilers to me, and the poor voice projection I hear about keeps me from being interested. I was never interested in the Grills either cause I find them ugly, but they seem to sell alright.

I'm interested in the I4's if I needed to try something different, but I'm not counting on that to happen anytime soon.

See if you can try on some masks from other players at the field.
My vote is still for the Profilers or Proflex, both are light and comfy. Proflex for sure will have lenses available for ever it seems like. My Profiler lens has just finally had it after what seems like more than a year of play and reffing. Its not so much fog either most of the time as I seem to be sweating alot. Maybe its time for a new headband instead.

[Watcher]

V-Force Profilers... hands down best you can get for the money and they really aren't that expensive either.

$60 will get you a pair. Super comfy, incredible periferal vision (my friend who has glasses picked up Profilers after I let him check mine out, not only was it no problem wearing the glasses under the mask but the perfieral on the mask lens was better than on his frames!), and the soft rubber is great for bounces and deflects.
Had them for a whole season of play and they are still just as good as they were out of the box, save for maybe a bit discolored...
Never once had mine fog up on me either and the lenses are very durable. I have not noticed any damage on them except maybe a scratch here or there and any mask will get scratched playing in thick woods. I should mention I have a ghillie suit too so sometimes I get IN the woods, and sometimes IN the thornbushes but they are still crystal clear.

You forget you have a mask on if you wear them for longer than a minute, it is that comfy and the lenses are that crisp.

Changing lenses is a snap: pull the strap off (attaches via "plastic snaps" like are on backpacks and vests and such), pop off two tabs, and the lens pops right out.

The only downside is the visor can be a pain to set up, but after it is locked in place it isn't moving.


The Dye masks and even the Grillz I think are overpriced. JT does make some nice stuff but I prefer V-Force over them for the quick change lenses if nothing else.
And the Vents I think are ugly and a bit on the odd preportioned side. The V-force ones seem to fit my head better.

[Spider-TW]

I recommend JT Proflex or Flex8. Wide 260 degree vision. JT has been a paintball goggle manufacturer for years.

The Flex8s are kind of small or 'low profile' compared to the Flex7s and other masks. If you can, check that the mask will cover the parts you want covered.

My son has worn Flex8s for the last few years and recently discovered his ears are no longer completely covered when a ball hit him on the edge of his ear. They are also a little shorter in the front, but that is not a problem if you don't have much of a neck anyway.

[halB]

I love my profilers. I picked up a pair used for 20 bux and was amazed.

I will say this. The vents are love them or hate them. People say they fog up more and trap your breath more than profilers - but you must try them on to see. For my friend, who is a BIG dude, the vents suffocate him. But for me, they're designed perfectly to where my breath NEVER comes back at me. The way they cut the vents is top notch. I would recommend wearing a pair for a game, or even a second, to see which way you feel about them.

[Sundown]

The best thing would be to try all the ones you can.
Some masks are good for some but not for others.

Take a mask that you find confortable and go from there

Of course you can't go running with it outside to see if it fogs.. that is one thing

[Warwitch]

A "good" goggle is like a good shoe. Its the one thats comfortable on you. Everyone has their own preferance and will swear by whatever they use. In honesty all of the top level goggles are very similar in overall quality. Go try on as many different goggles as possible and make a decision based on what restricts you the least.

[warbeak2099]

V-Force and Empire/Vents goggles are the best and most comfortable on the market IMO. JT goggles are outdated. The stupid lens removal system needed to be replaced years ago and JT failed to do it. I don't understand how people can still use those goggles now that there are newer, better systems on the market that you can disassemble in seconds. Those DYE I4's look interesting too. A bit small though.

[russc]

JT masks are outdated but I still love them for their versatility.


Vents Avatars are great bang for the buck. Profilers are nice but you can't get thermal lenses.

[Chris]

Im going to stick with my Flex 7's. Comfy, wide field of vision, easy to find replacement lenses at any field...and they dont look like something out of Alien

[Dorian Feyd]

Flex 8's are longer than Pro flex's of flex 7's, the ones with the rubber face covering that the ref's flip up. I'm tall and have been running the same pair of Flex 8's for three years. I have a long face (no pun intended) and those are the only ones that cover my chin. The only draw back is changing the lens in a JT goggle. (PITA) I run the high def yellow thermal lens and in the woods or indoor speedball you can't beat them. I like Proflexes and I really wanted Grills but after using a pair for a day I found I could not get used to them. It felt like looking out a fish bowl to me. But I always tell people this, whats comfortable to me might feel like garbage to you. So try on a bunch. Feyd...........

[dark blade]

plain and simple answer... go try some on... as you can see, everyone has different preferences

I personally love the i4's and the jt proteus 2 (i know... old school)

just go try some different ones on

[Jaan]

Im going to stick with my Flex 7's. Comfy, wide field of vision, easy to find replacement lenses at any field...and they dont look like something out of Alien

Huh, interesting...I used to think that looking like an Alien was a good thing. Of course, that was when I used to wear Vents Predators, the best damned goggles ever made. Period. It also kinda made you look like "The Predator".

OP, the only want to make sure you have a comfortable mask is to go into your local paintball store and try on a pair. Everyone is different.