Dye I4 or Empire E-Vent

[CatoRockwell]

Alright, so to give a little background before I open this inevitable preference argument:

I currently use a vforce grille, I love the way it fits on my head, I love the clarity & range of view. However, I've had the same problem 3 times with the lens. The weather changes whether it's temperature, humidity, whatever. When this happens the coating on the outside of the lens begins to chip and crack. It's happened twice this year, once when I flew out to D-Day in Oklahoma, the other when it switched over to winter here.

I've been told that this will inevitably happen again and again because of the coating vforce uses. So I'm looking into new mask options. So far I've narrowed it down to the I4 or the e-vent.

I4: I've heard mixed reviews, some people say that it is poorly made. I like the look and I like how they have a camouflage model.

E-Vent: Looks like a high quality mask, the guys at my local shop talk it up alot, but I don't really know anyone personally that uses it. My only complaint, is the same complaint I have about all Empire products, they don't attempt at all to cater to woodsballers.

What do you guys think, anyone used both?

[punkncat]

I have had a set of events for a while now. The lenses are great, I use smoke, not mirrored. Like any mirrored lense they scratch too easily and become cloudy from them. Never have had a problem with fogging or the like.

The foam is lousy as far as lasting/standing up to the wear. Every set I have ever seen come unglued across the top edge. Replacements are cheap, and if you buy a good glue to put it on with, will stay quite well.

The ear pieces are made of foam. I don't like how they deaden sound, and I think long term lasting is going to be an issue. This from a guy who STILL uses Scott Badass masks.

The tight venting in the front, as well as the foam earpieces make communication a real effort. If you use this mask, as well as an Ego over it, you better learn to sign to your teammates, and I say that half jokingly.

The mask is very comfortable (while the foam is good) and light, great visibility. The chin and cheeks are ample, and I like that the mask is hard enough to prevent face slap (ala Flex 7). Lens changing and cleaning is a breese with the release system it has.

[Frizzle Fry]

I had a set of E-Vents and loved them (about 2 years back)... Then I downgraded to a JT Flex-8 and haven't looked back.

Either way, as a big guy I've always found wearing DYE masks to be like shoving a rotten watermelon into a coconut.

[d4m4don3]

between the i4 and event

If the I4's can protect your face then go for it. I for one would have to use the event or avatar since the i4's can expose my jaw rather well.

[Spazmok]

I have used the I4's, e-vents and grille. if you have a small head, the I4's are nice. but as d4m4don3 said, they expose quite a bit. On myself, my chin and lobes are all out in the open. despite that they're quite comfortable. The soft ears on them seem to start going after about 6 months (keep in mind that is with use a 2-3 times a week).

the e-vents are quite spacious with a nice field of vision, but I'm not a fan of their soft ears. the sound baffles dont really do much. One of the guys at the field likes them as they're very accomodating for those who wear glasses.

I love both of my grilles, they've been the most comfortable mask I've worn. As far as lenses go, I only ever had a problem with my mirror gold lense. After a couple scratches the mirror finish did start to chip away. the smoked lense I've never had a problem with, as well as the mirrored blue lense I've been using for reffing the past 7 months have not given me any trouble at all, even though it has been scratched.

[Shirow]

I have a set of E-Vents. Haven't tried the i4 but I find the E-Vents pretty comfortable.

[Ando]

I have both the grill and the profiler and I've never had the problem with the coating coming apart. I've had my profiles for god who knows how long and just got the grills about 8-9 months ago.

Possibly your mask is getting compressed in your bag and in turn tweaking the lens which might be causing the coating to come apart. I'm a fair weather paintballer so if it's below 40*, it's not worth it to me going out. I can see really cold weather doing it. Making the coating brittle and cracking but again you would have to bend the lens in order for that to happen.

And when it comes to masks. I prefer my vforce profiler to anything, they give excellent protection all around. The Grills are basically profiles but they expose a little more top head then I like. The I4 and Events are even worse then the grills with the head exposure and the I4 expose my chin as well.

Basically if you have a big head I4 and Events are pretty much a no go. They are built for little headed aggie kids.

The Grills and Profiles are the only ones I keeped out of all my masks not including my old school JT's.

I would just stick with them bro. Your head will thank you later (or just wear a hat ).

Edit: Comfort wise. They all were good. No issues there and I would stay away from the double lens masks. Always coming apart.

[Shirow]

I would agree that the head exposure is a little iffy on the E-Vents unless you put the visor on (and I could never get the damn thing on, it's impossible.)

I've also only worn them once, I won them at a big game and only played once since then so take my input with a grain of salt.. I had a ~9 year old pair of Dye Invisions I wore before that were totally falling apart.

[ElPanda]

Ive owned both, I like my I4's better

[CatoRockwell]

Well I don't keep my Grill in a gear bag, I'm one of those wacko's who takes up his whole trunk with gear. But there are 2 things I don't let clank around in a gear back, my E-Tac & my mask, they ride shotgun, even when I'm giving someone a ride.

So I have no idea what the problem is. I love my grill if I could only get around this whole chipping crap.

[d4m4don3]

Well I don't keep my Grill in a gear bag, I'm one of those wacko's who takes up his whole trunk with gear. But there are 2 things I don't let clank around in a gear back, my E-Tac & my mask, they ride shotgun, even when I'm giving someone a ride.

So I have no idea what the problem is. I love my grill if I could only get around this whole chipping crap.

You're observation of the masks chipping on the vforce masks is kind of on the mark. Ever since the old manufacturer of their lenses went belly up the quality of the lenses have turned to crap. This is also why they don't make the photocromatic lenses anymore. The company that made it for them don't exist no more.

[smeek]

I have both the events and the I4. I used to use Events (which replaced my profilers because of the lenses chipping) but replaced them with I4's. The I4 is tiny so make sure you get proper coverage, and comfortable in short periods. When I'm playing I use the I4's although I've figured out when I'm reffing and wearing the I4's for a few hours at a time they give me a headache, so when I ref I went back to using my Events of an old pair of Flex 7s. One of my teammates also has the same issue with I4's giving him headaches when reffing but not while playing.