Playing without a mask

[paint magnet]

Alright, before you drag me out in the street and shoot me for the slightly misleading thread title, let me explain myself. I don't mean without goggles, just without the mask part of a mask. I was wondering, since I live in South Carolina and it's starting to get hot down here and will be burning up by summer, and since I have slight trouble breathing (due to minor asthma, being fat and not in shape ) if I could cut away part of whole parts of my mask to increase ventilation. I was thinking of just leaving enough so that it would cover the top of the nose, part of the mouth, and the ears. Do you think this is being too unsafe? I mean I know most people would not like the idea of getting shot in the face, so how much do you think is too much before it is considered unsafe? I've seen refs wear the old scott masks with just the mouth protection (no earpieces at all) before. I'd be using something like an old Flex to cut away on.

[warpfeedmod]

any reputable field will NOT allow you to play that way. Forget entering a tourney that way. For rec-ball hey, its your face, if you want to risk getting scarred fine by me. go talk to a doc and see about getting some asthma meds or an inhaler.

just my .02

[kenny45749]

Well as far as the safety of it, its up to if you dont mind a potential shot to the lip, or if your local feild will let you play with a mask that isnt in "original" condition. I remeber playing only a few years back with only the goggles from jt spetras and flex 7's. Its just that recently rules have gotten tighter on saftey. So if the feild allows it and you dont mind the hits, go for it.

[who_311]

First, inhalers wont solve your problem. And second, i have seen people at tourneys without the mask part. Anyways, i see people all the time with flexxy JT masks with the part bent up. But paint magnet, i have a Dye Invision, and i dont have anymore problems with ventilation, and i too am flestivly plump:) and quite out of shape. I would suggest getting the invision, it is worth every dollar, and people can hear me yelling at them better.

[darklord]

Good luck with that, especially if you open your mouth to breathe, and someone shoots a paintball down your throat (slim chance, but there's still a chance)... it's not a good idea. But hey, it's your face, so, go nuts.

[FalconGuy016]

Ive seen a ref with just the goggle part of the mask :) hes been paintballin since the begining... man he knew EVERYTHING

[warpfeedmod]

Originally posted by who_311
First, inhalers wont solve your problem.

I dunno inhalers worked for me. STill do. Whenever I get congested and have a hard time breathing I puff it a few times, opens up my airways like nothing else.

Of course I'm taking one of the steroid ones but the over-the-counter stuff is worthless (I've tried heh). I had to goto 2 docs and an allergist before they found something that works.

[Muzikman]

Most fields and ALL tournaments require unaltered maks. That being said, my first mask was the JT Whipper Snappers without ear protection. Wanna talk about minimal coverage. I also have played a few games with just goggles, though I would not suggest this with today's ROF. Your best bet would be to buy a mask that has lots of ventilation. I like the Scott's masks for this, but I do not think they are still making the Bad-***'s any more.

[who_311]

Originally posted by warpfeedmod


I dunno inhalers worked for me. STill do. Whenever I get congested and have a hard time breathing I puff it a few times, opens up my airways like nothing else.

Of course I'm taking one of the steroid ones but the over-the-counter stuff is worthless (I've tried heh). I had to goto 2 docs and an allergist before they found something that works.

Maybe i just have stuburn lungs:). The inhalers work but It didnt help much out on the field. Oh well.

[warpfeedmod]

Originally posted by who_311


Maybe i just have stuburn lungs:). The inhalers work but It didnt help much out on the field. Oh well.

heh could be. I have seasonal allergies and adult onset asthma. So mainly when I play around now (spring/summer) outside I get real bad. But over the winter I played indoors and never had an issue. I always bring the inhaler just in case..ya never know heh

[paint magnet]

I'm using a proteus right now, and love the way it fits close to my face with minimal coverage, and the part that I cut off would only expose the sides of my cheeks, not my entire mouth or anything. I've seen really big guys wearing invisions with their entire chins sticking out of the bottom, which isn't much less than what would happen if I cut up one.

I don't know though, like Muzik said, with the ROF today...I'll try getting a Vortex fan (remember not just breathing but heat strokes too ) and maybe try an invision before I cut anything too drastic. I have the proteus for speedball and such, but when playing rec you don't really need as much protection since you're not taking as many hits and not at close ranges.

On a side note, is being hit in the ear dangerous to your hearing? I mean I'd think it would hurt like a ***** but as far as causing any hearing loss or ringing problems?

[Converted2Mags]

i have asthma... mild but still bothers me... i use ventolin (perscription puffer thinga muh bob) i use it b4 i do any strenuous activity, works fine for me, just an idea

[paint magnet]

I would also like to hear your opinion on the matter, Mr. Kaye, since you probably saw a lot of unprotected face shots back in the day

[Load SM5]

Well considering the pretty sizable scar I have on my forearm, from a hit, reffing a weeks ago I would advise against it. I don't want to imagine that scar on my face. My Morph seems to be pretty well ventilated and breathes well.

[�.C.]

I've seen people play with what looks like ski googles at one of my local fields. Looks very unsafe to me but nothing happened to them.