"Gear Check with Red Shirt" - MASKS

Recently I have started balancing out a second set of gear in order to coerce my wife into the sport, and to ensure that I have a good backup in case something goes awry on the field. I want to be able to upgrade my current set up so that what I am already using, can become the second stringers, but finding gear that is sweeter than the old standby is harder than it would appear.

The mask, for example, is probably the most important piece of gear in my bag aside from my marker, and mad pballing skills. More than just eye protection, your mask can be the deciding factor in how enjoyable your day on the field is. For me, there are a few key factors when checking to see if a mask measures up.

FOGGING
The first and most important issue is dealing with whether or not you fog up when running through the swamp panting like a deer in rut. Each company seems to have a way of dealing with the fog monster, everything from anti-fog coatings, thermal, and vented lenses, even mask mounted fans sucking the moist air away from your skull. But what actually works? Well to be honest, most of them work, but your best bet is to get a mask that has a combination of these methods, and try it out. What works every time for one person could be awful for the next. If you have a friend with a different mask, see if they will let you borrow it for a game. That should give you a decent idea of how the mask will function when strapped to you.  Personally while I would love to get something a little more flashy, I always come back to the JT Flex Series of goggles. They seem to fit my head well, have decent venting, and I never fog up.

VISIBILITY

It seems redundant after talking about fog to jump straight into visibility, but it is a commonly overlooked area when shopping for a mask. Many newer masks boast huge fields of vision which is no small feat. Make sure you try the mask on and look how much of the mask impedes your vision on either side, or you may find yourself to be a victim of a flanking maneuver unnecessarily. 

COMFORT
The difference between a good piece of furniture and your favorite easy chair is all about comfort. The same is true with your mask. If you are going to wear something for recreation shouldn't it be a joy to wear? Check how it sits on the bridge of your nose, how tight it fits, if any parts of the mask rub or poke you wrong. Masks are not like heads, they are made in a factory somewhere, and your noggin was put together by an artists touch, do your best to put a round peg in a round hole when trying on masks.

PRICE
Frugally minded people have been waiting for this point the entire post, and they are right to do so. Prices on masks have skyrocketed over the years, and like a shiny fishing lure, the marketing has caught many suckers. As I will reiterate later, nailing down comfort, visibility, and anti fog are more important than having the newest and priciest mask on the market.


STYLE
Probably the least important of all factors, and yet typically the only thing considered when people purchase a mask is how it looks. Does it make you look mean? Do you feel like a warrior princess wearing it? Style has made it's way onto the field over the past few years as the sport has grown, and the consumer market has opened up, giving us some of the most gorgeous masks in paintball history. However, you should not be fooled by clever marketing or neat gizmo's that come as standard features on your mask, if it doesn't meet the other important criteria, it is not worth the coin to be "one of the guys" wearing "one of those" masks. That
being said, if you can keep the other factors as well as sport the coolest looking face shield, go for it!

What mask to get...
All of these factors considered I am still on the quest for my next favorite mask. I am interested in the new Sly Profit masks if you want to let me test drive yours, or know someone that has them in stock that I could check them out. If you have an old standby that you would like to recommend, or if you have cool mask that just must be seen, post a link and let me know a little bit about why your mask is the best.