Posted by: moosecustome on October 22, 2003 at 09:35:15

bottom line is do you want to loose your eyesight? No? then don't risk it. Don't use non-approved paintball gear for paintball. what it breaks down to is how well it fits around the eyes pbg (paintball goggles) are made to have a tight seal around the eyes. second pbg are made to withstand mutiple shots the facemask you are talking about are made to be replaced after one shot. third the facemask will flop around while running it will not fit as well as you need : After much thougth on the matter, I began to wonder why face shields were not used by paintball players. Further investigation indicated that face shields used by factory workers are required to withstand a steel ball about the size of a paintball moving at 300 fps at the time of impact by OSHA regulation ANSI Z87.1. This minimum level of protection is above what is required for paintball, as few fields allow guns firing at 300 fps and a paintball is not a steel ball. Furthermore, lexan shields are available providing protection in the same test up to 500 fps. The sheilds are available in sizes as large as 9" x 15.5", large enough to cover from the brow to the base of the neck and behind both ears. This allows FULL visability, unobstructed by anything. Furthermore, the fact that the sheild is open on three ends allows substantial gas exchange, preventing fogging. Finally, I have yet to find any face shield that cost more than $26 dollars (except Infrared absorbing models for working with high energy lasers, these are $30-35). : As such, I wonder if these sorts of eye protection are legal in paintball. If they are, why are they not used more frequently? : Thanks for the help.

Follow Ups: Post a Followup Show your name as: DefaultRealnameBothNickname E-Mail address (eg: joeschmoe@aol.com): Show your e-mail address? DefaultYesNo Your Password: Don't have a password? CLICK HERE - Forgot your password? CLICK HERE Subject: Subject:Message: : bottom line is do you want to loose your eyesight? No? then don't risk it. Don't use : non-approved paintball gear for paintball. : what it breaks down to is how well it fits around the eyes pbg (paintball goggles) are made to have a tight seal around the eyes. second pbg are made to withstand mutiple shots the facemask you are talking about are made to be replaced after one shot. third the facemask will flop around while running it will not fit as well as you need : : : After much thougth on the matter, I began to wonder why face shields were not used by paintball players. Further investigation indicated that face shields used by factory workers are required to withstand a steel ball about the size of a paintball moving at 300 fps at the time of impact by OSHA regulation ANSI Z87.1. This minimum level of protection is above what is required for paintball, as few fields allow guns firing at 300 fps and a paintball is not a steel ball. Furthermore, lexan shields are available providing protection in the same test up to 500 fps. The sheilds are available in sizes as large as 9" x 15.5", large enough to cover from the brow to the base of the neck and behind both ears. This allows FULL visability, unobstructed by anything. Furthermore, the fact that the sheild is open on three ends allows substantial gas exchange, preventing fogging. Finally, I have yet to find any face shield that cost more than $26 dollars (except Infrared absorbing models for working with high energy lasers, these are $30-35). : : As such, I wonder if these sorts of eye protection are legal in paintball. If they are, why are they not used more frequently? : : Thanks for the help. [ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ WARPIG Tech Talk - Miscellaneous ]