Anyone used the new CRBN (carbon) Zero Pro mask?

[Cunha]

I am not really playing paintball right now but I almost impulse bought one of these several times today just to try it on.

The cost of shipping is the only thing holding me back. If I end up re-selling it I will probably be losing like 80 bucks between shipping and taxes so I'm trying to be smart, and hold off.

But I'm curious how it feels to someone who likes a Jt Flex. Anyone out there?

And if anyone can put on one an actual scale and show the weight of the mask.

I'm interested in how your voice sounds to your own head when you're wearing it, and how much of the middle of your view is blocked by a big wide nose like a lot of the newer masks.

[shooter311]

I played last weekend, and my friend just bought one. He was holding up and showing me the mask, and tell me how late it was. I was wearing my i-5s and figured it couldn't be much better than those. But when he handed it to me it felt like a super light toy, easily the lightest mask of ever held. I put it on real quick, and it was very comfortable, and incredibly light. But that's as far as I went for testing it. I was impressed, but I couldn't justify spending the money on it. I typically use my proflex 8's, with full head protection because I'm super tall and always get shot in the head. They are hot, heavy, and could probably use new lenses, but I'm fine with it. So I'm clearly not a good judge of quality masks. Also I really dislike my i-5s, mostly because of how easy the lens is scratch.

[Lt. head-shot]

I just got mine in the mail. Not the "pro" version, but I did get the more coverage version of the SLD/Standard mask. I absolutely LOVE it so far. I can immediately feel how breathable it is. Lens swaps are a breeze. Coverage is better than an I5. Weight is also slightly less. I got mine from BFPgear.com. I just placed an order for the mask fan from Carbon's website (along with some new pants). Hoping it gets here in time for Supergame.


Carbon is just at 300 grams, with my prescription lens insert in there as well.


Dye I5 at about 360 grams.



The flex on the non-pro version is quite impressive. More than a standard flex from today, but probably not as much as the suuuuper squishy flexes from a decade ago. I tried to quantify it with the pics below.

With very little effort (hence the grams), there is significant flex to the mask.




By comparison the Dye doesn't move at all, despite much greater force.

I haven't shouted across a field, but the venting makes it feel like there is less reverberation when breathing and mild talking. Better than the I5 and my Grills. I don't have a Flex to compare it to sadly, but I was comparing with a buddy who does and he really liked it.

My only complaint is that you have to get whatever chrome lens comes with the kit on the SLD version. So despite me wanting the "Coal" scheme, I had to get the gold lens, which isn't in my color scheme. So I swapped it for a black lens immediately. I know the Pro comes with 2 lenses which is certainly nice.

[Emert426]

Are you still running the CRBNs? I picked a set of zero pros up but am concerned on the amount of fogging posts I see.

[Cunha]

My flex with current production lower, current production ears and strap , and with current chin strap, but with an old thin frame weighs 292 grams.

So probably a CRBN "less" without a prescription lens thing would be lighter by a bit.

I loved the super tight feel of the Dye i4 but I could hear myself so loud in the mask that I was almost completely deaf to subtle noises outside of the mask. The virtue mask I had whatever was the lightest and most expensive one was OK but creaky sounding from whatever the lens retention was, and still loud, and felt heavy.

I really like to try new masks to see how they fit and feel, always trying to replace the stupid flex.

I will just have to wait to find a cheap one of these to try or find a local enough store where I can try one on. One of the things that makes a lot of newer masks feel heavier or just looser on your face is how much weight is on the lens that is extending out past your face quite a bit.

I'd love to find a new mask that breathes, I love the wider straps that the new stuff has.

[BrickHaus]

I have a friend who has a less coverage pro smoke mask. Ill echo the room, I held it and it was crazy light. I put it on and the less profile one honestly covered my face like a proshield. Super squishy, and breathable.

I screamed at the top of my lungs in the puts and there it little to no reverberation.

Needless to say, Im not a new gear guy, but Ill be listing some flex stuff to cover a pro moss more coverage one for myself.

[Cdn_Cuda]

When I first saw the pictures of these I was not impressed, but after watching a few video reviews they look pretty good. My only question is how much paint will you be eating wearing these?

[Cunha]

All my masks have plenty of venting up front, and I seldom get hit there and when I do, it’s messy. I don’t see how these would be much worse.

Only mask to protect against that would be the spectra compatible boat bottoms and those aren’t even made for paintball, ya know.. they’re for boats.

I think all the other modern mask guys will have to step up their game and drop their heavy weight gimmicks and make some focused goggles now, I’m excited.

[glaman5266]

Paging Cyberpyr8

When I first saw the pictures of these I was not impressed, but after watching a few video reviews they look pretty good. My only question is how much paint will you be eating wearing these?

I'm not worried about actually eating paint. I'm more worried about getting busted in the chops. The lower material seems VERY soft, even with the SLD model, which is advertised as having a more rigid/protective lower. I was really hoping that the SLD model would ACTUALLY be more rigid, but it doesn't seem that way. Rather disappointing IMO.

[Cdn_Cuda]

Good to know! If I went with one of these masks it would be the SLD. I've got a fat head so need the extra coverage anyways. Plus I'm not pretty enough to get any uglier.

[Cyberpyr8]

So I got one and the second game I played I got hit from across the field in the face right below the lens. It stung my face and I had paint everywhere and I would have thought I had a bruise(it didn't bruise). I stopped using it that day. The next week I played all day and I didn't get shot in the face other than the lens. I REALLY like this mask but I am leery of it. I still bring my push with me. I don't have the pro version which is supposed to be a little more flexible and I opted for the more coverage version but this thing does flex quite a bit. It is everything good the others have said. I don't wear Vforce masks and some others because I have gotten fat lips being shot in the front. On the other hand, I got hit 2 times at point blank in the mask with my push and didn't eat paint.

I'm still undecided on this mask. It has so many advantages but I would not use it playing speedball or CQB. The likelihood that you would get hit up close in the mask multiple times isn't worth it to me. Playing rec it's probably ok.

The lenses are incredibly clear and I think every mask should have releases like this one does. It has the magnetic chin strap and I like the visor. The one thing with the visor though, use the included screws. I played a game and had the visor shot off when it was just using the magnets. I thought I had knocked it off. It had clearly been shot (when I finally found it). I would have been out had it stayed on. But since I couldn't find it and didn't realize it had been shot off I kept playing. I popped the magnets out and used the screws to hold it on. It is much better that way. If I want it off I'll switch back to the vented piece that doesn't have the visor mounts.

If you are coming from flexes or something like that, the amount of give this has might not bother you. I like to have my mouth protected better. I'll play again with it Saturday and see how it does. At this point I'm unsure if it will stay or not.

EDIT: LOL Glaman5266 I didn't notice the page!

[SignOfZeta]

It’s very “bad ass” looking, I hate the name, etc but it sounds like they had their engineering in place at least. More coverage, less ratchet strap, badly needed these days. Hopefully things are getting better.

[Cunha]

Yeah definitely scott badass esque.

[Menso]

Would anyone that owns these be able to compare the shape of the foam to either a Vio Extend, Grill, Profiler, or Proflex? Unfortunately for me, the foam on the Vio and Flexes leaves a huge gap that I can see through when wearing them so they’ve got to go

[Lt. head-shot]

Here are some pics vs the Grills. Testing these back and forth, the noise difference is substantial. Grills are loud just breathing. The nose area definitely feels better to my face than the grills do.

As for getting shot in the face, any hits on the side and maybe the chin, you could probably feel. But unlike flexes, I feel the "beak" on these keeps the mask forward enough to not get smacked on the lip like the old flexes. I might try threading some paracord or some thing wire around the bottom to try and stiffen it up a bit. I do agree that they seem more flexible than shown in previous videos.

[Cyberpyr8]

Let me know if you come up with something. I really like them but I am concerned about getting hit with them. With me having sinus issues, these are the best fix for that in a mask. But needing dental work because of it doesn't sound appealing.

[Menso]

Thank you so much for these pictures. I just have one more question: the foam on the Zero, the whole nose area, does it start thinning out the higher you go on the nose? It doesn’t look like it does, but I could be wrong. The foam on the Vios thins out dramatically and it leaves a huge gap where I can see everything underneath.

[Lt. head-shot]

I could see how it would look that way, but its not so much that it thins out, its just slightly compressed around the bend of the nose bridge. Once your face rest inside it the rest of the foam compresses as well. I don't see any gaps when wearing it, everything fits nicely.

[Menso]

Thanks man. It’s just the shape of my face, I guess. I can’t believe I never noticed sooner with my Flex’s and Vio but I’ve got a gap big enough that if a paintball hits my mask just right I’m getting shell in my eyes. I’m hoping these Zeros are the one for me, I love the ventilation and everything else this mask offers.

[Cunha]

If you don't like flexibility, definitely you don't want this mask. Even the "more" coverage is a mask designed for low profile minimum restriction when playing aggressively. The way it tapers in towards your jaw so it is almost touching means that when you bump stuff you mostly hit it with your face first, rather than on a bigger mask like a Flex / Spectra you hit it with the bottom edge of the mask (that protrudes from your face) and end up moving it around.

Get a spectra or one of the other CRBN masks if you want those features https://crbnpaintball.com/collection...r-goggle-black because the aggressive minimal protection on this mask is a selling point / feature for this kinda mask, while other masks have the other features. Companies know how to make rigid plastic masks but that isn't the point of the CRBN Zero Pro. Looks like the OPR would be worth trying, its 1/4 the price or less, same lens?, harder plastic, better coverage, integrated visor.

https://www.reddit.com/r/paintball/c...terchangeable/ not sure if the lens is the same, found this thread.

[glaman5266]

... But what if I want the Zero, but in hard plastic?

Good points though. The Zero just isn't designed the way I'd want it. *sigh* Gotta keep lookin', I guess.

[Cunha]

For me I don't know how players tolerate masks with horrible audio properties and horrible breathability.

Especially when a spectra or flex that does these things correctly is like 70 dollars. I promise if you change the lens like 4 times while watching a TV show you will be totally comfortable working with those hooks on the frame. Plus for you guys that actually care about safety, the lens retention is very positive.

If it wasn't for the breathability (and weight too, honestly), I'd use a profiler with older "thermo cured" lenses without a thermal layer. Felt like not wearing a mask at all, visibility wise.

[Toestr]

The side profile on these really reminds me of the original vents.

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