Best Mask for Folks that Wear Glasses

[uv_halo]

So, I'm introducing my teenager to paintball. I know that the JT masks have been good for folks who wear glasses. Between the Flex8 and the Spectra (remember that one?), does either work particularly better for glasses wearers? I own a Flex 8 headshield but, I haven't had a Spectra in a long time. I'm pretty sure the headshield fits differently than the normal Flex8.

I'm not considering the ProfFlex because knowing his luck, hill take a shot to the lower lip in the first match.

Is there another strong contender for glasses wearers that I'm not considering?

[Toestr]

The only difference between a Proshield and Flex 8 might be in how they fit with the arms of the glasses. The Empire/Invert Vents series have large lenses and are good for a large head in general. The Profiler also has big lenses so it might be a good pick. I don't wear glasses so I can't give any first hand advice.

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[Siress]

My very limited experience since I started wearing glasses lead me to VIO Extends, but I gave up after few days ruined by condensation on the glasses themselves - despite various attempts at antifog coatings and thermal acclimation. I grabbed the some disposable contacts that are 'close enough' to my prescription and only wear them during paintball days. YMMV.

[Jordan]

I've run a Spectra since the early 2000s because I wear glasses... I've tried a few different masks over the years but they ended up too tight to fit glasses under, at least for me.

I finally had an opportunity last year to get set up with contacts and wear them when I play - daily lenses are cheap and a box of 30 lasts me close to 6 months just wearing them on weekends when I play. Zero fog issues now - like Siress experienced, my glasses would fog up even with a fan setup keeping the mask lense clear.

[Fossilhead]

Proflex for me. You can trim the foam on the side if need be for the arms of the glasses.

I rarely have any fogging issues.

As others have stated, contact lenses are a game changer. Not everyone can use them. And I don't use them all the time. And, even when I do I only wear one in my dominant eye.

[nerdcore]

Before reaching Smeagol level of resolve by forcing myself to wear contacts solely for paintball, the VForce Profiler was the only mask that ever fit well over my glasses (plastic nerd glasses + fat ass head). That bubble lens is so roomy.

I could never wear Spectra masks - Proflex, ProShield, Flex 7... I don't remember much differences in frame fit, cuz they're interchangeable. The corners of my glasses frames would rub the mask lens.

[AnarchicArctic]

I had a friend with glasses that wore vforce profilers as well

[glaman5266]

Like Toestr said, the Empire Vents line are good. I used a Vents Cylus (now rebranded as the Helix) for years without issue.

As previously noted, Spectras/Proshields are good. I switch between two of them as my primary mask.

I tried on a teammate's Virtue VIOs once, and they were surprisingly comfortable with glasses. And I have a large head too.

I would avoid anything with a soft ear. Wearing a Proflex for quick games was OK, but for long scenarios the soft ears would sandwich the arms of my glasses between the side of my head & ears to the point of straight-up pain after about 45 minutes.

As for the Flex 8 vs Spectra/Proshield question... I've never tried a Flex 8 but the older hard ears on the Spectras had a skinny foam pad to keep the hard ear off the side of your head. I liked those for the ear/glasses arm mushing reason.

[JeeperCreeper]

I've recently been turned on to the Proflex masks. I used to use Empire Avatars with a home brew fan, but fans are always loud and annoying.
The best tips I can give you are using anti fog on your glasses constantly, a good dry headband to soak up sweat (so bring extras), you can buy battery powered fans to dry out your mask in between games, or even buy 2 masks so you can always put on a dry mask.
I notice I fog up mostly due to hard breathing, so Ive been doing more cardio to have better control of that.

I do have to cut slits in my foam on Proflex masks for my glasses, but just one slice with a razor blade in the proper spot works fine.

[Alexndl]

I have been wearing Empire event and E-flex mask for a long time and they work well with my glasses. Usually no fog issue.

[Magmoormaster]

I’ve worn glasses since I started playing, and due to some weird issues with my left eye I basically can’t wear contacts. I’ve always made sure to get smaller frames, but I don’t think I’ve found a mask in the last 5 years that wouldn’t work with glasses. Some of the older masks, like Vforce Armors, weren’t great. But everything modern will work just fine.

FWIW, I’ve worn VIOs for the last 5 years or so, and a Push Unite for a short while. Profilers before that. Both worked great, never had issues with either of them.

[Lt. head-shot]

The CRBN Zero mask is what I am currently using, and definitely recommend. It doesn't fog, and is one of the only with a factory made fan. (Virtue Vio being the other one). It seems to good enough job keeping both my lens and my glasses fog free, and isn't very loud compared to the old school mask fans. This is important as even if you don't typically fog up a mask, you will likely end up fogging your glasses really fast. When first trying on an I4, my glasses fogged within 30 seconds and I wasn't even breathing hard.

I would highly recommend you have him get an insert as it really helps to keep things consistent and not have to worry about taking the glasses in and out of the mask.

This is the one that I use - https://www.gogglesnmore.com/univers...r-ski-goggles/

[uv_halo]

Thanks for all of the replies!! Turns out I was little mislead by a Mask marketed as a Spectra (vice "Spectra Proshield"), and the Proshield's ear coverage just seems to be hard versions of the Proflex ears (vice the 'ear box' of the old school spectras). Thanks about the other recommendations!


I was thinking about the glasses fogging themselves- I was planning on FogDoc taking care of that.