I take my lens off after every day of play and clean the things completely and it takes me less than 1 minute to pull a lens if I am taking my time. I don't really know what the big deal is either, and the system is lighter and simpler than clippy tabby system that usually wraps far around your head and may or may not be comfortable and make creaking noises from the plastic (i'm looking at you VIO's!)
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Team just switched to Push so I am now using one of those and for the few times I've used it to-date it is a great mask. Very comfortable, no breathing issues, and has a pretty good FOV. The lens change could be a little easier but it isn't terrible- nothing compared to the nightmare of the i3. Prior to that I've used Profilers for ages. Fit well, easy to maintain, and the lens is easy to swap if you need to. I do change out my lens depending on conditions, so I'll swap between an HD tinted, clear, and yellow lens depending on what I want. I've always found the Dye masks to be uncomfortably small, although I like them in general. I haven't owned a pair, but the BK CMD goggles were really comfortable when I tried them out in the shop. That would probably be my other choice beyond the Push & Profilers.
The Push masks are more expensive, but keep in mind that it does come with a case, which is a $30-$40 add if you buy something else. Unite base model is listed at $160 on the Push website; factor for the case and it is about $130. Per ANS, the Dye masks (i4, i5, i5 2.0) range from about $130 to $230 and KLR's are about $120. The Push is a little more than those but they are all in-line on pricing if you account for the case.Comment
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I started out with the VForce Morph (anybody remember those? They were great!). I upgraded to a Profiler and wore those forever, great mask. Switched to the Ventz back when they were still under the Invert brand. I liked them but they began coming apart, I had to glue the foam down by the jaw back on.
This year I upgraded to the BK CMD and they are fantastic! Super comfy, breath well, HD lens had great visibility, seem to be really well made. I played my first game with them last Saturday and really enjoyed them. Very easy to clean as well, highly reccomended.Comment
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I have four different masks I use for various things.
A Vforce Morph with Dye soft ears, Vforce Profiler, Virtue Ascend and Virtue Contour. I like the lens change system on all those masks too.
They all feel about the same to me but are different weights and profiles. The Morph is my solo practice mask since it's light and breathable, but isn't really shaped to my face. Profiler I'll use on rec or walk on days. Ascend is now my backup mask to the Contour that I just got which I will primarily use in competition settings.
Out of all of them I like the Contour the best. Light. Good lens options. Completely replaceable parts all over. And tight. I would have said small but I have a big head and my jaw is just covered enough by the lowers. I'm now trying to get a back up Contour so I can start the day with one and swap so I don't get one super sweaty.Comment
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Still rocking my first-generation Spectra mask (what is now called the Proshield) that I got around 98/99. It sat in my gear bag from 2000 to 2020, but with a new strap and new lens it has been (mostly) good as new. I recently cracked off the tab on one of the ears where the hardware screws it to the face shield, but was able to get a set of hard plastic ears used off eBay. The thing I like about the old school Spectra ears is that they have some coverage above the goggle strap, especially towards the front. I don't fancy getting beaned on the crown of my head from the side, so that little bit of extra coverage matters to me.
The Automag: Not as clumsy or random as an electro. An elegant marker for a more civilised age.
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My first mask was the JT Spectra. After that I tried out others. Empire Vents for a while. Then VForce Grills but they felt heavy at the field of vision limited. Tried and hated the E-Flex. I borrowed the Dye i5 and fell in love. Super light, felt like I could see more than ever. Ended up getting my own and using that for a while. The lens not the easiest to change and the mask does sit very close to my face, so I ended up ditching because I felt like I couldn't breathe well. Plus I ran into that issue of hearing my own voice too loud inside.
But I have gone full circle back to the JT Spectra. The old thin style frames with the jtjtjtjt foam is still the most comfortable thing I've put on my face. I love the hard Spectra bottoms, classic look, and very breathable, but I have some lower profile soft rubber ears on mine along with a tinted lens. I don't need to change the len often, I'm only ever out if it's sunny anyways. It's just the perfect mask for me and also has those OG vibes.Last edited by iamthelazerviking; 03-16-2021, 04:49 PM.Comment
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Very interesting, everyone! Seems like there's a ton of love for the really old stuff (that I'm also used to), and the latest and greatest (namely the Push Unites as well as a nod for the Dye I-4/I-5 line). Main concerns at this very moment would be Spectra lens quality, and cost of newer masks. Guess it's time to try some out, if that's even possible these days...Comment
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Price is fine, this is everything you need https://www.ansgear.com/Jt_ProFlex_T...blackblack.htm
The lenses are fixed, and JT will replace any that start to get weird if they do. They don't fail catestrophically the inner lining coatings were getting flakey and stuff.
Its not that they're old, its just that they're comfortable. The latest ones are changed a bit in the lower area, but they are just as good in my book.
Honestly all of the masks I've used besides the spectra / flex are fine. I love the profiler lens, its my favorite. If I was equally comfortable in that mask that is what I would use.
The ultra low profile dye i4 is great because you really really can do anything with your head that you can do without a mask besides eat. It is like flush fitting. If I had to crawl around in super tight spots in some special game I might switch to this, but most of the time the hearing and breathing advantage of the flex is vastly superior.
All of the new masks profiler dye i4 virtue contour sound bad in my ears, a lot more reverb / whatever and your face is hotter.
The e-flex style is not bad, but the nose shape is wider and it blocks my vision down there in a way the regular flex doesn't so I don't like it as much.
It's all about your comfort these are my picks
Visibility - profiler
Tactical smallness - i4
Actually good - flex / spectraComment
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I still use my JT Flex 7 I got in 1997. It's the perfect mask so I've not changed. Though I am running visor-less now.Comment
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I'm running a Flex 8 goggle frame with a Proflex(?) lower and some soft ears. Super comfortable, breathes well, and no issues with fogging if I remember to replace the battery in my EZFanz setup. And... I can run a visor.Comment
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I've run a few different masks but keep going back to the Flex 8.
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I had a set of Grills but I could never get it to sit right on my fave and use the prescription lens inserts I had. I bought a Dye I5 after seeing that they were bigger than an I4 but not so big as to impede sightlines. I have not yet battle tested it, but it feels good and I have to admit that I LOVE the ratchet strap, it feels just like my bump helmet I used to wear.
If the dye fails me, I am considering a Flex 8 so that I can mount my fan kit to it permanently, but may swap out the lower for a proflex lower. I hate getting shot in the head, but I like being able to get down on a rifle stock when need be.Comment
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It's hard to beat profilers. Comfy, good coverage, great field of view, and last time I checked they were cheaper than many other options out there. I was actually walking in to the store to buy grills but found the huge field of view difference, slight comfort improvement, and lower cost to be too much to pass on for a slight bit more style. I've gone through a few lenses and wore out one strap but I'm still wearing the same mask.Comment
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I for one prefer the look of the profiler more than the grill and find the lens to be the best in the industry. Its a beauty.
Agreed also that the pricing on them is super low compared to the ultra expensive newer masks that really don't do much to justify their price except by being the latest and greatest.
They're right thought, if there was a mask with the low drag feel of the i4 and the breathability / audio qualities of the spectra/flex I would pay 300 dollars for it.Last edited by Cunha; 03-17-2021, 04:12 PM.Comment
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I've been a flex guy since I started playing. I would occasionally try a different mask and quickly go back. Light, good air flow, and they have that classic car timeless cool look. However with the pre order nightmare, bad lenses and JT's apparent lack of any interest in what the fans actually want have made me want to stray again.
The old lady has a Empire EVS that I really like but the summer air flow isn't good enough for me.
I'm currently considering a CMD right now, or going with the old Profiler...Comment
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