Opinions on mask fans. Worthwhile? Noisy gimmick?

[MrBarraclough]

It gets damned hot and humid here on the Gulf Coast, especially during the summer. And I am foolish enough to want to maintain my monthly paintball habit even in the worst months. Taking advice from an old hand, I have started bringing two masks to the field and alternating them each game to allow the foam to dry and not stay saturated. That seems to help a lot with fogging and general comfort (yes, I already use thermal lenses). But as we approach the hottest and wettest part of the year, I wonder if something like a JT Vortex 2 fan might be worthwhile. They pop up from time to time on the Proflex BST group on FB.

I am curious to know what others' experiences have been with them and with other fan systems. How's the weight? If you later remove it, what do you use to cover the hole(s) in the top of the goggle frame? I've read complaints about the noise killing your ability to hear movement when the fan is running. Is it much of a problem?

I don't wear glasses, so I'm not trying to combat fogging of those (seems to be a common motivator for installing fans). Do I just need to suck it up and quit looking for an excuse to buy even more silly paintball junk?

[Grendel]

They [I have experience with home made and JT Fans only] work but are a double edged sword. When on [running] they are pretty good at keeping your mask from fogging (maybe still some haloing). There are two issues

1. Because you have the fan installed it interferes with natural air flow through the mask making fogging more likely when it is not on
2. The fan is relatively noisy to the wearer and interferes with hearing teammates and what is going on around you

Due to these limitations you find yourself turning it on and off and if you start fogging or let your mask get fogged before cutting on the fan it will struggle more to keep your vision clear. I own a few and put them on my masks occasionally but end up ultimately removing them because if I stay moving I tend to not fog [too bad most of the time] because of the movement helps air flow through the mask. I am not a fan of static play so tend to move a lot. In addition I always bring at least 2 masks with me and cycle between them during the day to help keep the foam "dry"

[JonM]

If you're looking for great performance and you're willing to pay for it, the ExFog system is the best I've ever used. It's very quiet on its low setting; it doesn't block airflow since it uses tubing instead of clipping onto the frame; it's rechargeable so it doesn't eat batteries; it lasts all day on a single charge; and it makes fogging darn near impossible. I wore mine before I got laser surgery and my glasses never fogged regardless of the season or playing conditions. They aren't cheap, but you get what you pay for.

[Toestr]

The biggest advantage of the vortex is the form factor - it's all one unit with no external wires or battery box. Cons are it's loud as sin and doesn't have the same battery life as the others that use AA, AAA or 9v batteries.

Fans are really meant to be flicked on for a minute or so during a slow part of the game to get rid of some of the fog. One game I played in the winter, a guy left his vortex fan on all game, and during lulls in shooting I could hear it from ~100ft away. I can't imagine what he was hearing.

Best fans are either FANZ or a guy on eBay from Finland who makes them from computer fans (which FANZ does too, but they're a bit more refined).

There's also these magnetic wipes that have felt between them where you put one on the inside and one on the outside. You move it across the lense to condense the fog. There's different models for scuba goggles, which work on single pane lenses, and some thermal lenses, and there's stronger ones for dual pane lenses. Cons for these is that it takes up a bit of your fov, and you run the risk of them falling/getting shot off.

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[Jonnydread]

I’ve tried them but the noise drives me insane, I could it put up with it. Most modern masks, in my experience, only fog under the most moist conditions like post rain, etc. Cutting my beard down helped significantly.

[Chuck E Ducky]

The JT ones can’t take the impact of a paintball you need to run them with a visor. They also need the Battery connections re enforced they are poorly attached and come apart all the time. Also they are noisy especially if you don’t put some graphite on the fan shaft.

I have this one and it works well. I found it for like $30 tho I think at Rockstar Tactical wen they went on sale. It kicks on and off automatically or always on if you prefer. Runs off a single AAA that last a long time as long as you remember to turn it off. I used a piece of foam to separate the mask from the fan that cut down in a lot of sound. It’s much quieter then the JT.

https://www.amazon.com/HaberVision-E.../dp/B002JP6CYM

[superman]

Loved my haber till it fell apart. Quiet enough to leave on while playing.

Hate the Jt fan.

I’d love to have a haber in a 3D printed housing or abs plastic or something. The. I could justify buying another.


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[MAr]

if your dual pane are fogging, a fan will keep you in the game. Definitely worth it. I had the DYE fan, it was swell.

[ChuckLove]

The Virute Visor fan is pretty nice on their masks. It's pretty quiet too. That's all I have experience with personally.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I couldn’t find one when I was looking. Good to know they work good tho.

[BenoitOWN]

Virtue visor fan is nice but you gotta be careful pulling the tabs off the mask or you could break them rendering the fan noisy.

Been visorless for a while I was tired of replacing them.

[FrankW]

I thought my JT fan work well. At one point it got pretty loud, but I put a drop of oil in it and it quieted it right down. It's slightly audible when I'm wearing it, but no loud enough for others to hear it.

And you don't have to cut your mask for it, it just uses the holes on top of the JT goggles.

[MrBarraclough]

Ah, I didn't realize it wasn't necessary to cut larger vent holes for the Vortex fans. That's helpful, thanks.

[BrickHaus]

Imo, I like them Ive had manyJT vortex fans in my day, and if fogging is an issue for you, they help a lot.

Like most have stated, they are loid, and the batteries suck to change.

I found I only fog on super hot and humid days, specifically wjen I STOP moving. Like if I make a run to a bunker and dive i to some thick brush. Shortly after Id start to fog up. If I getup and run again, the air passing through the mask helps clear it up.

When I run fans, I usually wear a visor, and I usually turn em on only when I know im stopped for a minute, but they are qbsolutely worth it when they are needed.

I dont always run a fan though, but I have a fanned mask, and Ill bring it when I figure it may be useful.

[Meleager7]

This is my experience too, the JT fans do the job ,but are distractingly loud. I use mine sparingly, when needed.

[Hp_lovecraft]

Way, way back in 1991, I bought a "Turbo Fan" that was advertised in APG.

Apparently, there was a ski-mask company that sold fans for ski goggles. Some clever entrepreneur bought up a bunch and resold them as in APG for $100.
That was an insane price in 1991, but I was desperate. My masks was always fogging up, and they were thermals... so I must have been really really sweaty.

It was great... kinda noisy, batteries always going dead. Solved the fogging issue.

One day while wiping paint off the inside of the mask, I discovered I NEVER PEELED OFF the protective layer on the thermal lense! I didn't realize that was a "thing".
Well, after that, the thermal lense worked perfectly and I removed the turbo fan.

[caylegeorge]

Woah, how did you even see through the protective layer? ha!

[Jordan]

I have had an EZ Creations Fanz kit for years and love it. My lens almost never fogs but my glasses do, so I'll run the fan as required. It's quiet enough that I've left it on accidentally and killed the battery before.

[Tinybear]

I too had EZ Fanz on one of my masks. Worked Very well for many years. But sadly they have failed now. I liked them not only for the anti fogging property but they moved enuff air to make the goggles just a wee bit cooler.

Unfortunately I believe they are no longer made so I have yet to replace them.

[BLachance75]

When I wore glasses I tried the JT fan and the Fanz kit. With both I had better luck when I cut a small hole in the top of the mask to let more air in.

the JT fan worked good but would get loud at times. When it did I would put a drop of oil in it and it would quiet down for a little while. The Fanz kit worked a lot better and moved more air.

I found that I only really needed it when I was waiting before a game or if I was in a position and not moving for extended periods. I’d flick it on for a few seconds to clear my glasses then shut it off.