Paintball

[Jdaddy615]

Just got this in the mail and i figured i would do a quick initial review; i plan on updating once i have a chance to hit the field with it. Since it's practically impossible to not let personal preference come through, here are my like/dislikes mask-wise:
all pics i have my mouth open like i an talking to show the amount of chin exposure
- Profilers: my first mask; loved them...perfect fit on me and excellent protection...never fogged, good field of vision, stick out a little far on the sides, comfy foam
- Grillz: follow my jaw line closely and always worried me i would take a shot in the chin (never happened); fog on occassion, minimal forehead coverage (never had an issue since i wear a headband), great field of vision, dont stick out too far on the sides, comfy and replaceable foam

Proflex: Hate them! they flex too much and chin/mouth shot happen often, no forehead protection (headband-non issue)...they just feel cheap to me, stick out very far on the sides, good foam. Yes the flex is pink; and yes, there is a heart sticker on the nose...it's my wife's haha


Alright; enough glamour shots, on to the review!

Packaging
the mask comes in a sturdy, circle cardboard box with a clear plastic top...unique and worth keeping if you ask me


The mask comes with a very thick, high quality velvet type goggle bag with a drawstring...very nice, the nicest one i have ever seen

*Also includes two manuals (one English and one Spanish) describing lens removal, cleaning, etc. Comes with something else we all love...stickers! **it is worth noting that there is a lens protecting plastic film on the outside and inside of the lens

Foam
The foam is very nice and covered with felt; i have read reviews that have said the face foam does not make contact in all spots for some people; but i did not have this issue


The mask has a hard ear cover with internal foam for padding...the ear foam is thick..very thick. It makes sounds slightly muffled and echoes a little when talking loudly, its not horrible, but will take some getting use to (the foam is also covered with felt)


Fit
The bottom are flexible, but not very much (think-grillz but a little firmer). The chin dips towards yourface at the bottom which hits my mouth slightly when talking...my face is very close to the front on the mask...it fits very snugg. My chin hangs out a lot when talking. Remember those glamour shots above...here is another one

the double straps are actually very nice and the mask doesnt wiggle at all; there is a chin strap that looks like it will have to be cut if you want it removed

They do not stick out on the sides...this mask sucks to your face and feels like it becomes part of you.

Size comparison
About as much forehead coverage as the grillz; but cover more on the sides of the face (jaw line). As stated in the "Fit" section they do not cover as much of the chin as the Grillz

Better protection than flex in the chin area; not as wide as the flex


Looks
Personally, i like them more than any other mask out right now (the Angel mask due out later this year might beat it though). They look like the love child of DYE I3's and a Profiler/Grillz clone.




Lens
Field of vision: very good; seems right on par with other high end masks
Fogging:will update after play
**the provided gradient lens seems very nice; i will have to use check it out in action before i make a determination

Overview
Pros: look, padding (although the ears are a bit thick), field of vision, packaging, quality feel and materials
Cons: The price is stout ($89.99), all that great comfy padding makes the mask warm, chin coverage (for me)

***UPDATE***

So i used this mask a few weeks ago all day at a scenario game in very warm weather. There were no fogging issues what so ever. The only real issue was that it was a little hard to hear what people were saying if they were not close or yelling, the ear padding also pushes on a part of my ear that made it a little sore after a while. I will most likely remove some of the ear padding...besides those issues, the mask is amazing. I also took several shots right on the chin of the mask and got all bounces!
-j

[james]

good review without even using them

[Jdaddy615]

Originally Posted by james

good review without even using them

i wore them around the house for thirty minutes or so...looking forward to hitting the field to see just how warm they get

[BIGNUGLY]

Originally Posted by james

good review without even using them

2ND

[[MOOSE]]

I may look into getting these when I start fulltime and get some more cash in me pockets. They good though and nice review.

[james]

i really want to compare them to the i3's and new Angel masks

[Jdaddy615]

Originally Posted by james

i really want to compare them to the i3's and new Angel masks

looking forward to the Angel mask

[noctem89]

im assuming in all those "glamor" shots, you had your mouth fully open?

[Jdaddy615]

Originally Posted by noctem89

im assuming in all those "glamor" shots, you had your mouth fully open?

Correct

[Kain556]

hurm they look cool, very interested to hear what they performed like.