Goggles

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Goggle Basics

Paintball-approved eye protection only-- face (tooth) protection recommended-- at paintball facilities (North Vancouver, Richmond Indoor). Only goggles that provide a sealed space between the outside environment and your eyes protect your eyes from paintballs and BB's. Ballistic goggles or paintball-approved eye protection at all airsoft facilities (Panther, Bigfoot).

Most facilities prefer goggles that seal against your face to limit tangential shots intruding into the eye. So do we.

Dr Airsoft explains why: http://vaughanmd.com/drairsoft/answer2.html (quick copy - Dr Airsoft A2)

Notes from his article:

1. The American Society for Testing and Standards (ASTM.org) is currently developing standards for Airsoft which will require a minimum of full-seal goggles consistent with ANSI Z87.1 level of protection. Do not compromise on this requirement.
2. I encourage you to listen to our podcast (http://feeds.feedburner.com/airsoftmedicine) titled, "bang kill," for more discussion on this topic. The ASTM is going to set a standard of no shot closer than five feet, and no closer than 10 feet with a gun firing 350 feet per second.

Face Protection

Many players have removed or modified the stock face protection on their goggles to allow better aim and limit goggle fogging. Op-For recommends you use some form of face protection to protect your teeth.

Advice from a doctor who plays airsoft:

1. http://vaughanmd.com/drairsoft/answer1.html

(eventually we will put the quotes in wiki format - links are dead as we have downed the server, but the data is archived so eventually....)

1. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9322&highlight=goggles+face
2. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9242&highlight=goggles+face
3. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12126&highlight=goggles+face
4. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13190&highlight=goggles+face
5. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12824&highlight=goggles+face
6. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12842&highlight=goggles+face
7. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12238&highlight=goggles+face
8. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12824&highlight=goggles+face
9. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12142&highlight=goggles+face
10. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11463&highlight=goggles+face
11. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10340&highlight=goggles+face
12. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8656&highlight=goggles+face
13. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9043&highlight=goggles+face
14. http://op-for.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14310&highlight=goggles+face

Recognized Brands

• JT (Pro-Flex allews most flexible configuration)
• Dye
• Scott
• V-Force
• Empire
• Invert
• Save Phace
• Leader
• Brass Eagle
• Tippman
• Extreme Rage
• Proto
• Sly

Recommended Models

• JT Spectra Thermal
• JT Flex 8 Pro
• any JT paintball goggle (Flex 8, Flex Flex 8 Pro, etc)
• any dual pane (thermal) paintball goggle with removable face mask
• Scott Voltage XP - http://www.pbreview.com/products/reviews/3092/

Practical Testing

Airsoft Safety recommendations:

• http://vaughanmd.com/drairsoft/topics.html

Some of Dr. Airsoft's practical testing videos:

• 520 ft/s rifle:
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmaMqrv6yAA

• Wire Goggles:
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoPc6Je-7Tg

Upcoming Standards

American Society for Testing and Materials has a committee working on this: http://www.popularairsoft.com/news/astm-airsoft-eye-protection-news

The eye protection standard is currently marked ASTM WK27246. The committee also has standards for BBs and barrel blocking devices ( http://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/WORKITEMS/WK42700.htm ).

Their standards are listed here: http://www.astm.org/COMMIT/SUBCOMMIT/F0827.htm .