Test Procedure:
To show why facemask requirements are so important we decided to test several facemasks and goggles. A roll of paper towels was used as the test head. Over the paper towels a piece of paper was placed (Tokyo Marui targets that come with the guns) and the goggles were secured to the “head” with the goggles over the paper. All shots were done with 0.20g excel bbs at 30 feet. 30 feet may seem close, but let’s face it, we’ve all been shot at less than that distance. The guns used were a Maruzen CA870 (300fps), upgraded Marui AK47 (360fps), upgraded Marui M14 (400fps), upgraded Marui SR-16 (440fps), upgraded Marui VSR-10 (500fps), and the Impact Games blue RI vsR-1o (575fps).

Paintball goggles.
These are the only type of face protection allowed by Airsoft Hawaii / ASH BASH Productions. They are by far the strongest type of eye protection to withstand impact. Lexan is the lens material of choice, it’s the same stuff used for “bulletproof” glass. But even a thick Lexan lens can fail with enough impact. Here is a JT mask showing cracks from a 500fps gun. A hole was punched through using a 575fps gun, at about 30 feet. This shot could have blinded someone. Out of all the goggles and facemasks tested the paintball mask was the strongest and only one able to keep a 500fps from hitting your eyes, but it was still damaged with an obvious crack. This is why we strictly enforce a maximum 450fps velocity limit for Airsoft Hawaii games. Another JT mask with the exact same type of lens was shot repeatedly with 440fps shots with no damage to the lens, frame or facemask. No other goggle system in our tests came close to this level of protection.

Paintball goggles are the strongest form of eye protection but even they have limits. This was cracked with 500 and 575fps shots.

Some people talk about playing with 600+ fps guns and use of heavy weight bbs. Obviously a dangerous idea especially now seeing what a high powered gun can do. Ultra high velocities are ok for target shooting but they are not safe for shooting at other people. Field owners and event promoters, before continuing to have high velocity games please consider what might happen before it’s too late. Accidents and close range shots will happen; protect yourself and your players. Otherwise you may end up in court explaining why someone was blinded at your game.

Military issue goggles are not allowed because they are not strong enough. Military goggles are made mostly to keep sand, wind, and dust out of your eyes (that’s why they are referred to as SWD goggles). Also the sad truth is when the government needs to give millions of these out to all the troops they will look for the cheapest thing possible. Also, there is no brand so there is nobody to worry about liability. Oakley has to worry about liability and reputation and build a much stronger goggle, but even they failed our test.

Just because something is Mil-spec or used by SWAT it doesn’t mean it’s strong enough for airsoft.

Oakley goggles, which meet ANSI standards everyone talks about as the measure of protective strength, failed horribly. A shot to the direct center of the lens was absorbed with obvious damage, but at least it would still deflect the shot. However, if shot closer to the top, within ¾ of an inch to the vent holes, the lens shatters and the bb and shards go through with no problem. The crack in the center was from a 360fps 0.20g bb, at 30 feet. The center of the lens meets ANSI requirements, but are you going to tell everyone they can only shoot you in the center of your goggles? Also, the side walls of the goggles are very thin soft foam which a spring pistol could shoot through. Tactical goggles are made to protect from flying brass casings, dust, and chemicals; they are not made to be shot at.

This could have been someone’s eye.

Sunglasses, shooting glasses, and safety glasses are not durable enough either. The lens might be able shatterproof but how strong are the frames, earpieces, and hinges. Many safety glasses are only designed to take a single hit from whatever accident may happen. They are not made to take repetitive shots that may come from full-auto guns. And lets face it, if you’re getting full auto blasted in the face what’s the chance of all the bbs hitting only the center of your glasses and not the rest of your face? The lens deflected the shots but the frame on these shooting glasses cracked with a 360fps shot. As soon as the frame cracked the lens dropped out leaving the “head” totally exposed. These are not cheap glasses either. This model of shooting glasses costs $44 (the same price as a paintball mask) and is made by a reputable company. Notice the bbs imbedded in the roll, that could have been your face if you were wearing just glasses (ok I wasn’t exactly aiming at the glasses, but I hope this proves why a good facemask is important).

What good is a lens if you don’t have a frame to hold them in place.

Issue 11 of NAM Magazine reported on an incident at Fort Ord where a player wearing Wiley X glasses was shot and the glasses broke exactly like our test results. This happened during game play. Luckily the player was not injured. Click here to see the story from NAM Magazine.

The Shotgun test. Many glasses and goggles try to show how strong they are by shooting them with a shotgun. I don’t doubt that the lens is strong enough for many of these tests but again, how strong is the frame? Have you ever noticed they always show just the lens getting shot? Or if they have it in the frame there isn’t a single hit on the frame itself and it looks brand new. Don’t fall for these marketing tricks. The bulletproof lens won’t help you if it’s on the ground after your frame cracked.

Mesh goggles are extremely dangerous. We tested a popular facemask with mesh goggles that is commonly found on cheap websites, ebay, and stores that sell lower end guns, like clones. Shots at 300fps with 0.20g bbs would deform the mesh with enough impact that the hard paint over the mesh would chip off and go flying into your eyes. These paint shards are sharp and jagged and will do serious damage to your eyes.

Fragments from the goggle itself at only 300fps shots.

300fps was also enough power to punch a hole through the facemask when the bb hits near a slot or vent. 360fps would result in bbs shattering on the mesh and fragments flying in along with the paint shards.

BB Fragments passed through the mesh.

Holes were also punched through the facemask even in solid spots with no vents or slots.

Obviously these goggles are not safe for airsoft.

400fps was where it became even more dangerous. A 400fps shot to the flexible goggle frame had enough force that the bb slipped right through a 2mm hole and went right through the paper and imbedded itself into the roll of paper towels in the location your eye would be. A grazing 400fps shot on the cheek portion (the thickest area on this mask) was enough to crack it.

500fps on the goggle frame delivered enough force that the mesh lens was pushed out of the frame. NEVER USE MESH GOGGLES!

Across the US many events and fields are allowing upgraded velocities, 350fps, 400fps, 400fps with 0.25g. Many also allow higher velocities for “heavy guns” or “sniper weapons” which can go over 600fps. It may also be a coincidence but the games with the highest velocities also seem to have the lowest eye protection rules. With strong guns you need strong protection. The only one to hold up to upgraded guns was the paintball mask, but even those have a limit. Please be careful, be reasonable, and use the right gear. Being comfortable and looking cool is not worth going blind.

Special thanks to NAM Magazine for their help on background information, Lenny and Lyle from Wicked West Airsoft for donating the Oakley goggles and JT mask for this experiment, and Jeff from Hawaii Airsoft Club for assisting in the tests.