Four Things to Look for when Buying a Paintball Mask

Paintball is an extreme sport that was invented in the United States during 1976 by Charles Gaines, Hayes Noel, and Bob Gurnsey. The three had been discussing Gaine's recent trip to Africa where he had experienced great adrenalin rushes hunting buffalo and wanted a way to recreate that experience here in the United States. The game was also loosely inspired by the novel 'The Most Dangerous Game' and the game capture the flag. In 1981 Sports Illustrated hosted the first paintball tournament which consisted of twelve players, since then paintball has be come a wildly popular activity in the United States and elsewhere in the world.

Despite technically being a no contact sport safety equipment such as knee pads, padded undershirts, and paintball masks are still very important. Many places consider a paintball mask mandatory due to seriousness of injuries one could incur without one. That is also why it is so important to choose the correct paintball mask and make sure it is properly maintained.

One of the most important things to be sure of with one's paintball mask is that the lens does not have a crack in it. A paintball mask with a cracked or broken lens can pose a serious safety hazard as paint can get into the eyes, and broken shard of plastic or glass could possibly cut the eyes and face. Because the average paintball travels at a speed of 300 feet per second it is critical that one keeps their paintball mask on at all times. Not wearing a paintball mask can put one at a very high risk for a head or facial injury.

Also be sure that the mask being worn is designed specifically for paintball. Because of the risk for injury it is absolutely crucial that one wears a paintball mask as opposed to any other athletic mask which might not be able to provide the same amount of protection.

Finally be sure to look for paintball masks which suit your individual needs. A double-layered or thermal mask can be a good option because there is a much lower chance of one's goggles fogging up during play, which can be potentially dangerous. Polycarbonate lenses are a good option due to excellent impact resistance however they are more difficult to maintain and can scratch more easily than other types of lenses. Some paintball masks have special throat guards which is an excellent safety feature, whereas smaller and usually more expensive paintball masks may be a better strategically choice as they make one a more difficult target.

Sources:

Paintball Sports Trade Association
Pump Paintball Guns