Best Paintball Masks 2022 – Protection & Comfort

A paintball mask or helmet is perhaps one of the most important gear in the game of paintball. In fact, a mask is mandatory if you want to participate in a game. Wearing a standard mask vs a good mask is a day and night difference.

If you play paintball with a bad mask, your experience can be hindered greatly. The best paintball mask offers crystal vision, no fogging and superior comfort.

Somethings to Consider when looking for the best paintball mask.

Visibility

Visibility is important in paintball. You want a mask that allows you to see the field and allows your peripherals to notice other players and objects. Your field of view matters in all situations on the field, short range and long range. 

Hearing

Another key element to a good paintball mask is hearing. Cheaper paintball masks are made from hard plastics, making it uncomfortable and hard to hear. Foam and rubber are generally the materials to look for, for optimal hearing in the field.

Ventilation & Fogging

Ventilation is very important when it comes to performance. If your headgear is too bulky, your head can become very hot, which can cause uncomfortable sweating. Quality masks have very good ventilation and vents to help you get air in and out of your mask.

Poor ventilation can cause fogging. Fogging is perhaps one of the worst things that can happen to you on the field. Fogging is when your lens becomes fogged or clouded. This will make it almost impossible to see out of your mask. Always look for a mask that has an anti-fog lens attached to it.

A dual pane thermal lens refers to 2 individual panes of the lens separated by a thin layer about 1/8″ of an inch.  The inside lens pane is thinner and light weight while the outer pane is thicker for full eye protection.

Comfort

The last thing you’d want to consider is comfort. Comfort is a good paintball mask including materials like EVA, foam and soft rubber. Masks with hard plastic can press against your skin and make it very uncomfortable.

With all things considered, let’s take a look at the best paintball mask on the market today. For superior protection, ventilation, comfort, hearing and visibility.

Top 10 Paintball Masks for Protection & Comfort

1. HK Army HSTL Paintball Goggle with Thermal Lens

Composed of a robust blend of thermoplastic, the design of the HSTL face mask protects critical areas of the user, while still promoting supreme breathability and freedom of movement. The HSTL Goggle System features the quick change lens retention system which allows the player to replace their lens in seconds without the use of tools.

Key features:

• Dual pane thermal lens 
• Foam inserts
• Lightweight design
• Comes in a variety of colors

2. Valken Paintball MI-7 Goggle/Mask with Dual Pane Thermal Lens

A goggle that has all-professional features at an entry level price. From its inception, the MI-7 goggle was intended to take the abuse of any level of play; from the daily rental fleet grind to the occasional weekend battle in the woods.

Key features:

• Dual pane thermal lens 
• 60 degrees vertical and 260 degrees horizontal vision
• Dual-Layer comfort foam
• Exterior open-cell foam

3. Dye Precision I4 Thermal Paintball Goggle

The Dye Precision i4 Goggle System is the smallest profile, lightest, and best field of vision goggle system available. The thermal lens leads the industry in optical clarity and provides a distortion and fog free field of vision regardless of weather. Dye’s proprietary dual stage foam combines open and closed cell foam technology. 

Dual stage foam is specifically designed to ‘sheet’ sweat and moisture away from your face, providing an undeniably resilient boundary between your eyes and perspiration. The i4 features an industry first compound radius lens with thermal technology, giving the player the ultimate vertical/ horizontal peripheral vision.

Key features:

• Thermal lens
• Compression formed earpiece
• Precise blade angling
• ASTM and CE standards

4. HK Army Paintball KLR Thermal Anti-Fog Mask

Composed of a robust blend of thermoplastic elastomer, the design of the KLR face mask protects critical areas of the user, while still promoting supreme breathability and freedom of movement. The KLR Goggle System can be customized to fit any customer’s aesthetic desires by simply changing the high-density compression molded earpieces or PVTLock lens retention system.

Key features:

• Pure HD dual-pane thermal Smoke Lens
• Anti-slip goggle strap
• Tri-layer face foam
• High-density compression molded ear pieces

5. Maddog HK Army HSTL Goggle Thermal Anti-Fog Paintball Mask

HSTL Goggle System – Composed of a robust blend of thermoplastic, the design of the HSTL face mask protects critical areas of the user, while still promoting supreme breathability and freedom of movement. The HSTL Goggle System features the quick change lens retention system which allows the player to replace their lens in seconds without the use of tools.

Key features:

• Clear THERMAL Dual Pane Lens
• Quick-change lens retention system
• Anti-slip goggle strap
• Lightweight design

6. JT Proflex X Thermal Paintball Mask

The most popular and comfortable goggle system in the world now comes with an all new Pro-Change frame system. The Proflex X allows you to quickly and easily switch out your lenses for different playing environments and your foam for easy maintenance. 

Continuing with its legacy and timeless design, the Proflex X is built on its unique insert molding technology giving the player a rigid upper for maximum protection, while offering a soft flexible lower mandible that allows the player to conform and move easily.

Key features:

• Pro-Change Lens Frame System
• 3D Molded Comfortable Face Foam
• Quick Release Foam System
• Thermal lens

7. HK Army SLR Face Mask

The HK Army SLR face mask offers superior protection in critical areas, while still promoting supreme breathability, audible clarity, and freedom of movement. Highly focused ventilations zones around the entire mask allows your voice to naturally expand outward creating a clarity while neutralizing echo throughout the mask.

Key features:

• 3D memory foam
• HD Pure lens system
• CTX Goggle Strap Pad
• Clip-Lock System

8. Dye i5 Paintball Mask

The next evolution in the DYE goggle line is also the next evolution in paintball eye and face protection technology. New groundbreaking features like the GSR pro-strap and e.VOKE communication system make the i5 the most advanced goggle system in the industry today.

Engineered to perform, designed to inspire, the i5 is the pinnacle of paintball mask development. The New i5 goggle system is an aggressive, Ultralite mask, offering more protection, more venting, better comfort, better sound processing, better safety, all combined for complete unmatched performance.

Key features:

• Tirodial Horizon 290 degree anti-fog lens
• GSR Pro-Strap
• Universal Heads-Up POV Mount
• Precise tension control

9. CRBN OPR Thermal Paintball Goggles / Masks

The ideal integrated mask and goggle system with a balance of fit, breathability, protection and value. Exceeds ASTM safety standards for protection from both .68 and .50 paintballs. Quick change wide angle dual pane thermal lens with true optical clarity. 

Improved facemask molding for a softer contoured profile with integrated visor for complete coverage. Moisture wicking open cell modular foam inserts can be replaced tool-free in seconds.

Key features:

• Two Layer Thermal Lens
• Built-in Visor
• Polymer construction
• Contoured profile

10. JT Spectra Flex 8 Thermal Full Coverage Goggles

JT Flex 8 Full Coverage Goggle uses the revolutionary exoskeleton that can be found in our Flex-8 system. This system offers integrated venting on the jaw which has also been strategically designed to encourage deflections and bounces. 

While the JT Spectra Flex-8 offers a “smaller target” to your opponent than previous Spectra systems, the Flex-8 goggle still maintains its ability to accept the Vortex II fan and other popular JT accessories.

Key features:

• 260° field of vision
• Built-in Visor
• Full Coverage version
• Venting system

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