THE CAGE: FACEPRO

ONCE AGAIN, IT’S TIME FOR THE LEGION TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY USE AND WHY - AND THIS TIME THEY GET ROUND TO THE THORNY ISSUE OF “FACEPRO”. LOVE IT OR HATE IT, FACEPRO HAS BECOME A PART OF REGULAR GAMEDAY GEAR FOR MANY PLAYERS AND BILL KICKS OFF THE DISCUSSION AS USUAL…

It’s a tricky old question, isn’t it? Whether to use facepro or not is a discussion that seems to come up time and again in airsoft chat groups, and it’s one that I look at with interest every time I see it. I’ll admit that I am extremely “old skool” when it comes to this subject as, to me, airsoft is all about freedom and keeping it as real as possible and the thought of wearing (what is essentially) a paintball mask is anathema to me!

However, I’m not some “man of steel” and I bleed and feel pain as much as any of you! I’ve taken some horrendous hits over the years, including some from hideously overpowered AEGs whilst playing overseas… I was once nailed at 20m with a Systema at 600fps on .25g which has led to lasting scarring on my arm because the guy had chrono’d and then changed his cylinder. This was in the USA and led to the local LE being called, who asked me if I wanted to make an “assault charge”, which I declined… I went hunting instead!

I’m not playing “the big man” here but the fact is that my injuries resulted from a player who “changed the game” and, in my opinion, lost all honour and integrity by doing so. In a game where everyone plays fairly and with honour this should never happen, but the fact is that we are playing airsoft, shooting little BBs at one another that CAN cause damage and I totally understand that you may wish to mitigate the risk of injury or lasting cosmetic damage. I’m old, I lost a bunch of teeth in a car accident years ago, so to me getting a “face shot” ain’t a big deal.

Have I used “facepro” during my years of playing airsoft? Of course I have, especially overseas where field/site insurance on older paintball sites now used for airsoft mandates it due to their existing insurance… but I bloody hate it! I’ve used very expensive full-face masks and I’ve never come across one that allowed me the freedom I wish for when I’m playing, so for me it’s a “No!” to them - unless it’s a “skull mask” when I’m playing a “character” in a scenario game.

I’ve tried various halfmasks and some, like the ONETIGRIS T’Farge (in MCBLK!), I’ve actually liked but I’ve never found one to my taste. Although I don’t spend the amount that some do on my loadouts, “looking good” (as much as a player in their mid-fifities can!) is a factor if I’m

“I WAS ONCE NAILED AT 20M WITH A SYSTEMA AT 600FPS ON .25G WHICH HAS LED TO LASTING SCARRING ON MY ARM BECAUSE THE GUY HAD CHRONO’D AND THEN CHANGED HIS CYLINDER. THIS WAS IN THE USA AND LED TO THE LOCAL LE BEING CALLED, WHO ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO MAKE AN “ASSAULT CHARGE”, WHICH I DECLINED… I WENT HUNTING INSTEAD!”

totally honest, and the “pure freedom aspect” is still very important to me. A couple of years back I discovered the FAST Mandible Guard from FMA which appeals to me in it’s aesthetic, as it resembles the real Mandible (and I managed to find one in GreenZone!) and, more recently, I added a hard Multicam Big Foot Multidimensional Split Mask (just the lower) to my existing Blueye Ballistic Glasses/FAST Helmet setup as, again, it looks eerily close to the real deal.

Both of these additions to my helmet setup still allow a decent cheekweld on my rifle and carbine stocks which, in turn, allows me to use my sights and optics effectively but wearing them is still a rare occurrence for me. If I have my Blueyes and a shemagh, that’s usually enough for me!

TEAM TALK

As usual, I asked the Legion about this, specifically “Do you use some form of FacePro, full-face mask, half-face mask with glasses/goggles, or mandiblestyle? Do you use different protection for different styles of game? Which ones do you use, what can you recommend and why?”

Stewbacca: “I’ve been using ESS ICE 2.4 or Crossbow ballistic glasses since 2008. I’m on my second pair/set as such, as they tend to last well but can get scratched at times. For most of that time I’ve also had a soft lower

facemask with a mesh mouth insert or similar to provide protection, adding to that a helmet for CQB since coming to Taiwan and getting crowned a few times by hotter guns here. Never. Skimp. On. Eyepro.”

Dan: “Another ESS ICE user here. I’ve been running those since about 2010, which replaced my old Bolle T-800’s after I could no longer find replacement lenses for them. They’re an awesome set of eyepro and practically never fog on me. I love how easy it is to swap lenses and changing from darker smoke lenses to clear is a matter of seconds!

“I picked up a ONETIGRIS balaclava mesh mask last year. Figured I’ve gone this many years without a major accident... my number has to be coming up at some point lol! It is lower profile than many of the other mesh masks I’ve dabbled with in the past and the material is pretty stretchy and it breathes well in the hot summers. The mesh does not interfere with cheekweld either, which was my main consideration. The only thing I wish it did better was that the material came over the top of the forehead more. It’s cut really high and ends up riding up over the hairline which is a bit nagging. I would have preferred that it terminated just above the brow line ideally.

“I’m also experimenting with an Oakley MSK3 and adding a small insert behind it. I think this would turn into an almost ideal setup, especially as the MSK3 has a rubber gasket that prevents your exhalations from seeping under your glasses.” Bill W-R: “My normal day-to-day skirmish setup is Nuprol glasses with a shemagh or a half-mesh face guard. For CQB I turn to the PUSH UNITE face mask, an amazing piece of kit that has transferred from paintball and provides me as a glasses wearer full face protection along with a great anti-fog system.”

Miguel: “In games with a heavy CQB component I normally use my helmet and a half mesh mask. In woodland games I just use my ESS eye pro and my beard. Haha! “MK1 Face Pro... The Operator Beard” LoL!”

Jon: “Well... *Inhales deeply*

“I spent a fair amount of time and effort researching this back when I ran games at Darkwater. As we ran outdoor and indoor venues we (the staff team) required different PPE for different days. In the CQB setting each member was given/provided their own stiff/heavy duty mesh lower, the one that covers your nose, mouth and jaw. They were also provided

“WE TRIALLED THE “FENCING STYLE” MASKS/COVERS AND THEY WERE JUST HIDEOUSLY UNCOMFORTABLE. WE ALL ENDED UP LOOKING LIKE LAURENCE OF ARABIA - WITH SHEMAGHS WRAPPED AROUND OUR HEADS AND FACES WITH A PAIR OF GOGGLES UNDERNEATH.”

with sealed mesh goggles. The issue with those were the fit. Mesh lowers are designed in a “one-sizefits-all” style but they certainly don’t fit all at all. BBs would rattle in from behind and masks would slip exposing the bridge of the nose. On top of that, they don’t sit well with goggles or eye protection. We trialled the “fencing style” masks/covers and they were just hideously uncomfortable. We all ended up looking like Laurence of Arabia - with shemaghs wrapped around our heads and faces with a pair of goggles underneath. I tried the helmet and mandible approach but they’re bulky, cumbersome and ultimately have the same issues as mesh lowers.

“For the outdoor games we used Bolle Rush+ glasses as they were cheap enough to buy in bulk and throw away once they’d had a hit, and again the trusty shemagh provided lower protection if the need arose. Now though, I’m a staunch advocate for WileyX products. My go-to are WileyX Nash which are wayyyyy over spec for airsoft. They’re wrap-around and simply the most comfortable eyepro I’ve ever had. As they’re heavily smoked (they’re actually proper UV protection), if the situation dictates I swap over to my WileyX Saber in either clear or “happy glasses” (yellow tint). Ultimately, you want to be look for eye protection that at an absolute minimum has EN166/ ANSI Z87 : Price Range £-££

Even better is ANSI Z87+ : Price Range ££-£££

Best MIL-PRF-31013 : Price Range £££-£££££.

“Teeth can be repaired and with a dental plan, it’s not too scary. Eyes however, you only get one pair. Lose them and you’re in trouble!”

Jimmy: “Hmmm… my face? I like my face mainly for my boyish good looks and great bone structure and the last thing I want is it ruined so over time I’ve tested a few methods. While they all do the job of protecting my beauty, I’ve discovered some are just not right and some are perfect for the role of an airsofter. It’s not pleasant getting shot in the face; the fear of imminent death is zero but no one likes getting shot in the face, let’s be honest.

“My first encounter of airsoft was in a CQB environment and I learnt fast the requirements to protect myself, so I purchased a full mesh half-mask. It was cheap, cheerful but intolerably uncomfortable. The mesh rubbed my chin, the plastic clips rubbed my ears and it restricted my cheekweld over my stock, so I soon sacked it off in search for something more comfortable and shooter-friendly. I tried cotton snoods and neoprene masks but they were lacking the protection I was looking for, especially for use in CQB where we found ourselves engaging inside 6ft in places!

“I found a half mask which had mesh for the nose, mouth and ears but incorporated soft padded cheek sections, brilliant! I now have good protection as well as the ability to get down on my stock and easily see my red dot which made target acquisition so much easier and meant I no longer had to tilt my rifle. I play both indoor and outdoor and for a while I ran no facepro when playing outdoor where the engagement distance becomes further and the BB tends to lose some of its sting but (yes there, is a “but”) getting shot in the teeth isn’t pleasant. I remembered seeing a guy at a game one day wearing a gum shield. My next port of call was the local sports shop where I managed to pick up two gum shields for UK£15, an absolute bargain compared to the price of new teeth! Lo and behold my first game using the gum shield the inevitable happened and I get shot in the teeth - or should I say gum shield - but I laughed it off and carried on regardless. So, my facepro now comes in two forms; outdoors my trusted Revision Sawfly and the now reputable gum shield and, for indoors, it is my comfortable half mask and my highly rated Heroshark Hexmesh glasses. May my face stay forever pretty!”

Steve T: “I’ve shared this within AA before - and I’ll happily share it again every single day! Bollé X800i goggles… If I broke mine today, I would buy another pair straight away. As a big, fat, heavy-breathing, bearded twat, I have yet to find another solution that doesn’t mist up - including supposedly “fog-free” solutions such as the DYE i4. You can play as ballsout as you like, but it’ll count for nought if you can’t see what you’re aiming at. The Bollé have always helped me keep my target in view, even when prone in scrub and breathing heavily. They’re all I need for a woodland game but I’ll pair the X800is with a mesh lower mask and a FAST helmet for CQB games, because even little plastic BBs hurt when you get up close and personal!”

So, to conclude, it does appear that I am somewhat of an “airsoft dinosaur” for not embracing “facepro” and the guys are largely of the opinion that it’s a good thing - and who am I to disagree with the consensus of players whose opinions are trusted?

Fact is that YOU play airsoft the way YOU want to play airsoft and that’s the joy of it really, isn’t it? Whatever YOU decide is your style is 100% fine with me - and us - and as long as you keep it real and play hard, along with that all-important honour and integrity, what you wear is YOUR choice but we hope that you’ll find our comments useful as always! AA