A personal pet peeve of mine is my mask fogging up while playing. I find that it happens more so playing outdoors, but it can occasionally happen playing indoors as well.
So the question becomes why do masks fog? Masks fog when the moisture from your face evaporates into the space between your mask and then condensates on your lens. This typically occurs at two times: when you sweat a lot and release lots of moisture from your face or when your face is considerably warmer than the outside air. The first situation typically occurs during hot days while the second, similar to a windshield that fogs, happens when the outside air is considerably colder than the air around your face.
So now you might be saying well how to I prevent this; I can’t stop sweating, and I can’t regulate my body temperature to equal that of the air around me. So here are a few suggestions.
Thermal Lenses – I would strongly suggest investing in a mask with a thermal lens. Thermal Lenses basically consist of two lenses that are places together with a small are-filled space between them. The space between the two lenses acts as a barrier between your body temperature and the outside temperature. Because of this barrier your inner lens remains closer to the temperature of your body while the outside lens remains closer to the temperature outside. Through out my testing I would say that a Thermal Mask is the most effective way to reduce fogging.
Anti-Fog Spray – There are many companies out there that market anti-fog spray's and creams. Anti-fog sprays have been around longer than paintball as they have been marketed to scuba divers since before I can remember. The concept of an anti-fog spray is to keep moisture from condensing of flat surfaces. The basic principal is to spray a mist (or apply some cream) of the anti-fog on the lens, which will in turn prevent fog vapors from gathering on your lens. The results for anti-fogging sprays and creams are mixed. In my opinion it is a very cheap and easy way to possibly prevent your mask from fogging. With that being said on really hot and humid days it may only delay how long before your mask fogs.
Mask Fans – Originally these started out as an extra that could be added to your mask to help prevent fogging. Now some masks are created with the fan build into the mask. The fans sit above the goggles and blow air down over the lens to help evaporate moisture of the lens. In comparison to anti-fog sprays fans are a more expensive option. Depending on your mask fans can range from $20 to $50, they require batteries to operate, make a considerable amount of noise, and are prone to break. Despite all that they do effectively reduce fog.
Dry the Foam – Inside every mask is form that helps the mask fit snug to your face. Depending on the form that is inside your mask it can collect some of the moisture from your face while you are playing. I find it very helpful in-between games to take a towel and press it against the form to remove as much of that extra moisture before I play the next game.
Being able to see your targets while playing paintball is important; so having a clear mask is essential. In most circumstances you can prevent fogging by using one or a combination of the tips listed above. You need to find out which combination works best for you. Also remember that what works for you playing indoors many not work as well playing outdoors.
Showing posts with label Paintball Safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paintball Safety. Show all posts
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Paintball Masks - Keeping Your Face Safe!
Some sports such as hockey or football have a large list of safety gear ranging from shin guards to shoulder pad and helmets to name a few. But paintball really only has one wearable piece of safety equipment; the mask.
Paintball masks are designed to protect your face and ears. When looking for a mask you should look for one that covers your whole face area, forehead to chin with coverage for your ears. If the mask doesn’t fully cover all these areas look for a bigger mask. Some mask also provide protection for your head, although this is not entirely necessary as the top of your head is hard and can withstand a paintball, some people feel better with this option.
Fit
Since this is your primary protection you want something that fits just right. Look for a mask that fits firmly on your head without pinching. You should be able to tighten the straps to make your mask snug without maxing out the adjusters or permanently stretching out the straps. Make sure that your mask comfortably fits around your ears and that the mouth guard doesn't hit your chest when you look down or your shoulders when you look to the sides. Remember this is about safety first then style. You need to make sure that everything is protected and feels comfortable first, then try to get the look you want.
Padding
While most people don’t pay much attention to the foam padding inside a mask it can be a huge difference between a good mask and a great mask. Most importantly you want make sure you like how the foam feels on your face. You are going to be wearing this a lot so comfort is a big part of safety. You want to find a mask that has form which is flexible and will mold to your face, but will also return to its original shape. You also want to inspect how the form in secured/glued to the mask. Check for a solid glue job with no corners or seams unattached.
Lens
When looking through the mask; make sure that the lens area provides enough side vision. On average human have a field vision of 180 degrees, unless you are planning of looking out of the corner of your eye instead of turning your head, a mask with 120 degree field of vision should be more than adequate. Next you should look for a mask with a thermal lens. Thermal lenses are simply two separate lenses with air in between them which helps prevent fogging. You will also find some lenses are tinted, while these do not add to the safety of the mask, they can provide a function similar to sunglasses or just a cool factor.
Value
Paintball masks can cost from $20 to more than $100. To decide which mask is best for you determine what features you really need (for example, you may want good fog protection, therefore you will want to look at masks that offer a thermal lens) and then see what masks fit your budget. The best mask is not necessarily the most expensive; it's simply the mask that fits and works best for you.
Additional Things
Most masks come with visors which some find to be useful when playing outdoors. Additionally, some masks come with built-in fans designed to reduce fogging, while others are designed to have a fan added on if necessary. The plastic of the mask come in many levels of rigidity. Some players prefer softer plastic which may help prevent a ball break. When choosing a mask; chose one that is rigid enough for your liking. The plastic also comes in numerous colors ranging form bright reds and blues to dull blacks and greens, so you should able to find a color you like. There are also many purely cosmetic upgrades you can add to customize your mask.
Have fun, and play safe.
Paintball masks are designed to protect your face and ears. When looking for a mask you should look for one that covers your whole face area, forehead to chin with coverage for your ears. If the mask doesn’t fully cover all these areas look for a bigger mask. Some mask also provide protection for your head, although this is not entirely necessary as the top of your head is hard and can withstand a paintball, some people feel better with this option.
Fit
Since this is your primary protection you want something that fits just right. Look for a mask that fits firmly on your head without pinching. You should be able to tighten the straps to make your mask snug without maxing out the adjusters or permanently stretching out the straps. Make sure that your mask comfortably fits around your ears and that the mouth guard doesn't hit your chest when you look down or your shoulders when you look to the sides. Remember this is about safety first then style. You need to make sure that everything is protected and feels comfortable first, then try to get the look you want.
Padding
While most people don’t pay much attention to the foam padding inside a mask it can be a huge difference between a good mask and a great mask. Most importantly you want make sure you like how the foam feels on your face. You are going to be wearing this a lot so comfort is a big part of safety. You want to find a mask that has form which is flexible and will mold to your face, but will also return to its original shape. You also want to inspect how the form in secured/glued to the mask. Check for a solid glue job with no corners or seams unattached.
Lens
When looking through the mask; make sure that the lens area provides enough side vision. On average human have a field vision of 180 degrees, unless you are planning of looking out of the corner of your eye instead of turning your head, a mask with 120 degree field of vision should be more than adequate. Next you should look for a mask with a thermal lens. Thermal lenses are simply two separate lenses with air in between them which helps prevent fogging. You will also find some lenses are tinted, while these do not add to the safety of the mask, they can provide a function similar to sunglasses or just a cool factor.
Value
Paintball masks can cost from $20 to more than $100. To decide which mask is best for you determine what features you really need (for example, you may want good fog protection, therefore you will want to look at masks that offer a thermal lens) and then see what masks fit your budget. The best mask is not necessarily the most expensive; it's simply the mask that fits and works best for you.
Additional Things
Most masks come with visors which some find to be useful when playing outdoors. Additionally, some masks come with built-in fans designed to reduce fogging, while others are designed to have a fan added on if necessary. The plastic of the mask come in many levels of rigidity. Some players prefer softer plastic which may help prevent a ball break. When choosing a mask; chose one that is rigid enough for your liking. The plastic also comes in numerous colors ranging form bright reds and blues to dull blacks and greens, so you should able to find a color you like. There are also many purely cosmetic upgrades you can add to customize your mask.
Have fun, and play safe.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Great Tips For X-Ball Games/Tournaments
I found this very informative video that showed some great tips for playing in X-Ball games or tournaments. I hope you enjoy.
Also in the video they mentioned a great Dynasty video. I highly recommend this video as well. Click the following link to purchase you own copy. Dynasty Dysected DVD Paintball Movie
Also in the video they mentioned a great Dynasty video. I highly recommend this video as well. Click the following link to purchase you own copy. Dynasty Dysected DVD Paintball Movie
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
New Angel A-Box
Angel Paintball Sports has released their new A-Box. No this isn't the next generation video game console, it is a small range for test firing paintball guns. The A-Box is small in diameter about 1.2 meters is length (approximate 4 feet). The box is designed to use A-Balls (reusable balls from APS).
As a stores owner, you can place on of these in your store and allow your clients of test your paintball guns to get a feel of exactly how they perform.
As an avid paintballer this is a great tool to allow you to play around with your paintball guns and perform tests on setting & mods without wasting paintballs or creating a mess.
See the video below from APS to get an better look at the A-Box
As a stores owner, you can place on of these in your store and allow your clients of test your paintball guns to get a feel of exactly how they perform.
As an avid paintballer this is a great tool to allow you to play around with your paintball guns and perform tests on setting & mods without wasting paintballs or creating a mess.
See the video below from APS to get an better look at the A-Box
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Review of Angel A1 Fly Paintball Gun!
Out of the Box
When you open the box the first thing you notice is this gorgeous paintball gun. Once you finish drooling over the marker, it's time to start playing. The A1 Fly does not run at top performance out of the box, some tuning is required. Adjusting the settings on the A1 is easily accomplished with the color LCD screen and scroll wheel (which also is used to turn the gun on and off and put it into safe mode). The A1 Fly's full color manual is very well written and contains all the information you'll need to completely disassemble and reassemble the gun as well as a comprehensive explanation of how to tune it to fit your needs.
To get the gun tuned perfectly you'll need to get an additional gauge (available from APS) to help you tune the LPR. While the stock settings work perfectly for the intermediate player, if you really want to get your dwell, de-bounce and LPR settings ideal, APS released the settings they use for the professional teams they sponsor.
Basic tuning of the A1 is not too difficult though advanced settings (such as Joy or Rage) should probably be done by a professional. The trigger pull is easy to get just like you want it and the scroll wheel and LCD screen are very easy to use. There are many settings (breakout, ramping, full auto, etc.) so you can get your gun to play just like you want it to.
The A1 comes with a tool kit, gun oil, a barrel plug (I recommend getting a barrel sock as soon as possible) and a two-piece barrel with three backs (.691, .693 and .695).
Design
Angel Paintball Sport's Angel 1 Fly (also known as the A1 Fly) has kept the Angel recognized three-bore design which keeps the gun compact and its low-rise clamping feed neck gives it a very low and tight profile. Internally, the fore-grip houses a primary regulator; the two lower chambers contain the low pressure regulator and the ram; while the upper chamber holds the bolt. The A1 Fly comes with a standard with an LED screen and scroll wheel to manage your settings. The electronic board comes with a USB port to update the gun's software via your computer. With all these awesome features, Angel still manages to design the A1 Fly as one of the best looking guns available today.
As can be expected for a high-end gun, all the components are very well made. As with most Angel paintball guns there really aren't very many upgrades available (or even needed other than a barrel kit).
Performance
First the disclaimer; don’t expect perfection from the A1 Fly out of the box. Angel paintball guns need a little breaking in before they shoot super consistently and get maximum shot efficiency. Additionally, like all high-end guns, the A1 needs to be tuned properly before it will fire just like you want it.
If you are a casual player just playing in semi-automatic mode, there's not a whole lot to be done other than adjust your ball speed. If you want to tune the gun to act like the professionals' guns it will take a little bit of time to get things just right. One great feature is the customization of the trigger pull - it's easy to do and very precise.
The A1 Fly comes with three barrel backs, though unfortunately the smallest size is .691 (which is larger than many paintballs). So again, out of the box adjustments need to be made. With a good paint to barrel match, the A1 can lay down ball on top of ball at thirty feet.
Like most high-end guns, it fires as fast as you can pull the trigger so your firing speed becomes limited by your hopper speed.
A common issue that seems to arise with A1 Fly owners is the efficiency. A well tuned gun is very efficient, but if you are getting less than 1000 shots with a full 68/4500 tank, you may want to have a professional tune your gun.
Recommend Upgrades
The A1 Fly comes stock with so many options out of the box, there are not many updated needed before you take it into your first game. If you are an avid paintballer, I would recommend getting a barrel kit that will give you more options on bore sizes. There are many kits to choose from, pick the one that suits you best.
Summary
The Angel A1 Fly comes with a high-end price but also packs high-end performance. Depending on your play style it may or may not be the best paintball gun, but it definitely competes with any gun out there.
Well that is it for this review of the Angel A1 Fly paintball gun. I know what I’m playing with next time I’m at the field. If you're thinking about getting your own A1 Fly paintball gun, get a great deal here!
When you open the box the first thing you notice is this gorgeous paintball gun. Once you finish drooling over the marker, it's time to start playing. The A1 Fly does not run at top performance out of the box, some tuning is required. Adjusting the settings on the A1 is easily accomplished with the color LCD screen and scroll wheel (which also is used to turn the gun on and off and put it into safe mode). The A1 Fly's full color manual is very well written and contains all the information you'll need to completely disassemble and reassemble the gun as well as a comprehensive explanation of how to tune it to fit your needs.
To get the gun tuned perfectly you'll need to get an additional gauge (available from APS) to help you tune the LPR. While the stock settings work perfectly for the intermediate player, if you really want to get your dwell, de-bounce and LPR settings ideal, APS released the settings they use for the professional teams they sponsor.
Basic tuning of the A1 is not too difficult though advanced settings (such as Joy or Rage) should probably be done by a professional. The trigger pull is easy to get just like you want it and the scroll wheel and LCD screen are very easy to use. There are many settings (breakout, ramping, full auto, etc.) so you can get your gun to play just like you want it to.
The A1 comes with a tool kit, gun oil, a barrel plug (I recommend getting a barrel sock as soon as possible) and a two-piece barrel with three backs (.691, .693 and .695).
Design
Angel Paintball Sport's Angel 1 Fly (also known as the A1 Fly) has kept the Angel recognized three-bore design which keeps the gun compact and its low-rise clamping feed neck gives it a very low and tight profile. Internally, the fore-grip houses a primary regulator; the two lower chambers contain the low pressure regulator and the ram; while the upper chamber holds the bolt. The A1 Fly comes with a standard with an LED screen and scroll wheel to manage your settings. The electronic board comes with a USB port to update the gun's software via your computer. With all these awesome features, Angel still manages to design the A1 Fly as one of the best looking guns available today.
As can be expected for a high-end gun, all the components are very well made. As with most Angel paintball guns there really aren't very many upgrades available (or even needed other than a barrel kit).
Performance
First the disclaimer; don’t expect perfection from the A1 Fly out of the box. Angel paintball guns need a little breaking in before they shoot super consistently and get maximum shot efficiency. Additionally, like all high-end guns, the A1 needs to be tuned properly before it will fire just like you want it.
If you are a casual player just playing in semi-automatic mode, there's not a whole lot to be done other than adjust your ball speed. If you want to tune the gun to act like the professionals' guns it will take a little bit of time to get things just right. One great feature is the customization of the trigger pull - it's easy to do and very precise.
The A1 Fly comes with three barrel backs, though unfortunately the smallest size is .691 (which is larger than many paintballs). So again, out of the box adjustments need to be made. With a good paint to barrel match, the A1 can lay down ball on top of ball at thirty feet.
Like most high-end guns, it fires as fast as you can pull the trigger so your firing speed becomes limited by your hopper speed.
A common issue that seems to arise with A1 Fly owners is the efficiency. A well tuned gun is very efficient, but if you are getting less than 1000 shots with a full 68/4500 tank, you may want to have a professional tune your gun.
Recommend Upgrades
The A1 Fly comes stock with so many options out of the box, there are not many updated needed before you take it into your first game. If you are an avid paintballer, I would recommend getting a barrel kit that will give you more options on bore sizes. There are many kits to choose from, pick the one that suits you best.
Summary
The Angel A1 Fly comes with a high-end price but also packs high-end performance. Depending on your play style it may or may not be the best paintball gun, but it definitely competes with any gun out there.
Well that is it for this review of the Angel A1 Fly paintball gun. I know what I’m playing with next time I’m at the field. If you're thinking about getting your own A1 Fly paintball gun, get a great deal here!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Paintball Gun Safety - Play Safe & Have Fun!
Recently while playing at my local paintball field, I noticed quiet a lot of safety violations that concerned me. So I thought I would write an article to help stress some of the important safety regulations and why they are so important.
- Barrel Bag/Plugs need to be on at all times while in public areas (not on the field). Chances are that people not of the field (players, visitors & ref’s) don’t have their goggles or masks on. This makes for an easy accident especially with today’s guns and their hair-pin triggers. While this is strongly enforced at the fields by the refs, I still see people carelessly walking off the field without a stopping device or taking the barrel bag off to check something on their gun. Please be sure to put your barrel cover on well before exiting the field.
- Masks off while on the field. This goes back to my above point. Especially while one the field people have there barrel bags off and firing all over the place. IF you are hit or your mask is fogged up, get off the field as quickly and safely before you remove your mask. Do everyone a favor and protect yourself. If you find that your lenses fog often, then invest a little money in an anti-fog product.
- Keep your safety equipment safe. Now I know everyone wants to look cool while paintballing, but safety is safety. The mask and lenses are designed to keep your facial area safe. I often see people with damaged, cracked or unsafe modifications to their masks and lenses. Paintball goggles & lenses go through vigorous safety tests and standards before they are allowed to be sold. Any minor crack or modification could compromise the integrity safety of the lens. This could place you in a position where the lens could crack or shatter caused possible damage to your face and eyes. Please play safe, protect your face!
- Shooting foreign objects. You don’t see this really on the field, but I’ve heard people discussing different objects that’s they have shot through their marker. These can be things like, rocks, marble, frozen paintballs, or even removable football cleats. Although some may think that it is cool to try shooting different things from there marker, its not. First off, markers are designed for paintballs, any foreign could potentially damage for awesome marker. Secondly, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE SHOOT OTHER PEOPLE OR ANIMALS WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN A PAINTBALL. Shooting someone with anything other than a paintball could seriously injure them or even KILL them.
- Chrono to the right speed. I know that every field has their own set limit for chrono speed usually between 275 – 300 fps (feet per second). Please ensure that you understand what the appropriate limit is for your field and that your marker is set accordingly. The fields set the chrono limit for their field accordingly for safety reasons. If you have your marker set too “hot” it could cause injury to another player. It also runs the risk of damaging somebody safety equipment. I don’t like getting hit with a “hot” shot, and I’m sure you don’t either. Keep your marker chrono’ed within the limits. If you’re playing away from the field, it’s maybe a good idea to buy your own hand held chronograph. You can usually find them online for $70 - $ 90.
- Shoot the right target. All to often you hear on the news about teenagers or drunken frat boys getting arrested for firing their paintball guns at things outside of paint ball. These include dogs, cats, birds, passing cars etc. News like this puts a very negative spin on the sport as a whole. As an avid player I work hard to build a positive name for paintball to help grow the sport so we can enjoy is for years to come. If you feel the need to shoot something, pick up one of these Paintball Auto Reset Targets.
Monday, July 20, 2009
New Angel Paintball Clothing Line!
Angel Paintball Sports has released some information and pictures of their newest clothing line named "Arabis" This new clothing line is designed with Woodsball & Scenario players in mind. Your usual speedball clothing lines, are lightweight, provides good ventilation which in a hot outdoors game would be very handy, though their typical bright colors do not harmonize so well while trying to blend in amounts the trees. The collection of clothing will include a jersey, pants and shemag in a camo-esque pattern and available in two colors; Olive Drab and Brown.
Along with the new clothing line Angel is also releasing a stock for the A1 & A1 Fly. This will allow great flexibility while playing in a scenario game as you will be able to connect to your tank via a remote line decreasing the weight of the gun.
There have been mixed reviews so far for these new products by Angel which is not surprising as the majority of Angel owners are Speedball/Tourny players. I am personally excited for this new release and feel that this is a great opportunity for Angel to branch into a vastly untapped market.
Along with the new clothing line Angel is also releasing a stock for the A1 & A1 Fly. This will allow great flexibility while playing in a scenario game as you will be able to connect to your tank via a remote line decreasing the weight of the gun.
There have been mixed reviews so far for these new products by Angel which is not surprising as the majority of Angel owners are Speedball/Tourny players. I am personally excited for this new release and feel that this is a great opportunity for Angel to branch into a vastly untapped market.
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