A dirty and scratched mask lens is a sure way to ruin an
otherwise great day of paintball. A scuffed and grimy lens makes your opponents
harder to see, enhances glare from the sun or bright indoor lights, causes eye
strain and, most importantly, can degrade the integrity of your protection. You
only have two eyes that don’t grow back, so it’s in your best interest to take
care of those goggle lenses!
Does Your Lens Need
Replacing?
At a minimum you should be changing your paintball mask lens at least
once a year. Most players do this in the spring right before the big playing
season starts. Get into the habit of inspecting your lens before every day of
paintball play. Hold them up to a light and pay special attention to the edges
and tabs that connect into the mask. Do you see any deep scratches or hairline
cracks? If so, these should be replaced IMMEDIATELY! Any time you take a direct
hit to the lens from a distance of 30 feet or less you should consider
replacing your lens as well. When in doubt, change your lens. You will thank
yourself later.
How To Clean Your Paintball
Mask Lens
The only things that should ever touch your mask lens is
water, paintball lens cleaner approved by the manufacturer, and microfiber or soft
cloths. NEVER use glass or household cleaners like Windex, Simple Green, citrus
cleaners or the like. These chemicals can hazardously degrade the lens material
and strip off anti-scratch, glare, or fog coatings. NEVER use paper towels,
toilet paper or other materials to wipe or polish a lens with. Though they may
seem soft, paper products are abrasive and akin to rubbing very fine grit
sandpaper on your lens. They will soon be covered in fine scratches and makes
everything cloudy to look at.
If the outside of your lens has splatter on it, first wipe
away most of the goop with a soft cloth or towel. Give it a spray of water or
approved lens cleaner and then wipe away all of the paint with a soft cloth or,
better yet, a microfiber cloth. If needed, give one more spray and then buff to
a clean, streak-free finish. If any paint dripped onto the inner lens then
avoid wiping it. Instead, take a microfiber cloth wetted with water and dab at
it until gone.
If you have a single lens mask some players just remove the
lens and dunk it under water or under a faucet until clean. NEVER do this with
a thermal lens, as water will get in between the lenses and cause permanent
fogging!
Transporting and
Storing Your Paintball Mask
Your paintball mask should always be put in an aftermarket goggle case or one that may have come with your mask. If you don’t have one then
a pillow case works, too. You want to keep the lens from getting scratched
while in your gear bag. If your gear bag doesn’t have a separate goggle
compartment then it is wise to put it in last on top of everything else so it
does not get crushed.
It is very important not to store your mask with paint on
the lens. It can permanently stain the lens and possibly degrade the material
if left for long periods of time. When you get home, remove the lens and run
your mask under the sink to get all paint splatter and dirt out. Pay special
attention to any channels or grooves where the lens fits into, cleaning them
out with a cotton swab if necessary. Any stubborn paint residue in the mask can
get scrubbed with some dish soap and an old toothbrush. Once all is clean and
dry, reassemble your mask and store in a goggle bag or case. It’s a good idea to
leave soft sided masks on a shelf and not crammed back into your kit bag, as
leaving them under pressure like that can mold them into an uncomfortable
shape.