How Does A Thermal Paintball Lens Work?

What is a Thermal Paintball Lens and how do they work? A thermal, or dual pane, paintball lens is a type of protective mask lens that greatly reduces fogging while playing. These are comprised of two separate lenses. These lenses are usually separated about 1/8” apart by a glued foam gasket that goes around the outer edge of the inner lens. The outer lens is made to the same thickness and standard of a normal lens, while the inside lens is thinner and lighter weight.

Ever notice how objects get covered in moisture when you bring them from the cold outside into a warm place indoors? Moisture in the air will condense on the cooler object when there is a drastic temperature difference. Your paintball lens fogs for the same reason. The warm moist air from your head and breathing contacts the cooler lens, thus condensing into fog.

A thermal lens combats this by sandwiching a layer of air between the lenses. This acts as an insulator, allowing the thinner lens on the inside to warm up to the temperature inside the mask without contacting the cooler outside one. This effect works much more efficiently and lasts longer than single lens masks with an anti-fog coating. A thermal paintball lens may still have some fogging issues in cases of very high humidity. In these cases, a combination of a paintball goggle fan and a thermal lens is your best option for a clear view.