Dr. Airsoft, Practical Testing: Zan Facemask

[whiteeyedbeast1]

what eye wear should i use i am a sniper with l96 sniper rifle so should i use goggles glasses or mesh

[jabooper]

i usually use a military style shemagh. really easy to put on and take off and it wraps around your mouth, cheeks, and neck

[WOWBR0]

did it die?

[Armageddon3284]

For those of you who insist that this is an "unrealistic test." You are dead wrong.

Accidents happen and if there's an accident next to my face, i want to know what the failure point of my safety gear is.

This is obviously NOT safety gear. It wont protect your teeth and it wont really "protect" you at all. Every piece of safety gear is tested to failure. You don't test for safety under IDEAL conditions, you test at EXTREME conditions. Then you can TRUST your equipment when it passes.

[ScottThePlayer914]

its pretty much Styrofoam that you wrap around half your face

[waterskiing98]

the only thing that you guys are doing wrong is that, you are using the gun at point blank. If anyone were to get that close, they would pull out there side arm which is probably almost half the power.

[auburnmedicalgroup]

@waterskiing98 . Most documented airsoft eye injuries occured at short range (Kratz A - Am J Ophthalmol - 01-JAN-2010; 149(1): 37-44). One incident occured within 4 feet at a Fort Ord game. It is documented in NAM magazine, issue 11. These injuries should never happen. Using gear that can take a close hit is the way to prevent the most common serious eye injuries.

[kkdmdr]

@waterskiing98 i agree!

[1stGenerationGamer]

@waterskiing98 Well, I think this guy is right. You are wearing these things for airsoft; not a preparation for someone to potentially shoot you point blank.

[MidnightJDOC]

Is the mask easy to breathe out of? If someone has this mask please respond...

[blackorc813]

@MidnightJDOC It its for the most part, but if it is very humid out, i would suggest either making more holes, or making the holes a bit bigger, (if you are running around and panting a lot)

[MegaDrainProductions]

the zan head gear, u can just buy at almost any store a few years ago i bought one from the gas station. very hot though

[13gamingclan]

i now have a facemask cuz i got shot in the EYE with an airsoft gun LESSON LEARNED NEVER PLAY WITH AIRSOFT PISTOLS

[Nerfer1223]

Who would get shot at point blank with a rifle

[auburnmedicalgroup]

@Nerfer1223

I have read published cases and seen an x-ray showing evidence of airsoft hits to the face in organized games at point-blank range. These shots should never have happened. One is documented in issue 11 of NAM magazine. Most documented airsoft injuries occur at very close range (Kratz A - Am J Ophthalmol - 01-JAN-2010; 149(1): 37-44).

[AirsoftLove]

@Nerfer1223 it ussualy happens in CQB because someone blind fires around a corner

[outlawedtoker]

@Nerfer1223

Yea I think its kind of a given that this is meant to DAMPEN and ABSORB hits from a distance knowing that is a piece of cloth.

Not sure why it would even come across your mind that something like this would be very beneficial for a 5 ft or less engagement distance.

But hey thanks for the video I guess?

[fase1997]

hola amigos

[RTDairsoft]

ALIEN!!!!

[TheChocolateG0D]

I chose to wear this instead of my mask. The first day I was it right in the center of my lips. If it wasn't for the fact that it was from a distance it would have chipped 4 of my teeth and I am only 11 years old.

[STORMKrysis]

@TheChocolateG0D what was the fps of the gun that shot u, r u ok

[flinteo16]

i saw a kid at bingfield get his tooth shot out with one of these on lol!

[TheBassAngler1]

your shooting it from point blank

[KenshenSim]

I think condor should come out with a thick balaclava!

[MaistirAlex]

I have one of these but it looks liek it's much thicker than this one

[snowboarder243]

wht if i got an reg balacava and put the half Zan Facemask over it would it block the bb?

[auburnmedicalgroup]

@snowboarder243

I have not tried that out, but I am inclined to not trust it.

[auburnmedicalgroup]

I certainly could test equipment at all sorts of levels, but there is only so much time. I consider it sufficient to test for the worst imanginable circumstance and to let the public know what equipment they can feel safe using. Many products, in fact most products, I test are found to provide adequate protection under the worst of conditions. As a player, I choose to use equipment that I can have full faith in protecting my eyes and teeth.

[attmlb]

@auburnmedicalgroup i understand a shot like that could possibly happen but stupid is stupid, and stupid people will get these shots, and stupid people dont wear saftey gear. you should at least test up to thats to show up to what its safe with, instead of just saying" bah! not safe!"

[attmlb]

i own the full mask version of this, and i just want to point out, you're shooting a gun that is more powerful than most, (from what i remember there typicly around 420fps) in the weakest part of the mask (air holes) at point blank range (WAY closer than a worst case scenario) at a styrophome head, weaker than humen skin). at the least get a weapon with cqb fps, for a doctor, your pretty bad at scientific testing

[auburnmedicalgroup]

@attmlb

Red Reign II allowed 500 fps + sniper guns. I have read published cases and seen an x-ray showing evidence of airsoft hits to the face in organized games at point-blank range. These shots should never have happened. One is documented in issue 11 of NAM magazine. Most documented airsoft injuries occur at very close range (Kratz A - Am J Ophthalmol - 01-JAN-2010; 149(1): 37-44). We should not have to test with such drastic conditions, but these injuries occured.

[greengun37]

@attmlb people in our neighborhood don't use over 350 fps so this mask would be perfect for me.

Basically this product is just a ski mask and I remember buying this on a ski trip in Wisconsin.

[theslamminsammon]

@attmlb Pretty bad scientific testing? dude this is intended to show the worst case you can have in airsoft but that doesn't mean it can't happen so he tests to see if it will hold up to the tests. You only get one pair of eyes and teeth are expensive to repair so how about you stop complaining about the probability of something and take the fact that it is possible that something like this could happen.

[iamiSniipezxX]

it was kinda close

[RailocSTC]

I used to use a neoprene fask - not a Zan one, just one I picked up at REI. The only good thing I can say about it is it forces you to keep your mouth closed so BBs hit your lip instead of going in. It's better than nothing at all, but I recommend a mesh or hard plastic mask instead.

[TACADD]

I have one of these in Marpat and let me tell you that I rarely use it. The breath ability is pretty poor, more like something you would put on in cold weather. And that is how I view it, a piece of cold weather gear, not for face protection, because you still get the blunt of the blow even with this on. I much prefer my Iron face mask, it does the purpose of lower face protection a lot better, and is about the same price.

[Madraeus]

Would you suggest any additions to the mask so it would be safer? Like maybe a plastic shield in the front perhaps?

[auburnmedicalgroup]

@Madraeus

Yes. I recommend protecting the nostrils by wearing a goggle with covering over the nose, and I recommend using a dental guard for the teeth.

[natedog45678]

do you play airsoft?

[auburnmedicalgroup]

@natedog45678

Yes.

[thegeneral123]

I often see this type of product advertised as a 'mask comforter' the implication being its to be worn under a full face mask or mesh lower face mask. Of course, if you do this, then you tend to get greatly increased fogging issues.

I would not want to wear one of these on its own if I were facing players using powerful airsoft guns or a point blank shot from a player with a high fps bolt action 'sniper' type gun using heavy bb's.

I prefer the lower mesh mesh type mask and ESS goggles.

[SHWELL11]

Good job. Looks like the perfect time for this test (Winter).. Should offer some extra warmth for the face, and def has to help eliminate some of the pain associated with face shots.. Keep up the great work... You have inspired me to invest in a green screen.