For those who have yet to be acquainted with the sport, airsoft is a recreational sport
activity similar to paintball except that the ammunition used are 6mm and 8mm plastic rounds. You can participate in airsoft activities as part of your recreation or as part of professional training.
Just like paintball, airsoft applies military skirmishes and scenarios on the combat battlefield with the declared winners as the team with the least hits during the pre-agreed timeframe. Real and replica military uniforms and gear are used by the participants, one of which is the airsoft masks.
Function
You will need the appropriate eye and head protection when playing airsoft. It is no joke to be hit by a fast-velocity 8mm plastic round in the face, more so in the eyes. You do not want to place undue risk on your sense of sight in a game of airsoft, which was designed to be for recreational, not combat, purposes in the first place.
Lest you think that any old goggles, shooting glasses and other eyewear will do for protection, think again. These ordinary pieces of eyewear are not designed to withstand the impact of the plastic rounds and can shatter when hit. You will end up with an injured eye if it does happen. With airsoft masks, however, your eyes have double protection. It usually contains a mesh in front of the high-impact goggles, both of which work together to stop the plastic rounds from hitting your eyes.
Types
You can choose from either the full-face airsoft mask or the half-face mask. The full-face masks are very similar to the paintball airsoft masks in that the whole face is covered with protective mesh screen while the goggles go underneath. The half-face mask can come in two styles. One, only the eyes are covered, leaving the mouth exposed and, two, the eyes are exposed while the lower portion of the face is covered. In both instances, the appropriate goggles must be worn.
If you want the safest protection for your face and eyes, choose the full-face airsoft mask since everything is covered. A downside to it is that you can quickly overheat because of the lack of air coming through the mask. Other disadvantages to using a mask during airsoft games are interference with the use of the scope and condensation on the goggles. Still, you are better off safe in the eyes than sorry you lost them to plastic.
Besides, the mask can be easily removed so there is no excuse for not wearing one. Just make sure that the fit is comfortable to avoid suffocation, entrapment and other problems that can arise from a badly-fitted airsoft mask.
The trick is to know if a certain mask can fit into your head when you are buying online. In this case, look at the masks in a sports store, fit them on and then take note of the model number and size. You can then log online to find discounts and deals on the same airsoft masks. This way, you have just protected your eyes and your pocket.