Eye Protection: Visorgogs & Lab Goggles

[Cats (Doom)]

Are Visorgogs and generic Lab Goggles, that have proper ANSI 87.1+ rating, suitable for airsoft play? Are these suitable for MIA airsoft play? Anyone care to share experiences with these from the field?
Visorgog box

Guy wearing visorgogs

Generic school lab goggles

[Ghast]

NO. Read the rules. All goggles MUST be full seal.

The bottom one might work, but I'm gonna laugh directly at you if you show up to a game like that.

www.botachtactical.com/box1tago.html

Get those.

[Swamp-man]

The rule is as long as it meets the right safety rating and is full seal they are okay. The visorgogs from the picture don't seem full seal but the picture might just not show it.

I don't think generic lab goggles meeting the ANSI ratings but as long as the strap is tight enough to secure them to your face they would meet the full seal rule.

[M.S.-ARC]

When it comes to your eyes and possible blindness, I wouldn't go cheap.

[Crapshoot]

But the big question is, why on Earth would you want to wear those out in public?

[sargottel]

May 29, 2012 15:53:22 GMT -5 Crapshoot said:

But the big question is, why on Earth would you want to wear those out in public?

People will do anything to save a buck.

[Da Vinci - Да Винчи]

Hey, got a good call-sign for you, "Bill Nye".
Seriously, though, spend like $20 on a pair of goggles if you want to go cheap, hell, I have a pair of ESS goggles I'd sell to you for $15.

[Cats (Doom)]

Thanks for the replies but I guess I should give one of my own since there seems to be questions about why anyone would wear them to an airsoft related activity.

1) My visorgog model has a MSRP of about 15$ last time I looked; cheaper than that if your a retailer and more expensive if you buy them through a school. So not an incredibly cheap alternative, not that using price is a reasonable way to estimate quality in this circumstance anyway. I paid less than that for my gen1 FlakJaks. As far as I know all visorgogs are rated z87.1+ unless their older and rated using the older ANSI system.
2) Lab Goggles can be purchased with a vast array of different ratings, and vary in price accordingly.

I'm sure lab goggles will meet full seal requirements for some people, depending on facial structure; others might be able to mold polymer/plastic with a heatgun as long as it's not rated for protection against various high heat conditions. Straps may also be an issue but can likely be modified or replaced if need be. Visorgogs may have a real issue since there are usually 1-8mm gaps on the sides, between the face and where the band meets the goggles. This issue will likely not be correctable using a heat gun since they are rated for higher temperatures but perhaps some sort of adhesive foam may fill the gaps. (Q1) Would this alteration likely be accepted as full seal?

Why?
I personally don't like generic lab goggles, however anyone who wears prescription eyeglasses will tell you of the glorious invention that is visorgogs. After trying many different goggles, visorgogs are the only ones I've found that will seat comfortably on my face with glasses and completely avoid both sets fogging no matter the occasion; other than paying for prescription safety glasses of some type. Additionally they provide an uninterrupted field of view. The only down side I've found is the non-stick polymer on the top is difficult to camouflage since almost nothing I've recently tried will adhere to it; I didn't try spray-paints since I don't want to risk having smelling my goggles.

(Q2) If anyone has had experience with visorgogs, have you ever had problems with the angle of the lens deflecting BBs into your teeth?

I had almost forgotten Airsofters' concern with looks over functionality. Sorry If I mess up your event ambiance. It's only too bad someone who actually knew what visorgogs are could give some sort of response.

"But the big question is, why on Earth would you want to wear those out in public?"
The same reason I want to run around with BB guns pretending I'm an "army-guy" like a five year old child.

"Hey, got a good call-sign for you, "Bill Nye". "
I have nothing else to say awesome ^__^ Too bad I just got my new call-sign, or I would have totally started using this.

"I have a pair of ESS goggles I'd sell to you for $15."
Thanks for the offer, have to respectfully decline though. One of my team mates might take you up on the deal though, if your intent on selling them.

I'm asking that you please not replay with more generic "read the rules" comments since this is a specific question about specific types of goggles, therefore requiring experience with said goggles to help determine their acceptability for play.

Thanks,
D.M. Cats

[eagledriver]

Have you considered the Bolle Cobra goggle kit? It retails for $30 for airsoft but if you just buy the same goggle from a safety supply store, you can get it for as little as $10. They are 2010 Z87.1+ impact rated, and you can even get models with twilight lenses, smoke, etc.



There is also a nice kit geared towards airsoft with the glasses conversion, three lenses, pouch, cleaning cloth, etc. They gave these out at IWA this year (and I managed to snag one for myself!)

www.acetoolonline.com/Bolle-Safety-254-CB-40091-COBRA-Strap-Google-p/pip-254-cb-40091.htm
www.safetyglassesusa.com/254-cb-40091.html

[Cats (Doom)]

Thanks for the rcc Eagledriver, I'll look into.

I'm still looking for replies to the "goggles" in question, I know my bio/chem guys aren't the only bio/chems that play airsoft =P.

[M.S.-ARC]

The first set of goggles pictured is for sure not going to be allowed since it does not have a full seal. A person shooting at you from behind could potentially still shoot your eye out through a ricochet.

The second set would probably qualify on a technicality.

[snafu]

Have you used the bolle cobra Eagledriver? Curious if they are any good when it comes to fogging issues. They look really low profile which is something I've been looking for. Ast this point I'm leaning towards the new 1000's.

[Knief]

D.M. Cats,

The biggest problem you're going to have with the visorgogs is the full seal problem. Even if you're able to use a heat gun to bend them over (I'd be worried about the heat reducing the ballistic resistance of the lenses here, too), it's not just a matter of getting the plastic to touch your face. The phrase "full seal" necessitates a soft, pliable gasket, usually foam or rubber, between the hard surface of the lens and your face. Mating a hard surface (lens edge) to a soft surface (face) doesn't provide an adequate seal. You can still force a bb through that fairly easily as the hard plastic doesn't provide any extra "squish" into your skin. Put a pliable gasket there, however, and the compression of both your skin and the gasket (not to mention the extra contact surface area you get with the wider gasket that almost all airsoft/paintball goggles have) and you're pinching anything that might try to force its way through the seam.

With the second set of goggles, the bigger problem you're going to run into is convincing the hosts and refs at a given game that your particular set of very generic looking lab goggles is ANSI Z87.1 2003 compliant. If I see a set of Bolle goggles, I know they're up to snuff. But the lab goggles some kid lifted off his middle school may not be. So if I'm hosting an event and see a player take the field with lab goggles, I'm pulling him from the game until he can dig up a different form of eye protection.

As an alternative, check out the Bolle X500s. They're specifically designed with eye glasses in mind. They have a bit of a larger profile with obviously accommodates your glasses, but also allows for better air flow. I'm sure you could also rig up a fan system on top of them fairly easily, given the extra space. The combination plus some anti-fog wipes or spray should keep your lenses clear all day long.

www.botachtactical.com/bolatgog.html

[Zorak]

May 29, 2012 23:17:08 GMT -5 Cats (Doom) said:

Visorgogs may have a real issue since there are usually 1-8mm gaps on the sides, between the face and where the band meets the goggles. This issue will likely not be correctable using a heat gun since they are rated for higher temperatures but perhaps some sort of adhesive foam may fill the gaps. (Q1) Would this alteration likely be accepted as full seal?

It's ultimately a question of what the organizers of a given event will live with, but I'd never allow eye protection that had obviously been modified. Safety comes first, and I'd rather send someone home than risk having my event ruined by a traumatic injury.

I also think that sealing up your Visorgogs with foam would probably eliminate the big difference in fogging you mentioned.

[archr5]

These Visorgogs are like... your fetish or something right?

That's the only reason I can come up with to explain such wordy and seemingly well structured posts asking such a silly question.

Now, to actually add to the conversation: Assuming you managed to get these things approved for wear in an event.. you add foam, or silicon, or whatever to make them fully seal around your eyes...

Do you really want to be directing airsoft bb's into your upper lip, teeth, and cheeks if they happen to strike your eye protection?

Because that's exactly where most of those shots will go, look at the angle of the lens.

You may as well wear one of those After-surgery Dog-Cones to a game and just funnel every shot to the most tender areas of your face-meat.