Vic (Rattlehead)
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I will strike when the iron is hot, and bend it to my will.
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Post by Vic (Rattlehead) on Feb 13, 2014 16:43:05 GMT -5
I'm looking to go from a paintball mask(RAP4 Hawkeye) to a mesh mask and goggles. I'd been looking at the Smith Optics Boogie Regulators, but I changed my mind on them. While discussing them though, someone recommended me the Bolle x1000. I checked them out and they seem alright.
I guess the reason I'm confused is that they retail from anywhere between $60-$80 most places, but then on eBay and Amazon, from Botach Tactical, they retail for $19.99. Good deal? Or Chinese clone?
Obviously, I don't want to cheap out on Eye Protection, but if this is the same $80 goggles for $20, then how can I resist such a deal? I just want something low profile enough so not to be a detriment to using iron sights.
I'd appreciate opinions/facts on the question, or even suggestions on reasonably priced, low-profile alternatives. Thanks for reading!
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Snarf
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Post by Snarf on Feb 13, 2014 16:44:58 GMT -5
Another go-to option would be ESS profile goggles. On ebay they're around $20.
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Vic (Rattlehead)
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I will strike when the iron is hot, and bend it to my will.
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Post by Vic (Rattlehead) on Feb 13, 2014 18:37:32 GMT -5
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Sandbur
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 13, 2014 19:38:25 GMT -5
linky linkI believe these are what snarfdog was talking about. I personally use the ESS nvg profiles and with the foam removed, they work really well, and I know a lot of other guys use them too.
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Post by Ogre on Feb 13, 2014 21:10:34 GMT -5
I own those T-x1000's and my personal experience with them, they are crap. They fog up easily if you have any sort of hair what so ever. However, if you keep your hair short and you don't sweat a lot, they provide excellent field of view, close to that of no eye protection at all, if you can get past the fogging they are also extremely comfortable. If they are on sale for 20 right now, I would say get them, as they normally run in the $80 range.
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Vic (Rattlehead)
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I will strike when the iron is hot, and bend it to my will.
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Post by Vic (Rattlehead) on Feb 13, 2014 22:10:37 GMT -5
linky linkI believe these are what snarfdog was talking about. I personally use the ESS nvg profiles and with the foam removed, they work really well, and I know a lot of other guys use them too. Thanks for the info! I'll take a look then! I own those T-x1000's and my personal experience with them, they are crap. They fog up easily if you have any sort of hair what so ever. However, if you keep your hair short and you don't sweat a lot, they provide excellent field of view, close to that of no eye protection at all, if you can get past the fogging they are also extremely comfortable. If they are on sale for 20 right now, I would say get them, as they normally run in the $80 range. Well here's the thing; I was looking at these since before last summer, and from Botach, they've been $20 since... Either way, if you claim they are crap, I'll take your word for it. I'm from the school of thought that "10 good reviews mean nothing if there are 1-2 really bad ones". Thank you very much for the info! [EDIT] These ESS NVG Goggles are $30, seems too good to be true, again; www.amazon.com/ESS-Profile-Issue-Foliage-Green/dp/B005KGRIH2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1392347995&sr=8-2&keywords=ess+nvgPlus they have some bad reviews on those. Then again, the ones that are $50-60 have better reviews. So much information, so many different prices and listings, ugh.
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Post by Coldwave on Feb 14, 2014 9:22:57 GMT -5
I use ess nvg's and I rarely have trouble fogging, you just have to pull the foam off of the top and you're good to go.
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ctres
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Post by ctres on Feb 14, 2014 9:26:45 GMT -5
I don't know about the Bolle goggles, but ess profile nvgs are widely issued in several branches of the military so they are super common and you can get surplus ones for about $20-30 or less. Several yeas back before the surplus started hitting the market people were buying them for $100 and they still got great reviews. There are ess clones out there so I'd be a little wary of the amazon ones that are new for $30, but then again they might have just come down in price even more since I last looked. I would recommend ebay though, just look for some that are sold by a seller that is also selling a bunch of other usgi stuff and you should be fine. The Bolles may be fine, but there have been clones of them (at least the x800) so I would be cautious on those.
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Infantry
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Post by Infantry on Feb 14, 2014 11:52:10 GMT -5
I used ESS NVG Profile goggles when I was in the military. I was able to find a new pair from General Jim's in Clare. Super comfortable and I was able to order the RX inserts from a ESS supplier in Grand Rapids so I do not have to worry about my glasses.
Sent from my XT1056 using proboards
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Post by Crapshoot on Feb 14, 2014 12:15:14 GMT -5
I use the Bolle X1000s. I got them for like $30ish from LAPolicegear a couple years ago, and they're great. I barely have fogging issues (remove the foam covering the vents), they are lower profile than Revision Desert Locusts and ESS NVGs (from my experience), and they are ridiculously comfortable.
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Vic (Rattlehead)
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I will strike when the iron is hot, and bend it to my will.
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Post by Vic (Rattlehead) on Feb 14, 2014 15:12:13 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for the input!
It seems the ESS NVGs are rated pretty high amongst a lot of you, although Crapshoot does have a point that the Bolle seem much more low-profile. Not only that, but his contradicting experience with them has left me a little confused. I had wiped the Bolles off my list completely, but now that I heard that, I remember how low profile and apparently comfortable they are. Dammit!
I'm gonna look at the ESS some more, see what I can dig up on 'em, but the main thing that leads me away from them is how thick they seem to look without wearing some type of helmet with them.
I'll keep digging.
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Post by snafu on Feb 14, 2014 15:35:16 GMT -5
There are lots if fake bolle goggles out there that I would make sure to avoid. Apparently they are shit compared to the real ones with the fog situation.
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Snarf
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Ambidextrous selector switches are the bane of my existence
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Post by Snarf on Feb 14, 2014 17:35:36 GMT -5
With regards to the low profile look, I have the same problem as you since I usually go with a boonie hat or shemagh, which makes my Flakjaks look ridiculous (also good goggles by the way). The problem is, most good goggles seem to either be military issue or derived from that style, so they're kind of bulky and they just look huge without a helmet.
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Post by Squirrel on Feb 14, 2014 23:46:58 GMT -5
Wiley-X Spear are a good low profile goggle. I can get down on the iron sights of my MP5 no problem.
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Vic (Rattlehead)
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I will strike when the iron is hot, and bend it to my will.
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Post by Vic (Rattlehead) on Feb 15, 2014 11:34:06 GMT -5
At all the ones I've looked at, it seems they all run at an average price of at least $40, so for that price, I'm angled to get what I was previously interested in, the Smith Optic Boogies; Low profile, very lightweight, and apparently, there isn't much fogging with them. That paired with a mesh mask, and POSSIBLY a helmet, that would be perfect.
Anybody have an opinion on the Boogie Regulators? I haven't seen cheap clones of 'em, so I don't have to worry about that too much!
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