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Airsoft Face Mask
AIRSOFT FACE MASK
Airsoft can be fun and exciting, but there’s nothing that feels good about a split lip, bleeding face, broken teeth, or an injured eye. Protecting yourself from stray BBs requires face protection gear that’s designed to take a beating. Most airsoft fields require players to wear airsoft masks and eye protection — and for good reason.
Before you think about your first airsoft gun or play your first airsoft game, invest in a quality airsoft mask and the proper glasses or goggles. Even if your field doesn’t require an airsoft mask, it’s a good piece of gear to have, especially if you participate in military simulation (mil-sim) or cosplay events.
Discover more about airsoft masks below, including what types of masks you can buy and how to choose between the many options available.
What is an Airsoft Mask?
An airsoft mask is a type of face covering that protects part or all of your face during gameplay. The majority of airsoft fields require some type of airsoft mask to ensure player safety, but there are many different types of airsoft masks available for purchase. Some players also opt to use Dye i4 and Dye i5 paintball masks — especially if they also play paintball — which can offer adequate protection against BBs.
During an airsoft game, BBs tend to fly in all directions. A BB not necessarily intended to hit a player in the face could do serious damage, from breaking the skin and drawing blood to knocking out teeth. Airsoft masks provide a layer of protection that absorbs the BB’s impact and deflects its energy without causing harm to the player.
While it’s important to invest in an airsoft gun that best suits your playing style, it’s critical to leave room in your budget for an airsoft mask. At the bare minimum, nearly every airsoft field requires eye protection in the form of airsoft glasses or airsoft goggles.
Players without this protective gear typically aren’t allowed on the field, and if you remove your eye protection or mask (as required) while on the field, you may be given a strike or asked to leave.
Airsoft masks may not be the most glamorous or comfortable protective items to wear, but they’re essential for safe gameplay. The beauty of airsoft masks is that there are many styles, colors, and features to choose from, so you can typically find something that suits you without looking too hard.
What are the Different Types of Face Protection?
Airsoft players typically have to wear eye protection rated for potential BB hits. In addition to these ballistic glasses, players should also consider a shemagh, half face mask, full face mask, and a helmet. Let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of each to discover which best suits your style of gameplay.
Ballistic Glasses
Similar to an average pair of sunglasses, ballistic glasses allow you to get a proper cheek weld and don’t interfere as much with your view through any optic you want to run on your airsoft gun.
Ballistic glasses are typically anti-fog and can also help you see iron sights if you’re running a historic airsoft gun. Although ballistic glasses are an essential piece of airsoft gear, they only protect your eyes, so you need an airsoft mask to complete the ensemble.
Shemagh
A shemagh is a popular item on airsoft fields that don’t require a face mask. Traditionally a Middle Eastern garment, the shemagh is a type of headwear similar to a heavy-duty bandana, balaclava, or head scarf.
Lightweight, versatile, and designed to keep out the sun, wind, and sand, shemaghs can be a durable face mask solution for players who want more freedom.
Half Face Mask
A half face mask typically covers an airsoft player’s face from just below their goggles to under their chin. These protective masks tend to be more comfortable and can also offer ear protection, depending on which brand you choose. Many are made of mesh or breathable materials to promote ventilation.
Full Face Mask
A full face airsoft mask typically incorporates everything a player needs from the top of their head to the bottom of their chin. Many include built-in goggles or ventilated eye protection to prevent condensation build-up. Players often prefer a full face mask because it doesn’t necessarily leave any marks on your face to show you were playing airsoft over the weekend.
Helmet
If you’re looking for the ultimate form of protection in an airsoft game, look no further than airsoft helmets. Complete with a full-face airsoft mask and integrated eye protection, helmets have become increasingly popular among players. Although some prioritize style over performance, many are designed for cosplay events.
Airsoft is amazing fun but it's not so fun when you end up with a broken tooth, split lip, bleeding face, or worst yet, an injured eye. While it may seem stylish to enter a battle with a set of flashy sunglasses instead of a full Airsoft mask, you may live to regret it after getting hit hard in the face, which can leave a lasting mark. So after getting an Airsoft gun, make sure you invest in a good Airsoft mask for proper protection. Eyes are only just part of that equation.
Eye and face protection often not the first thing new recruits think of, who instead rush onward and upward in search of that first gun only to settle for any old thing for basic protection. Indeed, any basic Airsoft mask or pair of goggles is effective enough but a pause for thought is worth your time and money all the same. After all, the new guys wear those distinctive plastic masks whereas the older players will have traded up to either tactical goggles, more expensive masks or the daredevil operators choice of ballistic spectacles so there must be something to it.
Airsoft masks stop pellets from obliterating eyes and wrecking teeth which is the most important thing so as long as you have any kind of protection then you are good to go. If you push the thinking a little harder however then you will find a few more questions; many players do not think about it until after they have been playing a while or even until the discover the problems that arise in the field.
One of the biggest tactical FUBARs that pop up when using Airsoft masks can often occur after you have bought your first gun and have started using your first mounted optic. When holding a weapon correctly, one should achieve a proper cheek-weld and whilst this is critical when shooting real rifles which actually buck, in Airsoft its more about establishing good habits to maintain a cool, realistic aesthetic to your play behavior. In Airsoft, a proper cheek weld is not actually necessary so often the position of the new player's head while firing is a balance between getting his head low behind the sights as easy as possible but kept away from the stock by the bulky airsoft mask.
Without even realizing it, a new player may be establishing a bad habit of an incorrect cheek weld due to the mask he is wearing and right off the bat, no one bothers to correct him because it does not matter all that much. Having established this basic habit, the new player then purchases and begins using his first optic (often a simple red dot sight) and when he proceeds to use it he now finds it damn fiddly to line his eye up with the scope with his mask getting in the way. New players become frustrated and so start looking at higher mounts or changing their masks.
So, our main point in this article is to stop and consider this point. Arclight and many of his teamsters, along with countless players around the world, prefer the choice of ballistic specs. They offer no more physical presence than a pair of shades and so this option allows the proper cheek-weld position allowing comfortable lining behind an optic even when mounted low on the weapon. Specs have the added advantage of being more comfortable then masks with the minimal contact with the face allowing for less irritation and superior airflow. The clearance also allows sighting right down to low mounts and iron sights which means you do not have to compromise your aiming setup by using a higher mount bracket.
That said, at the price of freedom comes exposure. Specs protect the eyes great but they offer nothing for the rest of your face. Face shots hurt a whole lot and unlucky shots to the mouth can crack and even knock out teeth. This is rare enough that many players operate with specs as they consider it's worth it but still there are cases of spec wearers taking that one in a million shot, breaking a tooth. Some spec wearers combat this by adding face coverage like a shemagh or a half-face mask (and even gumshields) but of course, this begins to combat the comfort and freedom issue and partial Airsoft masks begin to cause positional issues again. This combination is probably the most popular by far because it is the best balance in both protection and freedom.
What to Consider When Buying an Airsoft Mask
In many cases, you probably won’t know exactly what kind of airsoft mask you want until you play your first few rounds of airsoft. Your hands-on experience will tell you what works best when you’re running hard and your adrenaline is pumping, and what feels comfortable long-term. You’ll also discover whether you want an airsoft mask with built-in eye protection — like what you’d get with a full face mask or helmet — or whether you want your goggles to be a separate piece of gear.
Desirable Airsoft Mask Features
Although there’s no substitute for playing a few games to see what you like, there are several other features you should consider when picking out an airsoft mask. These include the following:
- Material: Most airsoft masks are made from plastic, mesh, rubber, nylon, or any combination of these materials. Consider any allergies you may have to these types of materials since they’ll contact your face.
- Coverage: Determine what amount of coverage you want, whether it’s the lower half of your face or a full face mask.
- Adjustability: Most airsoft masks have different straps or adjustments to ensure a snug fit.
- Padding: Some padding on your airsoft mask can reduce the impact it has on your face after long-term wear.
- Breathability: The material type heavily influences how breathable an airsoft mask will be on the field, so it’s essential to consider how much you want your mask to ventilate and choose the corresponding material type. Mesh masks tend to be more breathable but can be challenging to use if you’re playing in hot or humid climates.
One other major component to consider is the role you want to play on the airsoft field. If you plan on running an airsoft rifle — including an airsoft sniper rifle — having a mask that allows you to get a good cheek weld is vital to your accuracy and (potentially) how long you stay in the game. If you’re running a pistol or playing in mostly close-quarters battle (CQB) scenarios, cheek weld may not be as important.
Find Your Next Airsoft Mask at RedWolf
Now that you know more about airsoft masks, it’s time to go shopping and create a wish list! Visit RedWolf to learn more about what types of airsoft masks are available and how you can customize your airsoft mask, whether you choose an army helmet in tan or olive, a camo face guard, or a blue Dye i4 mask. We also carry plenty of airsoft guns, ammo, accessories, and replacement parts to keep you stocked up and ready to play, regardless of your skill level. If you’re looking for airsoft tactical gear, pouches, vests, thermal lenses, grenade launchers, nozzles, hop-ups, buckings, or gearboxes, check out RedWolf for the best deals!
If you want nothing to get through, then invest in a proper full-face Airsoft mask that won't give away the fact that you were playing Airsoft over the weekend by leaving any marks or permanent damage on your face. Full-face Airsoft masks come in many different shapes and sizes, some with plastic lenses or mesh lenses. Some look basic and functional while others offer superior styling that sets you apart from the crowd. Full-face Airsoft masks share a problem with goggles in that they may be subject to fogging, so some even come with a ventilation fan to keep things clear even when you breathing heavily and fogging everything up. For some players in hot humid climates, resorting to a mesh mask may eliminate fogging but it's definitely harder to see clearly out of a mesh, so it's a tradeoff. There are many paintball masks that are perfectly suited to be used as an Airsoft mask, as long as the ventilation holes are small enough to prevent an airsoft BB from getting through.
But the ultimate form of protection comes in the form of a full helmet integrated with a full-face Airsoft mask. These are increasingly becoming popular and allow players to take on an alter ego identity. But beware that many of these full Airsoft helmets prioritize style over comfort or even safety. While they are made from varying grades of plastic, they may not offer the same ballistic protection as a properly engineered set of goggles or Airsoft mask. Wearing a full helmet may also give the player a false sense of security in taking extra risks when navigating rocky terrain of jumping off ledges. The reality is that Airsoft helmets offer little to no ballistic protection in most cases, and should be considered more for novelty or cosplay applications. And lastly a fully integrated helmet mask can be quite hot to wear.
