Ballistic Mask, How to Choose?
One of the most fragile and vulnerable parts of the human body is the eye. Eye injuries can range from simple irritation to total blindness, and for those who have had good vision since birth, the mere idea of an eye injury is terrifying. During operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, many soldiers suffered eye injuries. Following this, the U.S. Army decided to equip its soldiers with eye protection to shield them from shrapnel from improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In France, it was in 2008, under the directive of the DCCAT (Central Directorate of the Army Commissariat), that the Army decided to replace the "sand goggles" of its soldiers with ballistic masks.
Today, the ballistic protection mask is used by all Defense professionals, whether for shooting instruction (ISTC) or for other training or field missions. Manufacturers of protective glasses and masks compete each year in technological innovations to develop the best possible eye protection. So how do you choose the right ballistic mask for your missions?
1) Ballistic Protection
To choose the right protective mask, the first thing to do is to know if the mask in question meets safety standards: STANAG, EN, ANSI, MIL-Spec... It is true that these standards can seem incomprehensible at first glance, but it is important to know them, or at least to know the main points.
These standards define the procedures, tests, and conditions of use for the equipment. In the field of eye protection, there are four commonly used standardizations: American civilian standards (ANSI Z87.1), American military standards (MIL-PRF-31013, MIL-DTL-43511D), NATO standards (STANAG 2920, 4296), and European standards (EN166).
Without going into the details of the various clauses these standardizations may contain, here is a small list of general ballistic specifications that define these standards:
- ANSI Z87.1-2010: withstands the impact of a 25 mm diameter steel ball shot at 45 m/s.
- MIL-PRF-31013: withstands the impact of a .15 caliber projectile shot between 195 and 201 m/s.
- MIL-DTL-43511D: withstands the impact of a .22 caliber projectile shot between 167 and 170 m/s.
- STANAG 2920: withstands the impact of a .22 caliber projectile shot between 190 and 205 m/s.
- STANAG 4296: withstands the impact of a .22 caliber projectile shot between 240 and 250 m/s.
- EN166: withstands the impact of a 22 mm diameter steel ball shot at 5.1 m/s.
In addition to these standards, other markings can be added to the lenses such as F, B, FT, K, N to determine the type of energy (low, medium, high), or 2C, 1.2, 5... which will define resistance to radiation.
To summarize, when purchasing your protective mask, it is better to prioritize masks that meet military standards such as MIL-Spec or STANAG standards to ensure good ballistic protection.
2) Ventilation
Having the best possible ballistic protection is one thing, but if your protective mask is poorly ventilated and fog easily forms, your mask will be unusable or very inconvenient. The second thing to pay attention to when choosing your ballistic mask is to know if it is anti-fog treated. Of course, there are many anti-fog solutions on the market, but if your lens is not initially treated against fog, you will spend your days wiping your mask.
Many major protective eyewear manufacturers excel in this field, such as the brand Smith Optics, which has been highly successful since its creation in 1965 with the release of its first anti-fog mask. Smith Optics even goes so far as to create mini mechanical fans on top of their masks to maintain clear vision in the worst weather conditions.
3) Panoramic View
Another very important feature to consider when choosing a tactical mask is the panoramic view or more precisely the peripheral view. This may seem obvious, but often we do not pay enough attention to this detail when purchasing a mask, and it is only in the field that we realize that the mask's screen is not wide enough. It is important to choose a mask that offers you the widest possible peripheral view; the more you see your surroundings, the quicker you can respond to the situation at hand.
When you are in a specialized store, do not hesitate to try masks from different brands, and you will see that depending on the brand, the peripheral view can be more or less reduced.
4) Design
The design of a ballistic mask does not only correspond to its look but also to all the technical aspects that make the ballistic mask functional or not in operation. We have seen the 3 important technical aspects a mask must have: ballistic protection, ventilation, and panoramic view, to which a 4th important point is added, its shape, or more precisely its compatibility with other tactical equipment.
To best fulfill its mission, it is important that your ballistic mask is functional and not just "stylish." For example, the mask must fit the head size, the shape of your face, and also be easily worn with a military helmet or noise-canceling headphones without causing discomfort. It all depends on your mission and the equipment used.
