Airsoft Eyepro - what is suitable for airsoft

There are many options out there for airsoft eye pro, but we often get asked “what eye pro should I be wearing?”

This simple guide will run you through the pros and cons as well as what you should not go out to play Airsoft with. This guide will focus solely on eye protection not lower face protection as that is a whole other topic and is aimed at our venue; other venues may be different and have different minimum requirements depending on insurance and all that other boring stuff. Well let’s get into it.

Minimum Requirements

We always strongly recommend FULL FACE PROTECTION when playing airsoft no matter your age.

At Combat Airsoft If you are over the age of 18 you can just play wearing glasses or goggles with no lower face protection (at your own risk) but remember dental injuries are not uncommon in Airsoft!

All players under the age of 18 must wear full face protection that covers their eyes, nose and mouth adequately, such as a paintball mask (recommended).

Rules at other Airsoft sites may be different. Always check with the site your playing at before attending.

NEVER play with damaged or dented eye protection!

Steel Mesh

Steel mesh goggles are one option and do prevent fogging as there is no lens for condensation to gather on, they are a cheaper option compared to lens eye-pro, and they are light weight. The drawback is occasionally a close-range impact from a bb can shatter on impact sending fragments into your eyes. While we do allow mesh eye-pro you use it at your own risk.

Glasses/Goggles

For those unfamiliar with safety glasses, there are European standards (EN166) and American standards (ANSI) that guarantee the product you receive can withstand impacts of a certain weight at a certain speed. 

For airsoft safety glasses, you want MINIMUM EN166-B to be properly protected.

EN166-B rating means the glasses can withstand a steel bb weighing 0.86g moving at 120m/s which equates roughly to an impact of 6.186 Joules with a 0.20g plastic bb. Which is more than double our maximum limit. This is the minimum level of protection we allow.

DO NOT USE anything EN166-S rated they are unsuitable for Airsoft and are not able to withstand a bb impact.
DO NOT USE anything EN166-F rated. While they will provide more protection than S rated the F means the glasses can only withstand a steel bb weighing 0.86g moving at 45m/s which equates roughly to an impact of 0.87 Joules with a 6mm 0.20g bb. EN166 F does not give an adequate level of protection from a point-blank shot so are not to be used. 

EN 166 B rating means the glasses can withstand a steel bb weighing 0.86g moving at 120m/s which equates roughly to an impact of 6.186 Joules with a 0.20g plastic bb. Which is more than double our maximum limit. This is the recommended level of protection and the minimum level of protection for player under 18.

How do I know what rating my glasses/goggles are?
The EN166 rating will either be clearly marked on the lens itself or the frame or some manufacturers such as NUPROL have a marking on the lens “2C 1.2 NP 1 B CE K N”.
But what does all that gibberish mean?
2C (FILTER RATING) = UV Protection w/ good colour recognition
1.2 (LENS SHADING) = Clear or Amber
NP (Manufacturer) – NP = NUPROL
1 (Optical Class) – Class 1 = Permanent Wear
B (Mechanical Resistance) = Impact Energy – 0.86g ball <120 m/s
CE (Certification) = CE EN166 Certification Standard
K (Lens Treatment) = Scratch Resistance
N (Lens Treatment) = Anti-Fog

ANSI Z87/Z87+ rating is an American standard that offers even greater protection than

EN166 B and have passed American Military Safety Requirements MIL-32432 which is double the protection of EN166 B.

The benefits of wearing glasses are they are lightweight, durable, can be made to prescription or some accept prescription inserts.
Drawbacks are that glasses do not fully seal around the eyes sometimes leaving gaps small enough for a bb to pass through. While the risk of eye damage from a bb getting through the gap is minimal this is where goggles become superior.
Goggles must meet the same requirements of glasses the benefit of goggles are they fully seal around the eyes giving the best level of protection but are prone to fogging, heavier and not as comfortable.

Full Face Mask

Full face masks offer the best level of protection there is. Typically used for paintball they are fully sealed and able to withstand greater impacts.

Most full face masks offer protection for your entire face and ears. However, most players find them over cumbersome and uncomfortable as well as liable to fogging/steaming up especially when wearing them for extended periods of time. Fogging can be avoided by using some form of ventilation system but again that just adds more weight. 

Full face masks are hands down the best option for players under 18, While the vast majority are ANSI rated again don’t be fooled by cheap options out there, do the research and make sure the product you are buying meets EN166-B requirements, go to a airsoft shop and ask the questions about the safety ratings.

In Conclusion:

Your playing Airsoft, let’s not kid ourselves your going to get shot (a lot) and occasionally that will be in the head or face, so protect it! You only get one pair of eyes, so take care of them!
Eye/Face protection is the most important part of your equipment when you play, don’t be fooled by cheap deals on the internet, go to an airsoft store and look at the options available so you can make an informed choice about what is the right protection for you.

If you are unsure about anything, feel free to ask – Call us on 01842 818629 or email info@combatairsoft.co.uk