Paintball Goggles and Accessories

Paintball Goggle History

In the 1980s, when paintball gained popularity, safety standards were nonexistent. Players relied on motocross goggles (Usually made by JT, which later became JT Paintball) and shop safety goggles (commonly made by Uvex). Face masks were often separate, with "Woodstalker" masks being prevalent. Competitive players initially avoided face masks and ear protection, believing it hindered their ability to hear clearly and thinking their soft faces might cause paintballs to bounce instead of break upon impact.

However, as paintball evolved and rates of fire increased, it became evident that these early safety measures were insufficient. There was a need for goggles that wouldn't break or dislodge upon impact and for protection against welts, cuts, and abrasions. Fogging also posed a challenge, leading to the adoption of double-paned thermal lenses in higher-end paintball goggle systems.

In the late 1990s, paintball companies collaborated under ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) to develop standards for testing goggle systems' safety. These standards involved shooting paintballs at specific velocities in a controlled laboratory setting, ensuring goggles wouldn't break or allow paintball fragments to penetrate while also providing adequate coverage for the mouth and ears.

Subsequently, the standards were revised to include the requirement that goggles must not dislodge from the face when subjected to multiple close-range hits within a short timeframe. Many manufacturers addressed this requirement by adding chin straps to their goggles.

Modern paintball goggles often feature various types of soft foam padding for comfort, high-definition lenses for optical clarity, and multi-color patterns for aesthetics. Higher-end goggles may incorporate both hard and soft faceplates to increase the likelihood of paintballs bouncing instead of breaking upon impact.

Some goggles offer optional hard plastic "full head" protection, although many competitive players prefer stocking hats or padded hats for added comfort. While current goggles are typically universal in size, those with larger lenses accommodate players who wear glasses underneath. However, options for younger players with smaller heads are limited, though full head shield options are available to prevent goggles from sliding down the face. Goggle straps are adjustable, and in the rental market, JT offers smaller replacement straps for the Premise series paintball goggles, considered by many as the best goggle system for rental use.