I've had my eye on a pair of these since I started airsoft about a year ago. While searching for the perfect eye protection, I had my mind made up on either a pair of these or a pair of the excellent Bolle T800s. I had seen many photos of military personnel wearing the T800s (most notably US Army Rangers), and thoght they must be top notch. The ESS were about $5-10 more expensive than the Bolles, but they came molded in color (Black, Tan, or Olive Drab), and had a thicker lens (2.8mm versus the 2.2mm of the Bolle T800). I opted for the Bolles, as I found them at an unbelieveable price from Botach Tactical (I was naive at the time, and had no idea what was in store). I won't bore you with details, but a whole 6 MONTHS LATER, I recieved my T800s. They are excellent! They fit great, are very, very low profile, and have easily-changed lenses. This last feature also makes cleaning a snap. I have used my Bolles many times, and I love them. Direct goggle shots are no match for the High tech lenses, and I have taken my fair share.
Well, a few weeks ago, while browsing the Lightfighter.net forums, I found a pair of used ESS Profile NVGs in OD for sale. The deal was fantastic, so I bought them. The lenses are in fantasic condition, and all the accessories came with it. Included were the goggles themselves, a spare (tinted) lens, a cotton cleaning cloth, and a very nice goggle bag (which holds not only the goggles, but has a nice little pouch for the spare lens).
This is where I realized WHY the NVGs cost more. A tinted lens for the Bolles cost roughly $25, in addition to the 60 bux for the goggles. Included are the Bolle goggles, and a microfiber cloth bag. The ESS goggles come with an extra lens, and all accessories listed above. The lens is easy to change (not as easy as the Bolles), and is very clear. No distortions whatsoever. Here's a small breakdown of the goggles components:
Frame: made of flexible plastic, molded in color. They hold the lens, and the strap attachments are removeable. It has very adequate ventilation, and the vent holes are covered with open-cell foam to keep out dust and dirt (unlike the Bolle T800). Note that my goggles had the foam removed by the previous user to "prevent fogging". There is no foam rubber around the face seal. It is a one-piece frame, and cleaning is very easy. Simply remove the lens, and straps, and wash them in a mild detergent and rinse well.
Lens: Both a crystal clear, and tinted lens are provided. They are easy to install, and are 2.8mm thick as described above. Last time I checked, they were the thickest single-lens tactical goggle on the market. The smoke lens is tinted, but not too dark, and vision is still decent in low-light conditions. Perfect for daytime. They are treated with an anti-fogging surface on the inside, and a scratch resistant coating on the outside. Both the clear and tinted lens offer 100% UVA/UVB protection. RX inserts are available.
Strap: This is a cool part of the Profile NVG system. The straps are fixed to the grey-colored tabs on the sides of the frame, but these tabs are removeable. The 2 tabs, and strap come off as one piece, and this is how replacement straps are attached. The strap is fully adjustable and made of sturdy 1.5 inch elastic.
The only downside of these goggles is that they dig into my cheekbones slightly even on the loosest setting possible (that will keep them on my head). It is not a problem, and isn't uncomfortable, and keep in mind that I have very pronounced cheekbones. It shouldn't be a problem for most people. The same thing happens with the Bolles.
I have not used them in a game yet, but I will report on fogging, extended comfort, etc. once I do use them in a skirmish.
Overall, I am happy with the purchase. They are a great addition to my gear lineup (which is quite spartan these days). I plan on keeping my Bolles as well.
If you have any questions, or request info I have not covered, don't hesitate to let me know!
here's a link to the page on lightfighter.com
http://www.lightfighter.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=66194%7C1273419&PRID=1292321and a link to the page on the LF.net boards that I bought them from (<b>with pics</b>)
http://lightfighter.net/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=7336015661&f=3076001271&m=735003507[8D]
