Dye i4 and i5 Pro Airsoft Full Face Mask – Comparison and Review
Eye and face protection is almost always mandatory when participating in airsoft war games to prevent serious injuries. Venues may provide safety equipment, but it’s always better to get your own. Dye makes some of the best budget face masks in the airsoft and paintball industry.
Below, we’ll compare two Dye i4 Pro full face masks and another two from the i5 Pro line. All four are excellent products and can be relied on to provide adequate face protection. Read on for all the details.
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Dye i4 Pro Airsoft Full Face Mask w/ Meltdown Thermal Lens, Black/Red
With an intimidating black and red color scheme, this Dye i4 Pro Full Face Mask with Meltdown Thermal Lens will satisfy any airsoft fans with a flair for the dramatic. As a bonus, the flashy red lens can be swapped out for a new one should your current lens sustain too much damage.
Compared to other designs, the Dye i4 Pro face masks offer a larger field of vision, up to 290 degrees. Therefore, you can rely more on your peripheral vision and less head turning to see.
Changing the lens is made easy with the rapid lens change system. You can swap the lenses out within 10 seconds and save time for more important tasks. It’s even possible to insert lenses of different colors for a customized look.
Full face masks should always fit the wearer perfectly and not have any excessive looseness. The Dye i4 Pro mask has tiger teeth buckles for a secure fit, staying taut for most airsoft or paintball events.
The strap allows for precise adjustments and easily fits most head sizes.
Even though airsoft isn’t very loud, there’s still the possibility of getting ear damage. That’s why Dye incorporated a compression-formed earpiece. It’s comfortable to wear and doesn’t weigh much while preserving your hearing and preventing ear injuries.
It gets hot in the mask, but the multi-directional venting can help moisture evaporate while enabling team communication. The vents allow your voice to travel farther compared to sealed mask types.
Unfortunately, the inner foam protection isn’t replaceable for i4 Pro models. However, the security it offers is still excellent against flying BBs.
Dye ensures this mask is ASTM F1776 and ANSI Z87.1 rated for your protection. The former standard is usually given to paintball masks that pass testing standards. The latter indicates devices that comply with U.S. eye protection requirements.
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Dye i4 Pro Airsoft Full Face Mask w/ SRGNT Thermal Lens, Black/Olive
This is another Dye i4 Pro Airsoft Full Face Mask, but instead of the Meltdown lens, it has SRGNT Thermal Lens. The loos is more of a subdued black and olive color scheme reminiscent of military equipment. It’s not surprising considering the army-style name.
The SRGNT lens differs from the Meltdown lens only in color. It has a darker olive tint and doesn’t reflect as much light. The mask also has olive green accents to fit the theme of SRGNT.
Otherwise, many other aspects are similar. You have a 290-degree field of vision that allows for further use of your peripheral vision. The days of constantly moving your head to compensate for narrow vision are over with this mask.
Should the lens get too damaged, you can take 10 seconds of maintenance time to swap it out for a new one. Replacing it with other colored lenses also takes the same amount of time.
The anti-fogging thermal lens ensures clear sight, especially in close-combat and high-stress environments. You don’t want to be caught lacking in a firefight, and Dye understands this.
Making adjustments on the mask for a perfect fit is simple with the tiger teeth buckles. These buckles don’t budge even in combat scenarios, so your cover won’t fall off at random times and compromise your safety. The straps further allow users of all head sizes to wear it securely.
Preserving your ears is the earpiece, which is compression-formed. The earpiece fits perfectly without being uncomfortable, helping prevent damage to your hearing while on the field.
Dye incorporates multi-directional scream venting for two purposes. It gets rid of sweat and moisture while allowing your voice to carry. The vents ensure that your voice will reach teammates without sounding too muffled.
The inner foam layer is pleasant to wear and prevents any projectiles from hurting your face. This mask has the same ASTM and ANSI ratings as the Meltdown model.
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Dye i5 Pro Airsoft Full Face Mask, White/Gold
The Dye i5 Pro Airsoft Full Face Mask comes in various colors like the i4 Pro line. This example has a white and gold color scheme. If you’re not afraid to show off some bling, this mask is the perfect accessory with some upgrades compared to the other line.
Like all other i5 Pro variants, this mask is compatible with the e.VOKE electronic communication system. You still have the multi-directional scream venting for communication, but the e.VOKE module is wireless and lets teammates talk to each other remotely.
Compared to shouting, you can communicate better with this wireless module.
Instead of the traditional strap, the i5 Pro mask has a GSP Pro Strap, which is extra wide and features exact adjustments. You adjust the fit with a dial, a revolutionary mechanism.
Some players also like to record their gameplay footage, and the i5 Pro mask has a POV camera mount for your favorite devices. It allows the camera to capture everything in first-person view. That way, you can analyze your own gameplay.
Protection is still the mask’s primary purpose, and Dye uses its Mask Protection v11.5 to keep your face safe from incoming projectiles. Whether BBs or paintballs, the plastics are tough enough to keep them from causing injuries while remaining ultra-light.
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Dye i5 Pro Airsoft Full Face Mask, Red Legion
Dye’s i5 Pro Red Legion mask is similar to the white and gold one, though it sports a stylish red and blue palette. The rapid lens change system is present to make 10-second lens swaps possible. You can also attach the e.VOKE system and a compatible POV camera onto the respective mounts.
Protection-wise, the Red Legion offers Mask Protection v11.5 and complies with two eye protection standards. They are ASTM F1776 and ANSI Z87.1.
The same thermal lenses are anti-fogging and keep your line of sight free of misty obstructions. Having a 290-degree field of vision also helps with situational awareness while reducing the motions needed to scan your surroundings.
The GSP Pro Strap is integrated with the mask, helping it fit all head sizes with precise adjustments. The dial makes achieving a perfect tightness accessible, and you can even do that behind cover if needed.
All i5 Pro masks have replaceable foam inserts. This feature doesn’t just let you stay comfortable, but it saves money. The i4 Pro masks don’t have this feature, so some users have no choice but to discard worn-out products.
Therefore, an i5 Pro mask can last far longer. Replacements aren’t expensive and will help in the long term.