Rental masks are crap. How can we do better?
My local field use Switch FS masks with thermal lenses. When they get moisture between the panes (which they all do), they fog up in use. The fog can't be wiped off, meaning the punters are just having to put up with it. It's the #1 complaint I hear from punters about their day playing. Not the pain, not the money, the masks.
I had the same problem with my (brand new) vents lens, so I put it in a hot water cupboard overnight to get the remaining moisture out, then superglued the seal all around. I also sealed up using blutack where the bridge of the nose joined the goggle part. So after a bunch of warranty-busting I ended up with a mask that's very fog proof compared to most. Even on hot humid days in the bush after rainfall it's never given me issues.
I've suggested that course of action to the local field, however I have to ask - why is this a problem in the first place? The issue seems to be that the lenses aren't actually sealed and the thin foam used isn't keeping moisture out. Sometimes we even see paint getting between them.
Can somebody in the know explain why the lenses aren't just airtight sealed from the factory? Perhaps with a plastic welded or glued plastic gasket rather than the foam? Is there an air pressure issue for air frieght? Or is it just difficult/expensive?
I bring this up because, again, it's the #1 complaint here and probably a huge turnoff for potential repeat customers.
That and the foam gets gross. Maybe it should be sealed/covered with something you can just wipe to clean.