Itech Optech FX50: one of a kind, but is it better than Oakley's combo?
Written: Apr 15 '04 (Updated Oct 05 '05)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
| Comfort: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Great one of a kind features, superior quality and value
Cons: Same issues as any other shield - possible fogging, scratches
The Bottom Line: The best product of its kind when you look at price, features and overall quality
|
|
|
| puckmugger's Full Review: ITECH Optech FX 50 Facial Protection |
Itech has been on top of the market in a few areas for a long time. Kid’s gear and goalie helmets have always been something that you could trust from Itech, even when the rest of their stuff was of questionable quality not so many years back . . . oh yeah, they’ve always been on the cutting edge for facial protection as well. But what about the FX 50?
The Visor vs Mask debate
For a long time I shied away from the entire visor thing. Maybe I watched “A Christmas Story” one too many times, but whenever looking at visors, I always heard a little voice in my head mockingly singing, “Don’t buy that thing, you’ll put your eye out!” Besides, I was a goalie most of the time. I was used to looking through the prison bars while I played my game. It was just something I got used to doing.
Anyway, a fellow player who was tinkering around with the possibility of starting a visor company to complete with Itech and Oakley (good luck there, those two literally own the market) was telling me a little bit about visors. He claimed that in testing, he was able to fire a .38 handgun at a lexan visor from 10 feet away and it wouldn’t penetrate the lexan. Admittedly, he conceded that it put a huge dent in it ruining the shield, but it didn’t go through.
I thought about it for a while, and when he offered me a demo mask for free, the switch was made. I did this despite the fact that he also claims he invented the hockey visor in the late seventies (a fact that I remain skeptical about. In retrospect, I suspect it should make me worry about the validity of his other statement).
Nonetheless, I didn’t want to just test the water; I wanted to jump in head first. I made some minor modifications to the visor and slapped in on my goalie helmet. Hey, he said it was bullet proof, so why not? Well, it turned out there are other problems with visors that I didn’t really consider.
As he said, the danger of breakage was not a concern. I took some nasty hard shots right on the lens and it never did more than leave some annoying, black, rubber tread marks. However the incredible vision that the mask afforded me in the first period was the total opposite by the end of the game. Fogging and the dreaded goalie rain of sweat gave me the vision of looking through the windshield of a convertible Corvette while driving in a rainstorm with no wipers, glasses on and the top down . . . and with pucks coming at me with deadly velocity, it was only slightly safer.
Well, it turns out that you need to keep moving to avoid your mask fogging up. Also for some reason we goalies sweat a bit more than skaters (I do play both positions, and trust me those two or three minute rest intervals forwards get make all the difference in the world).
So what on Earth am I trying to say with my confusing little anecdote? I guess to sum it up, the high points of a visor are superior vision, but at risk of rare bouts of inferior vision. Visors are as safe as, if not safer than a mask. And lastly, if you’re a goalie, there’s a reason you have a cage on your helmet and not a visor (trust me on that).
I have abandoned the idea of lexan on my goalie helmet, even though it looked really cool . . . People either looked at it and either said, “That looks really cool” or “You’re an idiot. Your gonna put your eye out.” Nonetheless, I have converted to the Optech FX 50 for all my non-goalie adventures.
The Optech FX 50
What makes it different than the rest?
I’m glad you asked! The Itech FX 50 is a two-part shield with a traditional wire frame at the bottom and the lexan lens over the eyes (that’s not what makes it different, hold on). With other shields that use this format, replacing the lexan can be somewhat complicated, requiring at least a screwdriver, and often some foul language to help loosen the rust covered screws.
The Optech FX 50 however is changeable without tools. The simple depressing of a couple latches on the shield pops the old one out. The new one slides in and with two clicks, you are good to go. I don’t mind using a screwdriver, but I prefer to save the foul language for more important things than replacing my shield.
What about visibility?
With some cheaper products vision can be distorted. Try looking through a drinking glass, you will see that every ripple in your glass wear bends the light and distorts the view, also light from the edges comes around the curves of the glass at increasingly weird angles. Now imagine playing hockey while looking through that. OK, so unless your drinking glasses are a lot better than mine, no mask is nearly that bad. But it should give you an idea of what can happen.
Only Itech and Oakley make visors that are optically correct. Don’t confuse this to mean that all of Itech’s visors fit this profile, their cheaper ones are definitely not optically correct. The FX 50 however, is as nice as looking through a good pair of goggles or glasses. There is no distortion in the image with a new one on your helmet.
What about fogging?
The anti fog coated lens will keep you from looking through a fog . . . although I played very early one morning and there was a bit of actual fog at the indoor rink, it was weird to say the least - the anti fog coating will not help in this sort of fog . . . I digress once again though. As long as you are on the ice and there is any air flowing over the lens, you will not have fogging issues. If you are having issues with fogging while out on the ice, I would suggest that you try harder, your teammates expect you to skate!
But really, the anti fog works very well. I haven’t had to use anything to keep my lens from fogging up with the FX 50 thus far. If you do have fogging issues, Itech doesn’t recommend putting any anti fog solution on their anti fog coated lenses. I have heard that liquid hand soap works quite well, but haven’t had to resort to that myself.
Installation
Itech’s FX 50 will fit on almost any new hockey helmet. The only recent helmets I know of that have some issues are some Jofa models (these Jofas have issues with almost every kind of facial protection though). Sizing of the FX 50 (like any mask) is not related to helmet size, but instead to the length of the user’s face from forehead to chin. For this reason it is best to buy any facial protection somewhere that you can have it installed and try it on for size. It might save a few trips.
However, if you decide to do it yourself, the FX 50 is pretty easy to install. The pair screws in the top of your helmet will secure the hinge for the mask. If you already had a mask or shield, you might be nearly done. If not you will have to install the J-hooks on the temples (2 hooks, 4 screws) and the snaps (another pair of screws). I recommend putting some removable locktite on all the screws as you put them back in as helmet screws are notorious for falling out. Next put the chinstrap together and pop the mask into the hinge. Check the fit, if it is comfortable, pop the lens into the mask and you are done.
I can install one of these in under 5 minutes, but I have lots of practice. I would guess the total job would take ten minutes at the most for those who haven’t lost count of how many they’ve installed. If the screws on your helmet are rusted, you will need to cut them off and replace them, fortunately everything you need is in the kit that comes with the Optech FX 50, so it shouldn’t be a problem. However, it will substantially up your install time and once again possibly necessitate the use of foul language.
Any other features?
In fact there is one other thing that is nice about the Optech FX 50. If you coach and play, or you have another reason to sometimes not wear a mask, the FX 50 pops off completely without any tools. Itech’s hinge, which seems a little goofy at first, is actually designed for this very purpose. Simply unhook the snaps, tilt the cage open and pull, and the FX 50 will come right off.
Durability
The lenses last me about 6 months before I decide that it is time to change them. I still play forward at a very recreational level when playing forward and take a lot of sticks to the head (sometimes my own). However, simple wear and tear will take its toll on any lexan shield in about 6 months to maybe a year if you are really careful. I highly recommend storing any helmet with a visor in a helmet bag or at least a pillowcase.
After a year, the wire section of the FX 50 is still in perfect shape. I’ve had no issues with chrome chipping off or rust. My straps are good, but one of the plastic snaps broke off. We generally replaced little stuff like that for free at the shop I managed, but the most I would expect someone might charge for that piece is a couple bucks.
Other than that there have been no problems to report with my FX 50. I do imagine that if you were to take the mask off and put it back on quite often the hinge would eventually wear out. But again, that is a part that would cost no more than a couple bucks. It is also something that any shop which carries this visor should have on hand.
Price
The Itech Optech FX 50 is comparable to the best that Oakley has to offer. If you are name conscious then I suppose you will have to go with Oakley since their packaging is a little slicker and they do slap their ever so cool logo on the side of their visor (can you feel the sarcasm?)
Itech’s Optech is in fact about $10 cheaper than the Oakley Combo right off the bat. You will quickly increase your savings when you need new lenses as well. One replacement lens for Oakley’s combo will set you back a painful $60, about $20 less than the original purchase price of the entire mask. However, Itech’s Optech lenses come in two packs that sell for about $50. Let’s see, two for less than half what one Oakley lens cost. That’s not hard math for anyone. Itech has the best bargain in shields right here.
Bottom Line
The decision between a shield and a mask is probably more difficult than deciding which one to use. If you decide to go with one of the combo masks on the market, Itech’s Optech FX 50 is far superior in quality to anything except for Oakley’s Combo which it still matches. The convenience and value factors in the Itech make it a better option than Oakley as well. There is simply nothing on the market that currently compares to this product.
© Scott Noble – Unauthorized use prohibited
A few of my other links that you might find helpful:
Hockey Mask and Cage Buying Guide
Itech HC100 Helmet
Bauer 5000 Helmet
Itech HP 7000 Hockey Pants
Thanks to openroad for adding this item so I could review it.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
puckmugger
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Location: wandering the fringes of the goal crease
Reviews written: 488
Trusted by: 247 members
About Me:
My book is now available in major bookstores or by order from my profile page.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.