Uhlmann Visor Mask Fail... Are Normal Masks Safe?

[yearsofwisdom]

Following the uhlmann visor mask fail, are the normal fie masks of uhlmann and allstar safe to use?

[CvilleFencer]

Yes. And characters.

[Purple Fencer]

Following the uhlmann visor mask fail, are the normal fie masks of uhlmann and allstar safe to use?

Yes...they issue is the safety of the lexan, not of the steel mesh.

What's a real worry to me is...the mask that failed was the youngest on the certified list...less than a year and a half old....

[Craig]

Standard mesh = fine.

[chase]

Just get Leon Paul V2000 X-Change. It is the safest mask out there.

[RebelFencer]

All non triplette FIE masks are approximately the same in terms of protection. It really just depends on what is comfortable for you. Don't listen to chase, he doesn't know what he's talking about.

[DangerMouse]

Just get Leon Paul V2000 X-Change. It is the safest mask out there.

Do you have a study to quote? What makes it safer than the non-X-Change version?

Or are you really just that much of a tool?

[yearsofwisdom]

can't we ban him?............hes like a troll telemarketer.

[RebelFencer]

can't we ban him?............hes like a troll telemarketer.

He's just being obnoxious here, he isn't being as bad as he is in the watercooler.

[fatfencer]

There may not be any studies per se of degrees of safeness, but I don't really have any trouble believing that LP's FIE x-change is the safest out there.

The mesh is uber strong and doesnt move compared to my POS AllstarFIE mask.

I just think the overall quality of manufacture is better.

FF

[RebelFencer]

There may not be any studies per se of degrees of safeness, but I don't really have any trouble believing that LP's FIE x-change is the safest out there.

The mesh is uber strong and doesnt move compared to my POS AllstarFIE mask.

I just think the overall quality of manufacture is better.

FF

Yeah, Allstar (and subsequently Uhlmann) have had a dip in quality since outsourcing their stuff to china. It's a shame too because I knew people with Uhlmann/Allstar FIE masks that lasted for years and years.

Note: I've said it before, LP is high quality gear and works great. I'm just pointing out that there are other options out there that will sufficiently protect your face.

[brtech]

I have no reason to suspect that any of the FIE approved metal mesh masks have any safety issues. If properly maintained, and tested, I think they are safe.

I think all visor masks, regardless of weapon, have safety issues. I am willing to believe there is a great deal of variation, with some better than others. From what I understand, for example, the LP visor masks do not have most of the issues raised in the lab report that precipitated the latest moves on visor masks. However, it has some of the issues, and its very hard for me to assess whether the issues it does have are significant enough to question their safety.

I don't fence, but my kids do. I would not let my kids use a visor mask, from any manufacturer, at this time. If they had one, I would take it away from them. Even an LP mask.

You only get one face, and one brain. Why in the world would you take any chances?

[DangerMouse]

There may not be any studies per se of degrees of safeness, but I don't really have any trouble believing that LP's FIE x-change is the safest out there.

The mesh is uber strong and doesnt move compared to my POS AllstarFIE mask.

I just think the overall quality of manufacture is better.

FF

So what makes the X-Change safer than the non-X-Change LP FIE mask?

I have two LP FIE masks and love them. My opinion is that they are the best mask on the market, but that is different than blindly claiming they are the SAFEST mask on the market.

[BenTheEMOP]

Wasn't the issue with the failed mask that the manufacturer used some other material when it should have used Lexan?

Doesn't that raise the question about where else they may have made substitutions?

Is the steel in the non-visor masks really up to FIE standards, for example?

[MdA]

…..
Doesn't that raise the question about where else they may have made substitutions?

Is the steel in the non-visor masks really up to FIE standards, for example?

This is a valid question. I don’t want to be an Uhlmann basher because I have been a loyal customer for over 30 years. But, I recently returned an Uhlmann non-visor FIE mask to the vendor. My son’s college team purchased it for him in November at the Penn State Open. After that competition and the NAC in Pittsburgh…and a few practices….it had several deep dents in it.

He was concerned about his safety and I had to agree with him. When we pressed on the mesh of my five-year-old Uhlmann mask and then pressed on his new one, we could see that the mesh visibly flexed out of shape…on the new one. It passed the punch test at the event but we were still concerned and returned it to the vendor. They said they would send it back to Uhlmann for inspection.

We bought another mask from another manufacturer.

[chase]

Do you have a study to quote? What makes it safer than the non-X-Change version?

Or are you really just that much of a tool?

The xchange one will last longer because you can xchange the bibs.

[TBean]

The xchange one will last longer because you can xchange the bibs.

Which has nothing to do with making it the safest mask out there, and that was your original claim .....

Just get Leon Paul V2000 X-Change. It is the safest mask out there.

[Nolano]

Yes, mesh masks are safe. Lexan FIE masks have had at least 3 major failures and issues that I know of since they started being used. I believe that I read that since the introduction of the original FIE mask, there have been no major failures with them. And they are much more widely used.