GI Sportz / V Force Profilers
By Chris DeForge
The V Force Profiler is one of the few goggle systems that have remained virtually unchanged for over a decade. The Profiler was introduced in 2004 as a replacement for the Morph series of goggles. Going back a bit further, the evolution of the wide field of view, curved lense goggles goes back to goggles like the Brass Eagle Z Leader. There have been many unsuccessful forays into the protective goggle department, but most don’t have a decade long tenure.
Pictures above: Front view of the GI Sportz Profiler. The visor is removable and sits as low as possible against the top portion of the mask when properly installed.
The Profiler, now distributed by GI Sportz, are known for their profile, easy to remove lenses and straps, and subsequent ease of cleaning. Unlike some other types of goggles, the Profiler is one piece. This makes aesthetic customization difficult, but it also lends a great deal of stability to the goggles. The Profilers still look pretty sharp. There are a few different color combinations available, including limited edition models. There are also lens options that can add to the look of the Profilers, to be addressed shortly.
Protection is the most important aspect of any paintball goggle, but I’m going off of the fair assumption in my reviews that any commercially available paintball mask from a big company which is ASTM rated is safe. The Profiler is no exception, especially with its sturdy, locking clips to keep the lens. Comfort is the next most important aspect. The Profiler looks bulkier than other goggles but it offers comfort and protection. The ear pieces are built into the goggles and may seem “loose” to those who are used to removable ear pieces sitting directly against their ears. Personally, I’ve worn many goggles over the years and I think the Profilers are comfortable. The foam on the current, GI Sportz Profilers feels different than on older production models and is soft and comfortable. The strap is easy to remove and has a normal adjustment range. The Profiler is also a good option for eyeglass wearers. The curvature of the lens and shape of the goggles gives you room to wear your glasses without it feeling like they’re being pressed into your face.
The lenses offer a wide field of view and come in the standard and HDR (High Definition Refractive) variety. All new production lenses are dual pane. Standard lenses come in the typical paintball varieties: clear, smoke, and yellow tinted. The HDR lenses are the “cool” looking lenses that can really help give a customized look. All of the color choices (Supernova, Mercury, Crystal, Kryptonite, and Titan) are mirrored. I tested a Kryptonite lens for a few games, thanks to Jason from Adventure Sports Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Unfortunately, it was an overcast and dark day so I was not able to fairly gauge the UV filtering properties the lenses supposedly have. However, the mirroring on the lens looked good. There were some scratches on the mirroring but it did not adversely affect the sight picture inside the goggles. The goggles cleaned up very easy and the lens is so quick to remove that there’s no problem running the goggles under water. Standard lenses are competitively priced when compared to Empire Events, JT Proflex, and the HK Army KLR, to name a few. They are also about 10 dollars cheaper than the standard lens on the Virtue Vio. The Profiler HDR lenses are also price competitive with comparable upgrade lenses as seen on the HK Army KLR and the Dye i4s.
The Profiler utilizes two clips that hold the lens in place. The strap can be removed during this step as well. Profilers do not come with any chin straps. This could be an issue for those looking to play tournament leagues that require chinstraps, although I’m sure that some sort of modification could easily be thought of to make them happen. These are the main differences between the Profilers and the VForce Grillz. The Grillz come with a different lens locking system and they come with chin straps. The Profilers do not have a locking button. Nevertheless, the lenses are securely in place. The plastic locking tabs are not flimsy and they set into place with an audible click. The locking tabs are also a good location for action video camera mounts; this was likely not an intended feature but it happens to work out nicely in terms of camera angle.
The only gripe some tournament players may have is that the protection offered by the Profiler does not encourage paint to bounce. I don’t think this is really a largely legitimate complaint but the Profiler will not take the same amount of bounces as the JT Proflex. The Profiler’s single piece construction does not allow for foam soft ear pieces like on the E Vents and Proflex goggles, and the bottom portion of the mask is relatively firm plastic with a thin rubber coating. The metallic V Force jewel sits in the bottom corner of the ear piece. Profilers have been used by multiple successful tournament teams but if you’re trying to increase the odds of a lucky bounce from getting shot in the head, the Profilers may not be the best choice.
The Profilers have been a paintball goggle mainstay because of their quality, durability, and effective price point. Whether you’re a recball player, scenario player, or full time tournament player, the Profilers remain an excellent protective gear choice.
