Updated 5/23/01 PRODUCT
RECALL OF ALL PROTEUS GOOGLES MADE PRIOR TO 6/01
There has been a product recall on all
Proteus masks prior to June 2001!
Please
go here to check out the Details: http://www.jtusa.com/proteusinfo.html
PRODUCT RECALL! PRODUCT RECALL! PRODUCT RECALL! PRODUCT RECALL! PRODUCT RECALL!
Apparently the plastic from DuPont was
not up to par and is cracking around the ear pieces
And
the back strap like mine was. They have
setup a free way of sending them back.
Just call for
An
RMA Number. The NEW ones have Black Ear
Pieces and are made from a different material.
Send
back the whole shebang including Fan and Original Clear lenses and you’ll get a
new set of
Goggles
from JT. Now if only they would add a ½
inch to the mask.
REVIEW
FOLLOWS
I’ve been playing with this new mask
from JT for a couple of weeks now.
I’ve
used them at least 6 or 7 times already.
So here is what I think of it so far.
First. I like them generally overall.
They are a snugger fit than the Spectra’s
And
feel comfortable. Actually, I switch
off between my spectra’s and the Proteus
Sometimes. You can tell a difference. The Proteus system “fits” your face close
whereas
My
spectra’s with soft sides and flex mask tend to wobble and shake when hit.
They
fit nice around your ears except they have a bit less neck protection.
Here’s what’s new with them. They use the same lens as the spectra’s
which is a
Nice
feature. So they use the same goggle
frames too. This is about all that is
the same.
They
also use the same prescription lens inserts.
Everything else is new.
New
strap design that doesn’t cover your ears.
A new visor which is adjustable in the front
For
different heights. It will not fit the
spectra’s as it has side tabs and not posts on the end
Of
the visor which snap onto the uni-mask.
The mask itself is one piece.
The ear and mouth
pieces
are molded as a single unit and the goggle frame fits into the mask. (It is not as easy to
do
this with the Proteus as it is with the Spectra’s). Then the new Vortex fan goes on the same
way
as the old one does (See my Review of
it down below). NOTE: It is supposed to come
with
the mask. I have seen some ONLINE
stores that do not have the fan with the mask.
You
REALLY need the Fan regardless of past fogging issues. This mask fits so close to your
Face
that there is little room for fresh air to circulate. ANOTHER NOTE: For some
reason
The
clear lens that come with the mask needs to be replaced first thing! Trust me just change them.
Several
people found that the Mask would fog with the fan and with the “stock”
lens. I had this
Problem
the first 4 times I wore them, which was in 60-degree weather with no rain!
I
changed them out to a yellow lens and no more fogging. Go figure but it will work and fix the
problem.
They also tout new directional ear
inserts that are replaceable. Mine
don’t move very easily.
You
need to have the mask OFF and use pressure to turn them. Maybe they need to be broken in
But
I don’t find this feature very useful.
There is no way in the middle of a game am I going to
Be
turning my earpieces to hear better.
That just isn’t that high a priority.
Nice feature kinda useless!
A nice feature is the Visor sits above
the fan. You don’t have to cut a hole
in the visor to get
The
toggle switch to fit. Plus, the fan is
hidden by the visor so it is less likely to get hit unless you are
Looking
up.
Here’s what wrong with them. They fit tight to your face, which is good
and bad. I bet
JT
tested these things out in Southern California – nice dry weather with no
humidity. Well here in the
North
West things are a might wetter. I find
regardless of the weather I have more moisture in the
Proteus
than I do the Spectra’s. I take off the
mask and the mouthpiece is dripping wet with water
From
my breath. If you are moving there is
more airflow than the spectra’s
(subjective statement)
But
sitting in a bunker for 3 or 4 minutes and wow you REALLY need the fan!
I find replacing the lens a little
more difficult due to the one piece construction of the mask.
The
Spectra’s you could tear down to the screws and replace anything easily. I struggled the
First
time I replaced them on the Proteus even though I am very familiar with the
goggle frames.
You
need to replace the clear lens because of the fogging problem mentioned
above. I don’t know why.
May
be it’s the seal or the way they put them in.
Someone might just try to take them out and put them
in
again and see if this fixes it.
Other than that the only remaining
issue would be – can you hear better in them?
I think so
Would
be my answer. I haven’t really noticed
a problem in the other masks but since the strap doesn’t
Cover
you ears I would say (subjectively) that yeah I do hear a little better. Does it make a difference?
Nah,
not really, not when you can get a Flex Spectra system for less than $50 right
now.
(But
you get the Fan for the extra $50 they cost so the Proteus cost the same in the
end)
But, with all that said, I do like
them better than the Spectra’s.
Smaller, lighter, more compact
And
they use Spectra lens. Like I said
above, you can get them around $100-120 with the fan.
Get
the FAN because you’ll end up buying one anyway.
JT Spectra’s
and Proteus
Notice the
lens inserts
Here is a
pretty good side view of the
Proteus and
the Spectra’s
(Picture courtesy of NWTS)
UPDATED 4/29/01
Well,
today while I was cleaning my mask, I noticed that one of the strap holders on
the mask is broken.
Since
this is all one piece I am not sure it can be fixed or replaced. I will wait and see if this is a problem
with
other Proteus’s or just mine and if it warrants attention.
UPDATED 5/04/01
Played
yesterday all day with them. Took a
hard bouncing hit to the chin. Today I
have a nice
Raspberry
right in the center. It was a bonus
ball. I was not looking up nor down nor
talking.
Regardless
of what anyone says there is less neck/chin protection. Seems kind of ridiculous to
NOT expect
anyone to talk, which exposes your lower chin, and play “Pro Ball” with them.
Give me
half an inch more neck/chin protection.
They are a piece of safety gear and should
Not expose
anyone to have to worry about additional dangers when wearing them.
They could
come out with a retro fit chin piece.
Do I hear Aftermarket for a JT product?
I’m still
wavering on what to give this product.
On the one hand I really like it better than the
Spectra’s
but I think an important piece, THEE MOST important part, shouldn’t expose you
to
False
securities and should give you ample protection. Less is not better in this case!
See
JT USA here: http://www.jtusa.com/
The Vortex fan is not your father’s
pinto. It is much improved since it’s
introduction as the
Cross
Wind fan. It now has a double
pole/center off switch whereas the old one only had a single pole
And
you had to reverse the battery to suck or blow. Now, all you do is flip it one way or the other
And
you can reverse the fan direction. No
more turning the battery around. Speaking of which this has
Changed
also. You used to have to take off the
whole back – 5 little screws and that dang bottom
Plate
that kept getting in the way. Now all
there is a trap door on the bottom of the fan and one screw.
Nice!
But you do have to remove the fan to do it.
This has the added feature of strengthening the
Whole
body. I broke 3 fans where the on/off
switch is taking them off and putting them back on.
I
don’t expect that problem with this unit.
It is identical in shape and size as
the old fan so it will replace your cross wind no problem.
I
think the new switch is slightly longer than the old one. On the Proteus, the Visor covers the fan
So
you don’t need to cut holes in it and it is somewhat protected by it, more so
than on the Spectra’s.
It’s still noisy when you have it on
and I still find it doesn’t have enough power to do the job
For
me. I sweat a lot and wear inserts and
always fog up. The fan is the only
solution I have
Found
so far that does an acceptable job. It
could use double the horsepower or be more effective
But
it works and the new improvements make it a better product.
See
JT USA here: http://www.jtusa.com/
UPDATE 4/27/01