Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/661228
The newest model of goggles by the famous US manufacturer appeared in 2014 as the successor of the popular goggles ESS Profile NVG, which for years have been a flagship product of ESS and become an industry standard for a while. The decision was to create a classic model, without powered fans, but with a system supporting a free flow of air outside the goggles and, at the same time, preventing dust from getting inside. The basic element of ESS Influx is the low-profile plastic frame, which does not affect usage of night vision devices and shooting with optical sights. Every side of the frame, especially its upper part, has many ventilation slits secured with closed-cell foam from the inside. Together they form a system named by the manufacturer as the Adjustable Ventilation System (AVS) that is responsible for ventilation by forcing airflow and fluid filtration. AVS goggles work in two modes: Ä The dust-free mode, when the lenses firmly touch the frame at full length. It is recommended for usage during situations with heavy dust as e.g. an assault from a helicopter, or operations in CQB environments with a high risk of fragmentatio or explosions of stun grenades; Ä The open-ventilation mode in which the lens is slightly moved from the frame to increase the airflow. In this mode, the goggles are almost free from fogging, but, due to the created gaps, this mode should not be used in situations with high dustiness, since some particles may harm eyes of the user. The lens is switched between modes thanks to a RotoClip button placed in the center of the upper frame. It has two positions: the upper one activates the ventilation mode, while the lower one tightly presses the lenses against the frame. RotoClip also allows removal of the swappable protection lenses, which in this model are not inserted in the frame at its full length, but thanks to six points and the RotoClip. Between rotating pivots on the side, there is an elastic 35 mm wide strap that holds the goggles on a helmet or the user's head. The pivots stabilize the goggles, preventing them from moving when the user is in motion. The strap consists of two sections connected with a plastic clamp, which makes it easier to take off or put the goggles on a helmet. From the inside, the frame is covered with a hypoallergenic foam that allows firm fitting to the user's face. The nose piece has a gap, which helps in mounting an insert for corrective lenses in case of users with visual impairments. The frame of ESS Influx goggles has a low-profile shape which will fit most of the modern ballis c helmets, such as Ops-Core FAST, MICH/ACH or Team Wendy EXFIL. The frame has a lens made of 3 mm thick (measured in the central point) polycarbonate highly resistant to damage and scratches. It is covered with chemical ESS Clearzone coating that protects against scratches, and lowers the amount of water vapor and makes it liquefy – drops of water immediately flow to the bottom. The optical quality of the lenses is very high. They do not distort the image in a way that would affect performance, the view is clear and sharp, even on the edges. The lenses are compliant with MIL SPEC MIL-PRF-32432, ANSI Z87.1 – 2010, and OSHA safety standards, as well as the European CE EN166 in F class. This results in the actual protection against quickly moving small objects and fragments. Lenses are available in two color versions – dark, with low light transparency (VSL), and a clear one with VSL of 90%. Due to a different construction and shape, lenses are not compatible EYEWEAR