3 selected masks from Epsealon full range
Among a very wide range of masks, Epsealon has sent us a selection of 3: the E-Visio Red Fusion, the Seawolf Red Flash and the Seaquest Motion. These, are actually specific versions of bigger families that we will present here. The three masks are a frameless, a traditional and a traditional with action camera support. Still, Epsealon has a much wider range of masks, with monolens, two other frameless solutions and the new Seaquest Diopter with 30 different grades optical lenses. Another interesting article on Epsealon products.
E-Visio
The Epsealon E-Visio is offered in the Black, Shadow and Red Fusion colors, the latter is the one we have received. This is a traditional mask with frame and two big wide lenses. The three versions differ for the color of the frame, black, red camo base and grey camo base.
Construction and compactness
The E-Visio is a traditional mask, of medium compactness, which evidently aims more to comfort than extremely low internal volume or great hydrodynamics. The frame is made of two elements, the camo one and a black one, which give a nice look to the mask. The solution is not easily dismountable by the diver and does not include optical lenses. The frame is extremely rigid and does not bend.
The skirt
The skirt is in glossy silicone both internally and externally. A nice big Epsealon Spearfishing logo is printed in the forehead area. The internal part of the skirt has a step around the lenses which is generated by the solution with frame. This brings the lenses a little bit further away from the eyes, with a slight loss of field of view, but generally more comfort. For example the profile of the nose internally suddenly becomes vertical to avoid any pressure on the its upper part and the forehead. This is possible thanks to the dismountable solution with frame. The internal protuberances at the base of the nose help position the mask on the face and reduce internal volume. Still, these are not so accentuated.
Rear strap adjustment and design
The rear strap is made of two simple bands in glossy silicone with some specific 3D shapes. The side buckles, of good dimensions, are connected to the skirt by horizontal pins. The silicone elements of the skirt where the buckles are attached are of greater dimensions than the standard ones. This could imply more resistance in time. The micrometric adjustment of the rear band is obtained pressing the two opposing buttons positioned vertically. This system is easy to action even when the mask is already worn on the head.
The special solution by Epsealon is the possibility to mount a fat strap in substitution of the silicone one. The fat strap is more like a skiing mask solution.
Dimensions and weight
The width of the lenses of the Epsealon E-Visio are 53 mm and the height is 60 mm. These are big dimensions for a great field of view. The width of the frame is 15.2 cm and 7.5 cm high. the skirt is 10.4 cm high in the center and 12.2 cm wide. The weight of the Epsealon E-Visio is 165 grams with silicone strap and 175 grams with fat strap.
Seawolf
The Seawolf is the latest frameless mask by Epsealon. It is extremely compact, with a great design showing different areas where the shapes are deeply studied.
Construction and compactness
The Epsealon Seawolf utilizes the frameless solution to reduce all dimensions. Also, the two lenses are particularly small, with 4 main sides of their profile, of which two rounded. The lower part of the lenses has a V profile centrally to the sides of the nose. This permits a very good view also downwards, even though the lenses are quite small in the vertical axis. Still some limit in the field of view may come in the lower external view. The chassis, integrated with the lenses and the skirt, is very flexible in the central part. The rigidity comes in this case from the skirt in the upper part of the nose area, which is much thicker. The Epsealon Seawolf is offered in black with either traditional totally transparent lenses or red flash ones.
The skirt
The skirt of the Epsealon Seawolf is in hypoallergenic silicone, with external matt and internal glossy surface. The mold of the skirt generates some lines on the silicone surface which are though not annoying. As anticipated, centrally between the lenses the thickness of the skirt increases sensibly to give more rigidity to such area. The profile of the nose continues straight up to the forehead, giving good space for the nose itself.
The silicone of the skirt goes all the way around the chassis on the lenses, and this could slightly reduce the field of view. We will measure this and the internal volume in the coming weeks. The internal step of the skirt around the lenses is only 2.5 mm compared to average 5 mm of a mask with frame. This surely helps improve the field of view and reduce the internal volume thanks to the fact that the eyes and the face are closer to the lenses.
A special design of the skirt in the forehead area just above the nose makes the mask nicely aggressive. The Epsealon Spearfishing logo in big dimensions and white color is printed on the forehead area of the skirt.
Rear strap adjustment and design
The rear strap is a simple double band solution in glossy silicone. The side buckles have an opposing vertical buttons system to adjust the length of the strap with micrometric precision. The connection of the buckles is direct on the skirt of the mask with an horizontal pin.
The special solution by Epsealon in this case is the possibility to mount a fat strap in substitution of the silicone one. The fat strap is more like a skiing mask solution. A wide elastic texture band is mounted on the mask changing also the buckles. The micrometric adjustment is then obtained sliding the band with a traditional central buckle. The fat strap internally has rubber wavy lines to keep it in the correct position without sliding. This solution can be a good one, probably more comfortable, but we need to try it in the water for a final review.
Dimensions and weight
The Epsealon Seawolf weighs 145 grams with the fat strap and 135 grams with the standard silicone strap. The very compact lenses measure 50 mm in width and 48 mm in height. The maximum width of the chassis is 14 mm. The skirt measures 9.8 mm centrally and 12 mm in width.
Seaquest motion
The Seaquest Motion is the solution with camera support, a possibility that some prefer compared to the one with camera on the speargun. Still, it is never easy to find the right mask as the offer of solutions with camera support is limited.
Construction and compactness
Of an average compactness, the Seaquest motion is designed with two lenses of good dimensions. The frame is dismountable with a main frame and two smaller ones that cover the profile of the lenses and keep them in position. These frames can be quite easily dismounted using for example a cutter to lift them. This solution gives the opportunity of mounting up to 30 lenses of different optical graduations, an excellent opportunity not at all common on masks with camera support. This is exactly the same solution available on the new Seaquest Diopter, which is the twin of the Seaquest Motion, but without the camera support.
The skirt
The skirt off the Seaquest Motion is made of a nice externally matt silcone, while the internal surface is glossy. This solution avoids light reflexes externally which could alert the fish. It does not avoid them internally, towards the eyes of the spearo, but this is anyway quite an occasional situation. Still, the glossy internal silicone surface can help improve water sealing in the profile band in contact with the face.
Internally, around the lenses there is a step of around 5 mm determined by the frame solution, versus a 2 mm step of the frameless Seawolf. This aspect moves the lenses further away from the eyes and reduces partially the field of view. On the other hand the masks with frame avoid more easily any discomfort, like pressure on the nose and forehead generated by the rigid parts of the mask.
Rear strap adjustment and design
The rear strap solution is the same as for the Seawolf and the E-Visio, with the possibility of mounting the fat strap instead of the standard silicone one.
Dimensions and weight
The weight of the Seaquest Motion is 165 grams with the standard strap and 175 grams with the fat strap. The dimensions of the lenses are 55 mm wide and 60 mm high. The skirt is 9.8 cm high in the center and 11.5 cm wide.
