As NYC firefighters, most of us don't give much thought to protecting our facepieces. We tend to use them until the lenses are so scratched or clouded that visibility becomes an issue—and only then do we replace them.

It always struck me as a bit inefficient. So when I got a new facepiece, I decided it was time to try protecting it. I did a quick search to see what options were out there.

What I found was disappointing: most covers were expensive, bulky, or required a time-consuming process to remove—lots of unbuckling, unstrapping, or digging through a bag. That just wasn’t going to cut it.

I wanted something simple, affordable, and quick—something I could take off instantly without fumbling around.

Nothing fit the bill.

So I got to work designing my own. After some experimenting, I landed on a solution that used magnets—and it worked perfectly. I made one for myself, and right away, I realized other firefighters might want the same thing.

Once I fine-tuned the design—testing different magnet strengths and leather types—I started offering them on Etsy.

From there, the idea took off. Word spread, and soon firefighters from across the country—and even internationally—were reaching out.

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