Someone in the spacesuit work group did mention "tear offs" as a solution and we are looking at as many solutions of this type as reasonable. But, I would like to know why exactly the scratches happen. It could be people just want to scratch their nose... We could also incorporate a loop or magnifier of some sort into the helmet on an arm or right against part of the hemisphere. that is if it is about looking a things close up.

A Sokol! I'm jealous! I wish I had a real suit to use for comparisons.

We are possibly being naive imagining ourselves as successful spacesuit designers. That is why the evolved route. If you are aiming for a full gas pressure soft suit or hybrid just start with things that don't kill anyone...8-)

I see a low pressure analog suit covering only the torso with a neck dam. This keeps the human breathing apparatus out of the pressure loop. Then we go on to build a helmet without the suit. Keeping air system we currently use. Then we combine the two systems to make a full pressure suit! My current think on the pressure suit (I've built a prototype) is to go to a set of arms, legs and torso made out of "dragon skin" castings (liquid rubber). I have built flexible joints out of large ID flexible ducting (dura-thane 45) with a cloth covering, but this would be to time comsuming and costly to do for many suits. The duct costs $360 or more for 25 ft and you must buy that much! We don't need more than two or three suits of this type at the moment...there for comparison...not all members of a crew would wear them and not for all simulated EVAs.