Before hitting a shooting range, there are several safety precautions to consider for your protection. Eye protection ranks really high on that list.
There are safety standards required for all shooting purposes. This is because the face, especially the eyes, is prone to shooting injuries if care isn’t taken.
For example, gun powder can blow back into your eyes after you have discharged your gun, burning them in the process. Additionally, hot casings will sometimes fly rearward toward your face and eyes. Catching one of these in your shirt can be bad enough. Can’t imagine what that would feel like hitting your eye!
There are different types of eyewear on the market and it can be a little confusing to choose the best one to keep your eyes safe. We have compiled some of the best eye protection for shooting to ensure that you’re getting only the most quality glasses for your protection.
Best Eye Protection For Shooting
In this buying guide, we’ll be reviewing 5 of the best eyewear currently on the market. These top-ranking eye protection gear will give you ample protection from gun-related injuries to the eyes.
1. The Bertoni Italy AF899 Tactical Protective Safety Glasses
The Bertoni AF899 is a premium pair of glasses that provides excellent protection to the eyes. It’s affordable, comfortable, and versatile for use by anybody.
It comes in a set of 4 different colors of interchangeable lenses that provide different levels of protection and a soft microfiber cloth for cleaning the lenses.
The lenses also allow you to adapt to the light conditions in the shooting range by filtering out unwanted colors.
The set also has 2 nose pieces (one for regular use and the other for use with an optical clip adaptor), and a Neoprene case for carrying them. The optical clip adaptor is removable for prescription glasses. Just take them to your optician and the lenses will be easily fitted.
What makes the AF899 stand out from the competition are the anti-fog lenses that provide complete UV protection to the user. This is a good choice for people looking for safety glasses with comfortable frames, as they have enough wiggle room and can bend without snapping.
Specifications
- Weight – 19 grams
- Color – Black
- Optical Lens Size – 52mm x 40 mm
- Frame Material – TR90LX flexible nylon carbon
- Lens Material – 2.2mm military standard impact resistant polycarbonate
- Included – 4 interchangeable lenses, 2 nose pieces, 1 Optical Clip RX Adaptor, soft microfiber cleaning cloth, neoprene carrying case.
Pros
- The Bertoni AF899 has 4 lenses with different colors to match light conditions
- The lenses have anti-fog coating
- It provides 100% UV protection
- The lenses are decentered to prevent optical distortion
- They are impact resistant, anticrash, and shatterproof
- They’re suitable for all shapes of faces
Cons
- Swapping lenses can be a little tricky to do
- The frame can be fragile to handle
2. The Smith & Wesson M&P Harrier Half Frame Interchangeable Shooting Glasses
The Smith & Wesson half-frame comes with four lenses; rose, smoke, yellow, and black. It’s a durable pair of shooting glasses with an ANSIZ87 anti pivotal resistance frame.
It also has a reliable MIL-PRF 32432 eye protection lens that is non-reflective and functions in changing temperatures or during intense activity sports.
They’re pretty convenient for people who prefer their versatile functionality. If you’re just starting out or you’re a shooting pro, then the Smith & Wesson interchangeable shooting glasses are a highly recommended product you should wear.
Specifications
Weight – 8 oz
- Color – Black Frame
- Optical Lens Size – 9 x 7 x 3 inches
- Frame Material – Rubber
- Lens Material – Polycarbonate
- Included – 4 sets of interchangeable lenses, anti-fog lenses, Hard zippered storage case, ear stems and non-slip rubber nose piece.
Pros
- The Smith & Wesson glasses cover the entire eyes
- Easy to change and remove lenses
- Peripheral eye coverage
- Non-reflective
- Highly trusted and durable
- They can be worn with prescription lenses
Cons
- They’re not designed for ear protection, as they push earmuffs away
- Removing the lenses can be a bit complicated
3. XAegis Tactical Eyewear 3 Interchangeable Lenses Outdoor Unisex Shooting Glasses
The XAegis tactical eyewear is ideally suited for outdoor activities and is scratch and impact resistant. They’re made with anti-fog polycarbonate lenses to protect users from UVA/UVB.
With a semi-rimless frame and a rubber nose bridge, the xAgeis were designed for comfort. It comes in yellow, smoke, and clear lenses and switching between any of these lenses is very easy. Each individual lens provides different features.
The yellow lenses block out blue light as it heightens contrast during low light conditions for better focus, the clear lenses are ideal for both outdoor or indoor activities because it offers maximum light transmission, while the smoke gray lenses provide contrast and depth.
The XAegis also comes with a hard-shelled zippered case and a soft drawstring bag for storing the glasses.
Specifications
- Weight – 34g
- Color – Black Frame
- Optical Lens Size – 12.7 x 12.7 x 1.8 inches
- Frame Material – Rubber
- Lens Material – Polycarbonate
- Included – 3 color lens, 1 Neck strap, 1 drawstring pouch, 1 hard shell carrying case
Pros
- Ideal for all weather conditions
- Comfortable wearing experience
- Durable and sturdy shell case for storing lenses
- Easy swapping for lenses
- Sweat-guard for preventing sweat from reaching your eyes
- Scratch-resistant lenses
- Suitable for all lighting conditions
Cons
- Nose pieces don’t fit conveniently as it rides up on the face
- Not very compatible with earmuffs for hearing protection.
- Weak frames
4. Walker’s Sport Glasses with Interchangeable Lens
The walker’s sport glasses are an adjustable product with interchangeable lenses that allow for more coverage for a broad range of facial sizes than other sports glasses.
It has a high-grade polycarbonate lens. It comes in 4 colors (smoke gray, yellow, clear, and amber). Replacing the lenses is quite easy and the design allows free flow of air that prevents the lenses from fogging or from different types of weather.
Specifications
- Weight – 1.76 oz
- Color – Gray
- Optical Lens Size – 9 x 7 x 3 inches
- Frame Material – Thermoplastic Polyurethane
- Lens Material – Polycarbonate
- Lens Coating– UV Protection Coating
- Included – 4 sets of interchangeable lenses, hard zippered storage case, and instruction on how to change lenses
Pros
- Good tilt function built into the frame
- Functional lens holder
- Better durability
- 99% UVA/UVB protection
- No fogging and good ventilation
- Versatile, as it can be adopted for a large range of sports
Cons
- Lens can be difficult to fit in the frame
5. PH Tactical Eyewear 3 Interchangeable Lenses Outdoor Unisex Shooting Glasses
The PH tactical eyewear may look casual but are actually tactical glasses that meet military specifications. They’re of high impact resistance and are ideal for long practices and tactical uses.
Its polycarbonate lens is designed with an anti-fog coating and the plastic frame features a clip that helps to hold the frame and lens together giving it extra support when in use.
It’s also equipped with UV protection and its frames are interchangeable.
Specifications
- Weight – 5.93 oz
- Color – Black Frame
- Optical Lens Size – 2.9 x 6.2 x 4.4 inches
- Frame Material – Plastic
- Lens Material – Polycarbonate
- Included – 3 color lens, 1 neck strap, 1 drawstring pouch, soft bag, 1 hard shell carrying case
Pros
- It’s adaptable to a large range of facial sizes and can be fitted with corrective glasses
- The tactical eyewear is easy to change out of the lens
- Sturdy design, fit and secure frames
- 100% UV protection
- Water and sweat resistance for outdoor activity
- High resistance and military standards
- Superlight weight performance
- Hardy lenses protect your eyes well
Cons
- Fits poorly to the face
- They’re not designed to work with earmuffs
Buyer’s Guide
If you want to enjoy the best value for your money, then all of these best eye protection for shooting are great to invest in. However, if you still aren’t sure which pair is right for you, we can help you further narrow them down to suit your needs.
Here’s a quick guide that will help you decide on your preference at a glance:
Budget-friendly eye protection – The PH Tactical Eyewear may not have as many cool features as the others, but it’s the most affordable which makes it perfect for our budget-friendly pick.
Most versatile eyewear – The Walker’s Sport Glasses is our pick for the most versatile eyewear because its different colors of lenses allow you to use them in a wide range of situations. The frames are also adjustable, so they fit a wide variety of head and face shapes.
If you’re looking for an eyewear that will provide safety in different lighting, then this is definitely worth looking into.
Most durable eyewear – The Smith & Wesson M&P Harrier Half Frame Glasses are our pick for the most durable eye protection. This is because its ANSIZ87 anti-pivotal resistance frame makes it resistant to breaking.
Best lightweight eye protection – The Bertoni Italy AF899 is our best lightweight eye protection choice. At only 19g, it provides most of the benefits that other eyewear on this list does with no form of clumsiness or bulkiness. You won’t even feel them as you’re wearing them.
Best eye protection for comfort – The XAegis Tactical Glasses was built with the user’s comfort in mind with its semi-rimless frame and a rubber nose bridge. You can wear it for long hours without feeling any form of discomfort.
Final Thoughts
We hope that with this buyer’s guide and best eye protection for shooting review, you’ll be able to make informed choices on the best eyewear for shooting. If you have other gear for shooting in mind, as well, then hop over to our other reviews to get the best information at your fingertips.
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