SHOOTING GLASSES- how to choose a pair

[Motega]

There are a variety of colors and styles, with prices rangin from under $10 to several hundred. There are a few features I consider an absolute must such as ANSI Z87.1 rating, protection on the sides (not just in front), and comfort.
Polarized lenses I think would be helpful. If most shooting is done outdoors, the tint would be a consideration. I think that a copper tint is probably most versatile, offering decent contrast in a variety of lighting conditions.

Does anyone have any suggestions for good glasses that meet the above criteria?

 

[Geronimo45]

Here's a chart of different tints and their effects:
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-44104681358267_2155_22010774
That can help you pick which color you want for your shooting purposes.

 

[Effigy]

I haven't tried the color tinted glasses, but one thing to consider if you're going to spring for a good pair is the polychromatic lens. They start clear and get darker as more light is absorbed, so you can have a single pair and it will self-regulate according to the lighting conditions. The chemical treatment also responds more under cold temperatures, which is nice if your area gets a lot of snow.

 

[SentinelStrategic]

There are a lot of cheapies out there, but you will notice a difference if you go to a more quality company. If you are an occasional shooter, then you don't really NEED to go spend a ton of money on shooting glasses. However, if you're a pretty avid shooter, forking over the money for a good pair of glasses will pay dividends in the long run. When I used to buy cheapies, I'd wind up getting a new pair every year, if not sooner. They either got hacked up quickly, or just broke down. They were also uncomfortable. When I finally dropped the money on a quality pair of glasses, the difference in optical clarity was night and day. Further, I've had the same primary pair of shooting glasses for 4 years, and they're still going strong. The trade-off is that you need to be more cautious of what you're doing with them, and you take care of them. Losing them sucks. In contrast, you really don't spend a ton of effort taking care of cheap glasses. If I lose a cheap pair of Uvex glasses, it's no big deal.

ReVision is an example of a company that specifically makes their glasses for shooting. High quality, strength, durability, clarity, and very scratch resistant.

I personally use Oakley glasses. I prefer my Half Jacket glasses, and I just swap out lenses as necessary. They have taken an astounding amount of abuse and they're still going strong with no scratches on the lenses. Oakley makes their glasses to meet ANSI specs. The optical quality is really as good as it gets. You will pay to play, but you won't be disappointed.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I personally use Oakley glasses. I prefer my Half Jacket glasses, and I just swap out lenses as necessary. They have taken an astounding amount of abuse and they're still going strong with no scratches on the lenses. Oakley makes their glasses to meet ANSI specs. The optical quality is really as good as it gets. You will pay to play, but you won't be disappointed.

This. I use the Oakley half-jacket XLJs and they are great. I bought them mostly for the safety rating plus they double as sunglasses, so they perform two functions for me. They have taken much abuse, I have put them in my firefighter pants on emergencies and after I take them out of my pocket the glasses are in pieces, but no worries as it all snaps back together. No other pair of glasses has held up this well. I went through 3 pairs of cheap 10-dollar shooting glasses in one summer but my Oakleys have lasted me two years and counting. I only have one scratch on the lens and thats from a 9mm casing being ejected at my face by a Ruger P95. Good thing I was wearing these. I highly recommend them. ESS also makes some safety-rated sunglasses, my local BX has them and I'm close to buying a pair to try.

 

[Tim the student]

I'm also an Oakley guy, but I like the M frames personally. I had a pair that I recently lost that was by far my favorite pair of glasses I'd been issued in the Army. They were my favorites more than anything else I've worn, or been issued for a variety of reasons. They will absolutely do their job of protecting your eyes when it counts too - I've seen this firsthand.

I like them enough that I recently ponied up the money for another set. Not cheap, but money well spent in my book.

 

[hso]

If you go to a optician you can get z87+ safety glasses of real optical quality fitted to You.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

Not cheap, but money well spent in my book.

Can't stress this enough, you only get two eyes and they have to last you your whole life so take care of them.

 

[BIGGBAY90]

Yea, i found out that cheap glasses will scratch easy and it's no fun looking a lines and trying to hit your target