All posts tagged military approved eyewear

Ballistic Eyewear, frames and lenses, how do you decide?

Smith Optics Elite EyewearMany people I know go to gun clubs with inexpensive eyewear that they may have picked up at a hardware store because it was only $7.99 and they didn’t want to spend the money on something they hardly use.  It still amazes me to this day the number of people that don’t where eyewear when shooting but I learned my lesson the hardware, or better yet, avoid serious eye injury.  Years ago I had a magazine blow out on me on cheap surplus ammunition and if I hadn’t been wearing my WileyX ballistic eyewear I might have lost an eye.  I’ve heard horror stories of soldiers in Iraq getting eyewear from family members or purchased themselves that they thought was ballistic but after an IED went off, they lost an eye.

People don’t realize that in a major gun fight, fragmentation is a serious issue and it’s not only the bullet that can cause injury.   Take a shot at a 300yd target with an AR15 about 3 feet in front of your target and watch how many fragments of stone, rock, lead, or steel will fly through paper.  Our chosen ballistic eyewear has been the Smith Optics Elite eyewear and a large selection of ballistic sunglasses and tactical googles since many of the Elite Military have given us positive feedback.   The Outside the Wire Turbo fan is probable the highest price ballistic goggles we sell but in most situations, having a fan vent out moisture is going to get you through the fight and not relying on a piece of eyewear to not fog up.

Top

Looing for eyewear but not sure what to buy?

We have been very happy with the Smith Optics Elite eyewear and in 2012 the product line has gotten even better with the low profile googles and our favorite the Boogie Regulator.   I have gone through piles of safety glasses over the years and mostly because they got so scratched up it affected my visibility and interfered with my targeting of things while on the range.  I have had some issues in the past where if I did not have protection I would have been blinded.   There’s nothing like having a 7.62 nato round go off in a magazine 10 inches from your face.   Googles tend to be pretty bulky and there are wide variations in fit and sizing.

If you want an easy fix for a product that has several ways it can be attached to your helmet or head, check out the Smith Optics Elite Boogie Regulator.   This piece of eyewear won’t break the bank and the Boogie Regulator from Smith Optics Elite comes in a gray, clear and ignitor.    There is a lever on each side of the eyewear that opens and closes so you can allow air to move through it and reduce any fogging.   I would consider these to be the best ballistic eyewear to use for new shooters because it’s very secure and not bulky for shooting through rifle scopes.

Top

Ballistic eyewear and spitballs

I recently got off the phone with a local Law Enforcement Officer that mentioned that he was shopping for new eyewear.  It’s funny how often I hear the same thing from Law Enforcement because it’s not something that occurs on a firing line at all.   If you are a Law Enforcement officer you are dealing with the lowest elements of society and having one of those lower elements of society spit on you is repulsive.  Having on eyewear that keeps scum from getting into your eyes.

There are varying degrees of bullet proof vests you can wear, but the higher the protection the more weight and bulk you will be carrying around.   Ballistic eyewear or tactical eyewear may not stop a bullet, but when bullets fly you can still have debris from concrete, wood or metal fly up into your face.   A splinter of metal is enough to cause blindness and a $70 pair of ballistic lenses can stop a 650fps debris particle.  Worth it?  You bet.

Top
Page 1 of 1