All posts tagged shooting glasses

Feedback from EMS customers about Smith Optics Elite ballistic eyewear

Smith Optics Elite Protective SunglassesLocal EMS folks have been asking us about new products, what they like and reviews on various competitors product.  Even as a paramedic dealing with blood splatter, needles ect are things that not everyone realizes are life altering things due to all of the various blood pathogens that are out there.    Waterproof boots are not for water its about protecting your feed from  HIV, Hepatitis C and on and on.   Some of the  local trauma surgeons are wearing the Smith Optics Elite Aegis Eyeshields.   The Aegis Echo has a flat metal frame that gives you more comfort if you have a hat or helmet on.   The Boogie Regulators have a strap that can go over many different types of helmet, swat helmets, artillery or any other infantry type.

There are always different needs and uses of eye wear, but the most versatile are the Eye shields. One problem that some sunglasses can have is they do not give you the protection against projectiles that can bounce around on a firing range that regular shooting glasses can have. One issue glasses can have besides being cheap and not holding up are they they do not give you good clarity or visibility. Ballistic sunglasses like  Smith Optics Elite protective sunglasses are for street wear, but the larger frames will restrict visibility that the eye shields do not. We each can have our preferences on what color lense we want and the great thing about the eye shields in the replacement lenses. For training and carbine classes and you don’t want to be wearing goggles, the eye shields are the best option in safety glasses for protection and visibility.

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Ballistic Eyewear in Stock

There are only a few optics companies that are approved by the United States Military and Smith Optics Elite are one of them. The Outside the wear goggles are used by many military and Law Enforcement. Many of our customers are active military and when they have the option to try out something other than what they are issued, they are choosing the Smith Optics Elite. There are replacement lenses for the Outside the Wire googles and improved ballistic protection.

The OTW Turbo Fan solves a problem that many optics run into. When you are in a situation where taking your safety gear off and your goggles are fogging up the silent Smith Optics Elite turbo fan will reduce fogging immediately. For law enforcement, the Smith Optics Tactical Lifestyle glasses come in clear, gray, Polarized gray and the Ignitor for all of the glasses. The Director, Lockwood, Hideout series all have a unique feel and look to them as well as the other styles. They will give you UV protection so you can keep your eyes on your job without eye strain.

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It’s not all about goggles and glasses

There are many options that are not as bulky as your typical tactical or ballistic goggles.   Some of the ballistic eyewear product lines aren’t that different from each other, other than what part of the Country the person making the purchases gives his or her approval for.   We have people walk in here all the time that are looking for cheap shooting glasses and we have some of those on the wall for $10.  When it comes to serious shooting, though, you want to keep your glasses in a case so they don’t get messed up sooner than they are suppose to.   All gear and accessories will wear out, but the Smith Optics Elite division has a warranty service that will repair your eyewear if you get it scratched or damaged except for the frame.

Right now the biggest rave amongst our eyewear are the boogie regulators.  Everytime we bring up these  Smith Optics Elite eyewear  we hear a wise crack about the boogie, but these fast on and off goggles are getting out amongst our local bike patrols and motorcycle cops.   I’ve tested them out myself and I’m still not sure if I like them more than my Aegis eye shields.  I very much like the newer Aegis eyeshields because the fit is a little tighter even without the head strap.

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New Polarized Smith Optics Elite in stock

I just got done going through all of the Smith Optics Elite Division tactical eyewear that has been out of stock for a long time now.   I’m not sure if it was a production issue or a demand, although I’ve heard a few rumors that there were some issues with the manufacturing them.   Polarized lenses that can take an impact are in high demand and especially for our private contractor clientele.   Smith Optics are one of the five authorized eyewear for military purpose and the designers of the eyewear already have experience working with some of the other competitors.

The Aegis eye shield is still  probable the best tactical eyewear for military use because it’s not as heavy as wearing goggles but it gives you full eye coverage with zero obstructions. Smith Elite eyewear is something you’ll want to try out in a stocking dealers shop.   Ordering sunglasses online is probable just as difficult as ordering clothing or apparel because the look and fit of them is very much about preference and style.  The lifestyles give you the street cool guy look, but not the best thing to wear at a shooting range or in a combat situation.   I personally prefer no frames when I’m working with my Carbine.

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Smith Optics Elite still waiting

We’ve been very happy to bring in the new Smith Optics Elite eye wear.   It’s been awhile since we’ve expanded this part of our inventory because eye wear is actually a hard sell via the internet.   There are some things that people have real fears of ordering online due to shipping and exchange policies from various companies.   The Smith Optics are not the optics you find in a hardware store.   They are far more better balanced and durable.   Primarily what I’m talking about are the Smith Optics Elite Lifestyle glasses.   We’ve been selling most of them to walk in customers because they are eye catching. The Smith Optics display case we have has really good LED lighting and it really brings out the differences between the clear, ignitory, gray and Polarized eyewear.

While looking at what many life guards are using, the polarized lenses are the most popular.   The amount of sun glare and the depths that they need to see during the summer sun hours can be intense.   The Smith Optics Elite tactical eyewear has been gaining ground and we’ve been sponsoring various local events to push some of their products.    Taking good care of  your eyewear is extremely important because scratches and smudges can limit your visibility and in a defensive situation, that you means your at a disadvantage.   The Outside the wire Smith Elite turbo fan goggles are

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Sometimes eye protection means eye protection

I may have sounded redundant, but I didn’t mean to.   When we first started carrying eyewear for Law Enforcement we kind of thought that all of the eyewear was for Police guys to look like Police.   I have to admit that the majority of the eyewear are the Ignitor Smith Optics, but I’m shocked at the number of emergency responders that wanted the clear lenses.   The Lifestyle lenses look like they are for the sun, but there is a reason there are clear lense and not the gray or polarized.

In the age of blood diseases and what Cops are exposed to,  sometimes looking good on the job and avoid blood born diseases means always having eyewear on.  Smith Optics Elite Lifestyle lenses were designed for this.  If you are out in the sun  you have the choice of the gray, ignitor, polarized gray and clear lenses.  If your job is that demanding you may want to look at the outside the wire turbo fan googles.

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Eyewear, protection and visibility

I will never forget to time of my life where i thought that people that wore sunglasses only wore them because they were just trying to be cool.   Then there was the time I went on a fishing trip on a bright sunny day and came home with the worst headache I have ever gotten in my life.   After that, I knew there was a reason to wear sunglasses and it was obvious to me that that’s why they are called sunglasses.  Gun safety glasses obviously protect you from flying debris and for those serving in the military, ballistics on the eyewear you have on really means something to you.

Sunglasses for law enforcement isn’t just about being cool or hiding your eyes from the public.  Ever since HIV and blood born diseases really affecting the Law Enforcement community wearing eyewear that protected you from the disgusting elements of society was important.  Smith Optics Elite are now in the tactical community with cool Lifestyle eyewear with various lense options.   The eyewear comes in clear, gray, ignitor and polarized gray. We see a lot of clear eyewear going to those running ambulance services and first responders.

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Matching guns to gun cases

I am a strong believer in marking all of your gear, not just because you need to have your name on it, but it’s a good to keep your stuff well organized so you don’t run into an “aw shit” moment when you didn’t pack up something vital for your daily events.  I just spent a weekend hanging out with someone that locked up all of his guns, but didn’t keep all of the keys together and couldn’t open up one of the gun cases.   I suggest people have a range bag to keep tools and range magazines in and then a good tactical vest.   The reason I suggest these is it’s best to really keep putting everything in the same place and know that every time you go to the range, items A and B are always with you, and then bring whichever gun or ammunition you need.

I always match the rifle case to the gun and leave the magazines or the bare minimum of 3-5 of them inside the case pockets.   Sight in tools are always in my tactical vest along with ear plugs, shooting glasses and even a small bottle of bug spray.   I wear my Eotac Style 101 vest under some of my hunting jackets just because it’s a little bit of an overkill for hunting, but it has everything I need in it.   I keep field dressing gloves, tactical gloves and elbow pads in this, also.

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