Best Shooting Glasses For Your Safety

Whether you’re a pro or a newbie, in a forest or a field, there are certain safety precautions that should never be overlooked before you start firing your gun. One of the most important of these precautions is wearing eye protection. No matter what kind of firearm you use, there will be a certain amount of recoil with your face in close proximity. Plus, shooting outdoors exposes you to the wind, dust, and sun which can cause vision problems.

Of course, not all shooting glasses are made equal. Some are guaranteed to be better than others. If you’re looking for the best eye protection for your shooting activities, you’ve come to the right place. Below are the 10 best shooting glasses in the market today.

Top 10 Shooting Glasses Of 2020 Reviewed

3. Radians Revelation

Another budget-friendly option, the Radians Revelation Protective Shooting Glasses are ANSI Z87.1 + compliant which makes them an ideal choice for the casual shooter. The nose pad is soft and is made of non-slip rubber to keep the glasses comfortable and secure.

You can also adjust it to create the best fit. In addition, the four-position telescoping temples with five-position ratchet adjustment allows you to customize the fit according to your preference. For less than $10, that’s incredible. However, the lens is not scratch resistant and they don’t come with a case. They also do fog up.

2. AmazonBasics Anti-Fog Shooting Safety Glasses Eye Protection, Clear Lens, 3-Count

The next time you go out to the range, you should carry with you a pair of the AmazonBasics Anti-Fog Shooting Safety Glasses. We are talking about the best anti-fog shooting glasses in terms of the quality of eye protection. You will find these glasses great to wear, whether you are a man or a woman. These tough shooting glasses are made from a strong polycarbonate material that can withstand falls while in use in the outdoors.

On the outer surface, the glasses have an anti-fog coating, which makes them great for use in foggy, humid conditions. The lightweight frame features durable material. Its black color gives the glasses a sporty, sleek appearance. Importantly, the glasses can fit just about anyone since they are standardized. As a testament to the quality of these glasses, AmazonBasics is offering a one-year warranty.

7. Peltor Sport SecureFit 400 Glasses

Best Shooting Glasses For Ear Muffs

The Peltor Sport SecureFit 400 Glasses comes in 3 pairs with 3 different tints – clear, amber, and gray. The perfect choice if you plan on shooting in different environments. All of the pairs feature a flat-temple, low profile design for a better seal and a more comfortable fit when worn with ear protection.

The wraparound lens provides complete coverage and 99.9% UV protection. And all pairs meet or exceed ANSI Z87.1-2010 standards. You can choose to wear these for your hunting, airsoft, and paintball activities. However, the rubber nose pieces come off quite easily. Wearing these can get uncomfortable after a while when wearing ear muffs. And they don’t come with a bag or case.

1. Allen Over Shooting Glasses

Best Shooting Glasses For Eyeglass Wearers

If you want adequate impact resistance but have a limited budget, then your best bet would be going with the Allen Company Shooting Glasses. These feature wraparound frames for extra protection and coverage and meet ANSI Z87 impact resistance standards. It features metallic coating on the lenses, 100% UV protection, and are perfect for use in bright lighting conditions.

If you wear prescription glasses, then these babies are large enough to fit over them so you don’t need to go for the more expensive prescription lenses. However, these aren’t glasses you want to wear for longer than 2 hours. The plastic temples tend to become uncomfortable after awhile. It may be uncomfortable when used with earmuffs. The glasses also ted to fog up easily but nothing you can’t easily wipe away.

2. ESS Eyewear Crossbow Suppressor 2X Deluxe Kit

Best Shooting Glasses For The Money

The ESS Eyewear Crossbow Suppressor 2x Deluxe Kit may cost you a pretty penny but it does buy you premium quality and the best level of protection. Not only does this pair comply with ANSI z87.1+ and U.S Federal OSHA requirements, but it also meets the U.S MIL-PRF 31013 standards. In addition, these glasses provide UV A and UV B protection. They also come with a thin suppressor frame that is designed specifically to enable the wearer to use ear protection.

Using Z-Bend Geometry, the frame has ultra-thin temple arms that provide a comfortable fit. Plus, you even get three different lenses. However, the thin suppressor frame requires the use of a retention band because it is so light. It will keep falling off without it or without wearing ear protection. The lenses also fog easily.

5. Radians Clay Shooting Glasses

Best Shooting Glasses For Sporting Clays

This frameless, 7 base, wraparound unilens from Radians are an eye-catcher indeed. They can certainly make someone look awesome. They definitely don’t look like your average safety shooting glasses. The wraparound single lens provides an unobstructed view as well as 99.9% UV protection. These glasses exceed the ANSI Z87.1 + standards. And they still feel comfortable with ear protection on. However, they aren’t adjustable as some of the shooting glasses on our list. There is no pouch or case included to prevent the glasses from getting scratched in your bag. Also, these are not scratch resistant.

6. Ducks Unlimited Eye Protection Kit

Best Shooting Glasses For Low Light

The Ducks Unlimited Eye Protection Kit is on our list for several reasons. One of which is the fact that the glasses exceed the ANSI Z87.1-2015 High Impact standards. Safety first! Another reason is that you can easily create a comfortable fit due to the adjustable nosepiece and ratcheting temple arms. You also get 5 interchangeable lenses, a neoprene case, and a microfiber cleaning bag. However, switching out the lenses is not easy. The clip on the nose is fragile and breaks easily. Also, the lenses can easily get scratched.

8. Wiley X Saber Advanced Shooting Glasses

Best Shooting Glasses For Archery

If you want the highest level of protection against impact, then the Wiley-X Saber Advanced Shooting Glasses is the way to go. This pair meets the GL-PD 10-12 MCEP standards and supersedes the MIL-PRF-31013 standards for impact resistance. It features a one-piece wrap-around design for maximum eye coverage as well as a padded nosepiece and patented temple adjustments for a comfortable fit. The lenses are shatterproof and able to block 100% of harmful UV rays while the frame is made of triloid nylon to withstand daily abuse. Plus, you can choose from several lens colors to suit your shooting activities. However, it does not fit well for people with big heads. It isn’t anti-fog. Also, changing lenses can be quite difficult.

9. Venture Gear Overwatch Tactical Sunglasses with Anti-Fog Lens

Best Shooting Glasses For Small Faces

This pair of shooting glasses is unlike anything on our list. For one, it isn’t a single piece of the lens because it has a sunglasses style. But it does provide protection where you need it the most. The pair has a wraparound frame design that provides you with maximum coverage. The glasses feature a soft rubber nosepiece and rubber temple tips that feel comfortable on your face. The polycarbonate lenses protect you from all sorts of elements including UV light, dust, and debris. Plus, these glasses are ANSI Z87.1 certified and pass the MIL-PRF 32432 High-Velocity Impact Standards.

However, they aren’t as anti-fog and as scratch resistant as promised. The glasses are a little on the small side as well. People with bigger sized heads may find these uncomfortable. Plus, you can’t wear your prescription glasses underneath these.

10. Smith Optics Elite Aegis Arc Compact Eyeshield Field Kit

Best Shooting Glasses For Indoor Range

The Smith Optics Elite Aegis Arc Compact Eyeshield Field Kit is another option on our list for shooters looking for the highest level of protection. These babies are US-MIL-PRF-31013 certified and EN 166 compliant. You get two lenses with this pair, one is clear for indoor shooting while the other is tinted for outdoor activities. The glasses feature Tapered Lens Technology which corrects any distortion.

The Mego temples and soft nosepiece keep the glasses comfortably secure on your face. You even get a case to store your eyewear. However, the tint on the lens does wear away fast. They are pretty expensive.

Choosing the Best Shooting Glasses Buying Guide

If you own guns in your home and love shooting, there are a lot of options when it comes to protective eyewear for shooters of all levels. But not all of them will give you the amount of protection you need while still providing you with a great deal of visual clarity. Plus, the wrong choice can mean the loss of more than just your game (the animal or the score on the leaderboard); it can mean the loss of your vision.  

This makes choosing the right one, not an easy task. So, before you take your best shot at buying your next pair, take a minute or three to read our buying guide. It’ll give you the clarity you need to make the best choice.

There are three main things that you need to consider when choosing the right shooting glasses: ballistics or physical/impact protection, elements or environmental factors, and fit & comfort.

Ballistics or Physical Protection?

This is the main reason why you’re getting shooting glasses in the first place. You want to make sure that your eyes are protected against impact. Shooting accidents may result in a high-velocity impact to your eye area caused by fragmented or solid flying pieces. Obviously, your shooting glasses should provide you with adequate protection against projectiles, preventing injury.

Now, there are three major standards of impact resistance. For US civilians, that is ANSI Z87.1. For US Military, it is MIL-PRF-31013. For Europeans, it is EN166. At a minimum, your shooting glasses should be marked as compliant with the Z87+ ANSI standard. The plus sign indicates that it was able to pass all the high-impact test requirements.

Without it, you’ll be getting shooting glasses that have only been tested against fine dust particles, mist, liquid droplets, optic radiation, and splashing. The Allen Over Shooting Glasses, for example, meets the Z87+ ANSI standard which is the minimum amount of protection you should get.

What about the U.S. MIL-PRF-31013 standards? Well, these are shooting glasses that have been tested to withstand .15 inch diameter projectile traveling at a speed ranging between 639 and 661 feet per second. According to these standards, the glasses should also provide UV protection and resistant to chemical wear. They are kept safe, and its protective properties must remain unaffected even if the glasses are exposed to varying humidity levels and temperatures. In short, for the highest level of physical protection, your shooting glasses must meet these standards such as the ESS Eyewear Crossbow Suppressor 2X Deluxe Kit.

Now, if you’re looking at shooting glasses made in Europe, you should only consider those that meet the EN166 standards. Shooting glasses that are able to meet these standards have been tested for increased robustness, low energy impact, medium energy impact, and high energy impact. The highest level of protection you can get is against high energy impact. Shooting glasses that meet with this standard are marked with the letter “A.” What it means is that your shooting glasses will be able to provide protection against a 0.86gram, 6mm steel ball hitting the glasses at a speed of 190 meters per second. The Smith Optics Elite Aegis Arc Compact Eyeshield Field Ki is the only pair of shooting glasses on our list that meet EN166 standards.

Elemental Protection

Aside from ballistic protection, your shooting glasses should provide your eyes protection against the elements.  These include harmful UV rays, dust particles, and gun powder residue. The Remington T-72 Shooting Glasses, for example, provides protection from harmful UV rays and dust particles.

Fit & Comfort

Your shooting glasses can only protect your eyes if you wear them. Which means that fit and comfort are essential factors to consider. Comfort, as you well know, is very subjective so this is not something that anyone can help you determine. But when it comes to fit, you should make sure that your shooting glasses fit the contours of your eye area comfortably while still providing adequate cover.

It should also stay on even when you make sudden movements. If you run, jump, or do any kind of movement at any speed, your shooting glasses should stay put. It should be able to stay on, providing protection to your eye area, despite the insane amount of recoil from your gun.

When choosing your shooting glasses, fit & comfort are the only attributes that you can really test. Which is why it is doubly important that you do so. Make sure to check if there are any openings that could potentially allow fragments or any projectiles to reach your eyes unobstructed.

Also, make sure that the glasses aren’t too tight and don’t irritate your skin. And if you plan to wear ear protection, make sure that your shooting glasses won’t end up causing you any discomfort. One of our favorites is the Radians Revelation because it is adjustable, making it easy to create the perfect fit for yourself.

What’s The General Checklist You Should Keep in Mind?

To help you find the best shooting glasses that provide you with adequate protection, here is a short checklist that you can use:

• has a single-piece lens that covers both of your eyes
• comfortably fits the contours of your eye area
• provides adequate cover for all areas that need protection
• features a thick lens-connector bridge (located over your nose) or one that has a rubber piece cover
• stays on when you make sudden movements
• meets ANSI Z87+, U.S. MIL-PRF-31013 or European EN166 (A or B) standards.
• features side protection shields
• classified to provide UV ray protection

What about lenses?

Aside from the type of material used, UV protection, and coverage (all of which was already discussed above in some form or other), you’ll find that shooting glasses can feature lenses in a wide range of colors.

Gray or smoke tints are the most common colors you’ll find. These can block glare without affecting color perception which makes them an ideal choice for use in all kinds of weather.

Lenses that are brown or amber in color are effective at blocking blue light and in improving depth and contrast perception which makes them ideal for cloudy days and for hunting. The Ducks Unlimited Eye Protection Kit includes 5 interchangeable lenses, one of which is amber in color.

Yellow or orange lenses are perfect for improving contrast in low-light conditions and blocking haze. Purple tints, on the other hand, enhance the color range of a target against a bad background such as tall trees.