I am hard on sunglasses. I usually burn through 2 or 3 pairs a year. Last week at Home Depot I picked up a pair of 3M Fuel 2 “safety glasses”. A quick comparison of the spec’s indicates they meet the same optical quality / impact standards as Oakley and Smith (ANSI Z87.1-2003). They may not have the cool factor of the big names but for now it is the best $36 I have ever spent on a pair of shades. A quick trip to the 3M website revealed I could have purchased them direct for $25. They have a large selection of models to chose from. The most expensive was $60 for photochromatic lenses.
As with many, I am hard on glasses as well. I wear Oakley Eye-patch’s everyday in uniform and in civilian attire. I use the Z87 rated lenses you spoke of while working, shooting, grinding etc…I found that I can keep the cheap ones around forever and blow through the pricey ones in no time…figures…
I’ve tried various work/industrial sunglasses with UV and impact protection. They work, but none have had the optical clarity of the better name-brand lenses, particularly Oakley. I’ve been happy with the Revision and Wiley-X lenses as well.
That’s the interesting point, the ANSI Z87.1-2003 standard covers optical clarity. If they both meet it, how do objectively argue one way or the other? If Oakley’s were better than the standard would they be marketing off the point?
I’m not an engineer or safety expert, but Aearo Technologies (now part of 3M) used to be a client of mine, so I have a little relevant knowledge. (By way of background, Aearo owned & marketed safety glasses under the AO Safety brand name, as well as Peltor hearing protection, the yellow EAR foam earplugs, hearing and eyepro for the .mil, and other personal protection equipment. Aearo was acquired by 3M in 2008. Not sure if the AO Safety brand name is still in use for the eyepro.)
It’s my understanding that the ANSI standards relate to impact protection, not to optical clarity. Google or Wikipedia or the ANSI website would probably tell the full story.
Im sure everyone is set on their pair of glasses and I am not bashing the cheap ones in any way (i like to save a buck as much as anyone else) but I wear Ballistic M-frames on a daily basis and I have beaten them to death (not just saying that). They are hands down the best glasses I have ever spent money on. I put a review up on my blog leipersforkfirearms.blogspot.com
Agreed. While I am very particuliar about care for items, I am an Oakley guy…period. I currently ALWAYS wear polarized flak jackets. But the first pair I bought were M frames about 9 years ago. They are now my shooting/yardwork pair. Still use the same lenses as when I purchased them. They are so light, I have literally forgot I had them on before. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? As someone who has sunglasses on every time I walk out the door…I wouldn’t spend my money on any other brand at this point. Great Great glasses…just take care of them…they all come with a hard case.
I know!!! Downside for us (AF) not sure about any other branches is that we are not able to send copied images of our CAC. I think one way around this could be an email from your .mil email address???
Flack Jacket XLJs are my go to shades. However, I opt out of the polarized versions as my job requires me to use a toughbook quite a bit… Polarized lenses don’t mix with LCD screens.
I use to do avionics for a private shop and somehow they were able to get 55% off on all Oakley products and 30% off on L3 Comm.(Eotech)…it was kick ass
