Protective and ballistic glasses - which model will suit?

Eyes are one of the most valuable and at the same time the most delicate elements of our body. Taking care of them during everyday activities - relaxation exercises, keeping adequate distance from the screens of devices - is a good habbit. However, when it comes to high-risk situations, the eye protection should be a necessity. Regardless of whether you are at risk of gravel during a bicycle rally, branches when breaking through the forest or a rear sight falling off the WIST pistol, safety glasses should always be on your nose. In the list we will present the most interesting, in our opinion, proposals for safety glasses in five price ranges.

In budget glasses, one thing in particular should be kept in mind: whether they have standards. They are the guarantee of our safety and they tell us what our glasses can be used for. The EN166 standard sets minimum requirements that glasses must meet in order to be defined as protective. The additional markings on the visor indicate the degree of protection against particles of specific energy, liquids, etc. The form of the eyepieces in this segment is usually focused on the typically usable character, but it is possible to find discreet models that do not emanate with the "industrial" appearance.

Our sugestion will be a Cobra model by the French Bolle Safety. These lightweight safety glasses have every element necessary for efficient functioning and will correctly protect our eyes against dangers. In addition, they have improvements in the form of, still integrated with the viewfinder but silicone noses and adjustable angle of the temples so that we can fit them to the shape of our head. This will improve both comfort and minimize gap through which contaminants could get through. It is available in several types of lenses: from smoked, through contrast enhancing, to transparent with increased light transmission (HD).

Sector up to 25 € will provide us with most of the mechanical facilities that we can meet in protective glasses. In this price range, we should no longer find traps that merely pretend to protect our eyes. However, monitoring standards will allow us to make sure that glasses are sufficient in our situation. When choosing the right glasses, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the nose is a separate element and has the possibility to fit in several planes. Flexible and non-slip temples, which limit movement while running, will also be valuable elements. This price bracket should also offer us coatings on lenses, which will limit their matting by scratches arising during use. An example of such glasses can be Bolle Tryon, which in Blue Flash version have been additionally equipped with IR reflective coating. Characteristic mirror finish reflects heat so the model is perfect for hot days with full sun exposure. In addition, the inside of the viewfinder is covered with an anti-fog coating. Such treatments are effective, however, you should remember about their regular maintenance with appropriate agents.

Sector up to 150 PLN is the entrance level to the models providing the highest protection. At this price we can already buy the first models of ballistic glasses, which will be a great choice for shooting range or for professional applications. Ballistic glasses term are referred to models meeting the civil standard Z87.1 concerning mechanical strength. Together with the military standard MIL-PRF-31013, they guarantee the highest level of protection for the most extreme situations. ICE glasses by American ESS are the cheapest and at the same time full-fledged model of this company. The manufacturer's offer is typically addressed to representatives of the military sector and the models are appreciated by operators from all over the world. ICE are characterized by extraordinary resistance, low weight and a number of systems improving the comfort of use. PosiLock™ adjustable temples allow you to adjust to the shape of your head and the frameless lens ensures maximum field of vision. Thanks to its modular design, it can be exchanged for other variants, so that the glasses can be adapted to the current lighting conditions.

The models between the previous bracket and the 60 € are advanced ballistic protection systems that will meet the requirements of most professional shooters - military operators, specialist security agencies and sports shooters. In this segment, we recommend one of the best-selling ESS models - Crossbow. These glasses belong to the Cross environment - a modular system of frames, viewfinders and noses allowing for perfect adaptation to the situation. Fitting to the shape of your nose, lighting conditions or existing hearing protectors will give you the highest performance and protection and will take less than a minute with the DedBolt™ quick-change system. Tri-Tech Fit™ frames are extremely comfortable, and thanks to their low weight and lack of pressure points, glasses can be worn comfortably even all day long. Thanks to its large surface area, the viewfinder perfectly protects not only the eyes, but also the upper cheeks and eyebrows, as well as provides a very wide field of view.

With an amount of more than 60 € we sail out into open water, which will allow you to choose a model perfectly suited to our needs. Aesthetic values, above average low weight, preferred brand or specific improvements that we are interested in will be a key factor here. Therefore, we decided to put here, for example, some of the most interesting ballistic glasses in our offer - SpecShop.pl. Tombstone Spoil is a model of a renowned manufacturer of eyeglasses and goggles Oakley. The company, which enjoys a reputation in sports environments, also has a branch of Standard Issue dealing with the development of the most technologically advanced glasses for the military segment. The Tombstone model has a completely frameless lenses with an unlimited field of vision and a quick change system based on convenient buttons. Thanks to that, when changing it, we do not have to worry about smudges. The use of O Matter® and Plutonite® materials makes the weight of the glasses almost imperceptible.

While paying attention to the protective qualities, it is worthwhile to look at the filters that prevent ultraviolet radiation. Most companies use them in their viewfinders, and the guarantee of their presence and effectiveness is also the marking of standards. For more detailed information, we invite you to familiarize yourself with our blog focused on glasses parameters.