I still think that Oakley is the best when it comes to ballistic eyewear. And have friends who still have eyes thanks to Oakley's stuff.

Honestly, I was never too impressed with Wiley X's eyewear, it didn't seem as durable. They had some good gloves, but eye wear didn't seem up to snuff with what Oakley put out. Of course, it was less expensive generally too.

 

Thanks to all who responded. I am still in search of my solution, but the input here has been very helpful.

I still think that Oakley is the best when it comes to ballistic eyewear. And have friends who still have eyes thanks to Oakley's stuff.

Thanks, I will look at the Oakley stuff. I had originally gone to their site and did not see the prescription option, but I will re-look at this.

I bought the Rudy Project Shooting Kit at 40% off (right now they are offering up to 50% off!).

I LOVE THIS KIT!!!

Lima - these look great. Unfortunately, I wear tri-focals and need bi-focal (distance and mid range) in my shooting glasses. When I went to the site you linked, they noted that they are accepting single vision prescription only at this time. They are a sweet looking option for single vision prescriptions though, thanks for the suggestion.

Probably not quite what you are looking for but I found these OTG glasses from NRA to be an excellent bargain. These fit over your regular prescription glasses.
http://www.nrastore.com/nrastore/Product/Shooting%20Accessories/SA%20446

These could be an option. They would not be my first choice and I will have to see if they are big enough to fit over my regular glasses, which are pretty much full size to accommodate the tri-focal lenses. If I can't find what I am looking for, I may come back to this option. Thanks.

I have a pair of the original Wiley X model XL-1 with the light adjusting prescription lenses. They are excellent but cost $300 with my prescription and the light adjusting lens.

If you get prescription lenses, you lose the adjustable lens swap out feature because they will glue your prescription lens into the frame. The light adjusting lens does not get anywhere near as dark as the smoke grey lens, but I wanted to be able to wear them shooting in all light conditions and not just have a dark sunglass. I wear them on float trips, and lots of outdoor activities besides shooting.

The new model XL-1's have replaceable rubber gaskets so if you notch them out to allow more ventilation, you can get a replacement set.

I like the XL-1's because they look like cool sunglasses, but with the gasket around the lens and using the T-adapter head strap which snaps into the side of the side temples you get a true goggle out of them for complete eye protection. So far I only use the head strap when on float trips or fishing so I don't lose them in the river. But they grip your head pretty snugly without the head strap.

buckeye .45, check out the XL-1's. I think you find them every bit as durable as the Oakley's. I agree, several of the other Wiley-X models seem pretty flimsy. I passed on several others until finding the XL-1's.

Thanks for the info. From their web site, it appears that you can now get prescription inserts that work with multiple sunglass lenses - the prescription insert appears to fit behind the sunglass and protective lens. These are still very much in the running for me at this point.

This what I use as sunglasses and shooting glasses over my prescription glasses. They are about $40-50. They come in many different sizes and colors and the lenses can snapped out and changed.

Cocoons Eyewear - Fit Over Sunglasses, Clip-Ons and 3D Eyewear

Bobo

Thanks for the option. I have a pair of cocoons that I got at Bass Pro. I use them when I can use a sunglass for protection on the range. The problem is when I need a clear lens to protect. These are a very good option when the sun is shining.

 

have a friend measure as you hold an unloaded hand gun out towards a target. 36 to 40 inches is average, front sight to strong eye pistol or carbine.
than have your eye doc make the strong side lens focus at that distance. many dedicated shooters like an extra pair of custom shooting glasses.
if you use scopes and/or red dots a lot, usefulness decreases as does there cost effectiveness.

 

I bought the Rudy Project Shooting Kit at 40% off (right now they are offering up to 50% off!). Because I, too, need prescription glasses and some prescription shooting glasses (with only a single pair of lenses) were ranging into the $500+ range and this seemed like a much better deal. I got the prescription inserts and spent a little extra on a set of the specialized IMPACT polarized lenses to snap in. In total I probably spent around $500 for the whole schebang but I ended up with the prescription insert and six different interchangeable lenses which is pretty much like having six different pairs of glasses. Not bad, says I!

I LOVE THIS KIT!!!

I really cannot say enough about it. It entirely adjustable (nose and arms) and the lenses wrap around nicely to keep out light and dust and brass for great protection and with it already coming with five different lens colors (clear, yellow, racing red, action brown and laser copper) there is no light condition that you won't have a lens for.

I have taken these to all day classes that have started in the morning and started with one lens or on days where it started cloudy and I needed another and as it got brighter or the clouds cleared I've been able to easily switch out lenses without having to worry about having another pair of glasses handy. And if the class then goes to no light or low light, I can switch to clear lenses as well. Very versatile!

I love these so much I wear them as standard sun glasses most of the time.

The box tells you all about the different lenses and what light conditions they are ideal for. They also are guaranteed so that if they scratch they will send you a replacement set of lenses for free.

I'd strongly recommend these glasses!

 

I bought the Rudy Project Shooting Kit

I really wanted to get those, but alas, my prescription was just a bit too funky.... :sad:

But I am happy with what I ended-up with.

I got a set of Bolle Vigilantes, with four sets of lenses, for just under $115, and a prescription insert for those glasses for just under $90. I placed the order through OpticsPlanet, online, on Saturday - and I received the prescription inserts yesterday (Wed.), and the glasses today (Thurs.), all with their free shipping. I was expecting a much longer wait (actually, these beat my new prescription casuals, which I'd placed the order last Friday from a local optician's), but the lenses came perfect to my prescription via the Zeiss labs, courtesy of FedEx Priority Overnight that I didn't even have to pay for! :biggrin2:

As with many Chinese, I have a fairly wide face. My PD is 72 mm (evenly divided at 36 on each side). This is also a part of the reason why I went with the Vigilantes, which, in all honesty, are quite large and 80s Terminator-esque, but I wanted shooting glasses specifically for their extended coverage, since I had a close-call with a spent casing at one of my recent indoor tutorial classes, when I wasn't wearing a billed ballcap.

My only complaint currently is that the curvature of the prescription adapter, combined with my rather flat and wide face, causes the tops of the lenses to come very close to my upper eyelids (for most Caucasians and African Americans, this should not be a problem, even if you have a wide face, your higher nose bridge and more prominent brow-line should mean that your eyes/lids are will recessed from the glasses' inner surface. Although this should mean that I won't have to worry about any casings sneaking through, it brings up the possibility of fogging.... I have a training class in two weeks, so we'll see how it goes, then.

 

Probably not quite what you are looking for but I found these OTG glasses from NRA to be an excellent bargain. These fit over your regular prescription glasses.
http://www.nrastore.com/nrastore/Product/Shooting%20Accessories/SA%20446

 

I still think that Oakley is the best when it comes to ballistic eyewear. And have friends who still have eyes thanks to Oakley's stuff.

Honestly, I was never too impressed with Wiley X's eyewear, it didn't seem as durable. They had some good gloves, but eye wear didn't seem up to snuff with what Oakley put out. Of course, it was less expensive generally too.

I have a pair of the original Wiley X model XL-1 with the light adjusting prescription lenses. They are excellent but cost $300 with my prescription and the light adjusting lens.

If you get prescription lenses, you lose the adjustable lens swap out feature because they will glue your prescription lens into the frame. The light adjusting lens does not get anywhere near as dark as the smoke grey lens, but I wanted to be able to wear them shooting in all light conditions and not just have a dark sunglass. I wear them on float trips, and lots of outdoor activities besides shooting.

The new model XL-1's have replaceable rubber gaskets so if you notch them out to allow more ventilation, you can get a replacement set.

I like the XL-1's because they look like cool sunglasses, but with the gasket around the lens and using the T-adapter head strap which snaps into the side of the side temples you get a true goggle out of them for complete eye protection. So far I only use the head strap when on float trips or fishing so I don't lose them in the river. But they grip your head pretty snugly without the head strap.

buckeye .45, check out the XL-1's. I think you find them every bit as durable as the Oakley's. I agree, several of the other Wiley-X models seem pretty flimsy. I passed on several others until finding the XL-1's.

 

One note about the over-the-glasses eye protection is that you cannot use them with earmuff style ear pro. It breaks the "seal" the muffs make over your ears, and allow a lot of noise in. For this reason, I don't use eye pro at the range aside from my glasses. I wish I could use something, but things are too expensive. I suppose I do run the risk of breaking my expensive glasses. So far I haven't had any issues, except the occasional piece of brass that comes back and bounces off the frame of my glasses.

 

One note about the over-the-glasses eye protection is that you cannot use them with earmuff style ear pro.

That might be the case for some models but I haven't had a problem with mine. They fit over my ear like any other eye protection/prescription eyeglasses and don't cause a problem with my Peltor's.

 

This what I use as sunglasses and shooting glasses over my prescription glasses. They are about $40-50. They come in many different sizes and colors and the lenses can snapped out and changed.

Cocoons Eyewear - Fit Over Sunglasses, Clip-Ons and 3D Eyewear

Bobo

 

I attempted to buy a pair of the Wiley X glasses a few months back but was told they couldn't do it in tri-focals for my prescription.

I wound up with a completely different no brand sport glasses in bi-focal, from Sams, with polycarbonate photochromic lenses. These have a cloth band to hold them in place so ear protection fits well over, and the polycarbonate safety lenses are going to be adequate for all but the worst catastrophic oops at the range.

With some hindsight, I am now glad I didn't get the Wiley. If we are speaking of the same glasses and design I think the seal would cause too much fogging.

The pair I did get still fogs some, but there is a lot more space open on the side for air circulation.

I find I use my sports glasses extensively for all manner of stuff. They provide much better eye protection than regular stylish frames and don't fall off when I am being very active.

I would not recommend spending money on the photochromic lenses. IMO they don' work very well, don't provide good sun/glare protection, and can't be used for driving on sunny days because UV is needed to make them turn dark and the car glass blocks the UV.

Now, what I have found works for my situation is 3 pair. One for regular use in trifocal. One with polarized lenses in bi-focal for driving. And, one set in the traditional sports design, also with bi-focals.

The Wiley system is certainly cool looking and well made, but I think I made the right decision not getting them.

 

Hop - do the glasses you got have side shields? The reason I am asking is I want mine to do double duty as shooting and safety glasses. I was at training last weekend and we were shooting steel targets. I got hit several times by splatter coming from several directions. I did not get hit in the glasses, but easily could have. As I plan to do more steel target shooting, I would like the side protection.

 

To some extent they do have side protection, but not like the Wiley X.

If you really want safety glasses and do need the side protection, then what I got is not for you.

I've had hot cases bounce off the walls of the booth at the range and down onto my eyelids when wearing regular glasses. With my present sports glasses nothing would get in from the top and most stuff would not get in from the side, but fragments coming at just the right angle could.

What I have works fine for me when I'm using power tools.

Don't misunderstand, I think the Wiley's are great looking and very well made. The price is reasonable for what you get. The interchangeable lenses and the padding + side protection might be exactly the thing for you.

I'm just suggesting that if fogging is a potential problem for you (as it often is with safety glasses), you might want to look at the relative risk-benefit trades to be had with other designs.

 

Try looking at the ESS line.

 

Another vote for the ESS line I really like my ESS ICE.

 

kay

 

I have a pair of ESS shooting glasses with interchangeable lenses as well as the prescription insert.

Here is a YouTube video on the lens: ‪ESS ICE NARO Ballistics Glasses Stress Test‬‏ - YouTube

 

Serengeti Large Aviators.

 

Now that's old-school. My father still has his pair. Plano glass - the old man has always had perfect eyesight. :smile:

 

My vote is for the Oakley M-Frame line. I have been wearing Oakley's for about 15 years and haven't had a pair of sungalsse or shooting glasses come close to being as comfortable or functional. (ESS, Wiley X, Etc.) I do wish they still made the baseball frames though. Curently have the clear and smoke lenses.