Our eyes aren’t nearly as tough as our skin—and we only get two, so they’re kind of important. Still, we’ll spend boocoo bucks on all kinds of cool gear, then grab a $5 pair of glasses to protect our eyes. If I’m being honest, I used to forget my shooting glasses all the time. And then there was that one time… We’ve all had one of those, right?
With me, it was getting a little too close to a metal target and having some fragments hit me on the forehead. All it did was leave a little nick that didn’t even draw blood. But it did get me to thinking, what if that had been my eye?
After that, I kept a cheap pair of glasses in my range bag because I didn’t want to wear them anywhere else. You know, those clear glasses with the square look to them that scream, “OSHA approved!”
But really, anyone on the range should be wearing a good quality pair of shooting glasses. It’s extra nice when they don’t have that “safety glasses” look to them, and ShellShock’s new ballistic shooting glasses are great for the range and everyday use.
Eclipse Sunglasses Polarized Z87+
The ShellShock Eclipse Polarized Z87+ sunglasses are a modern-looking pair you can easily wear every day, not just while you’re shooting.
They are ANSI Z87+ rated, which means they’ve passed rigorous safety standards for impact resistance. If your range buddy’s steel target decides to toss back a fragment, these will keep your eyes intact.
You may be wondering what the heck ANSI Z87+ is. Don’t worry, I had to look it up once I started paying attention to the quality of glasses.
ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute. The Z87+ rating means the glasses have passed high-velocity impact tests that simulates what could happen when something really wants to smack you in the face at high speeds. This includes shell casings, bullet fragments, etc. That “+” symbol is your green light that these glasses go above and beyond the minimum standard.
The lenses are polarized, too, which cuts down on glare. This is especially useful for those bright concrete training bays that feel like you’re shooting on the surface of the sun.
Besides being polarized, the Eclipse sunglasses offer both UVA and UVB protection. This blocks harmful rays from cooking your eyeballs during long days outside. This type of protection is important even on days when the sun is hiding behind the clouds.
Specifications
- Frame Material: Ultra-lightweight and durable TR90
- Lens Type: Polarized for reduced glare
- UV Protection: 100% UVA/UVB blocking
- Certifications: ANSI Z87+ ballistic-rated
- Fit: Medium to large face shapes
- Style: Sport
- Color: Multiple colors available
- Price: $109
Eclipse Sunglasses with Adaptive Light Lens
The name probably gives it away, but this pair is similar in shape and size. What’s cool about them, however, is that they have a transitioning lens—a difficult feature to find in ballistic-rated shooting glasses.
Transition lens
On several occasions, when the weather couldn’t make up its mind, I have found myself switching back and forth between glasses during a training event.
At my last training event, it started out sunny and then turned dark like it was about to storm. I swapped out my glasses for a pair with a clear lens. But then, of course, the sun popped out and suddenly I was squinting like Clint Eastwood in a gunfight.
This pair of ShellShock glasses, however, changes the game with the photochromic lenses. They adapt automatically to the lighting around you.
I wear contacts most of the time, but my regular glasses have transition lenses, which is a common feature. But again, finding this feature on a pair of shooting glasses is not so common.
When you are indoors, the lenses are completely clear, and it only takes a few seconds for them to darken when you step outside. Besides the range, I’ve been wearing these around for daily activities, and the transition speed is impressive.
On extremely bright days, I felt like these didn’t get as dark as the fixed Eclipse glasses, but they still worked well enough to shoot. If I were going to pick one pair, I think I’d go with this one. But having the other pair is great for those really sunny days too.
Same benefits as the standard pair
You still get all the benefits of the first model: ANSI Z87+ impact resistance, UVA/UVB protection, and that same sleek, comfortable frame.
There are other shooting glasses out there that offer photochromic lenses, but they are harder to find and get a little pricey. At $109, this is a great deal for some quality glasses.
Specifications
- Frame Material: Lightweight TR90 construction
- Lens Type: Photochromic adaptive light lenses
- UV Protection: 100% UVA/UVB protection
- Certifications: ANSI Z87+ ballistic-rated
- Fit: Medium to large face shapes
- Style: Matte black frame, clear-to-smoke lenses
- Use Case: EDC, variable light shooting environments, all-day wear
Which Pair Should You Get?
These are both great glasses, so it really comes down to what you want most. The first pair has a darker lens and works a little better on bright days (in my opinion).
The second pair, however, still works great in the sun, but the lens doesn’t get quite as dark. The tradeoff, however, is that they turn clear when you’re not in the sun, which means you can use them both indoors and outdoors.Either way, you’re getting a good pair of glasses that look great and still offer protection for your eyes. This can make the difference between a good day and a trip to urgent care.
If you’re going to buy a pair of good-quality ballistic glasses to go with your other gear, get a pair that you can use every day. ShellShock Eclipse glasses are perfect for range and EDC.
