SHOOTING GLASSES BUYER'S GUIDE

Considering what it protects and the catastrophic damage it can prevent, eye pro is mandatory. End of story. With so many shooting glasses out there, RECOIL tested some recent offerings available on the market to determine which models offer the most value for $125 or less.

Please note that we listed the highest safety certification each product has received in the United States. Generally speaking, if a pair of eye pro has received a Mil-spec rating, it'll also meet (and exceed) ANSI optics and impact standards (and sometimes European requirements, as well).

Read on to see if there's shooting glasses that meet your needs.

• 
  Revision Military

  Hellfly Ballistic Sunglasses sunglasses U.S. Mil-spec PRF-31013 smoke (nine other lens/frame combos available) 100-percent UVA, UVB, and UVC $80 revisionmilitary.com
  Pros:
  The wraparound-style lenses provide excellent clarity, exceptional UV filtration, and serious ballistic protection while the frame (with adjustable nosepiece) offers a durable yet comfortable fit. Also, Revision offers prescription lenses at an additional cost. With the Hellfly, you can hit the beach, hike a trail, or go to war.
  
  Cons:
  It's fairly low profile so there's less lens coverage around the eye socket area as larger-frame sunglasses. It's aesthetically ho-hum.
• 
  Revision Military

  StingerHawk Deluxe eyeshield U.S. Mil-spec PRF-31013 clear, smoke, vermillion 100-percent UVA, UVB, and UVC $125 revisionmilitary.com
  Pros:
  This eye pro has everything you'd want in premium shooting glasses: comfort, good looks, durability, anti-fog Mil-spec lenses with distortion-free vision, and thin temple arms compatible with various headwear, ear protection, and communication devices. Moreover, the kit comes with various accessories, including three lenses and head strap.
  
  Cons:
  Did you notice the price tag? Ouch.
• 
  Smith Elite

  Aegis Echo eyeshield U.S. Mil-spec PRF-31013 clear, gray, yellow 100-percent UVA and UVB $105 ($90 for kit with only clear and gray lenses) elite.smithoptics.com
  Pros:
  With durable materials, outstanding engineering, and crisp vision, this eyeshield is top tier eye pro. The thin, moldable alloy temple arms fit seamlessly under earmuff-style hearing protection and the PivLock Lens Interchange Technology allows for quick changes with all Aegis lenses. Plus, the kit includes three lenses and a carry case.
  
  Cons:
  The alloy temple arms and sturdy frame, while providing excellent comfort, make for heavier shooting glasses.
• 
  Smith Elite

  Hudson Tactical sunglasses U.S. Mil-spec PRF-31013 clear, gray, Ignitor, polarized brown, and polarized gray 100-percent UVA, UVB, UVC $80 ($125 for polarized colors) elite.smithoptics.com
  Pros:
  It's easy to love Mil-spec eye pro that's packaged in sports-style sunglasses, complete with distinctive lens colors, and remarkable visual clarity. The Hudson Tactical is also lightweight.
  
  Cons:
  The small-fit frame is meant for those with smaller braincases, so the rest of us will find wearing this pair is akin to sliding your temples through two staircase bannisters.
• 
  Smith Elite

  Lockwood Tactical sunglasses U.S. Mil-spec PRF-31013 clear, gray, Ignitor, polarized brown, and polarized gray 100-percent UVA, UVB, and UVC $80 ($125 for polarized colors) elite.smithoptics.com
  Pros:
  These good-looking Mil-spec shades are lightweight, well-engineered, and comfortable to wear. A versatile pair for hiking, daily driving, and recreational shooting.
  
  Cons:
  It has more of a flat rectangular architecture than other sunglasses in this bunch. The frame and lenses have slightly less contour around the eyes, meaning more light can seep in.
• 
  Smith Elite

  PivLock V2 Max Tactical eyeshield U.S. Mil-spec PRF-31013 clear, gray 100-percent UVA and UVB $119 elite.smithoptics.com
  Pros:
  The eyeshield has an innovative FreeFloat Lens Technology, which essentially allows the soft arms and adjustable nosepiece to be snapped onto the top-quality lens in seconds. There's no fumbling around with having to bend a lens to insert it into a frame. This makes the eye pro lightweight, and more efficient when swapping out lenses. Also, the kit includes two lenses and a hard case.
  
  Cons:
  It's not wallet friendly. Plus, only long-term testing will determine if the contact points between the temple arms and the lens will hold up.
• 
  Wiley X

  Rush sunglasses ANSI Z87.1-2003 gray 100-percent UVA and UVB $75 wileyx.com
  Pros:
  With non-slip rubber temple arms and nose pads and a solid design, the Rush provides a natural, secure fit for almost any outdoor activity. Also, prescription lenses are available.
  
  Cons:
  It's only certified to ANSI Z87.1-2003 standards while other shades in its class offer Mil-spec lenses for about the same price.
• 
  Wiley X

  Valor sunglasses U.S. Mil-spec PRF-31013 clear, gray, rust 100-percent UVA and UVB $95 wileyx.com
  Pros:
  Almost hybrid in nature, the Valor has the lens-swap capability of an eyeshield with the low-profile look of sunglasses. It's quite comfortable while exceeding Mil-spec standards. These shades are a good choice while off duty, on duty, or on the range. Also, prescription lenses are available.
  
  Cons:
  Inserting the lenses takes a bit of getting used to, and not getting fingerprints all over the lenses is virtually impossible without the use of gloves, cloth, or something similar.
• 
  XX2i Optics

  USA1 Pro Racing White Gloss sunglasses N/A blue, clear, red 100-percent UVA and UVB $90 xx2i.com
  Pros:
  These lightweight sports shades come in patriotic colors: the installed lenses are blue while the two sets of spare lenses are clear and red — all shatterproof. The adjustable temple arms and adjustable nose pads also come in U.S. colors. The kit also comes with backup arm tips and nose pads and a hard case.
  
  Cons:
  While they performed well in our short-term testing, the materials just felt rather ho-hum, which was surprising considering the price. Also, though they are shatterproof, USA1 hasn't been put through the voluntary ANSI certification process.