Best Survival Glasses, Essential Protective Eyewear

Often overlooked by survivalists, a pair of protective glasses is essential to your survival kit. Most people have a pair of sunglasses and they assume that will do. But there is a world of difference between a fashionable pair of Ray Bans and a good pair of ballistic or safety glasses. 

Luckily a decent pair of ballistic glasses won’t break the bank. While there are costly versions with all the frills, a good pair can be bought for a fraction of what conventional sunglasses go for.

What Are Survival Glasses

While no eyewear company markets itself as a manufacturer of survival glasses. My opinion is that ballistic shooting glasses fall into this category as do safety glasses.

Survival glasses are going to protect the wearer from the sun, dust, debris, twigs, and a long list of things that could damage the eyes while out and about the outdoors.

Survival glasses are designed to protect the wearer’s eyes from fast-moving projectiles that may damage a person’s vision.

Getting a decent pair of ballistic glasses is not too expensive. While there are costly versions with all the frills, most ballistic glasses are much cheaper than a pair of fashionable sunglasses from brands such as Ray Bans or Carrera.

Best Ballistic Glasses

Not all survivalists are shooters or hunters. But Ballistic glasses tick all the criteria that a good pair of survival glasses require.

Basic Requirements Of Survival Glasses

Ballistic Eyewear

 Ballistic eyewear are glasses that were specifically designed to protect the wearer from small fast moving objects, such as debris or fragments. 

 In a survival situation, you want to have a decent pair of ballistic glasses. They do not need to be pretty or stylish, but they do need to be of good quality. And at the very least they need to meet the ANSI Z87+. For a detailed description of what the ANSI Z87+ entails Click HERE to go to the official ANSI site. Just be aware that the document is not free, ANSI charges for a PDF copy.

Polarized Lens

Polarized lenses filter out light in a certain way which makes seeing details in a some situations clearer. Polarized glasses are great for arrow fishing or spearfishing as they filter out reflection of the water in such a way as to make it easier to hit your target. Which is great in a survival situation.

Be aware there are disadvantages to wearing them while driving. In certain lighting conditions, polarized glasses can be dangerous, for example, while driving on an icy road. Polarized glasses may make it more difficult to see icy patches.

Wrap Around Glasses

 Wrap-around glasses have the added benefit of protecting the wearer from UV rays that enter around standard glasses. They also have added peripheral protection from debris. While allowing the user to utilize their peripheral vision.

UV Protection

 While important in any pair of glasses. In a survival situation expect to spend quite a bit of time outdoors. UV protection is essential.

Durable Eyewear

 Durability is essential in all your gear, most glasses are very fragile. Safety glasses and tactical glasses tend to be a lot more durable than standard glasses.

Comfortable Glasses

 For extended wear make sure that the glasses are comfortable and fit well. Badly fit frames can cause headaches after wearing them for a while.

Differences Between Civilian And Military Shooter Glasses

It’s safe to say that most people know the difference between a normal pair of sunglasses or glasses and safety glasses. 

 But a lot of people are still a little confused about the difference between safety glasses and shooting or ballistic glasses.

Civilian Shooter Glasses Standard

The Z87+ tag on the glasses means that it complies with the ANSI Z87.1 or higher safety standards for eye protection. Which is pretty danged good. 

 Military Shooter Glasses Standard

The Military tag of MIL-PRF-31013 takes the ANSI Z87+ standard and takes it one step further. The MIL-PRF-31013 has similar testing requirements as the ANSI Z87+ but they are much more stringent in their testing.

US Military Approved Ballistic Glasses (APEL)

 There are hundreds of good ballistic glasses on market. But the US Military requirements that need to be passed before they are listed on the APEL (Authorized Protective Eyewear List) are extensive and only a couple of dozen models from half a dozen brands are approved.

 For a list of Military approved protective glasses CLICK Here

 The Best of the Best in Ballistic Eyewear

 If you are looking for the top of the line survival eyewear. Just buy one of the ones listed Below

Value for Money, Editors Pick

The top pick by the editors for value for money would be the Revision Sawfly kit. With interchangeable lenses and prescription ready with the RX carrier (sold separately).

Tough, built to last, and comes with 3 lenses. Clear, smoke, and vermillion lens and a low profile black frame.