A good quality pair of safety glasses should offer adequate impact protection when working or playing. It should also be snug and comfortable, anti-scratch and long-lasting.
Safety glasses are essential when working with wood, metal, paint, and other materials. They are also important for lab workers, medical professionals, and professionals in dusty or windy environments.
They also offer protection during sports like racquetball, shooting, and cycling.
In this buying guide, we recommend the best safety glasses for different kinds of needs and situations. We also explain the features that matter when choosing a good pair.
Key Buying Considerations
A. Tough and Scratch-Resistant
The best products are made with tough polycarbonate that can withstand impacts from shards, chips, small rocks and other small materials.
Make sure the polycarbonate lens is also resistant to scratches. Considering you’ll most likely be using the glasses in tough and rough environments, a cheap low quality pair will scratch up quickly, making it hard to see what you are doing.
Quality safety glasses have a hardened surface layer that resists scratches.
B. Additional Protections
A basic low-cost option will have just the above two protections: impact and scratch.
If you want additional protections, you’ll have to spend a bit more. Here are some of the extras premium offer.
- UVA and UVB protection – from both natural and artificial sources
- Anti-fog protection – they either take longer to fog up, or don’t fog up at all. Products with this feature are especially useful if you’ll also be wearing a mask.
- Chemical protection – some products have a special coating that is resistant to harsh chemicals.
C. Fit and Comfort
Safety and comfort go hand in hand. A safe pair of safety glasses should be so comfortable that you forget you have them on. That way, you’ll never be tempted to work without the glasses.
They should fit snugly, without being too tight. Most safety glasses have rubber tips on the arms to ensure they are comfortable against your temple and head.
And don’t worry about buying the right size. Good quality safety glasses are a universal fit. They fit any head size.
D. Compatibility with Glasses
If you wear corrective glasses, we recommend buying safety glasses designed to be worn over regular glasses. These are called over glasses safety glasses.
They provide the same protections as other products – impact, scratch, UV and so on – but are much bigger to accommodate corrective glasses underneath.
E. Style
We know style is not a priority when working in a woodshop or in a lab, but you can at least avoid awkwardly designed products.
Well designed safety glasses may not be super stylish, but they don’t stand out. You’ll feel comfortable wearing them in different situations, whether it’s working in your garage or cycling outdoors.
Best Safety Glasses: Top 5 Reviews
1. DEWALT DPG54-1D PROTECTOR Clear High Performance Lightweight Protective
If you are looking for affordable safety glasses that offer solid protection, we recommend DEWALT DPG54-1D PROTECTOR.
The lenses are made from tough polycarbonate that offers a crystal-clear view while protecting your eyes from impacts.
In addition, the DEWALT offer UV protection.
The lenses have a hard anti-scratch coating, but we still recommend getting a protective case for them since they don’t come with one. Stuffing them in your pocket after use will cause some scratches after some time.
Note that the DEWALT safety glasses don’t have anti-fog protection. Keep that in mind if you work in a humid environment or wear a mask while working.
As for fit, these safety glasses have a snug, super-comfortable fit. They are not overly tight, and won’t fall when you bend. They are designed to fit all head sizes, even kids. Rubber tips feel comfortable against your temples.
Because they are lightweight, you can wear them for hours without any discomfort.
Design-wise, the DEWALT have a streamlined unisex style, with wraparound lenses that provide a wide field of view.
What we like about them:
- Affordable.
- Impact, scratch and UV protection.
- Low-profile unisex style.
- Comfortable.
2. NoCry Safety Glasses
If you want more protection than the DEWALT safety glasses offer, we recommend the NoCry safety glasses. They cost a little more, but had added protection.
The clear polycarbonate lenses wrap around the eyes for complete protection from impact. They also have UV protection for those who work outdoors or in environments with artificial sources of UV light.
The biggest improvement over cheaper safety glasses is that these NoCry glasses do not fog, even when you are wearing a mask. You enjoy crystal clear vision without having to constantly wipe the lenses.
The NoCry safety glasses also have anti-glare, and anti-scratch protection.
The fit is great. Nose and side pieces allow the glasses to hug your face and head snugly, and won’t fall off when you bend. For added comfort, the nose pieces are rubber and the arm tips are covered with rubber.
Combined with the lightweight construction (25grams), the glasses feel natural on your face and you can keep them on for hours without any discomfort.
The NoCry safety glasses don’t come with a protective case, but you can buy one separately.
What we like about them:
- They don’t fog up.
- UV, impact and glare protection.
- Scratch resistant.
- Comfortable fit.
3. Bolle Tracker II Safety Glasses
The Bolle Tracker II safety glasses are another good choice if you want extra protections. They are especially suitable for people working with harsh chemicals.
The lenses have a special titanium coating that’s resistant to scratches as well as most chemicals.
The toughened lenses also protect against impact during woodwork, metal work and other jobs. And if you work outdoors, they provide UV protection. The glasses don’t fog up at all, even when wearing a mask.
Instead of a simple frame, the Bolle Tracker II have a rubber seal around the eyes, providing complete protection from dust, smoke and fumes.
The eye seal is especially useful outdoors where it provides better protection against rain, hail, snow, and bugs.
They fit snugly and comfortably. An adjustable head strap lets you position the glasses tightly against your eyes and keeps them there as you work. The tips of the arms are also covered with rubber for added comfort.
What we like about them:
- Excellent mechanical & chemical protection.
- Anti-fog and anti-scratch.
- Comes with a protective bag.
- Snug and comfortable.
4. 3M Virtua Safety Glasses
Shopping on a budget? The 3M Virtua safety glasses are the cheapest among our picks. They are ideal for people looking for safety glasses with just basic protection.
The polycarbonate lenses on the 3M Virtua glasses can resist impact and scratches. They also offer protection from UVA, UVB, and UVC rays.
The lenses are not rated for protection from chemicals, so we wouldn’t recommend them for lab work or any work involving harsh chemicals. They also do not have anti-fog protection, though 3M does sell a pricier version that is anti-fog.
As for comfort, the 3M Virtua safety glasses are not too bad. They are light and fit snugly on your face.
However, they don’t have rubber covered arms like other brands, so may feel a bit uncomfortable when you wear them for a prolonged period. Some users also say they are a tad too tight. If you have a big head, they may not be a good fit.
That said, they are a good fit for most people, and are comfortable enough for a couple hours or so of work each day.
What we like about them:
- Inexpensive.
- Anti-scratch.
- Impact and UV protection.
5. Dräger Safety Over-Glasses X-pect 8120
If you wear corrective glasses, you’ll need over-glasses safety goggles. They are bigger than regular products, so you can easily wear them over your glasses.
The X-pect 8120 by Dräger uses the same tough polycarbonate lens material as other safety glasses. It can withstand impact from small particles, and is also scratch-resistant.
The Dräger X-pect 8120 goggles also offer protection from UV. Though they do not have any special anti-fogging technology such as ventilation, users say they do not fog up.
As for comfort, the X-pect 8120 safety glasses feel great on your face. Though bigger than regular safety glasses, they are still super light. You’ll easily forget you have them on.
A soft nose piece ensures a snug fit and prevents irritation when you have to wear the glasses for hours.
Unlike most products, the X-pect 8120 goggles feature adjustable arms to ensure they fit perfectly over any glasses or readers.
What we like about them:
- Excellent protection for your eyes and glasses.
- Adjustable arms provide a perfect fit.
- Lightweight and comfortable.
