A few weeks ago I was approached by OpticsPlanet.net about a link in the Industry section of my blogroll*. I bartered with them for a set of ESS ICE Safety Glasses as I had been needing a better pair over the generally cheap ones I normally purchase.
Today, I finally was able to take them out for a spin and I can say I’m very glad I got this set. It comes with three interchangeable eyeshields – Clear, Smoke, and Hi-Def Yellow.
First, I ordered the larger set because my grape is a few sizes larger than my braincase necessitates. I was wanting something that hugged my face but didn’t suffocate my eyes and make me sweat. The frameless construction of these allowed the lenses to get close to my face while still allowing in plenty of air. The kit comes with an anti-fog cloth and I didn’t fog up once the entire shooting session (4 hours) in 76° weather. The lack of a frame also provides an unobstructed view. They were extremely comfortable to wear and the soft nose pieces didn’t irritate me after several hours of wear.
Swapping out the frames is easy, if not a bit puckering. The frames snap on and off at the top and by snap I mean requires 400 ft/lbs of energy and callouses on your fingers as well as nerves of steel as you swear you’re going to rip the lenses in half. The nose piece slides off with a slight, inward squeeze. Simply reverse the steps on the lens of your choice, again applying enough pressure to dent iron.
The Smoke color acted as sunglasses, but when the overcast made things too dim, I switched to the yellow. Honestly, at first I thought the Hi-Def Yellow was a marketing ploy, but damn do they make a difference in how clear things appear outside. It almost appeared brighter when I was wearing them.
I did get plinked in the eyes by an errant .380 case and it didn’t leave a scratch. Luckily, that was as far as ‘quality testing’ as I needed to go. Hopefully that will remain the worst I endure while wearing them although they are rated to stop a shotgun blast at 35 feet away. I shan’t be attempting that at any time in the near (or distant) future.
The hard case that came with mine should keep the lenses from getting scratched up while being tossed carelessly in my range bag and also serve to hold the other two lenses that aren’t in use. The kit also came with a leash / strap to hold them on your face during high movement operations (like the dance you do when a .45 ACP casing manages to make its way down your shirt).
All in all, I’m quite pleased with this set.
FTC Disclaimer - OpticsPlanet.net did not pay for this review, only exchanged the glasses for the link. I did this review on my own. However, this does not preclude the FTC from moistening my bum with their sweet, savory kisses.