rlauferblog

SMITH Optics is a great company for sure. They offer a lifetime warranty and based on two recent experiences, I can say they honour them very well.

The first issue was with my Aegis Arc. I have had these for years and the inside layer on the gray lens started bubbling up in a few spots so I filled out their online warranty claim and got a whole new pair of Arc IIs with two new lenses!

The second issue was with the Gray Man’s I just ordered…these are MilSpec safety rated but couldn’t survive the clowns at UPS who crushed them! Seriously the box arrived crushed and even had a hole through the top! The frames on the glasses were actually bent and so were the arms to the point that it was unwearable. But again, Smith came through and I got a replacement within days!

With that out of the way, let’s move on to the glasses themselves!

As I mentioned in my Revision eyewear review, the two APEL qualified spectacles that rise to the top in safety / torture tests most often are their Sawfly and SMITH’s Aegis Arc. Assuming they are equally capable of protection, the Aegis Arc does have a couple of advantages. First, the shape of the lens appears to offer more coverage. It also sits closer on my face, providing more protection from any fragments coming in through the bottom, side, or top. Perhaps the coolest feature is the “PivLok” locking system that uses two flip up/down levers to lock the lens in place.

Here it is with both lenses (note this pic was taken before the bubbling issue)

And on my face.

Box for my new Arc IIs

Very nice case

Extra lens in the microfiber, no fog cloth, and headstrap

I opted for the Arc IIs in Tan499. The lens shape is different from my Arc, particularly the bottom edge. As such it offers a bit less coverage

When you need ballistic protection in a more discrete setting, The Gray Man (love that name!) may be the perfect option.

The Gray Man is billed as “the world’s first MilSpec ballistic aviator” but I am a little confused by this as I have also seen the Oakley Ballistic Crosshair described as “the world’s first ballistic wire frame glasses.” Perhaps there is a nuance I am missing. In any case, the Oakley is the nearest competitor and I happen to have those as well so will draw some comparisons. The only other similar option I can think of is the Wiley X Klein but that one is only ANSI, not MilSpec.

The Gray Man lenses are wider than the Ballistic Crosshairs (63mm vs 61mm) but the Oakleys are taller (47mm vs. 43mm).

On the face, the Gray Man has more of a wrap shape while the Oakley is more of a classic aviator. Note also how the arms are more flush on the Gray Man while they jut out to the side a bit on the Oakley.

In terms of feel, the metal on the Oakley is definitely thicker or chunkier and the gunmetal finish is definitely flashier. From that perspective, it is not as low profile as the Gray Man.

Ultimately that’s what makes the Gray Man so interesting. How did they manage to achieve a MilSpec ballistic rating with such a thin wire frame? Very impressive!

SMITH also has a few goggles on the APEL list, including the legendary Outside the Wire (OTW) and the lower profile legendary Boogie SOEP. Wow I have heard so many good things about them. I got the Boogie first and as the name suggests these are Special Operations Eyewear Package authorized and meet US MIL-DTL-43511D goggle impact level clause 3.5.1

No fancy box here

But something far better…an NSN number!

Nice soft case

Like the Boogie Regulator, it has SMITH’s slotted ventilation technology and adds 35MM strap with pivoting attachment to make it easy for helmet wear.

for size comparison against the Wiley-X CQC (discontinued) and Revision ExoShield (note that was in-store and the strap not fully adjusted)

During a recent visit to my hometown of Montreal, I stopped by PreFair, an AMAZING store for tactical gear. Picture a Costco warehouse layout full of outdoor and tactical gear from brands like 5.11, Rothco, Condor, BlackHawk, Mechanix, Lowa, Original Swat, Mystery Ranch, Surefire, CRKT, Tasmanian Tiger etc etc etc.. They had an incredible selection of SMITH Optics, essentially every model in the Elite line including the OTW and OTW Fan in every colour! I opted for OTW in Tan499 again.

beautiful soft case

and beautiful goggles! Apart from the good looks, this is SMITH’s most protective offering. The OTW exceeds U.S. military ballistic impact requirements for goggles (MIL-PRF-32432, clause 4.4.3.3.5, superseding former MIL-DTL-43511D, clause 3.5.1), meets ANSI Z87.1 and is EN 166 compliant. It features “tapered lens technology” that corrects distortion and flame-resistant anti-microbial goggle foam.

and compared to the Oakley Standard Issue 1.0, Revision Bullet Ant, WileyX CQC, and SMITH Boogie SOEP

Some family pics.

All in all I am extremely impressed with the SMITH Elite lineup. The Gray Man is currently in my daily rotation and I plan to wear the others in my next trips to the gun range.

RL

After doing extensive research I ordered a pair of Revision Sawflys based on their impressive specs alone. At the time, they were one of the few MIL-SPEC ballistic rated spectacles and APEL certified (Authorized Protective Eyewear List). Sawflys always seemed to come out on top in online reviews and video torture tests.

And compared to another stellar performer, the SMITH Aegis Arc

While the Sawflys gave me lots of confidence in terms of protection, they were one of the few pairs of eyewear that I have found too big! Of course they are available in a smaller size…but the look of the larger one has grown on me.

Years later, as part of my gun store tour, I visited Rangeview Sports and they carry the whole Revision line.

Once again, I was impressed, especially after handling test lenses that withstood shotgun blasts!

Having the opportunity to compare the models in person was very helpful and I landed on a pair of Hellflys, which are also ANSI and MIL-SPEC rated!

Although they are a tad small for my face, I love the look of the Hellflys and they feel ROCK solid. I have worn them a lot and currently keep them in my bug-out bag.

Lately I have been revisiting my eyewear collection and doing more research to see what is new in the market. Once again, Revision keeps coming to the top in terms of ballistic protection. I was just blown away by a Youtube video where a pair of Sawflys withstood multiple hits from a shotgun without any pellets penetrating and without the lens separating from the frame!

Since I already have something from their sunglass and spectacle lines, I decided to go with goggles this time. Specifically, the dual lens Bullet Ant.

It appears that the Bullet Ant has been re-designed at one point as you can see the corners have gone from round to square.

I actually prefer the look of the more ant-like original as it is much more unique.

As it happens Rangeview had Bullet Ants on sale. Given the low price I assumed they were Gen 1 but I was not sure and ordered them anyway. Let’s see if my instincts were correct…

So glad I was right!!

the full kit with clear lenses and cleaning cloth

ooo I love the look

The inner liner is rubber instead of the usual foam you might find in goggles. This is said to last longer. Of course, the main feature of these goggles are the hex-vents and Ocumax anti-fog coating, which are reputed to be stellar in keeping them fog free. I haven’t had a chance to put that to the test yet.

I will say they are very comfortable, “cover” my vision completely (meaning I cant see the edge of the fame out of the corner of my eye) so my eyes feel protected from all angles. Once again, they feel ROCK solid. I cant wait to wear them at the range.

Finally a family comparison pic.

The bottom line is that if you are looking for protective ballistic eyewear, I cant think of a better choice than Revision.

RL

I bought the Wiley X CQC goggles several years ago. At the time I was very intrigued by the concept of a low-profile goggle that can easily be converted into glasses by simply swapping out the headband for conventional arms.

However, the CQC mainly sat in my drawer unused. The main reason is that I found them too stiff and not super comfortable.

That having been said, I know that Wiley X has a great reputation for making safety eyewear and I have been meaning to give them another chance. The SG-1 seemed like the perfect candidate.

The SG-1 has been around for a while and is in active duty all over the world. This is not surprising considering the impressive specs: (from their website).
• designed to eliminate tunnel vision, keeping your view unobstructed
• The changeable lenses include a Facial Cavity™ that protects your eyes from dust and dirt.
• Shatterproof Selenite™ Polycarbonate lenses that meet the MIL-PRF-32432(GL) ballistic standards: ANSI Z87.1 optical clarity and high mass/high velocity impact standards: as well as US Federal OSHA 1910.133(b)(1)(1) standards
• 100% UVA/UVB protection with distortion free clarity
• T-Shell™ Lens coating resists scratching
• Foil™ lens coating provides anti-fog protection
• Sleek Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Compatible design

To put things in perspective, an ANSI Z87 rating is obtained by firing a 0.15 caliber steel ball at 150 FPS at the lens without penetration. The MIL-PRF rating requires resistance to a projectile of 0.15 caliber and 5.85 grain at 650 FPS for glasses and 0.22 caliber, 17 grain at 550 FPS for goggles. So four times the velocity for the MIL-PRF rating!

Once again, I reached out to my good friends at Select Shooting Supplies and was able to score a pair of SG-1s.

Wow that is a serious case

It comes with extra (clear) lenses, SG-1 Elastic Strap, and SG-1 Beaded Tactical Strap to convert them to goggles

While it is not for everyone, I LOVE the look of the SG-1.

Side view

The Facial Cavity foam inserts

My first impression is wow this is the exact opposite of my CQC in terms of stiffness…these are so supple and flexible!

They are much smaller than the CQC though

Clear size difference

Still I much prefer the SG-1 to the CQC. Also, I think I will leave them as sunglasses for now (as opposed to installing the goggle straps). I can’t wait to try them out at the gun range.

RL

I had heard of SPY Optic but didn’t know much about them until just a few days ago. An ad from Tactical Distributors Canada featuring SPY’s Standard Issue line popped up on my Facebook feed and that prompted me to do some research. Simply put, I liked what I saw!

Actually, there were three things that drew me to the lineup. First, the concept of their “Happy Lens” (which btw is being re-branded to HD+). Happy Lenses are said to “create a colour enhancing and colour contrasting experience you can see and feel,” or as their motto says “See Better, Feel Better.” Basically, the technology blocks out “negative” sun rays like short-wave blue light and UV that cause eye strain and fatigue while emphasizing “positive” rays like long-wave blue light that boost mood and alertness. The net result is that you are supposed to feel more balanced and in a better mood! Not sure how well that could work but in these shitty lock-downs, I can use all the help that I can get!

Secondly, SPY offers several models that are ANSI RX safety rated and pass Z87.2 standards for impact resistance, which is a must for me as I like to use my sunglasses at the shooting range. The “.2” and RX part of the rating means they will retain their ANSI safety even if you insert prescription lenses.

Their ANSI safety glasses are divided into two categories, rubberized and non-rubberized. Models like the General, Tackle, Flyer, Sprinter, Rover, and Quanta 2 all have rubberized temple tips and nosepads that become sticky when you sweat to ensure the glasses are kept in place when you are active. In the case of the Tackle, which is designed for fishing, the tacky rubber extends all the way across the bottom of the frame. Non-rubberized safety glasses include the Dirk, Bounty, Logan, and the Jackman, the last of which also passes Canadian CSA standards.

Thirdly, they have a Standard Issue line designed for military and LEO. All SOSI (SPY Optic Standard Issue) glasses are blacked out (matte or regular) and have a small flag next to the SPY logo on the inside of the left temple.

Based on all the above, I ordered a General right away from one of my favourite gun stores, Select Shooting Supplies. While the General is available with polarized lenses, Select only carries the non-polarized as this is what is approved for their LEO clientele. Hey if it is good enough for our local Blue, it is good enough for me!

The General is one of SPY’s biggest frames with the thickest temple for the most side coverage from light and potential debris. I really like the look of the very square frame, something a bit different. It is also rubberized and I wanted to see how well that works. Hey, if you are going to try a new brand then you may as well try all their features!

So without further ado…the SPY Optic General SOSI ANSI Rx Matte Black with Happy Grey-Green lens!

LOL I have watched Youtube unboxing videos going back over 10 years and SPY sunglasses always come in tissue paper

The General in all its glory

The massive temple coverage

Closeup of rubberized temple tips and nosepads

Closeup of Z87.2 rating and SOSI flag

And on the face! Also shown in this picture, an All Skill No Luck California Combat Hoodie, T3 Gear Defender Mask with Digi-Camo mask cover, and a Kel-Tec toque I scored at their booth at SHOT Show 2020.

and without the mask

I tried a through the lens pic but don’t think I did it justice

So am I in a better mood? Well, I am definitely happy I got these…look at that, it worked after all!

RL