Tactical sunglasses

Oakley sunglasses need no introduction; whether you wear sunglasses or not, you’ve surely heard of the brand. And that’s for a reason— their sunglasses are so reliable that they’ve always been part of our survival and outdoor kits!

If you need ballistic sunglasses from a trusted brand, the Oakley Men’s OO9213 Ballistic M Frame 2.0 Shield Sunglasses definitely fit the bill. This particular model is extremely popular with military and security personnel, which should say enough about how tough it is. These are certified military-grade safety glasses, with ANSI Z87.1 and MIL-PRF-31013 certifications. 

In short, these are the real deal. 

Indeed… 

We use these a lot for outdoor shooting, and they are extremely comfortable to wear. The sides don’t dig into the head even for long hours of usage, and they’re very lightweight at 1.05 ounces. They sit well on the skin, providing maximum eye protection from dust, debris, and elements. 

These sunglasses use Oakley’s SI M Frame 2.0 that’s flexible, sweat-resistant, and impact-resistant, with a rubberized nose pad that’s comfortable on the nose bridge and helps the glasses stay in place even under wet conditions. 

On the other hand… 

The lenses feature the brand’s HDO Optics with Polaric Ellipsoid Technology, which gives us a crystal-clear view. These Plutonite lenses offer high impact resistance with UVA, UVB, and blue light protection up to 400 nm. They also don’t get foggy easily, even when we’re in a humid environment. Nice.

Even after many years of using Oakley sunglasses, they never fail to amaze us with their build quality, and this one doesn’t disappoint, so we select this as our Editor’s Choice. It’s fashionable, as well, so they’re also great for recreational purposes. 

However, all of these come with a hefty price tag. 

These sunglasses are quite expensive, but they’re definitely a good investment for us. In fact, we have a friend from the army and he’s had a pair of these sunglasses for eight years now! 

The lenses are non-polarized, which might be a con to some people, but we like that they don’t make reading from electronic screens difficult.

If you’re on the hunt for budget-friendly tactical eyewear, look no further than the Revision Military Sawfly. 

These are rugged, military-issued sunglasses that offer excellent protection in high-hazard environments and tactical situations. They also exceed ANSI Z87.1 ballistic impact and optical requirements and have a MIL-PRF certification. 

The frame is lightweight and low-profile, so we had no issue wearing ear protection and communication devices over it. The arms are ultra-thin, and we love how adjustable they are for larger faces. A retention strap ensures they don’t go anywhere, even when we’re hiking, fishing, or even water skiing. 

They didn’t skimp on the quality of the lenses, either. With each kit, you’re getting two pairs of sunglass lenses, clear lenses for night use, and smoke lenses for daytime use— this makes the glasses versatile and suitable for various light conditions. They block harmful UV rays and use anti-fog technology, giving you flawless and distortion-free optics. 

On top of that… 

We’ve had no issues swapping the lenses, and it’s very easy to set it up with our favorite prescription lenses. We were also surprised at the durability of these glasses, given the price. They can take some serious beating, and they surprisingly last years.  

Sure… 

It would’ve been nicer if the sunglasses came in a hard case, but it’s not an issue for us. And we think these glasses are still a great deal. At an affordable price, you’re getting a pair of field-tested tactical shades, and it even comes with extra lenses and a storage pouch! All of these make this product our Best Value awardee.  

These sunglasses come in three sizes, Small, Medium, and Large, but keep in mind that they run quite large.

For anyone looking for reasonably priced wraparound sunglasses, we highly recommend the Wiley X Saber Advanced Shooting Glasses from the brand’s tactical series. 

These sunglasses have a very lightweight design that sometimes makes us forget that we’re even wearing them. Unlike other sunglasses, this pair really hugs the eye area, no gaps whatsoever where debris can get in. 

Aside from the wraparound protection, one of the best things about these shades is the adjustability. The arms are easy to adjust; you can push them in, pull them out farther, or even remove them and use the included head strap instead. Meanwhile, the nose piece has a wire you can use to tighten or loosen it over your nose bridge to get the perfect fit.  

Moreover… 

This tactical eyewear features interchangeable shatterproof selenite polycarbonate lenses that allow you to adapt to different environments. What we love about the lenses is that they’re so thick, yet the view is clear with zero distortion! They have T-Shell™ lens coating for scratch resistance and reduce glare and UV radiation on sunny days without making the view too dark.

We have to say; they’re definitely some of the best shooting glasses we’ve tried. They don’t slide out even when we sweat and protect our eyes well from flying objects at the range. In our opinion, this is comparable with our Oakley’s and other fancy sunglasses we own when it comes to quality and protection— and at half the cost!

Also, these sunglasses are prescription-ready, easy to clean, and meets MIL-PRF-32432 and ANSI Z87.1 safety standards. Our Top Pick is super stylish and we love rocking them even outside the range. They can withstand .22 caliber fragments traveling 550 FPS.

The catch is… 

These are on the large side, so they may overwhelm smaller faces. We’d say they’re perfect for wider faces, though. And we like that they cover lots of areas of the face!

The Rothco Tactical Sunglasses with Wind Guard are ideal for cold, windy, sandy, or dusty environments. 

Admittedly… 

We were hesitant to try this out at first because of its low price. Boy, were we wrong for assuming it won’t last a week! Once we discovered how well this performs, it has become one of our go-tos when we hike in the winter and we think wearing goggles is too much. 

The frame and lenses of these sunglasses are made from polycarbonate, a durable material that doesn’t shatter easily. We like how soft, pliable, and flexible this pair is. The scratch-resistant lenses also have an anti-fog coating and UV400 protection.  

What makes it unique from the other sunglasses is it has wind guards on the sides. As we said, we use these shades a lot for winter hiking. The wind guards block the wind, while the lenses protect our eyes from the glare reflecting off of ice below us. 

What’s more… 

There’s an elastic cord you can use to hang the sunglasses around your neck— no need to stow them in your pocket anymore when they’re not in use, where there’s a possibility of it breaking.  We like how we still maintain a full peripheral vision even with the wind guards because the shades wrap around the head.

And the best part? 

These sunglasses are so inexpensive! If you’re the type who often loses or breaks your glasses, these are perfect as you can easily replace them, and you can buy multiple backups. 

Now, you have to keep in mind… 

They’re not top-grade, heavy-duty sunglasses. If you’re going to do some serious shooting, these may not be enough, but these are still great survival glasses that we recommend for preppers. These are fairly sturdy, very functional, and surprisingly resilient. 

And if you consider the price, you’ll realize you’re actually getting good value for your money! This is a solid pair of glacier glasses that’s great if you’re the practical type who doesn’t care about brand names and values function over form. 

These sunglasses do run small, though; we’d say they’re ideal for small to average-sized heads. We personally like that they’re quite snug, as they stay on and provide a better seal against wind, sand, dirt, and dust particles.

Built with toughness and durability in mind, the Venture Gear VGST1322T Howitzer Glasses provide protection for survivalists, outdoor enthusiasts, and law enforcement officers, even in very harsh conditions. 

These are very well-made mil-spec sunglasses that pass MIL-PRF-32432 high-velocity impact standards and are ANSI Z87.1-certified. We use these for outdoor activities, driving, and motorcycle riding, and they’re plenty comfortable even for 10+ hours of usage. The temples are quite low-profile, so they comfortably fit under helmets.

The wraparound frame features non-slip and flexible co-injected temples and a custom-fit soft rubber nose piece. We like the tight fit around the eyes and how it stays on even when we’re moving around a lot. It’s also lightweight but not in a cheap way; it actually feels high-quality and strong. 

As for the lenses, they’re anti-fog polycarbonate lenses with excellent impact resistance, which is really important to us as motorcycle riders and outdoorsy people. The light filtering is great, they block out about 99% of UV radiation, and visual clarity is good. These may not be polarized sunglasses, but we find that the green tint is enough to diffuse bright light. 

Also… 

The build quality is notable, and the sunglasses are very effective in protecting our eyes from high impact, debris, and other random small particles. 

While they come in three lens colors and two frame colors, we wish different sizes were also available, as this pair is a bit too small for some of us while a bit too snug for our friends with larger heads. 

When it comes to tactical eyewear, you can’t go wrong with ESS sunglasses. The ESS Crossbow Sunglasses, in particular, is our personal favorite from the brand, whether we’re at the range, mountain biking, or playing airsoft. 

First off, did you know these are the only sunglasses approved by the US Marines? That should tell you about their tactical quality!

The Crossbow 3LS Kit combines form, function, and fit in a pair of durable and reliable glasses that will give your eyes outstanding protection. Each kit contains one Crossbow plastic frame, three interchangeable lenses (Clear, Smoke Gray, and Hi-Def Yellow lenses), a microfiber pouch, a snap-on elastic retention strap, a sticker with the ESS logo, and an instruction manual, all housed in a high-quality black hard storage case.

We’ve been using these for about five months now. Within those months, we’ve had some not-so-pleasant incidents happen during airsoft games, and we’re always surprised to see that there’s been no trace of any damage on the glasses. 

And most importantly, our eyes were completely unharmed! We’re telling you— these are the ballistic sunglasses you’ll want on your eyes during survival situations. 

Not only that… 

These sunglasses feature a Tri-Tech Fit plastic frame designed for maximum comfort and universal fit. They hug the face without any squeezing or pinching, particularly on the nose bridge and behind the ears, so they’re comfortable to wear for hours. 

The lenses are quite thick and easy to change once you’ve gotten the hang of it. They don’t fog inside or get scratched easily, thanks to the ClearZone FlowCoat technology used. And they cover your entire field of vision, which is great if you’re out in the sun. These are not polarized, so you get an undistorted view of the range, your target, etc. 

At the back of the case, there’s a loop attachment that you can use to attach to your belt, backpack, or a MOLLE system, which is a nice touch. 

We just wish it didn’t come with only one nose piece because it’s quite annoying that we have to disassemble the whole thing if we want to swap out the lenses. But other than that, these sunglasses are definitely top-of-the-line.

Looking for a rugged pair of glasses that gets the job done while making you feel like a complete badass? You should check out the OutLaw Fugitive Aluminum Tactical and Motorcycle Sunglasses. 

These sunglasses are specifically created for military personnel, police officers, motorcyclists, skydivers, shooting range enthusiasts, and everyday users who need optimal eye protection. 

It boasts ultra-durable aluminum construction and superb build quality. We appreciate that you can customize it for a perfect fit; we’d say these glasses fit medium to large heads the best, but the arms are so flexible we think they can definitely accommodate most head shapes and sizes. The nose piece is also adjustable for various nose sizes. 

Aside from the great fit, we love how well-designed this bad boy is. The temples are thin with a tapered design that allows them to work well with helmets, night vision goggles, and comms systems. The dual-spring hinges add comfortability and provide a snugger fit. 

Furthermore…

The highlight of these sunglasses is definitely the lenses. The Polycarbonate Pathfinder™ polarized lenses have a squarish shape that helps effectively shield your eyes from the sun, dust, high winds, and projectiles. 

They’re shatter-resistant, 100% UV-proof, and anti-reflection, eliminating annoying and eye-damaging glare from water, ice, and other reflective surfaces. This is why we love taking these glasses with us when boating or fishing. 

Honestly, though… 

The lenses transition from clear to dark, so we like that they’re hassle-free, as we don’t have to change the lenses constantly. However, they don’t get super dark, so if you need glasses that darken a lot for very bright light conditions, you might want to look for something else. 

The Gatorz Magnum Tactical Hand Crafted Military Sunglasses is one of the best the market has to offer when it comes to super heavy-duty military tactical sunglasses. 

We discovered this through our soldier friend, and we’re so glad we did! 

These sunglasses are built to last with their handcrafted frames made from 7075 military-glade aluminum, one of the toughest materials out there, and nearly indestructible polycarbonate lenses. No wonder these glasses are a favorite among US Navy SEALs and law enforcement officers— they can withstand pretty much any situation, even blasts!

We’ve been using ours for months now, and it has been through lots of abuse at the range, the woods, mountains, and snow, and there’s still no sign of wear. Not to exaggerate, but we feel like a pair will last us forever!  

Next…

The craftsmanship in these glasses is excellent; the edges are smooth, and everything about it screams premium. You can actually bend the frame, and afterward, it fits your face like a glove— it doesn’t slide down the nose, and it stays on even when we’re riding our motorcycle at high speed or running around during an airsoft game.

Completing the glasses are the polarized lenses, which have tons of coatings that you’d think the glasses will feel super heavy, but they don’t. They also use TruRay optics lens technology, giving you superior visual clarity with zero glare. 

But here’s the kicker… 

There’s no getting around it— these sunglasses are expensive. But for us, the premium experience is priceless.

Next up on our list is another awesome product from Gatorz: the Gatorz Eyewear Wraptor Patriot Model Sunglasses. 

Crafted from premium aircraft-grade billet aluminum, these sunglasses are extremely heavy-duty yet light and comfortable, with stainless steel dual-sided 5-barrel hinges and impact-resistant polarized lenses. 

The lenses are equipped with Gatorz proprietary TruRay technology for a crystal-clear view, and anti-reflective, anti-scratch, oleophobic, and hydrophobic coatings. The coatings repel water, dirt, and grease, improving clarity.

While this one and the Magnum are both fully adjustable, we find that this has a slimmer profile, making it a little more stylish.

Still… 

A hard case to protect a pair of sunglasses this expensive would be nice. Not a big deal, just a bit of a bummer.

Finishing off our list are the ESS Photochromatic Safety Glasses. 

These are high-quality transition glasses with lightweight plastic frames and polycarbonate lenses with scratch-resistant coating. 

As very outdoorsy people, most of our time is spent outside doing things— camping, hiking, mountain biking, shooting, or just doing some backyard work. It’s a hassle to always change the lenses of our glasses to adjust to the changing lighting, and these sunglasses solved that problem for us.  

We love how clear the lenses are and how quickly they darken when it gets super bright and sunny (within only seconds!). Once we’re in a shaded area, they revert to clear lenses, which is pretty cool.   

As far as protection goes, they’re very effective, as well. They’re excellent protectors against strong wind and the dust and debris that come with it. They’re very practical and save us a lot of time. 

However… 

We think the nose piece could be a bit wider. The glasses are also a bit pricey, but they’re still more reasonably priced than most photochromatic sunglasses.