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Want the best safety glasses or goggles? Our testers researched 31 models before buying 9 top-performing models available today to test hands-on and in-depth. We fogged, poked, scratched, dusted, and eventually smashed each pair to find what works best no matter the situation. With so many options, it can be difficult to find what will provide the protection you need with the comfort you want. We've tested some of the top products out there to help you find the right eye protection for your needs, regardless of the job.
For daily-use eye protection, the NoCry Clear Anti Fog glasses are the bee's knees. They're lightweight with an adjustable fit and quality lenses, and so comfortable we occasionally forgot we were wearing them, which is unusual in the world of safety glasses. Their low profile meant they were compatible when wearing hats, respirators, masks, and ear protection. They also performed surprisingly well on our impact tests, sustaining minimal scratches despite all the abuse we put them through. The highly transparent lens didn't distort vision, so there were no tired eyes at the end of the day. We can't complain about the price tag, either.
The NoCry has a pretty standard design, but there are also some adjustability features, and we like that they have holes to attach straps (but straps are not included). Unlike some other models we tested, they lack any sort of gasket. Some dust can creep up between the cheeks, too, and we wish they hugged the cheeks a little closer. The tradeoff is that the same gap also allowed for better ventilation with a respirator. Overall, we recommend the NoCry glasses for anyone who needs a well-rounded daily pair of eye protection for anything from tree trimming to carpentry to chemistry. If you need goggles that effectively seal out dust and fumes, see the SolidWork Safety Goggles.
The NoCry Safety Glasses, although seemingly bare bones, had nicely adjustable temples and nose bridge which made the glasses fit quite well.
Excellent protection from dust, liquid, and impact
Comfortable gasket
REASONS TO AVOID
Rubber gasket gets sweaty
Have to remove to adjust
For serious eye protection, you have to bring out the big guns, and this means switching from glasses to goggles. We found the SolidWork Safety Goggles to provide the most protection while remaining quite comfortable. The thick rubber gasket provides coverage from nearly all fumes and dust and provides surprisingly good impact protection. While goggles often get foggy, even with a respirator and in a high-humidity environment, the anti-fog coating SolidWork put on their lens worked quite well.
Although the rubber gasket seals out dust and is pretty comfortable, our testers found that it got quite sweaty under there because the rubber has a broad contact with skin. While dealing with the sweat issue, we also realized that it's hard to adjust the strap for tightness while you have these on, and removing them isn't very convenient when you're also wearing a hat, mask, or gloves possibly covered in something like a concrete stain. Still, these were our favorite when we needed heavy-duty protection. We recommend the SolidWork Safety Goggles for people who need serious protection from fumes, dust, and impact.
The wide gasket on the SolidWork Safety Goggles provided both excellent dust protection and a surprising amount of impact absorption
Credit: Ethan Newman
3
Basic Eyewear for Tight Budgets and Quick DIY Projects
Nose bridge and hinges aren't particularly durable
Scratches easily
If you don't wear safety glasses every day, or if you tend to break or lose them a lot, you may not want to invest in an expensive pair. Enter the Radians Mirage. They offer adequate side and bottom coverage for simple tasks, and they only cost a few bucks. They're super lightweight and didn't press on our testers' nose bridges or ears, even after hours of wear.
When it comes to the Mirage, you do get what you pay for. These aren't the most durable safety glasses. They can shield eyes from direct contact with shards or sawdust, but may not survive long in your toolbox. The nose bridge and hinges flex easily, so much so that a heavy wrench on top of them could snap them, so be careful with how you store them. We also found they scratch easier than other models we reviewed. We think the Mirage is the best choice for smaller projects and folks who won't need to wear them regularly or those who simply want a backup pair to keep on hand. If you're willing to spend a bit more, we like the sport-style 3M Virtua CCS with their removable protective gasket.
The Radians Mirage glasses offer surprisingly good coverage for how affordable and basic they are.
For how inexpensive and small the 3M Virtua CCS are, they bring a lot to the table. For sport-style glasses, the Virtua hugs the face closely, providing excellent coverage. They also feature a removable foam gasket that helps prevent stray debris or dust from flying into one's eyes. A nice feature is their attachment system for corded earplugs (not included), which also makes for a good keeper loop. The Virtua glasses were easy to use with a hat and a respirator mask, and while going about our work, we barely noticed them.
On the other hand, these are so lightweight that they're a little flimsier than many other pairs we tested. These glasses could be more prone to breaking if they accidentally got crushed under tools or in a bag, but we didn't experience this during testing. Also, they don't have the best fog protection for high-humidity environments, but they do ventilate adequately with a respirator. The nose bridge felt quite harsh for our taste without the foam gasket, and our testers ended up with deep indentations in their noses at the end of the day when wearing these. Overall, they are a versatile and excellent product — one of our favorites — and offered at an unbeatable price. We recommend these if you use eye protection regularly and tend to go through them quickly.
For those who run through glasses frequently, this model provides high value.
Excellent goggle-like protection with gasket and strap
Can be stripped down to standard glasses
Quality scratch-resistant lens
REASONS TO AVOID
Foam gasket gets sweaty
Nose bridge without gasket isn't very comfortable long term
If you are looking for eye protection with adaptability for everything from spraying muriatic acid to running a wood chipper, look no further than the Pyramex I-Force glasses. This pair of spectacles can go from full-protection goggles with a foam gasket and full strap to a stripped-down pair of standard glasses with regular temples. In either mode, they provided excellent durability and protection. To keep track of all the parts, we'd recommend a full-on glasses case with these, but we loved how versatile one pair could be.
Like many jacks-of-all-trades, these are often masters of none. They were a bit chunky as a regular pair of safety specs compared to some of the more low-profile models, and they were less comfortable in goggle mode than the dedicated safety goggles. Also, the vertical articulation at the hinge initially seemed nifty but just ended up with the glasses always being a bit awkward on our testers' faces. Still, we think this is a quality pair of glasses that could work in nearly any situation where you'd need eye protection, and we'd recommend them for the person who wants just one pair of eye protection to do just about any job.
The Pyramex I-Force is so versatile because of how customizable it is. The removable gasket, adjustable temples, and the two straps you can add make this pair anything from lightweight glasses to nearly full-on goggles.
Anti-fog coating and ventilation worked well even with a large respirator
REASONS TO AVOID
Gasket puts pressure on forehead
Doesn't seal against face as well as other goggles we tested
When you have to go big on personal protective equipment, the Dewalt Concealer is for you. With a low-profile elastic headband and full rubber gasket, these goggles are one of our top choices to protect our eyes when the work gets dirty. The full gasket and small vent holes prevent fumes, dust, sprays, and almost anything else that might come your way during nasty work. When it comes to dust and fumes, we found these goggles to integrate well with a dual filter half mask, which most think of when they hear the word "respirator." The goggle gasket fits well over the respirator's rubber mask providing complete face protection without needing a full filter mask.
Although the Dewalt goggles provide tons of protection, it wasn't as comfy as the other goggles we tested. The thinner gasket creates pressure points that get uncomfortable after hours of use, particularly on testers' foreheads. We also think a clear or less bright frame would have been a better choice as we found the yellow frames were a bit annoying to have at the edge of our vision. Still, the Dewalt Concealer is a quality pair of goggles with a high level of protection and works well with other PPE.
The thinner gasket of the Dewalt Concealer Goggles allowed it to integrate nicely with a half-mask respirator.
The Pyramex Fortress has a few things going for it. We liked the low-profile sport style that worked well under a hat, mask, or both. The nose bridge was also nicely adjustable and comfortable, and the rubberized bridge and temples kept the glasses tight to the face. The Fortress was nicely durable and took both dull and sharp impacts well. The price is especially appreciated.
During testing, we frequently noticed the huge gap between our cheeks and the bottom of the lens. Our lead tester could almost slip his thumb completely under it, leaving plenty of room for dust or an errant splinter to fly into one's eyes. However, if you need a cheap pair of glasses to beat up, the Pyramid Fortress are a decent choice.
We didn't love the large gaps below the lenses of the Pyramex Fortress, especially when we were looking down at a project.
As far as safety glasses go, the Kleenguard Maverick comes as a pretty standard package. The clear fins provide the side protection of the Maverick, which helps maintain peripheral vision, something many of the others we tested didn't. The temples also fit snugly under a hat or mask, whereas some of the other models were awkwardly pushed up when our testers tried to wear them with a ball cap. They also provided adequate impact protection, although the flatter profile takes impacts more squarely than the sport style glasses, which allow impacts more likely to deflect away.
We wish the Maverick had a little more going for it, and while it is a serviceable pair of safety glasses, it didn't have the small features that many of the other models we tested did. Still, they protected our eyes and fit well with other PPE, making them a solid pair of glasses, especially under a hat.
The Kleenguard Maverick is a fairly basic pair of safety glasses, but they get the job done.
The Magid Iconic Y50 is a traditionally styled pair of glasses with clear side protection and integrated bifocal reading lenses. If you frequently find yourself wearing clunky wear-over glasses while switching between heavy-duty work and reading, these might be a good choice. Our testers liked the clear side protection, and the solid frames held up well to the abuses of work and casual storage.
However, we didn't find these overly comfortable, and during our impact tests, the nose bridge took a literal chunk out of our test dummy. The temples were comfy enough, but the frames felt heavy on our faces over an hour of use. It also lacked some features that other models in our test line-up include. Still, we could see these being useful for anyone farsighted who needs reading glasses and eye protection at the same time but doesn't want to deal with bulky over-glasses or goggles.
For those who need to read blueprints or a computer while working on a job, reader safety glasses might be a good option.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Why You Should Trust Us
We spent dozens of hours researching and testing these glasses hands-on, considering everything from UV protection to real-world scratch and impact testing. We used grinders, jigsaws, falling knives and rocks, and other real-world tests to evaluate each product. Our lead tester even repeatedly took shots of dust to the face to provide the best, most thorough review.
Our lead tester, Ethan Newman, has been wearing tons of personal protective equipment for all sorts of jobs for years. He's worn eye protection for everything from half a decade of professional tree trimming to wildland firefighting for Zion National Park to carpentry and masonry. He's also worked on sustainable building projects, like building Florida's first Earthship, and with Patagonia Waste Management, installing sustainable composting toilets in the Argentinian backcountry. As a search and rescue volunteer, he's also seen the result of what happens when protective equipment fails. He's been saved by his PPE more than he'd care to admit, and in doing so, has become more and more discerning about quality equipment.
The aftermath of the "flour blow" test to assess for dust protection.
The Pyramex Fortress didn't have an anti-fog coating, so didn't work as well with masks or respirators.
Analysis and Test Results
To test all these safety glasses and goggles, we used a mix of daily and varied use, coupled with focused tests. To ensure we have a broadly useful review, we tested various eye protection styles in many different situations. Through these tests, we were able to determine each pair of glasses' strengths and weaknesses.
Protection
With this type of equipment, if the protection isn't effective, it's worthless. In evaluating the protection that each pair of glasses provides, we considered all kinds of harm that the glasses might prevent. We tested dull and sharp impacts via drop tests and also performed dust and fume tests both by using them during dusty work and by doing a "flour blow" test.
We always strive to use appropriate personal protective equipment, like ear and eye protection.
Credit: Ethan Newman
One surprising thing about the impact tests is that depending on the glasses' shape, each product would either take the impact squarely, transferring the energy straight to our test dummy's head, or deflect away if the glasses were rounded. Some of the smaller, sport-style models flew off the test dummy as a way of transferring energy. Oddly enough, some other PPE, like hardhats, are designed to do the same thing; absorb energy safely rather than push the shockwave into the user.
We found that both the SolidWork Safety Goggles and the Dewalt Concealer performed the best when it comes to dust and fumes, but they also did quite well with impact, as the rubber gaskets collapsed, absorbing the impact energy. The Pyramex I-Force did well in this regard, as did the 3M Virtua, as they have removable gaskets for both dust control and to help absorb the shock. Surprisingly, the NoCry and Radians Mirage models did quite well because they fit so close to our testers' faces.
Our blunt force impact test involved dropping an 8-ounce rock falling from a height of 60 inches.
We also did a sharp impact test, dropping a very sharp Petzl Spatha pocket knife from a height of 60 inches, straight onto the lens.
Comfort
It not only matters how well a product works; if they aren't comfortable, you won't want to wear them. To test for comfort, we wore each pair of glasses and goggles for at least three hours and up to a full workday. We also tested them integrated with ball caps and masks, something we tend to be wearing when it comes to the kind of work you need PPE for.
A big design feature that made a difference in comfort was the nose bridge and the spot where the temples of the glasses contact the ears. Harder, less adjustable nose bridges tended to create pressure points after a while, and some left marks after a few hours of wearing them. Low-profile temples and straps also tended to be more comfortable with masks (both dust and fabric COVID-19 versions) and hats.
Some of the glasses worked better than others with N95 masks and dual cartridge respirators.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Some of the highest performers are the NoCry Safety Glasses and the 3M Virtua CCS, as we nearly forgot we were wearing them. While it's harder to forget that you're wearing goggles, we found the SolidWork Goggles to be fairly comfortable, as the rubber gasket is broad and soft enough not to create pressure points during extended wear. The Radians glasses were also decently comfortable because they are so lightweight, even though the bridge isn't padded.
We generally found the harder nose bridges and heavier glasses less comfortable over time than lighter glasses with rubber bridges.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Durability
We tested these again by extended use and wear, as well as our "toolbox test." Plenty of folks, our lead tester included, tend to abuse their eye protection by leaving them with their tools, uncovered, to rattle around in a toolbox or bag. This tends to scratch and crunch lenses and frames over time, so we accelerated the process by throwing each pair in a toolbox full of tools and shaking it for a few minutes to see how scratched up they could get. We also evaluated how sturdy the construction is for each and how likely they would be to break if accidentally twisted or crushed in a bag or pocket. As we expect these glasses to be used for a while, durability was significant in our assessment process.
We tested how durable each pair of safety glasses were, as they lived in their natural habitat.
Credit: Ethan Newman
As one might expect, as far as sturdy construction, the SolidWork and Dewalt Concealer goggles did well, but so did the Pyramex I-Force, whose large sturdy hinges stood up to some aggressive twisting. We were also surprised by how little the NoCry model got scratched up after rattling around with screwdrivers, files, and other tools and parts in a toolbox.
Some glasses got more scratched up than others between the toolbox test and the impact tests.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Features
Although this seems fairly straightforward, some of the small details stood out in this category. We looked at what each product comes with (extra straps, lenses, removable features), as well as the nifty little tricks designed into each pair of eye protection. Some of the smallest design details ended up making a big difference when it came to actual use.
The vents on the Dewalt Concealer Goggles and the anti-fog coating were nice features to have in conjunction with a mask or respirator.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Without a doubt, the pair of glasses with the most features is the Pyramex I-Force. The I-Force comes with an extra strap so it can convert from looking like a pair of lightly tinted sunglasses, all the way to almost full-on goggles and a few hybrid mixes in between. We also really liked the removable gasket and ear protection holders on the 3M Virtua CCS pair.
The 3M Virtua CCS is an excellent pair of safety glasses at an unbeatable price. We really liked the integrated earplug holders and the detachable gasket.
Credit: Ethan Newman
Conclusion
While seemingly mundane, the difference between quality and poor eye protection can be significant. We are always serious when it comes to safety equipment. We hope this review helped you narrow down the best pair of safety glasses for you and your next job or home project. The right tool can mean all the difference in the world. Be safe, and always wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
