Personally Id replace a ANSI87.1+ lens after 1 strike, or after 2 years. And ill be replacing my oakley/smith optics lens every 2 years as well or if I notice any damage to them or if they take multiple strikes. in 7 years of playing I can think of only half a dozen times when my eyepro has been struck by a bb, typically its in the helmet, or finger.

87.1 are nothing but dust/debris shields, most reputable manufacturers will tell you to replace them after a significant impact of anything greater than dust or debris.


Remember that the ratings don't just cover the lens shield, the ratings (and particularly milspec requirements) include the frame as part of the rating. The frame must help distribute the impact forces, much like the windshield of your car requires the frame around it to be strong, and the frame becomes stronger because the windshield is in place.

I've seen people with their 5 year old goggles have the frames break on them because they were either knockoffs or just old enough that the sweat and heat cycling from usage outdoors plus uv rays weakened the material. His lens was in ok shape but the frame was unable to hold the lens properly.

Pyramex stuff is generally under 30 bucks and they make milspec rated stuff in that price bracket, there really is no excuse not to be vigilant and overly cautious about protecting your eyes.

I've actually seen guys play with regular Z87.1 faceshields before. Back before we really knew anything about ratings. Of course now we know that's extremely dangerous lol

Many of us spent years wearing whatever safety glasses we had and many ended up really old and scratched to shit, but we never thought about it. I've been struck in the eyewear hundreds of times, but luckily most safety equipment is much stronger and more durable than its rating. I remember a game we hosted and Kimbo from JOC was wearing his ESS ballistic glasses (I think they were ESS), but they were quite old. I shot them right off his face, a BB literally broke right through the frame or arm of the glasses because it had been so weakened from years of abuse. For years I also used to have a pair of ESS ballistic goggles, but they never saw much use at all. One day I took them out of my gear bag and was inspecting them and the frame literally disintegrated in my hands like it was wet paper.

I had an old thread on here where i had a bunch of pictures of a 3yr old pair of ess ice glasses that i blew apart.
Actually i think i broke 2 lenses shooting at them in my basement, but i was demonstrating how dangerous the ess ice glasses ended up being due to their mounting system causing stress fractures in the lens. Dont have the pictures anymore though.

I use the Oakley M-Frames sometimes with sometimes without halo kit for the outdoor stuff and for indoor arenas I use the Oakley Revision once.

Personal policy and i think what most people on the team do is switch the lenses on them once per year.

replacement lenses are cheap!
Buy a good set of whatevers, Smith Optics, Oakley, Revision, etc and just replace your lenses often enough to ensure you don't get fucked.
I mean, shit, most lenses are what $20-25 for those systems?

M-Frame lenses are $60US plus shipping, that's right from Oakley. Still, I could easily spend that once a year to save my eyes. Mind you, if you are running proper ballistic eyewear, that have not taken a shit-kicking, then you could probably replace them every two years if you properly inspect and store them.

CAD50 from 911.

$50 plus shipping to vancouver

Just got a pair of Revision Desert Locust today. Ordered from amazon for about $40. They were 55% off for some reason, 2 left in stock, hell yea I took em. Made sure they were from Revision themselves too. Might not have a gun yet but I sure have these dank goggles that just wont fog no matter how hard I try.

amazon does that from time to time, I have a feeling it's because they order a set number of items when they restock on something and then with the low stock they liquidate it. Just make sure they're legit ones.. fake ones are not safe.

I mean the seller really was Revision.

I have had fake shit sold to me off amazon before that said it was from the manufacturer. If it's sold and shipped by amazon, it's likely legit. If it's sold by X company and shipped/fulfilled by amazon it could be fake. if it's a marketplace vendor coming from china, it's fake.

Fairly important for me, if it has ANSI and the lenses are affixed solidly enough (either full frame replaceable or affixed permanent) then its good enough to be honest. Some of these extremely expensive brands people wear honestly aren't that great!