Sweet Prescription Shooting Glasses

[freebird99]

As I get time, I'm posting this in various forums I enjoy. If you aren't in the market for shooting glasses, or have it somewhere else, just ignore this post.

I'm not usually one to do reviews but I felt that this one was worthwhile for shooters like me who can't wear contacts but have to wear glasses.

I have a set of Oakley M Frame's I had done with my Prescription RX in the lenses about 8 years ago. Back then, it cost me about 450.00 to have it done. Since that time, my eyes have gotten progressively worse, and now I'm really having trouble using the M frames. I looked into having a new pair of them done in my new RX, but the price of nearly $800 kind of turned me off that idea. Especially since my optometrist said that my vision will most likely keep getting worse over the next few years.

With that being said, I was in the market for a new pair of RX shooting glasses that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. I started shopping about 2 months ago, but the high price tags were a major turnoff considering I might not get but a year or 2 of use from them until my vision changed again. I was at my local range a few weeks ago and saw a guy shooting pistols wearing a pair of shooting glasses with an RX inserted mounted inside the glasses. We struck up a conversation and he told they were made by a company called ESS and he got them from Gunner's Alley (who I've bought holsters from in the past).

I called Gunner's Alley the next day and talked to Bill. He filled me in on the ins and out so I decided to give them a try. I bought a set of the ESS glasses with a wire RX carrier. With shipping, I paid $98.50 for the entire package. The glasses arrived a few days alter, and I took the RX carrier to my optometrist to have the RX carrier lens made. It took 3 days and cost my $46.89 with my insurance vision plan. So I had $145.39 in the whole deal. (technically I also bought an optional rose colored lens that I didn't include in the $145.39 dollar amount as it's not required.)

I took them to the range yesterday, and I couldn't be happier. I shot pistols, a few rifles, and even a round of skeet, with not a single issue. I was amazed at the clarity now that I could finally see.

Before I continue, please excuse my terrible pictures as I am absolutely horrible at photography. My wife won't let me near a camera when we go on vacation. Here's a few pics:






So basically here's how it works: The package comes with arm stems and 3 sets of lenses (clear, yellow, and dark). In the pics you'll see a rose colored one, which I bought extra). The RX carrier is frameless and made of wire. They come with a kind of demo lenses for your optometrist to use as a guide for your lenses. The RX carrier mounts in a special nosepiece that comes with them. The cool thing is the RX carrier works with any of the lenses so you can switch lenses anytime you want to for whatever type of shooting you are doing. I switched from gray to the yellow when I shot skeet.

I really only had 2 issues with the whole set-up:

#1 - The fact that the lenses can be a little tricky to snap in and out of the frame, but it's not hard with a little practice.

#2 - That the lens colors only come in clear, gray, yellow, and rose. I'd love to see a darker color other than gray and something like a vermillion.

For the $145 or so I have invested in them, I'm pretty damn pleased.

If you are interested, here's where I got them, and you can read more about them there:

ESS Glasses - ESS Shooting Glasses

PM me if you have any questions, and I'll do my best to answer them.

[kg4cph]

Thanks for the post I need new glasses and that is a deal.

[djoker04]

I need these even when i go to the track....I'll jump on these soon...I always do yellow/amber...it makes things clearer...

[XDM9CWA]

rudy projects also have the same concept...

I'm currently looking into oakley jawbones. it costs about 300 or so to get Rx lenses and another 150 for the actual frame.

but your find does have the advantage of interchangeable lens colors that are cheaper...

[ThomasA]

Oakley offers the same thing with the ballistic sets they have. Just uses a different nose piece with a prescription insert. Not sure how much they cost. Mine were mil issued

[oif0709]

I've had the same ones since '08 still use them. Had them on half my deployment. My nose piece has deteriorated a bit and got a new ear piece due to a split bit they've held up well. My insert is plastic but I like em alot.. they're military eyewear approved so they'll take shrapnel. Good for a safe range visit.

[r1derbike]

Here is the solution I came-up with because spending 1000 bucks on wide-channel, progressive, oversized lenses was simply out of the question for me.

I experimented with different reading glasses prescriptions until I got the perfect compromise for front/rear sights in focus, with slightly out-of-focus (and I mean slightly) target picture at 20 yards. I have an XDs and have no desire to shoot longer ranges, but could if the need arose. My regular 'scrip progressives are complicated, and glasses are too small to bobble head around for acceptable acquisition and sight picture.

I spent hours experimenting, and finally settled on +1.5 polycarbonate large aviator style lenses that do the trick for me. This is a compromise, and not perfect, and nowhere near gives me the full range of clarity from 0 to infinity as my 'scrip, break-the-bank progressives do (can't use them to shoot, unfortunately).

It's just a thought for those who might want to try something similar. To qualify, I'm 57 years old with 65 year old eyes. YMMV, and my acceptable level of visual acuity may be totally different from yours, but given my target (no pun intended) it works for me.

[slazar16]

For the shooting glasses I would recommend Decot Shooting glasses. These guys know what they are doing when it comes to Shooting eye-wear (considering its all they do) and they have options to fit most budgets. I would give one of their dealers a call. The one I use is on eBay.
His phone number is 602.903.5029 and will consult you based on your specific shooting needs, be it front sight clarification to simply varying lighting conditions.

I got a full set for everything I'm doing (Sporting clays, rife and pistol) for around $300. Cant recommend them any higher.

[Damien111]

I looked into those a while back but I found a problem with them (as with many 'wraparound' style glasses.)

If you have a pronounced astigmatism as I do the curvature of the glasses warps your view on anything but looking directly ahead. That gave me headaches and made me lightheaded.

I've been using Bolle Paroles with the Rx insert for many MANY years. (I buy them in threes to make sure I have enough). They are the only wraparound glasses that have worked for me. The glasses are standalone and you buy the Rx insert for about $30.

The glasses alone cost anywhere from $65-$80 and they come with 4 additional lens inserts (smoke, rose, clear, brown).

So the great thing is you can have one set of glasses that work in a variety of circumstances.

I've been wearing these for 20 years and stockpile them incase they quit making them. Highly recommend. Vigilante is a similar style from Bolle as well. I buy mine off of Amazon.com. Very reasonable.


Bollé | Parole

[oldrgr]

I bought a pair of the ESS glasses from Gunner's Alley several years ago,and had my distance prescription mounted in the gray inserts that came with theglasses.

Mine look identical to the second picture down in the original post.

I have experienced two problems;

1. With the inserts installed they will not stay on the bridge of my noseand I am constantly pushing them back up. Using an elastic band on the end ofthe bows/arms pulls the Rx insert too close to my eyes smudging the lens. TheRx inserts make the front end of the glasses much heavier than the rear, whichI think is the problem.

2. The Arms keep coming loose where they attach to the frames.

I've switched back to using my Oakleys without a Rx insert. Luckily I cansee the front sights clearly enough for the present.