DIY Goggles

I can´t finde a EDC goggle/sunglasses that´ll fit all my needs (or what I wish):

1.) sun protection
2.) dust protection (even at night)
3.) rain protection (even at night)
4.) sub-mini size (like those shades people wear at solaria)
5.) cool look

Did anyone have some experience about making google a/o sunglasses on your own?

Thanks
Molf

Check with your local eye doctor.

I've read someplace that eye doctors have cheap collapsable dark sunglasses that they give to patients who have their pupils dialated.

"Cool look"???

Are you planning on using these socially? If I have a volcano spewing megatons of ash nearby, or have buildings collapsing around me, my absolutely dead last care is how cool I look.

Sorry if I misunderstood, but cool goggles?

Sue

I'm gonna throw out something that will probably get me booed out of the forums, but this is one of my pet peeves.

If the collapsible eye protective sunglasses are meant as backup for a good pair then that's great, otherwise get a solid pair for eye protection and "the smallest PSK ever" be damned.

We're talking about vision, an asset not to be taken lightly. And we're talking about inclusion of such an item to protect our eyes in situations that are more adverse than what most of us will see in the average day. Our reflexes often do a superb job, but sometimes that isn't enough. Granted, people have survived since the beginning without such things, but if the option is there, why not use it?

I can recall more than a few times where one eye or the other was saved from damage in either training or hiking/camping trips because I had protective eyewear on.

Most of the people in this forum wouldn't go anywhere without a good knife, and personally I think it's a good idea to have both the trusty knife and a solid pair of sunglasses as well. Pick up a strap and wear them around your neck, or get a case for your pocket, but don't go for something flimsy just because it will slide into the last little bit of space left in your PSK.

I may be taking this over the top, but I used to work in a machine shop where my father instilled in me a respect for my vision, and where a hot chip of aluminum flew off of the piece I was cutting on the lathe and hit me in the corner of my eye. (I hadn't realized it, but I had let the glasses slip down my nose and I was looking over the top of them) Of course I realize a machine shop is an extreme environment, but still... <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I could be wrong.

Maybe there's some solid compact stuff out there I'm not aware of. I mean I just bought a pair of Wiley X's to replace my 15-year-old set of shop glasses. I looked like Drew Carey in those things... LOL

Anyway... I apologize for the rant.

Many of the newer lines of safety glasses are very sleek and “cool” looking. Check your local safety store supply, Grainger’s etc. to see a nice selection. One of my buddies wears some for his motorcycle ridding glasses and looks just as cool as the $100 a copy guys but he has less than $10 in his and they meets the ANSI Z87.1-1989 and CSA Z94.3-1992 standards.

I have a surplus set of the goggles that the navy flightdeck crews and the troops in Iraq are shown wearing. I don't know if they look cool enough for you, though. They look cool on the troops, don't they?

They have interchangeable lenses, shaded for sunny use, clear for night use, so they fit your need for use at night and in the rain. I've worn them in dust storms at Burning Man, and they absolutely provide dust protection 24 hours a day (and I wear contacts).

Sub-mini? Uh, no. The provide a seal around the eyes, even with eyeglasses on. I don't know what solaria is -- googe gives me a needlepoint site, music site, solar power, sci fi, and a million other hits, none of which features c00l d00dz wearing shades. (Although I have to say that neelepoint site is pret tee fine.)

Good point Sheepdog.
There's some quality stuff out there that won't break the bank.

Also, check ebay. I picked up the Wiley's there for 42 bucks (including shipping). I would never have bought a pair if I had to pay the regular price. I'm broke as a joke. LOL

Also, just so i don't give anyone the wrong idea...
I carry a pretty small PSK. I wasn't intending to come across as if I thought small kits were somehow ridiculous. I just wanted to make the point not to skimp on protective eyewear just so it would fit in a small PSK. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A rant that makes a lot of sense Nicomedus. I'm unfortunate enough to have to wear glasses all the time. I've lost track of the number of times my quality lenses have saved me from either injury or blindness. In a survival situation, lose your sight and you may well lose your life.

Booooooooooooooooooo

Just kidding <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

When mentioning EDC I was thinking of sun protection that could be stuffed into a small EDC kit. Your points about eye protection - from both sun and stuff - are completely valid and rational. My kids got their own safety glasses before they were 4 years old - originally worn when shooting a pellet gun, but also during many other activities.

Question: how is your eye now?

Some great points Nicodemus!

My sister and her husband are both Opthamologists, and they say similar things. It makes sense, think of how your life would change if you lost your vision. Even though I hate it because it scratches so easily, I always have polycarbonate in my prescription lenses, and also in my sunglasses.

Polycarbonate is extremely tough and blocks UV. Try http://www.safetyglasses.com/ for a wide selection of wrap-arounds, which offer 'good' protection. Better (but probably not up to your level of 'cool') are goggles at www.actiongear.com

For very compact airtight protection, I carry a pair of swim goggles. Definitley not cool, but good in a pinch.

Dude... don't appologise, I'm with you completely.

Troy

I live in the volcanic ash capital of America: western WA.

Being poor, I have a couple of pair of possibly the most uncool goggles in existence: cheap plastic safety goggles with clear packaging tape over the vent holes. The front plate is rigid, the surround is soft. I keep two pair in my car, each in it's own plastic Ziplock bag.

Oddly enough, they fit my dog, too, as long as I can curve them to fit her face and can keep her from rubbing them off. But I usually carry some Duct Tape, too... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> And I don't have to worry much about sun & glare protection: during ash fall, there's little of either.

Cool? Nope! Effective? Yep!

Sue

Dear philip,
Can you post a pic of the goggles you have?

Susan, you might be able to find Desert Storm surplus goggles fairly cheap. I believe there is a new model, supposedly more comfortable when worn with a helmet or something like that. I would say hit the mil-surplus sites. And don't forget Cold War, ComBlock surplus. The Russian gear is usually pretty good, and dirty cheap.

Or try the end of season sales at any ski resort. Oh, the horrors of being seen on the slopes with last year's goggles. :P

You have obviously never shopped for military surplus in Olympia, WA! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> It may be the state capital, but it's the pits for shopping for ETS-style stuff. The only MS store is a little place hidden in the V of a tiny, old, dilapidated strip mall.

Anyway, my current goggles are okay. They're soft, comfortable, light, and they even fit my dog. What more can you ask??? <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Sue

See the top photo at
http://www.imsplus.com/ims31.html
the model M1944 goggles. That's the one I have, complete with the O.D. box.

I'm guessing our original poster would prefer the next goggles down, SG-1.

Susan, I would prefer to say I weren´t able to explain my thoughts correctly.

What I was thinking of was that I´m searching for a goggle that didn´t makes me look like "Puck, die Stubenfliege" (engl.: "Puck the housefly") or "Richard B. Riddick". It has to be stylish enough für business and afterwork but could be quickly "switched" between tinted and clear screen (for protection at night), closes tightly around the eyes an don´t drives me mad when out in the rain (multilens character from raindrops).
Never the less it has to slip easely in to a pant pocket without any bulk.

Ja ja, I know that seems to be little too much ...
Wearing garish glasses is a definatly no-go in business.

Molf

I agree with impact-resistant eye protection, etc. However, when I read the first post about goggles I wondered if the issue might be smoke/dust/particles in the air. I've worked with survivors of massive explosions (Oklahoma City, and the 911 World Trade Towers) and based on what they told me I go with a simple pair of swimmer's goggles. Tiny, light, easily stuffed in a small fanny pack, etc.

http://www.swim2000.com/product.php?pd_id=G2004-4
Sure, there are much better larger goggles available. In this application though, I just want to keep krud out of my eyes while I evacuate. On the shooting range or in the workshop, of course I use something else.

I tried to go the swim goggle route, but with no ventilation I had them steamed up in less than a minute. I tried the spit method, and then an antifog spray, but apparently my eyes are steam geysers or something. LOL

Molf, we may be having a language problem here! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> It sounds like you might mean "sunglasses". Goggles seal to the skin around the eyes to totally keep out debris.

These are goggles: http://ecom1.sno-ski.com/product8.html

These are sunglasses: http://www.polo.com/product/index.jsp?pr...rentPage=family

It seems that if you really need goggles, the situation will have broken down so badly that no one will even SEE you, much less notice what you're wearing.

Sue