Goggles

Hello:

What are most people including in their BOB's for goggles?

I am looking for a solution that would take care of extreme dust/particulate conditions as well as airborne virus, impact resistance also helps. Hopefully a solution that is smaller than a large set of military goggles.

I guess I am looking for the N95 for the eyes.

thx
:ra

That's a pretty demanding set of requirements to fill. Have you considered swim goggles for emergency/temporary use? Yeah, they don't look cool, but they have a lot going for them. Polycarbonate lenses provide impact protection and protection from UV; tinted lenses gives glare protection. And they are watertight, to keep out any dust or droplets after someone has sneezed. And they're small.

I've never tried to wear swim-goggles for a long stretch of time, but I have this intuition that they might cause eye-fatigue (from the pressure on the muscles around the eye socket, as well as how tightly sealed they are) before too long. Anyone have anecdotal evidence either way?

Well, as a former swimmer, wearing swim-type goggles for any significant length of time is gonna HURT! To keep a good seal they have to have a pretty good amount of tension on the retaining band. Of course, I would dive into the water just about everytime I used them so that does add a lot of pressure to the eyes, increasing the discomfort. Most of the models I'm familiar with also havve a pretty poor effect on your vision (loss of peripheral vision and tintng), which might adversely affect you if you are travelling long distances or over rough terrain.

If you are really concerned about eye protection (and it is a GOOD concern) consider close fitting sunglasses (I prefer Oakleys due to their suberb impact resistance and optical clarity) or professional goggles like those issued to the military (Wiley's, IIRC).

But even simple woodshop goggles would work in a pinch provided you had the ability to seal up any ventilation holes if things were getting through.

i agrea, swimming goggles will hurt after long use and messes up your vision.

What about a snorkeling mask?

I have these ESS goggles in my EDC for my office, especially after 9-11 and the dust and debris that was such a major problem in the attack and aftermath -- these fit over my prescription eyeglasses:

http://www.essgoggles.com/Land-Ops_4_detail.html

At a guess...less distortion for looking ahead, but a greater loss of peripheral vision. Probably less discomfort for long-term wear. Heavier.

I think we might be trying to solve too many problems at once here. The eye protection you want for, say, digging supplies out of a destroyed house (where you worry about debris and dust, but you're going to be wearing it for hours at a time while doing heavy labor) might not intersect with the eye protection you'd want when dealing with a bio or chemical hazard.

You can also get chemical splash goggles for laboratory use. Not necessarily to keep chem gas out of eyes though.

I followed your lead and came up with a few pairs that may work(LSS.com):
LexaGoggleGear (splash proof only)
Sellstrom Nonvented with Foam Seal
AllSafe Monogoggle (Respirator Fit, Non-Vented)

The Monogoggle looks the best, and they are all impact resistant.

These worked pretty darned good during Iraqi dust storms (think talcum powder in a 5 mph breeze).

https://www.wileyx.com/EcommSuite/ProductListing.aspx?ActivityCode=TACTICAL&SeriesCode=175

I have a pair of the XL-1 glasses config, and they are far superior to anything else I've ever seen. In fact, these are my edc sunglasses now.

I just carry a pair of rigid plastic safety lenses with a soft flexible surround, with the vent holes covered with clear packaging tape. I found them at the local Dollar Store, they fit fine over glasses, are quite comfortable, and I am sitting here wearing them now, and they still haven't fogged up yet.

Living here in the volcano capital of the U.S., blowing ash could be a real possibility, and they would also be useful for smoke or debris dust. They will even flex enough for my dog to wear <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> and might do okay for kids, too.

Why spend a fortune on cool tactical sunglasses for a kit that may never be used?

Sue

I have a pair of Wiley-X SG-1s and for the most part I think they're awesome.

I think the only thing I don't like is that while wearing them with the earpieces on, as I tend to on an EDC basis so I don't look like a complete kook, my peripheral vision is greatly reduced. However, I keep the goggle straps in my pocket and when I switch out the earpieces for them, they're just about perfect.

The seal isn't seamless in either mode because the foam around the lenses are vented, but for me this works perfectly. I can steam up a pair of goggles in seconds, even fog resistant double lens models that have been hosed down with antifog spray.

Try the goggles similar to those used by our troops in dusty Iraq. Blackhawk products

I gotta say I saw SG-1s on most of the troops I came across. I dunno if they were issue or not, but that's what most of the rat patrol wore.

Something I learnt from female japanese oyster divers, wet tobacco rubbed on the lens is an antifog application.

I tried wet tobacco, spit, bubble formula, fog-tech (I think it's called) and a few other options on my Paintaball Goggles. Perhaps I have extra sweat glands in my eyelids or I am such a sensitive guy that when I shoot someone out that I have to have a good cry. LOL

Luckily some of the goggles that came out in the last 5years are domed and newer models even have sweat wicking foam... There's that and the huge fan I have constantly sucking air through the goggles. LOL