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