Tactical Goggles...quick thoughts

[RL]

Just a quick comparo of my three tactical goggles...

Wiley-X CQC

Definitely my least favourite of the three. The frames are rock hard, have no foam (hard rubber instead), are the quickest to fog up, and offer the least coverage. At least they are the cheapest eh? Other positives include spare lenses and interchangeable arm / strap so you can wear them as sunglasses.

Hatch B.O.S.S.

Also a stiff frame design though nowhere near as stiff as the Wiley-X. At least there is a lot of foam padding! The lenses are very clear and quite fog resistant. They offer more coverage than the Wiley-X but less than the Blackhawks. The Hatch goggles were the most expensive of the three but they were the only ones to come with a hard case and a nifty "tear off lens" system. The best thing about these goggles is that they feel "tactical".

Blackhawk

By far the most comfortable. These goggles are so soft that you can literally bend them in half. On top of the soft frame, there is a ton of foam padding and a very wide (and comfortable) strap. On the downside, their sheer size makes them feel more like ski goggles than "tactical" goggles.

Comfort 1) Blackhawk 2) Hatch 3) Wiley X
Coverage: 1) Blackhawk 2) Hatch 3) Wiley X
Lens: 1) Hatch 2) Blackhawk 3) Wiley X
Fog resistance: 1) Hatch 2) Blackhawk 3) Wiley X
Features: 1) Hatch 2) Wiley X 3) Blackhawk
Tactical feel 1) Hatch 2) Blackhawk 3) Wiley X
Price: 1) Wiley X 2) Blackhawk 3) Hatch

 

[beefangusbeef]

Good review. Ever try any of the SG-1 goggles on? Have a couple of sets and they fog up just when you look at them the wrong way, but they are very very comfortable.

 

[RL]

SG-1? Those are Wiley-X too, right? No, I have not tried those...aside from my three, I have tried the Bolle and the ESS (with built in fan).

RL

 

[Ken C.]

Have you checked out the ESS line of tactical goggles? I have a pair mounted to my fire helmet.

http://www.essgoggles.com/index.html

 

[beefangusbeef]

Yeah, the problem is I either have to have them that go over glasses, which I think BOLLE maked the OTG goggles, or get prescription and I hate the inserts on the full size goggles so I go for the sunglass style. I have tried out a pair of the profile goggles and they are really nice. My thought is the less face covered the better though.

 

[jrollins]

I have a pair of the SG-1's. I like them. Some removable(once) rubber-like dense foam around the edges of the lens, comes with goggle straps too. I've never had them fog up on me. I use them as safety glasses when I go shooting and as sunglasses when I'm driving, cuts down on the glare pretty well. I just have the mirrored and clear lenses right now, I've been thinking about picking up the polarized lens but those are too expensive for me right now.

Here's the new avatar I made while I was wearing my SG-1's, now I need to upgrade my membership. Snuck in the one I'm using now when you could do it for free

Link to larger version: 100_0864.JPG

 

[RL]

Holy necro post eh? always fun to do a Google search and see your own face come up.

Well it took 15 years but i did finally get a pair of Wiley X SG-1s...here are my thoughts...

I bought the Wiley X CQC goggles several years ago. At the time I was very intrigued by the concept of a low-profile goggle that can easily be converted into glasses by simply swapping out the headband for conventional arms.



However, the CQC mainly sat in my drawer unused. The main reason is that I found them too stiff and not super comfortable.



That having been said, I know that Wiley X has a great reputation for making safety eyewear and I have been meaning to give them another chance. The SG-1 seemed like the perfect candidate.



The SG-1 has been around for a while and is in active duty all over the world. This is not surprising considering the impressive specs: (from their website).

• designed to eliminate tunnel vision, keeping your view unobstructed
• The changeable lenses include a Facial Cavity™ that protects your eyes from dust and dirt.
• Shatterproof Selenite™ Polycarbonate lenses that meet the MIL-PRF-32432(GL) ballistic standards: ANSI Z87.1 optical clarity and high mass/high velocity impact standards: as well as US Federal OSHA 1910.133(b)(1)(1) standards
• 100% UVA/UVB protection with distortion free clarity
• T-Shell™ Lens coating resists scratching
• Foil™ lens coating provides anti-fog protection
• Sleek Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Compatible design

To put things in perspective, an ANSI Z87 rating is obtained by firing a 0.15 caliber steel ball at 150 FPS at the lens without penetration. The MIL-PRF rating requires resistance to a projectile of 0.15 caliber and 5.85 grain at 650 FPS for glasses and 0.22 caliber, 17 grain at 550 FPS for goggles. So four times the velocity for the MIL-PRF rating!



Once again, I reached out to my good friends at Select Shooting Supplies and was able to score a pair of SG-1s.

Wow that is a serious case

It comes with extra (clear) lenses, SG-1 Elastic Strap, and SG-1 Beaded Tactical Strap to convert them to goggles

While it is not for everyone, I LOVE the look of the SG-1.

Side view

The Facial Cavity foam inserts

My first impression is wow this is the exact opposite of my CQC in terms of stiffness…these are so supple and flexible!

They are much smaller than the CQC though

Clear size difference

Still I much prefer the SG-1 to the CQC. Also, I think I will leave them as sunglasses for now (as opposed to installing the goggle straps). I can’t wait to try them out at the gun range.



RL

 

[kreole]

Great review and pics. Honestly if you just showed the shot of them on your face without me knowing they are goggles, I'd assume they're sunglasses.

 

[RL]

thanks!!!

yes they are smaller than i thought they would be (almost like swimming goggles lol)...and of course i have the sunglass arms installed...i havent tried them with the goggle strap yet