Survival goggles cover a broad range of protection capabilities. Whether you’re trying to avoid dust, moisture, smoke, or debris from getting into your eyes, they’re an absolute must. Hundreds of goggles litter the marketplace, so how are you supposed to know which ones to choose?
The best survival goggles should be UV resistant, durable, and employ anti-fog technology. Being scratch and shatter-resistant is a must. Secondary considerations include comfort in harsh conditions and tinted or clear lenses to match your needs or the environment.
I currently recommend these survival goggles found on Amazon. They’re lined with smoke grey lenses, a desert tan frame, and an adjustable beige strap. They also have anti-fog technology, preventing your breath from clouding the lenses. These mono-lense sunglasses are stylish, affordable, and effective.
Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following information:
- What you should look for before buying survival goggles
- The pros and cons of goggles compared to other protective eyewear
- Details about my recommended goggles
- How you can get the most out of them
What Should You Look For?
Now that you’ve seen the best survival goggles on the market, it’s time to see what you should look for before you buy them. Everyone has different personal preferences, but there are a handful of necessities that come with getting a new pair. Let’s check out the five things to look for when you’re getting a set of survival goggles below.
- Are they comfortable? Some survival goggles feel incredibly uncomfortable. They should have adjustable straps, soft frames, and breathable materials. Nothing’s worse than being stuck in an emergency situation while feeling like your eyes and face are being suctioned or scratched.
- What are the lenses made out of? The lenses of survival goggles and glasses need to be of a higher quality than your average sunglasses. They can’t be scratched or broken easily since you’ll likely use them in rough scenarios. Also, UV protection is an absolute must these days.
- Consider the differences between one and two lenses. My recommended goggles use a single lens to prevent vision reduction, but there are definitely advantages to having two lenses. For example, they can be replaced cheaper and easier than mono-lenses.
- How often will you use them? Some goggles are better off left unused unless you absolutely need them. Others might work better for repeated uses. If you’re spending more money, you should definitely make sure that they’re able to be worn daily, if not very frequently.
- Are you wearing eyeglasses? It might seem like an odd question, but most survival goggles and glasses aren’t big enough to wear prescription glasses underneath. Luckily, the goggles mentioned above are designed to have enough space for your seeing glasses without pressing them into your face.
As you can see, there are quite a few considerations to think about. None of them are requirements but rather based on preferences. The only necessity is that they need to be comfortable enough to wear for several hours on end.
If you want to know about the pros and cons of survival goggles compared to other protective eyewear, proceed to the next section.
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Pros and Cons of Survival Goggles
Survival goggles are a fantastic addition to any emergency kit. That being said, some people prefer gas masks, while others use sunglasses and a bandana. The options are endless, but let’s focus on the reasons that you may or may not want survival goggles.
Advantages of Wearing Survival Goggles
- More secure than some other options- If you use them properly, you won’t get anything in your eyes. Debris, gas, and other contaminants can often be the main reason that people end up panicking or getting injured. Protecting your eyes, mouth, and nose will keep you safer than anything else possibly could.
- Easy to take off and on- Rather than using an entire mask, you can easily remove goggles. They’re only covering your eyes, so they’re just about as simple as taking off sunglasses. The elastic strap allows you to hang them around your neck when you’re not using them, so you don’t lose or drop the goggles.
- Durability- Survival goggles are usually much tougher than traditional goggles and glasses. They’re made to withstand bumps, drops, and everything in between. You can’t rely on a pair of sunglasses, even if they’re super expensive and luxurious. Keeping your eyes protected is something that only survival goggles can achieve.
Disadvantages of Wearing Survival Goggles
- Limited Coverage- Unfortunately, almost all pairs of survival goggles don’t cover your mouth and nose. This basically means that you’ll be forced to buy one or two additional pieces of gear, which might be an issue. However, the trade-off is that you can use smaller equipment to make it easier for you to remove.
- Somewhat Bulky- Survival goggles are undeniably bulky. They’re much larger than all other types of goggles and eyewear. Their design is to protect your eyes, so thin frames and fragile lenses simply can’t be used. It’s all for the greater good of keeping yourself safe, though.
What Are the Best Goggles for Survival?
Choosing a high-quality pair of survival goggles will keep you prepared for the worst situations. Being able to see what’s ahead without blurring or damaging your vision is key to survival. My recommended goggles are, in my opinion, the best bang for your buck on the internet. They’re designed well, and they’re easy to take care of.
One of the main reasons that these goggles take the cake is that they’re resistant to 100% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. Not only do these rays cause various skin diseases, but they can also take a toll on your eyes. These goggles keep your eyes and surrounding skin safe from harm without limiting your view.
They also have a nice dark tint on them. You’ll be able to see clearly and enjoy the scenery, but the sun won’t be too bright to handle. The smoke grey tint is also aesthetically pleasing, making it a top choice for many customers. However, there’s an option to remove the tinted lenses in favor of clear lenses.
We’ve all worn a pair of sunglasses that ruin peripheral vision. The frames get in the way, causing you to not be able to see anything out of a specific line of sight. Fortunately, these goggles take survival to the next level by creating a single mono lens that stretches far in both directions. Your vision will look and feel as if nothing was in the way.
Speaking of the lens on these goggles, it’s designed to be completely shatterproof. Rather than getting covered by scratch marks and cracks, you can wear these goggles for everyday usage without breaking them. The lens stays shiny yet subtle. Even the frames are made out of toughened plastic to prevent them from breaking.
All in all, these survival goggles are the best on the market because they’re comfortable, easy to see out of, and as durable as they come. You might not find a better pair, and you definitely won’t find one that comes close to the value.
Pros
- Ultra-comfortable elastic strap
- Single wide lens to prevent vision blockage
- UV-resistant, shatterproof lens
- A low-profile dark-tinted lens with an optional clear replacement
Conclusion
Survival goggles should be the next piece of gear added to your bugout bag or emergency kit if you don’t have them already. The ones I recommend are the best pair that you’ll find on the market in my opinion. By combining comfort with protection, it doesn’t get any better than these top-notch goggles.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the post:
- UV resistance and tint are both worth looking into.
- Always make sure that the materials are designed for toughness.
- Never sacrifice the value of comfortable eyewear.
- Use your survival goggles in combination with a respirator or something to cover your nose and mouth.
Helpful Related Products
For your convenience, I have listed the products that I recommended within this article.
Jim James is a published author and expert on the outdoors and survivalism. Through avid research and hands-on experience, he has gained expertise on a wide variety of topics. His time spent at college taught him to become really good at figuring out answers to common problems. Often through extensive trial and error, Jim has continued to learn and increase his knowledge of a vast array of topics related to firearms, hunting, fishing, medical topics, cooking, games/gaming, and other subjects too numerous to name.
Jim has been teaching people a wide variety of survivalism topics for over five years and has a lifetime of experience fishing, camping, general survivalism, and anything in nature. In fact, while growing up, he often spent more time on the water than on land! He has degrees in History, Anthropology, and Music from the University of Southern Mississippi. He extensively studied Southern History, nutrition, geopolitics, the Cold War, and nuclear policy strategies and safety as well as numerous other topics related to the content on survivalfreedom.com.