My son is a young L/Cpl in a USMC weapons platoon running M/G's on his way to somewhere hot and sandy very soon. Was wondering from some who have been there before what goggles work best for those conditions. Thanks.
Best Goggles for sand/desert
- Thread starter M Parkini
- Start date
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
Id stick to the quality companies. Ensure that the goggles are vented and adhere to regs for the military.
ANSI Z87.1 and Military Requirements (MIL-DTL-43511D clause 3.5.10 and MIL-PRF-31013 clause 3.5.1.1). CE certified in accordance with EN 166, EN 170 and EN 172.
ESS
Revision
Smith Optics
Oakley
Etc...
Id stick to the quality companies. Ensure that the goggles are vented and adhere to regs for the military.
ANSI Z87.1 and Military Requirements (MIL-DTL-43511D clause 3.5.10 and MIL-PRF-31013 clause 3.5.1.1). CE certified in accordance with EN 166, EN 170 and EN 172.
ESS
Revision
Smith Optics
Oakley
Etc...
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">they will all get chewed up. </div></div>
Very good point...
Dont worry about spending the money on the most expensive pair you can find.
Get a quality pair that can stand up to use and then when they break, you have money to replace them.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">they will all get chewed up. </div></div>
Very good point...
Dont worry about spending the money on the most expensive pair you can find.
Get a quality pair that can stand up to use and then when they break, you have money to replace them.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
He should be issued some quality goggles. Even my reserve airwing unit had a pallet full of wiley x goggles for when they deployed.
He should be issued some quality goggles. Even my reserve airwing unit had a pallet full of wiley x goggles for when they deployed.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
I always ended up wearing a pair of standard issue ESS goggles.
Eventually I got sick of the added weight and the mess when trying to grab a quick sight picture so I went with the V12 Advancers(I think that's the name).
Give it a couple minutes...everything weighing more than a pound becomes a pain in the fucking ass on your head.
When that happens you end focusing more on your misery than the misson.
I always ended up wearing a pair of standard issue ESS goggles.
Eventually I got sick of the added weight and the mess when trying to grab a quick sight picture so I went with the V12 Advancers(I think that's the name).
Give it a couple minutes...everything weighing more than a pound becomes a pain in the fucking ass on your head.
When that happens you end focusing more on your misery than the misson.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
The ESS goggles the Marine Corps usually issues are crap. They're not the regular ESS goggles you buy over the counter but cheapos that have a plastic/rubber seal instead of foam and it cuts into your face. POS. I'm all about using free gear that's issued to me instead of spending my own money but when it comes to goggles and glasses I make an exception.
I went with Oakley but whatever you get, I guarantee your son will go through at least two pairs during the duration of the deployment. That includes glasses as well. My advice, splurge on the sun glasses (I love the M strike frames from Oakley) and don't spend too much on the goggles. It's really hot out there and your son will take off the goggles every chance he gets so the glasses are what's used most of the time. Don't get reflective (polarized) lenses either. He'll probably go through two or three pairs of those as well. It's all part of the game. Your son can use usstandardissue.com to purchase Oakley for a military discount.
The ESS goggles the Marine Corps usually issues are crap. They're not the regular ESS goggles you buy over the counter but cheapos that have a plastic/rubber seal instead of foam and it cuts into your face. POS. I'm all about using free gear that's issued to me instead of spending my own money but when it comes to goggles and glasses I make an exception.
I went with Oakley but whatever you get, I guarantee your son will go through at least two pairs during the duration of the deployment. That includes glasses as well. My advice, splurge on the sun glasses (I love the M strike frames from Oakley) and don't spend too much on the goggles. It's really hot out there and your son will take off the goggles every chance he gets so the glasses are what's used most of the time. Don't get reflective (polarized) lenses either. He'll probably go through two or three pairs of those as well. It's all part of the game. Your son can use usstandardissue.com to purchase Oakley for a military discount.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
I have ESS and they are great. Make sure you get the ones with foam. I just went through a heavy dust storm last week and sunglasses like Wiley X wouldn't cut it. Goggles are a big plus when taking helos too. Like CE1371 said at least 2 pairs.
I have ESS and they are great. Make sure you get the ones with foam. I just went through a heavy dust storm last week and sunglasses like Wiley X wouldn't cut it. Goggles are a big plus when taking helos too. Like CE1371 said at least 2 pairs.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
I have only used goggles once in the last 7 months and that was two weeks ago during the big sand storm we had, i just wear Oakley's of my Sawfly's and will add a head wrap, Hajji style if there is lots of wind and i have been good, but if hes spending any time in a gunners turret he will need goggles.
I have only used goggles once in the last 7 months and that was two weeks ago during the big sand storm we had, i just wear Oakley's of my Sawfly's and will add a head wrap, Hajji style if there is lots of wind and i have been good, but if hes spending any time in a gunners turret he will need goggles.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armydog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have only used goggles once in the last 7 months and that was two weeks ago during the big sand storm we had, i just wear Oakley's of my Sawfly's and will add a head wrap, Hajji style if there is lots of wind and i have been good, but if hes spending any time in a gunners turret he will need goggles. </div></div>
Can't believe I didn't mention that. Shemagh- don't leave home without it.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armydog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have only used goggles once in the last 7 months and that was two weeks ago during the big sand storm we had, i just wear Oakley's of my Sawfly's and will add a head wrap, Hajji style if there is lots of wind and i have been good, but if hes spending any time in a gunners turret he will need goggles. </div></div>
Can't believe I didn't mention that. Shemagh- don't leave home without it.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
Thanks guys for the info.
He also wears glasses and is fighting with a bad perscription pair of what he calls "birth control glasses" Says that the issued goggles don't work so well with the glasses as mentioned by CE1371. So I will encourage/purchase two or more pairs of good sunglasses, and googles....and don't leave home without the Shemegh.
Thanks guys for the info.
He also wears glasses and is fighting with a bad perscription pair of what he calls "birth control glasses" Says that the issued goggles don't work so well with the glasses as mentioned by CE1371. So I will encourage/purchase two or more pairs of good sunglasses, and googles....and don't leave home without the Shemegh.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
If he's battling with prescription inserts, especially if they are foggin up, while expensive, a pair of the ESS Turbofans might be the best. The Oakley M-frames are awesome, but unless they've changed something since I ordered my last pair a few months ago, the prescription style is NOT ANZI rated.
My unit issued me sawfly revision protective eye ware before we left, but never got me my revision prescription inserts. I had older ESS inserts and ESS ICE And the "NVG" style goggles that I used throughout my deployment. (even after attempting to order,twice, revision inserts downrange)
The eye docs, <span style="text-decoration: underline">at his home station</span>, <span style="font-style: italic">Should</span> have no issue getting him ESS/revision inserts. Just don't rely on downrange to read the type right.
If he's battling with prescription inserts, especially if they are foggin up, while expensive, a pair of the ESS Turbofans might be the best. The Oakley M-frames are awesome, but unless they've changed something since I ordered my last pair a few months ago, the prescription style is NOT ANZI rated.
My unit issued me sawfly revision protective eye ware before we left, but never got me my revision prescription inserts. I had older ESS inserts and ESS ICE And the "NVG" style goggles that I used throughout my deployment. (even after attempting to order,twice, revision inserts downrange)
The eye docs, <span style="text-decoration: underline">at his home station</span>, <span style="font-style: italic">Should</span> have no issue getting him ESS/revision inserts. Just don't rely on downrange to read the type right.
Re: Best Goggles for sand/desert
From a purely safety aspect Oakley is tough to beat. Goggles or glasses. I have seen several guys take frag to the face and their eyes were saved by the amazing lenses Oakley manufactures.
I was with one guy near a controlled detonation and he thought a pebble hit him in his M-frames. Latter that day he discovered a metal splinter sticking through his lens.
Oakley also gives great discounts to active duty military.
From a purely safety aspect Oakley is tough to beat. Goggles or glasses. I have seen several guys take frag to the face and their eyes were saved by the amazing lenses Oakley manufactures.
I was with one guy near a controlled detonation and he thought a pebble hit him in his M-frames. Latter that day he discovered a metal splinter sticking through his lens.
Oakley also gives great discounts to active duty military.
Similar threads
