If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.
Safety goggles and glasses protect your eyes from a range of harmful and destructive exposure. With the right protective eyewear, you can block chemicals, liquids, dirt, dust, or debris from entering your eyes.
Having safety eyewear is essential whether you are in a construction or landscaping site or manufacturing facility, automotive repair shop, laboratory, or woodworking. Medical fields, childcare, and countless other professions also rely on protective eyewear to keep their eyes safe from damage and contaminants.
In many cases, it is mandated by law to have the goggles on to perform a certain type of task. If your employees do not have these goggles on, it can result in a violation; and they can get seriously injured.
Safety Glasses Vs. Goggles
The main difference between safety glasses and goggles is the level of protection they provide. Safety glasses are designed to protect your eyes from flying debris and other objects that can injure them. However, goggles provide complete protection, as there are no gaps around them like there are with safety glasses.
Goggles can fit over eyeglasses or can be worn by people who wear contact lenses – they are made from a durable, flexible material that can adjust to different face sizes.
Safety glasses generally offer adequate protection in most industrial and medical settings, while goggles may be needed in industries where there is a danger of splash hazards, airborne dust, and flying debris.
Why You Should Wear Safety Glasses or Goggles
Wearing safety eyewear is essential for workplace safety, and is mandated by OSHA. They state this on their website: The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.
Protect yourself and your employees against injury, and your business against fines or other legal trouble, by ensuring you have the right safety glasses or goggles for your type of business.
Safety Goggles: Our Top Recommendations & Methodology
When selecting safety goggles for small businesses, particularly those that require eye protection for their employees, it’s crucial to focus on features that ensure safety, comfort, and durability. Here are the criteria we’ve used for our selection, each rated on a scale from 1 to 5 based on importance:
- Protection Level (5/5): Goggles must meet or exceed safety standards for impact, splash, and dust protection, depending on the specific workplace hazards.
- Comfort and Fit (5/5): They should be comfortable to wear for extended periods and fit well with other protective equipment like helmets or ear protection.
- Lens Clarity and Visibility (4/5): High-quality lenses are crucial for clear vision, which is essential for safety and efficiency in the workplace.
- Durability and Scratch Resistance (4/5): The goggles should withstand regular use and maintain clarity over time.
- Anti-Fog Features (4/5): Fogging can significantly impair vision, so anti-fog properties are important, especially in varying temperatures or during physical work.
- UV Protection (3/5): If work is outdoors or involves UV exposure, UV protection is a key factor.
- Adjustability and Compatibility (3/5): Goggles should be adjustable to fit different head sizes and compatible with other protective equipment.
- Ventilation (3/5): Adequate ventilation helps reduce fogging and increases comfort, particularly in hot or humid conditions.
- Style and Aesthetics (2/5): While less critical, attractive design can enhance worker compliance in wearing them.
- Price (3/5): Cost is a consideration, but not at the expense of essential features like protection level and comfort.
These criteria are designed to ensure that the safety goggles we recommend provide the best balance of safety, functionality, and comfort for various workplace environments. Now, enjoy our picks below.
Solidwork Safety Goggles
Solidwork specializes in protective eyewear and other personal protective equipment. This ventilated pair of goggles offers UV protection – they have a special coating that makes them scratch-resistant on the outside and fog-free on the inside while the polarized dark lenses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
These goggles will fit over most eyeglasses and are said to be extremely comfortable and adjustable. They have an adjustable elastic strap and soft rubber sealing molds to fit all face and head sizes.
Solid. Protective Eyewear with Vented Anti-Fog, Anti-Scratch and UV-Protective Lens
NoCry Safety Goggles 6X3
These goggles also come with an anti-fog and anti-scratch coating as well as UV protection. They have clear wraparound lenses with angled vents to promote airflow, reduce fogging, and provide a comfortable fit. These over-the-glasses safety goggles are ANSI Z87.1 certified and OSHA compliant.
NoCry Safety Goggles 6X3 Anti Fog and Scratch Resistant ANSI Z87.1 Certified
DEWALT Anti-Fog Dual Mold Safety Goggles
DEWALT’s anti-fog safety glasses are scratch resistant and provide a soft, comfortable protective seal with soft, dual-injected rubber.
The adjustable cloth head strap promises a comfortable fit, and the built-in ventilation channels provide additional anti-fogging. A clip attachment allows for easy lens replacement.
DEWALT DPG82-11C Concealer Clear Anti-Fog Dual Mold Safety Goggle, Clear Lens, 1 Pair
3M GoggleGear 500 Series
3M’s Scotchguard anti-fog coating is said to last longer than traditional anti-fog coatings, helping to increase eyewear performance in damp or steamy environments.
These safety glasses offer a low-profile design, adjustable strap, and indirect ventilation. They meet the requirements of ANSI Z87.1-2015 and CSA Z94.3.
Kleenguard Maverick Safety Glasses
Kleenguard’s Maverick safety glasses feature a sleek, lightweight frame and premium anti-fog and anti-scratch lens coatings. These polycarbonate lenses provide 99. 9% UVA/ UVB/UVC protection and meet the ANSI Z87. 1+ standards for optical and impact protectors.
Kleenguard Maverick Safety Glasses with Integrated Side Shields
Uvex Ultra-Spec 2001 OTG
These goggles are designed to be worn while wearing prescription glasses. The deep brow guard and adjustable temple length ensure they will fit around most prescription glasses. They also have temple pads to prevent pinching or pressure in that area. These are clear, anti-fog glasses.
Uvex Ultra-Spec 2001 OTG Safety Glasses with Clear Anti-Fog Lens
Stoggles Square Z87.1 Certified Safety Glasses
Small business Stoggles offers these impact-resistant safety glasses made from transparent polycarbonate. Their lenses have 100% UV blocking protection, coated lenses to prevent lens fogging, and block blue light, so they can be worn safely for an extended period.
Stoggles Official Square Z87.1 Certified Safety Glasses – Anti-Fog – Blue Light Blocking
Crews BK310AF BearKat 3
A Duramass scratch-resistant coating and a clear fog lens give this light 0.87-ounce goggles some great features. The polycarbonate lens filters 99.9% of UV rays. Additional safety standards include meeting the military’s MIL-PRF-31013 clause 3.5.1.1 for high-velocity impact protection and exceeding the ANSI Z87+ rating.
Crews BK310AF BearKat 3 Polycarbonate Clear Anti-Fog Lens Safety Glasses
Truline Wraptor 110 Safety Goggles
Truline’s Wraptor goggles feature polycarbonate lenses and frame, and an anti-fog coating. They are foam lined to prevent against airborne particles and have a lanyard strap for maximum seal and protection. These clear glasses are Z87+ compliant.
Truline Wraptor 110 Safety Goggles
Sellstrom Safety Goggles
This pair of safety glasses by Sellstrom is heat resistant up to 350ºF and can be used in any application requiring non-vented eye protection. They are made from heat-resistant TPV material and have a soft, closed cell foam layer; and an OTG design that fits over most prescription eyeglasses.
These goggles meet ANSI Z87.1 and high impact standards and the lenses have STA-Clear coating for fog and scratch resistance.
Sellstrom Safety Goggles & Glasses Wildland Fire OTG Eye Protection
Pyramex Fortress Safety Glasses
These Pyramex safety glasses provide a lightweight, low-profile design with an adjustable nose pad to reduce irritation to the nose bridge and vented lenses. They have a straight back and rubber-coated temple tips. Pyramex says their anti-scratch lenses offer 99% protection against harmful UV rays.
Pyramex Fortress Safety Glasses
NoCry Safety Glasses
The NoCry safety glasses are made with a strong, durable wraparound design to keep your eyes safe from direct and peripheral threats. These protective glasses have side and nose pieces that adjust to fit any head size. They are fog, glare, and scratch resistant and promise no optical distortion.
NoCry Safety Glasses with Clear Anti Fog Scratch Resistant Wrap-Around Lenses
Consider the following key points when selecting safety eyewear:
- Type of Work: Determine the risks inherent to your job role, like projectiles or chemicals.
- Fit: Make sure the glasses fit properly, securely, and provide clear peripheral vision.
- Comfort: Avoid glasses that cause pressure points or discomfort.
- Fog and Scratch Resistance: Look for models that resist fogging and scratching.
- Prescription Integration: If necessary, find models that accommodate prescription glasses.
- Durability: Invest in high-quality glasses to save on future replacement costs.
- Filters: Choose glasses with the appropriate protective filters for your work environment.
- Impact Resistance: Ensure your glasses conform to ANSI safety standards.
Remember, safety eyewear isn’t an area to cut corners on. High-quality, suitable protective eyewear is a critical investment in the well-being and productivity of you and your employees. Protecting vision at work isn’t just a precautionary measure; it’s a key component of maintaining a safe and efficient work environment.
Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today.
Image: amazon
