doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com shooting glasses opinions

If you can wait a year or so, the perfect shooting glasses may be available for you. A few months ago I replaced my rx sunglass lenses in 35 year old Zeiss frames with Drivewear lenses. They are remarkable in that they maintain very accurate colours for the full range of the visible light spectrum while changing the amount of tint, which is the Transitions part of the package. Unique to Drivewear is that they will transition in response to changes in both UV and visible light.

Currently, they are only available in regular plastic, which is not impact resistant (and therefore not suitable for shooting glasses) but is clearer than polycarbonate. I was informed by the optician who sold these to me that they are working on bringing these out in Trivex within a year or so. Trivex has the impact resistance of polycarbonate with the clarity of plastic lenses. That could prove to be the ultimate in shooting glasses. For more information, check out Drivewear and Trivex.

skatr2

The only problem with the HiDefSpex was I ordered the Eurostyle and they were enourmous. The temples were so long that I could adjust them to my (rather normal 7-1/4 hat size) head.

I called and spoke to the owners father who was on customer service detail. He switched them right out for the aviator style and said they'd have to adress the situation.

After thatm great glasses. I got the ones that block less rays s=rather than the darker ones. I figure back here the east I would be in heavier cover than out west.

Where in upstate NY are you? Woodcock coming through yet? season will be over before they get down here.

I've been using the cheep shooting glasses and can't see chit....a guy at my gun club sells Decots.

Any pros or cons ?

HomelessjOe,
I started with Decots over 15 years ago and have since moved on. The "cons" that come to mind are:
1 - If you need RX lenses, the Decots lens material is a bit heavy and thick. Not aware that they've changed their lens to the lighter, thinner materials.
2 - I've seen Decots take a hit and loose BIG chips out of the lens...so replacements are needed. That could be true of any polycarbonate lens. Only the HiDefSpex are ballistics quality and guaranteed against breakage.
3 - The frames (IMHO) are a weak point. The bayonet clips that hold the lenses in place tend to bend and eventually can break off. Since there's no guarantee against breakage you're replacing frames too often which gets expensive.
4 - The first real experience I had with the frame problem was due to the clips bending. If you don't notice it's happening you'll find yourself taking the first shot without a problem, but the recoil will pop a lens out of the frame making the second shot a bit tricky especially if that lens happens to be in front of your dominant eye. Not good for competition!

Bud Decot's glasses were the "gold standard" in the shooting industry once upon a time. But unless things have changed with his name sake products, I don't think that is true today.

Randolph Rangers are excellent at a reasonable price. However the frames on some styles are heavy, and the tints can be extreme - fine if you like your world artificially "colored" but I find it distracting.

HiDefSpex are fantastic, with true colors and fully adjustable frames (at least the Sebrings and the Panther frames are) but they come at a very HIGH price.
I've tried them all and like the HiDef's the best.
Just my opinion FWIW.

I used Decot for about 25 years and got tired of the lenses popping out at inappropriate moments. Bought the HiDefSpex set and really like the clarity plus the security of the lense mounting system - they are not going to fall out!

I am broader than normal across the face and most glasses cut grooves in my temple area. HiDef sent the regular frame but changed it out for a wider one, solving another of my chronic complaints about glasses.

Bit lighter in the wallet now!

When at a range I use a cheap pair of safety glasses and some foam ear plugs....when hunting neither...safety is safety but lets not become pussies...