Eyewear
Our tactical eyewear covers protective goggles, shooting glasses with interchangeable lenses and classic military-style sunglasses. Every pair is chosen for people who work and play outside, from airsoft players and shooters to pilots, riders and hikers.
- Tactical and ballistic goggles – the Rothco ANSI Ballistic OTG Goggle System with three interchangeable lenses, ANSI Rated Tactical Goggles, ANSI Rated OTG Goggles, Ventec, OTG, Collapsible, SWAT Tec Single Lens and Black Windstorm tactical goggles.
- Dust and wind goggles – Rothco G.I. Type Sun, Wind & Dust Goggles for dust, wind and vehicle use.
- Shooting and sport glasses – the ANSI Rated Interchangeable Sport Glass Kit, Firetec Interchangeable Sport Glass Lens System, Interchangeable Optical System, Tactical Eyewear Kit and AR-7 Sport Glasses.
- Sunglasses – AO Eyewear Original Pilots and 52 MM Polarized Pilots sunglasses, Rothco G.I. Type Aviator Sunglasses with bayonet temples, Aviator Air Force Style Sunglasses, Tactical Aviators with Wind Guards, Glacier Sunglasses and 58mm Polarized Sunglasses.
- Lens care – McNett Sea Drops and Tactical OP Drops cleaning system.
OTG (over the glasses) goggles fit over prescription frames, so you don't need prescription safety glasses for range days or airsoft.
A note for service members: AR 670-1 allows conservative sunglasses in garrison with gray, brown or dark green lenses, while protective eyewear for military duty must carry the APEL logo. An ANSI rating alone doesn't put eyewear on that list. See the guide below for how these rules affect what you buy.
How to Choose Tactical Eyewear
Start with the hazard. Glare calls for sunglasses. Dust and wind call for sealed goggles. Flying debris, airsoft BBs and shooting need impact-rated eyewear.
Tactical Goggles
Goggles seal around the eyes and protect from the side as well as the front. Low-profile goggles such as the Ventec, with smoke polycarbonate lenses and foam padding, suit bright days. The G.I. Type Sun, Wind & Dust Goggles come with clear and grey lenses and a vented frame with a dust cover. Single-lens goggles give a wide, unbroken view. Collapsible goggles pack flat in a pocket or pouch. For airsoft and shooting, pick an ANSI rated goggle.
Interchangeable Lens Kits
Kits with several lenses let one frame cover bright sun, overcast days and low light. Smoke or gray lenses cut glare in daylight, clear lenses work at night and indoors, and yellow or amber lenses add contrast in flat light.
Military-Style Sunglasses
Aviators have been a pilot staple for decades. Bayonet temples slide straight back and fit easily under headsets and helmets. Polarized lenses cut reflected glare off water and roads. Wind guards and glacier side shields block wind and side light for riders, skiers and climbers.
Fit and Lens Care
Eyewear should sit snug without pinching the temples, and goggles should seal evenly with any helmet or hat you wear. If you wear glasses, choose OTG goggles and check the frame width. Clean lenses with a lens cleaner and soft cloth, not a shirt tail, to avoid scratches and stripping coatings.
Tactical Eyewear and Military Uniform Regulations
Sunglasses and Eyeglasses in AR 670-1
AR 670-1 paragraph 3-10 authorizes conservative civilian prescription eyeglasses with all uniforms and conservative prescription and nonprescription sunglasses in a garrison environment, but not indoors. Commanders decide whether sunglasses can be worn in formations or the field. Lenses must be traditional gray, brown or dark green; extreme or trendy colors such as red, yellow, blue, purple, bright green or orange are not allowed, and neither are frames with conspicuous initials, designs or adornments, or frames so large or small that they detract from the uniform. Some sunglasses here come with reflective lens options, so choose a subdued smoke lens if you plan to wear them in uniform.
Ballistic Eye Protection and the APEL
The same paragraph allows Army-issued ballistic eye protection in garrison or the field, unless your chain of command directs otherwise. The Army's Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL) is a list of commercial eyewear tested to military ballistic fragmentation requirements, and the Army says eyewear without the APEL logo is not authorized for use by U.S. forces. An ANSI rating does not qualify eyewear for that list. Our ANSI rated goggles and glasses are for airsoft, shooting, training and work, not a substitute for APEL eyewear on duty.
Other Rules
Paragraph 3-10 also says eyeglasses and cases are not hung on the uniform, glasses can't hang from a restraint down the front of the uniform, and glasses are never worn on top of the head. Restraint bands are fine when required for safety, but chains and ribbons are not. The Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy have their own eyewear rules, and units and ranges can be stricter.
Eyewear for Airsoft, Shooting and the Outdoors
For airsoft, wear a sealed, impact-rated goggle and keep it on for the whole game. At the range, ANSI rated glasses with a clear and a smoke lens cover indoor and outdoor lanes. For driving, boating and fishing, a polarized pair cuts glare off water and pavement.