Shooting Glasses

The best color for shooting glasses can vary depending on the environment, lighting conditions, and the shooting you are engaged in. Here’s a breakdown of lens colors and their typical applications:

1. Yellow/Amber: As previously mentioned, yellow or amber lenses are excellent for low-light conditions or overcast days. They filter out blue light, enhancing contrast and making it easier to see targets.
2. Brown/Bronze: Brown or bronze lenses are versatile and are suitable for varying light conditions. They enhance contrast and depth perception, making them ideal for shooting against green or blue backgrounds like trees or sky.
3. Orange: Orange lenses are excellent for shooting against blue skies or green fields, as they block out shades of blue and green, enhancing the orange color of the target (as in clay pigeon shooting).
4. Gray: Gray lenses are best for reducing brightness without altering color perception. They are ideal for shooting in bright sunlight as they reduce glare and eye fatigue without affecting the target’s color.
5. Clear: Clear lenses are best for indoor shooting or conditions with very low light. They don’t enhance contrast but are essential for protecting the eyes from debris and fragments.
6. Transitions: Transition or photochromic lenses automatically adjust their tint based on the lighting conditions. In bright sunlight, they darken to reduce glare; in low light, they become clearer. These lenses can be advantageous for shooting in varying lighting conditions as they adapt automatically.
7. Polarized: Polarized lenses are not a color but a lens that reduces glare from reflective surfaces. They are beneficial if shooting near water or in conditions with a lot of reflected light.

Many shooters opt for glasses with interchangeable lenses to adapt to different lighting conditions and environments. Remember, regardless of the color, ensuring that the shooting glasses meet safety standards for impact resistance is vital for eye protection.

To learn more about shooting glasses colors, feel free to check our Shooting Glasses Lenses Color Guide.

Yellow glasses, often referred to as shooting glasses or amber-tinted lenses, are popular among shooters for several reasons:

1. Enhanced Contrast: Yellow lenses increase contrast, especially in low-light or overcast days. The yellow tint filters out blue light, which tends to scatter more efficiently and create a haze. By reducing the amount of blue light, yellow lenses help shooters to see the targets more clearly.
2. Improved Depth Perception: The enhanced contrast also aids in improving depth perception, which is critical for judging distances. This can be particularly useful when aiming at moving targets, as in clay pigeon shooting or hunting.
3. Eye Strain Reduction: Yellow lenses can reduce eye strain by filtering out harsh light and improving contrast. This makes it easier for the eyes to focus on the target without strain, especially during extended shooting periods.
4. Low Light Performance: Yellow lenses can brighten the visual field in low light conditions such as dawn or dusk. This makes it easier to see details that might otherwise be missed and is particularly beneficial for hunting or shooting at these times of day.
5. Glare Reduction: Although not as effective as polarized lenses, yellow lenses can help to reduce glare. This can be beneficial when shooting near water or other surfaces that reflect light.
6. Safety: Shooting glasses, regardless of tint, protect the eyes from hazards like ricochets, debris, or fragments. Yellow lenses combine this protection with added visual benefits, making them popular.
7. Quick Target Acquisition: The high contrast of yellow lenses enable shooters to acquire targets faster. With the background appearing darker and the target brighter, the eye is naturally drawn to the target.

In summary, yellow glasses for shooting provide a combination of improved contrast, reduced eye strain, enhanced depth perception, and protection. These factors make them an excellent choice for shooting in various lighting conditions, ultimately contributing to better performance and safety.

You can try a couple of practical solutions to prevent your shooting glasses from fogging up. One option is to apply an anti-fog spray or cream specifically designed for eyewear. These products create a thin film on the lens surface that helps to minimize fogging. Simply follow the instructions provided with the anti-fog spray or cream to apply it to your shooting glasses, and reapply as needed.  Please Click the Link to see our Anti Fog Lens Products.

Another option is investing in a pair of prescription shooting glasses with a permanent anti-fog coating. During manufacturing, this special coating is applied to the lenses, providing long-lasting fog prevention. With this coating, you won’t have to worry about using anti-fog solutions repeatedly, as the lens will remain clear even during intense shooting activities.

Both options effectively combat fogging and ensure clear vision while using shooting glasses. Choose the best solution that suits your needs and preferences, and enjoy fog-free shooting experiences.

Shooting glasses and safety glasses share some similarities in terms of providing eye protection, but there are some critical differences between the two:

1. Design and Purpose: Shooting glasses are specifically designed to meet the unique requirements of shooting sports. They typically feature wraparound designs that provide a wider field of vision and better protection from the sides. Shooting glasses often have interchangeable lenses of different colors to enhance visibility in various lighting conditions. On the other hand, safety glasses are designed to offer general eye protection in industrial or construction settings. They may have a more basic design without the specialized features of shooting glasses.
2. Ballistic Protection: Shooting glasses are built to withstand the impact of projectiles, such as bullet fragments or shotgun pellets. They are tested and rated for ballistic resistance to withstand high-velocity impacts. While offering impact protection, safety glasses may not have the same level of ballistic resistance as shooting glasses.
3. Lens Options: Shooting glasses commonly come with interchangeable lenses that can be swapped out depending on lighting conditions or target backgrounds. This allows shooters to optimize their vision and contrast for different environments. Safety glasses typically have a single lens color option, commonly clear or tinted, suitable for general eye protection.
4. Compliance Standards: Safety glasses are designed to meet specific safety standards set by regulatory organizations, such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or CSA (Canadian Standards Association). These standards ensure a certain level of impact resistance and optical clarity. Shooting glasses may also meet or exceed these safety standards, but they often have additional criteria for ballistic protection specific to shooting activities.

While there may be some overlap in terms of eye protection, shooting glasses are tailored to the needs of shooting sports, offering specialized features like wraparound designs, ballistic resistance, and interchangeable lenses. On the other hand, safety glasses are designed for general eye protection in various industrial or construction environments, meeting specific safety standards.

There are several essential reasons why wearing shooting glasses is highly recommended:

1. Eye Protection: Shooting glasses provide crucial eye protection during shooting activities. They help safeguard your eyes from potential hazards such as flying debris, shell casings, powder residue, or fragments from exploding targets. Wearing shooting glasses significantly reduces the risk of eye injuries that could have long-lasting or permanent consequences.
2. Impact Resistance: Shooting glasses are designed to withstand high-velocity impacts and are often tested and rated for ballistic resistance. This means they can endure the impact of projectiles, bullet fragments, or shotgun pellets, which are common in shooting sports. The impact resistance of shooting glasses is crucial for maintaining the lenses’ integrity and preventing them from shattering or causing injury upon impact.
3. UV Protection: Many shooting glasses come with lenses that offer protection against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV rays can damage your eyes, leading to cataracts, macular degeneration, or photokeratitis (sunburn of the eye). Wearing shooting glasses with UV protection helps shield your eyes from these harmful rays, even during outdoor shooting activities.
4. Enhanced Vision: Shooting glasses often are designed with specialized lens tints that can improve your vision in different lighting conditions. These lens options, such as clear, yellow, or polarized lenses, help improve contrast, reduce glare, and provide better target visibility. By optimizing your vision with shooting glasses, you can enhance your shooting performance and accuracy.
5. Compliance with Regulations: In many shooting ranges, competitions, or organized shooting events, the use of shooting glasses is mandatory or strongly recommended. Adhering to these regulations ensures a safer environment for all participants and helps prevent accidents or injuries caused by insufficient eye protection.

Wearing shooting glasses is a matter of personal safety and responsible practice to protect your eyes from potential hazards and optimize your shooting experience. Regardless of your shooting skill level or the type of firearm you’re using, wearing shooting glasses should always be considered an essential part of your shooting gear.

The American National Standard Institute (or ANSI) establishes standards and regulations for the products and equipment on the US market.  Most safety glasses carry the ANSI classification rating Z87+ which indicates the toughest safety features for occupational eyewear protection. 

RX Safety offers ANSI safety glasses making it easier to have an ultimate level of confidence while shooting. Because shooting glasses must be ANSI Z87+ high impact approved, it’s important that you consider if your prospective glasses have been through such rigorous industry standards. 

Several factors come into play when choosing prescription shooting glasses.

First, it’s important to know what main shooting activities you will be doing so that you can choose your shooting glasses color. We have a guide that outlines which lenses work perfectly for certain conditions that you can find here.

The second would be the safety rating. Do these glasses meet rigorous industry standards like ANSI Z87+ and ballistic standards for your ultimate safety and protection? Since most of RX’s safety prescription shooting glasses meet high industry regulations, it may be a great idea to start in our exclusive line of shooting glasses inventory.

Lastly, would you need an added layer of protection like anti-fog or UV protection lens coating that would be helpful to maintain a clearer vision while omitting harmful rays while outdoors? Customizations can give you the assurity you need before stepping out on the field for any activity.  

While these are only some factors to consider, they provide great food for thought as you are searching for your prescription shooting glasses. 

The ANSI (American National Standards Institute) rating for shooting glasses falls under the ANSI Z87.1 standard, establishing requirements for occupational and educational eye and face protection devices. Within this standard, there are different impact protection levels, including basic impact (Z87), high impact (Z87+), and high mass/high-velocity impact (Z87.1+).
Choosing those with at least a Z87+ or Z87.1+ rating is recommended for shooting glasses, indicating high-impact protection. These ratings ensure that the glasses have been tested and meet specific criteria for withstanding the impact of projectiles or other potential hazards associated with shooting sports.

The choice of lens color for trap shooting glasses can vary depending on individual preferences and lighting conditions. However, there are a few lens colors that are commonly recommended for trap shooting:

1. Clear or Yellow: Clear or yellow lenses are popular choices for trap shooting, especially in low-light or overcast conditions. These lens colors help to enhance contrast and brighten the environment, making it easier to track fast-moving targets against a dull background.
2. Bronze or Brown: Bronze or brown lenses suit various lighting conditions in trap shooting. They offer enhanced contrast, reduce glare, and can help improve visual acuity. These lens colors are particularly useful in varying light conditions or when shooting against green or grassy backgrounds.

It’s worth noting that some shooters prefer to use shooting glasses with interchangeable lenses, allowing them to switch between different colors based on the prevailing lighting conditions. This flexibility allows for optimal vision and target acquisition regardless of the shooting environment.

Ultimately, the “best” color for trap shooting glasses depends on personal preference, lighting conditions, and the shooter’s visual needs. Trying different lens colors to determine the best optical clarity and target visibility for your specific shooting circumstances can be helpful.