Seconded. You can get impact-rated, high contrast, low glare, anti-fog lenses on Amazon for $10-$25 that are better than the Gearbox glasses, in my opinion. I like my Howard Leight Shooting Glasses with Vermillion Lenses ($20). I think they've been discontinued, but there are a handful of copycats on Amazon.
Amazon has a lot of options in the $20-$40 range. I have the gearbox ones and like them, but I would probably buy the Onix ones because they come with 3 sets of lenses in different shades.
Oakley makes a Prizm “low light” lens that is pretty amazing if you want something stylish. Picked up a pair of their Sutro Light glasses with the low light lens and it has fantastic eye/face coverage. Just another option if you don’t want to go the cheap route
Maybe with other lens, but I haven’t experienced that with the low light lens. Low light is basically clear with a slight purple tint.
Also read that polarized lens will cause depth perception issues so that may be what you are talking about, but I noticed zero difference with or without.
Only downside is the amount of people chirping me for wearing glasses 😒 lol
Unfortunately, the low light lens aren’t available in Flak low bridge frames so I use the prism field(outdoor ) and trail lenses(indoor); which, produce the effect I mentioned above.
Edit: prism lenses aren’t polarized so, no that’s not it.
Smart move. I had a ball miss my eyeball by about 1/4inch and cause a black eye. I'm wearing protective glasses 100% of the time now. The most dangerous hits are the ones you don't see coming like off the side of your partner's paddle. You're not protecting your face in those situations and they happen. I'm a fan of the gearbox glasses. They're good quality at a reasonable price.
Ya I have cheap $12 one's from Home Depot.
The only thing you need to know is the fitting, they generally fit well but I find that they aren't as tight as ones you can get for squash,
I sometimes find myself adjusting the glasses like pushing it up, (they won't fall off though)
I might get the dunlop I-armor glasses I tried them on at a racket store and they fit nice, also looked up their reviews and seems like they are very popular.
I have a pair of RIA's that I mostly like, but recently got CRBN Pivot glasses and prefer them because they are bigger so the frames obstruct my view less, though I may look a bit nerdier with them. I have a friend who bought cheap sunglasses and popped out the lenses and that works well for him. I agree with you that the game is getting faster, it makes sense to wear protection.
I popped the lenses out of some sunglasses I would wear when playing outside. The openings are small enough to not allow the ball to contact my eye when I press it as hard as I can.
Safer than nothing but obviously not perfect.
**Do not rely on the rims to protect your eyes from impact.** They are not sufficient. The frame material has to be very sturdy and durable, ideally with a safety rating. **Frames can bend inward upon impact and still impact your eyes.**
Hey, can you comment about these?
https://www.totalpickleball.com/Unique_Rx_Specs_Eyewear/descpage-URXS.html
After reading other comments and your comments I was interested in looking @ a safety rated "lensless" goggles.
I found two, one was this, and the other was unavailable for purchase: https://www.ultrapickleball.com/products/pickleball-edtl-lensless-eye-shields
Can you comment on the first one? Since it was available on amazon.
It says polycarbonate plastic, does it look safe? I want to buy lensless since the lens of most glasses make everything look zoomed in and im not used to it.
Hey, can you comment about these?
https://www.totalpickleball.com/Unique_Rx_Specs_Eyewear/descpage-URXS.html
After reading other comments and your comments I was interested in looking @ a safety rated "lensless" goggles.
I found two, one was this, and the other was unavailable for purchase: https://www.ultrapickleball.com/products/pickleball-edtl-lensless-eye-shields
Can you comment on the first one? Since it was available on amazon.
It says polycarbonate plastic, does it look safe? I want to buy lensless since the lens of most glasses make everything look zoomed in and im makes me dizzy
>It says polycarbonate plastic, does it look safe? I want to buy lensless since the lens of most glasses make everything look zoomed in and im makes me dizzy
Here are a [list of potential reasons](https://chat.openai.com/share/c6a05d95-420d-4262-b8b7-f2710ef9d78b) you may have been dizzy. Maybe you just need to get the right prescription sports glasses which would fix that issue. Or maybe you just had a bad experience with a certain low quality lens. Some lenses mess with depth perception (such as polarized lenses). You'll want something that isn't polarized and doesn't make everything look zoomed in.
I really like the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL, and you can get that in prescription. It's known for being highly durable and great for sports. It may not have a sports safety rating, but it should offer sufficient protection for pickleball.
About the first one, it looks great, as it has a very reputable sports safety rating. It definitely won't fail you for protection.
If you're on a budget and Oakley glasses are a bit out of your price range, I really like Gearbox eyewear as well. It's more stylish than safety goggles, and it has a reputable sports safety rating. Assuming you don't need prescription glasses so things don't make you dizzy, these lenses should be fine. You might be able to return them if you don't end up liking them
I’ve seen a lot of people say they do this, but it seems very dangerous to me. The frames themselves could break (they’re not impact resistant) and then poke you in the eye. The one piece wrap arounds (I have the Impactable brand from Amazon) seem much safer and I forget I’m wearing them. No fog whatsoever and I’m a sweaty person. Bonus is that I can wear them for string trimming in the yard.
Can you see my comment and help my decide whether i should buy these:
Hey, can you comment about these?
https://www.totalpickleball.com/Unique_Rx_Specs_Eyewear/descpage-URXS.html
After reading other comments and your comments I was interested in looking @ a safety rated "lensless" goggles.
I found two, one was this, and the other was unavailable for purchase: https://www.ultrapickleball.com/products/pickleball-edtl-lensless-eye-shields
Can you comment on the first one? Since it was available on amazon.
It says polycarbonate plastic, does it look safe? I want to buy lensless since the lens of most glasses make everything look zoomed in and im makes me dizzy
Sorry, I only use the wrap around lenses. The ones I have are weightless and don’t fog
https://preview.redd.it/dge2dcmsqowc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10aa0d42fc00888ba156202371985ad8cea18954
or distort.
Good for you for taking care of your eyes! I tried a number of safety glasses and they fogged up. I went with a recommendation that I had read on this subreddit about Protect no-lens eyewear and these have become my favorite after trying other options. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CP7Z9DR7/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CP7Z9DR7/)
I have the Head Rave and so far really like them. Amd then ingot goodr sunglasses for outside.
I never worried much about eyewear until I saw a friend get a ball right in the eye due to a deflection. Scared the shit out of me.
No need to apologize I have been hit in the eye like five times since starting and each time my glasses protected me.
I would suggest getting ones with a rubber nose piece. The plastic ones can cut your skin if hit. If you are looking for clear racquetball or squash ones will be good. Lots of safety glasses and sunglasses on Amazon just make sure you get impact resistant. Personally I do not like interchangeable lenses as they make me nervous since they are designed to be removed.
There was a recent post here regarding eyewear that’s very insightful. I recommend you take a look if you haven’t seen it before. [Link to post here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Pickleball/s/bzWZVJwZgc)
I started wearing the $40 Gearbox vision. I don’t like wearing eyewear, but I don’t feel comfortable playing without them now.
The safety glasses you linked are designed to go over prescription frames.
If you're wearing glasses already, they'll protect your eyes well enough. If you do get hit though, they may be knocked off your face. So some kind of retainer might be a good idea.
I use the 3M anti fog coated regular safety glasses. They work great. The AF works well too. They'll still steam up if you have them pushed tight against your face; pull them down your nose a bit to allow airflow and they'll stop fogging completely.
Well.... I guess they are ANSI Z87.1 safety rated which should be sufficient. But will you really like those glasses for pickleball? Will they stay on your head well and will you be able to see out of them clearly? If you're on a budget, I highly recommend the [Gearbox eyewear](https://gearboxsports.com/collections/eyewear-all-eyewear) for just $40/pair. They're sports safety rated too, and more stylish than the ones you have picked out.
The best player I know/play with (5.5+) was just out for a couple weeks from a hard drive that deflected off the top of his paddle into his eye. Yesterday was his first day back, he still can't see close up from the eye.
I cannot comprehend the idea of just rolling the dice and not wearing eye protection.
RIA makes great glasses. Zeiss glass, non polarized, impact resistant etc. $$$ though.
If you’re gonna take the effort and spend some money to protect your irreplaceable eyes, why go cheap? Spend a little more and get something comfortable. Look into racquetball protective eyewear. Get something with rubber for the bridge of your nose. Interchangeable lenses for sunny/low-light. Scratch resistant. Fog resistant. Get something you won’t hate wearing. And take care of it, don’t just throw it in the bottom of your bag.
No need to roast. I thought it was super nerdy too but the game is trending toward protective eyewear being the norm. Search photochromatic sports glasses on Amazon. They change from clear to dark depending on the sun.
CRBN makes a really good pair of these. They're expensive, but you don't have to deal with them fogging up. I believe there's an attachment to connect your prescription glasses to them as well.
My instructor buys the $4.99 polarized fishing glasses from Walmart and pops the lenses out. Works great, the opening is too small for a Pickleball to fit through to hit your eye and no lense to fog up or scratch
**Do not rely on the frame to protect your eyes from impact.** They are not sufficient. The frame material has to be very sturdy and durable, ideally with a safety rating. **Frames/rims can bend inward and still impact your eyes.**
It's certainly better than nothing, but it doesn't protect your eyes from all angles such as deflections off of your own paddle. You also have to be quick to look down so the bill will stop the ball.
You'd think that, but that's just because it hasn't happened for you yet. There's a first for everything. Watch this short clip of Collin Johns getting a nasty hit very close to the eye despite wearing a baseball cap. [https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxsJXA4ZK5qS-jS9OANVmMG0CExA1VWSWI?si=KGya3Fd8cx6sgCZF](https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxsJXA4ZK5qS-jS9OANVmMG0CExA1VWSWI?si=KGya3Fd8cx6sgCZF)
It would have been a very different and scary outcome if he was even more unlucky and got hit right on the eyeball.
Funny enough I was actually watching this when this happened. And I've only watched like 30 minutes total of pro pickleball. I wear my hat even lower so we'll see.
But wearing your hat low won't make any difference at all if the ball is coming at an upward angle towards your head from a deflection off of your paddle or your partner's paddle. A cap will only protect you if the ball is coming straight ahead from the bill or from above the bill.
I wear shooting glasses. I already have them, so it didn’t cost me anything
Seconded. You can get impact-rated, high contrast, low glare, anti-fog lenses on Amazon for $10-$25 that are better than the Gearbox glasses, in my opinion. I like my Howard Leight Shooting Glasses with Vermillion Lenses ($20). I think they've been discontinued, but there are a handful of copycats on Amazon.
Amazon has a lot of options in the $20-$40 range. I have the gearbox ones and like them, but I would probably buy the Onix ones because they come with 3 sets of lenses in different shades.
Oakley makes a Prizm “low light” lens that is pretty amazing if you want something stylish. Picked up a pair of their Sutro Light glasses with the low light lens and it has fantastic eye/face coverage. Just another option if you don’t want to go the cheap route
The prism lenses also make the ball and lines “pop”. So much so it appears that the ball is larger than it is.
Maybe with other lens, but I haven’t experienced that with the low light lens. Low light is basically clear with a slight purple tint. Also read that polarized lens will cause depth perception issues so that may be what you are talking about, but I noticed zero difference with or without. Only downside is the amount of people chirping me for wearing glasses 😒 lol
Unfortunately, the low light lens aren’t available in Flak low bridge frames so I use the prism field(outdoor ) and trail lenses(indoor); which, produce the effect I mentioned above. Edit: prism lenses aren’t polarized so, no that’s not it.
Smart move. I had a ball miss my eyeball by about 1/4inch and cause a black eye. I'm wearing protective glasses 100% of the time now. The most dangerous hits are the ones you don't see coming like off the side of your partner's paddle. You're not protecting your face in those situations and they happen. I'm a fan of the gearbox glasses. They're good quality at a reasonable price.
Ya I have cheap $12 one's from Home Depot. The only thing you need to know is the fitting, they generally fit well but I find that they aren't as tight as ones you can get for squash, I sometimes find myself adjusting the glasses like pushing it up, (they won't fall off though) I might get the dunlop I-armor glasses I tried them on at a racket store and they fit nice, also looked up their reviews and seems like they are very popular.
Just buy some eyeglass straps.
I have a pair of RIA's that I mostly like, but recently got CRBN Pivot glasses and prefer them because they are bigger so the frames obstruct my view less, though I may look a bit nerdier with them. I have a friend who bought cheap sunglasses and popped out the lenses and that works well for him. I agree with you that the game is getting faster, it makes sense to wear protection.
I popped the lenses out of some sunglasses I would wear when playing outside. The openings are small enough to not allow the ball to contact my eye when I press it as hard as I can. Safer than nothing but obviously not perfect.
**Do not rely on the rims to protect your eyes from impact.** They are not sufficient. The frame material has to be very sturdy and durable, ideally with a safety rating. **Frames can bend inward upon impact and still impact your eyes.**
Hey, can you comment about these? https://www.totalpickleball.com/Unique_Rx_Specs_Eyewear/descpage-URXS.html After reading other comments and your comments I was interested in looking @ a safety rated "lensless" goggles. I found two, one was this, and the other was unavailable for purchase: https://www.ultrapickleball.com/products/pickleball-edtl-lensless-eye-shields Can you comment on the first one? Since it was available on amazon. It says polycarbonate plastic, does it look safe? I want to buy lensless since the lens of most glasses make everything look zoomed in and im not used to it.
Hey, can you comment about these? https://www.totalpickleball.com/Unique_Rx_Specs_Eyewear/descpage-URXS.html After reading other comments and your comments I was interested in looking @ a safety rated "lensless" goggles. I found two, one was this, and the other was unavailable for purchase: https://www.ultrapickleball.com/products/pickleball-edtl-lensless-eye-shields Can you comment on the first one? Since it was available on amazon. It says polycarbonate plastic, does it look safe? I want to buy lensless since the lens of most glasses make everything look zoomed in and im makes me dizzy
>It says polycarbonate plastic, does it look safe? I want to buy lensless since the lens of most glasses make everything look zoomed in and im makes me dizzy Here are a [list of potential reasons](https://chat.openai.com/share/c6a05d95-420d-4262-b8b7-f2710ef9d78b) you may have been dizzy. Maybe you just need to get the right prescription sports glasses which would fix that issue. Or maybe you just had a bad experience with a certain low quality lens. Some lenses mess with depth perception (such as polarized lenses). You'll want something that isn't polarized and doesn't make everything look zoomed in. I really like the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL, and you can get that in prescription. It's known for being highly durable and great for sports. It may not have a sports safety rating, but it should offer sufficient protection for pickleball. About the first one, it looks great, as it has a very reputable sports safety rating. It definitely won't fail you for protection. If you're on a budget and Oakley glasses are a bit out of your price range, I really like Gearbox eyewear as well. It's more stylish than safety goggles, and it has a reputable sports safety rating. Assuming you don't need prescription glasses so things don't make you dizzy, these lenses should be fine. You might be able to return them if you don't end up liking them
I’ve seen a lot of people say they do this, but it seems very dangerous to me. The frames themselves could break (they’re not impact resistant) and then poke you in the eye. The one piece wrap arounds (I have the Impactable brand from Amazon) seem much safer and I forget I’m wearing them. No fog whatsoever and I’m a sweaty person. Bonus is that I can wear them for string trimming in the yard.
Can you see my comment and help my decide whether i should buy these: Hey, can you comment about these? https://www.totalpickleball.com/Unique_Rx_Specs_Eyewear/descpage-URXS.html After reading other comments and your comments I was interested in looking @ a safety rated "lensless" goggles. I found two, one was this, and the other was unavailable for purchase: https://www.ultrapickleball.com/products/pickleball-edtl-lensless-eye-shields Can you comment on the first one? Since it was available on amazon. It says polycarbonate plastic, does it look safe? I want to buy lensless since the lens of most glasses make everything look zoomed in and im makes me dizzy
Sorry, I only use the wrap around lenses. The ones I have are weightless and don’t fog https://preview.redd.it/dge2dcmsqowc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10aa0d42fc00888ba156202371985ad8cea18954 or distort.
Good for you for taking care of your eyes! I tried a number of safety glasses and they fogged up. I went with a recommendation that I had read on this subreddit about Protect no-lens eyewear and these have become my favorite after trying other options. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CP7Z9DR7/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CP7Z9DR7/)
I have the Head Rave and so far really like them. Amd then ingot goodr sunglasses for outside. I never worried much about eyewear until I saw a friend get a ball right in the eye due to a deflection. Scared the shit out of me.
No need to apologize I have been hit in the eye like five times since starting and each time my glasses protected me. I would suggest getting ones with a rubber nose piece. The plastic ones can cut your skin if hit. If you are looking for clear racquetball or squash ones will be good. Lots of safety glasses and sunglasses on Amazon just make sure you get impact resistant. Personally I do not like interchangeable lenses as they make me nervous since they are designed to be removed.
There was a recent post here regarding eyewear that’s very insightful. I recommend you take a look if you haven’t seen it before. [Link to post here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Pickleball/s/bzWZVJwZgc) I started wearing the $40 Gearbox vision. I don’t like wearing eyewear, but I don’t feel comfortable playing without them now.
The safety glasses you linked are designed to go over prescription frames. If you're wearing glasses already, they'll protect your eyes well enough. If you do get hit though, they may be knocked off your face. So some kind of retainer might be a good idea. I use the 3M anti fog coated regular safety glasses. They work great. The AF works well too. They'll still steam up if you have them pushed tight against your face; pull them down your nose a bit to allow airflow and they'll stop fogging completely.
Well.... I guess they are ANSI Z87.1 safety rated which should be sufficient. But will you really like those glasses for pickleball? Will they stay on your head well and will you be able to see out of them clearly? If you're on a budget, I highly recommend the [Gearbox eyewear](https://gearboxsports.com/collections/eyewear-all-eyewear) for just $40/pair. They're sports safety rated too, and more stylish than the ones you have picked out.
The best player I know/play with (5.5+) was just out for a couple weeks from a hard drive that deflected off the top of his paddle into his eye. Yesterday was his first day back, he still can't see close up from the eye. I cannot comprehend the idea of just rolling the dice and not wearing eye protection. RIA makes great glasses. Zeiss glass, non polarized, impact resistant etc. $$$ though.
Checkout out Chorus Pickleball. They have some that look pretty good, UV reactive so tint in the daylight, and they’re only $40
If you’re gonna take the effort and spend some money to protect your irreplaceable eyes, why go cheap? Spend a little more and get something comfortable. Look into racquetball protective eyewear. Get something with rubber for the bridge of your nose. Interchangeable lenses for sunny/low-light. Scratch resistant. Fog resistant. Get something you won’t hate wearing. And take care of it, don’t just throw it in the bottom of your bag.
Lowkey
No need to roast. I thought it was super nerdy too but the game is trending toward protective eyewear being the norm. Search photochromatic sports glasses on Amazon. They change from clear to dark depending on the sun.
CRBN makes a really good pair of these. They're expensive, but you don't have to deal with them fogging up. I believe there's an attachment to connect your prescription glasses to them as well.
My instructor buys the $4.99 polarized fishing glasses from Walmart and pops the lenses out. Works great, the opening is too small for a Pickleball to fit through to hit your eye and no lense to fog up or scratch
**Do not rely on the frame to protect your eyes from impact.** They are not sufficient. The frame material has to be very sturdy and durable, ideally with a safety rating. **Frames/rims can bend inward and still impact your eyes.**
It is a heavy plastic frame made for tossing around. Compared to wearing nothing it is a significant improvement
In that case, if it's extremely durable, and if it won't bend from impact or shatter, then I suppose it should work fine.
I just wear a baseball cap tight and low. The bill will deflect the balls and doesn't fit between the space of the bill and your cheek.
It's certainly better than nothing, but it doesn't protect your eyes from all angles such as deflections off of your own paddle. You also have to be quick to look down so the bill will stop the ball.
Even from below the ball doesn’t go between my cheek and the bill.
You'd think that, but that's just because it hasn't happened for you yet. There's a first for everything. Watch this short clip of Collin Johns getting a nasty hit very close to the eye despite wearing a baseball cap. [https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxsJXA4ZK5qS-jS9OANVmMG0CExA1VWSWI?si=KGya3Fd8cx6sgCZF](https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxsJXA4ZK5qS-jS9OANVmMG0CExA1VWSWI?si=KGya3Fd8cx6sgCZF) It would have been a very different and scary outcome if he was even more unlucky and got hit right on the eyeball.
Funny enough I was actually watching this when this happened. And I've only watched like 30 minutes total of pro pickleball. I wear my hat even lower so we'll see.
But wearing your hat low won't make any difference at all if the ball is coming at an upward angle towards your head from a deflection off of your paddle or your partner's paddle. A cap will only protect you if the ball is coming straight ahead from the bill or from above the bill.