What we found

Impact resistance

We tested the eye protectors against the appropriate Australia/New Zealand Standard. This is one of a number of international standards that eye protectors on sale here can claim to meet. Apart from the Promark and Samson models, all the models in our test claimed to meet at least one of these standards.

The Australia/NewZealand standard specifies low, medium and high impact tests. Several of the models didn’t state whether they met low-, medium- or high-impact resistance. So we tested all the models at all three levels.

Low- and medium-impact tests

• The only failure – with the ball breaking through the lens and making contact with the  “eye” – was the Samson Safety Goggles. While these passed the low-impact test, their lens shattered in the medium-impact test.
• No other models failed the medium-impact test.

We don’t recommend the Samson goggles, despite their low price. Other models with much greater impact resistance are available for under $10.

High-impact test

• 3 of the frameless specs and 1 of the goggles passed the high-impact test: these are our recommended models.
• None of the wrap-around specs passed the high-impact test.

The broken Norton wrap-arounds

The Norton wrap-arounds claim to be unbreakable – but our tests show otherwise.

Does passing the high-impact resistance test matter? It depends on what hits you. A stone thrown up by a motor mower will be travelling rapidly – so the stronger the protector, the better.

Note: The Australia/New Zealand Standard specifies a full face shield for high-speed impact hazards. If you are doing a job where you might be at risk of a high-speed impact, always use a full face shield. A direct impact to your head at high speeds could kill you.

Hardness and scratch resistance

The frameless specs tended to be harder than the goggles and the wrap-around specs – although the wrap-arounds still got excellent scores for hardness.

• The Blue Eagle was the hardest. It was followed by the Prosafe Ibis and the Uvex X-One. The Samson had substantially softer lenses than the other models.
• The Uvex X-One frameless specs came tops for scratch resistance: they were noticeably less scratched than the others. All the other models did a “good” job.

Splash resistance

• Out of the 14 models, only the Peltor Fahrenheit goggles passed the sprayed-liquid test as per the standard.
• None of the others were well enough sealed around their edges.