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We're kind of sticklers when it comes to shooting safety around these parts. We've don't like to use subpar equipment when it comes to hearing and eye protection. We enjoy a day at the range, but we don't want to risk damaging our most vital senses in the process. That's why I was encouraged when I got the chance to test out a pair of Wiley X Saber Advanced shooting glasses. Wiley X has consistently been one of the best brands on the market and the Advanced offers the versatility of changeable lens colors into a safety glasses platform.
This means you can change up your eyewear on the fly based on lighting conditions, helping you shoot more accurately and keeping things stylish to boot. These are some of the few shooting glasses we've seen that can be seamlessly used off the range as a regular pair of sunglasses, meaning you get more for your money.
Wiley X Saber Advanced Specs
Travis Smola
First and foremost, let's cover the nitty-gritty details. The Wiley X Saber Advanced uses changeable, shatter-proof Polycarbonate lenses that meet MIL-PRF-32432 ballistic standards. They also meet ANSI Z87.1 high velocity and high mass impact standards. In short, they are some seriously tough lenses that are going to take a real beating, as you would want out of any set of shooting glasses. Wiley X also added a T-Shell lens coating to help further protect them from scratching. I'm happy to say there was no signs of scratches over the course of my testing, and I'm a guy who is usually quite rough on equipment.
I was a little concerned with how easy it would be to switch lenses. The instructions say to simply grasp the brow bar of the frame and pull them apart. The good news is they pop apart quite easily. I had a bit of trouble removing the lenses, and switching over to the clear lens did require me to put a little pressure on both the frame and lenses to get them together. It was easier to replace the lenses than it was the nose piece; you have to squeeze the sides together to slide it out of one lens, and then it quickly snaps onto the new lens with a satisfying pop. Once together, there's no worries about them coming apart until you want to switch things up again. However, you will need a microfiber cleaning cloth, as it's impossible to change things up without getting your fingerprints all over the lens.
Wiley X sent me a package that includes a Matte Tan frame color. This option comes with a clear, smoke grey, and light rust interchangeable lens option. The smoke grey lens works great as a stylish pair of shooting sunglasses. As another bonus, these glasses include a carrying case that has room to hold the replacement lenses, so there's no worries about misplacing them. I feel I should also mention these glasses are compatible with Wiley X's PTX prescription insert, so shooters with corrective lenses can use them as well. I haven't needed my glasses for years, so I cannot speak to how those work. However, given the durability and quality of everything else with these glasses, I imagine the prescription insert is quite effective.
Fit and Function
Travis Smola
As a universal fit, wrap-around style of lens, the Saber Advanced is probably the best pair of shooting glasses I've ever used. I recently took my new .350 Legend I bought for Michigan's deer season to shoot it for the first time and I found the smoke lens performed quite well for glare reduction on a sunny day at a public range. After a few quick adjustments to the nose bridge, it was easy to forget I had them on. From a comfort standpoint, these are hard to beat. The optical quality is also excellent. I didn't shoot well, but I quickly determined that was a scope issue on my rifle, and not a problem with the new glasses. That just gives me another chance to head back to the range soon to get completely dialed in and use the glasses some more.
The only tiny issue I had was that the glasses were slightly difficult to remove and replace on my face with my earmuff style hearing protection. If you use an earbud style, there's nothing to worry about there. This is a very minor issue, and not something that's going to stop me from using these in the future.
Perhaps the best thing about these glasses is the durability. I wasn't exactly gentle with these while taking them off and putting them back on at the range. Yet they seem like they will take a real beating, even if they're unceremoniously dropped or if they fall on the pavement. It really makes these glasses suitable not just for the gun range, but for a variety of other outdoor activities as well. If you want to wear shooting protection while in the treestand, these are the glasses to use.
Wiley X offers several different styles and options at several different price points. If you want a simple pair with matte black frames and a single lens color, those start at only $40. The glasses Wiley X sent to me is the package that includes a clamshell case, three different lens colors, a leash cord, and a cleaning cloth for $72. These glasses cost roughly half that of a pair of Oakleys or offer comparable eye protection products. That's why we can heartily recommend the Wiley X Saber Advanced if you're in the market for a new pair of shooting glasses.
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Instagram For original videos, check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels.
