Background

As part of the Midlife Crisis Car project, I purchased a abrasive blast cabinet to clean up parts prior to repainting them.  I was initially wearing a pair of cheap goggles over my glasses and a mask while using it.  But invariably, my glasses would fog up because the goggles didn't seal very well around the nose and cheek area.  So these were working okay, but one day I was leaning over the cabinet, and I felt a puff or stream of air that had leaked out of the cabinet, and under the goggles.  I was concerned that that air leak may have had entrained abrasive or dust particles that may have found their way into my eyes.  So I immediately went on a search for a better pair of goggles.

About the Product

I have been doing a lot of shopping at Tractor Supply.  And I happened to find a full face mask as well as these Sperian V-Maxx goggles.  Sperian is now part of Honeywell Safety.  These goggles are intended for use by those of us who wear spectacles (more on this later).  They have a a curved lens that is intended to accommodate the frame of glasses.  The lens is made out of polycarbonate, which is also known as Lexan (trademarked by GE, now SABIC Innovative Plastics).  This material is very resistant to impact and shattering, which is a beneficial characteristic for safety goggles.

The body is made of clear PVC, which does have that characteristic vinyl odor that can be annoying.  But it does have a supple and flexible lip that makes a very good seal around the nose, cheeks, and forehead, but also incorporates adequate ventilation top and bottom to prevent fogging. 

The elastic headband has a very effective adjustment on both sides that consist of a black plastic anchor tab that the elastic loops through, and then a plastic buckle keep the loose end from flopping about, and provide extra tension.  The other nice feature that sets this apart from the cheaper variety is that the black plastic tab disconnects from the PVC body with a quarter turn.  This allows you to rinse off and clean the main goggle without soaking the elastic band.  So you can clean and get right back to work without a soggy wet band across the back of your head.

How well Does it Work?

These would easily warrant a 5 star rating, except for the fact that while they are advertised to fit over eyeglasses, they did not have adequate clearance to work with mine perfectly.  There was minor contact with the temple pivot points on my frames (5.5" across) that left small scratches on the inside of the goggle lens, and put a bit of pressure on bridge of my nose during use.  It wasn't so bad that it hurt, so I learned to live with it.  Another thing to consider is that you need to stretch the elastic head band to get them over your eye glasses, so in the long run, that may become stretched out and ineffective over time.

In the end, these have remained crystal clear, even after having used them during abrasive blasting, which always seems to generate more dust that one might expect when contained in a sealed cabinet.  I was able to rinse these off and easily keep them clean.  And as I mentioned, even while wearing a mask, they prevented both my glasses and goggles from fogging up.

Recommendation

I would recommend that you measure you glasses, and better yet, try them on at the store.  The packaging easily snaps open, so you don't have to worry about cutting it open.  In fact, I have removed the cardboard, and use the blister package for storage.  If these fit your glasses, or if you don't wear glasses, then, I think this is a very good product, and I would highly recommend to my friends and Epinions readers. 

Other Midlife Crisis Car Reviews:

Very informative primer from someone who shows and judges cars
   
Lucas Oil HD Lever Action Aluminum Grease Gun

Give your wheels a lift for a change

Non-contact temperature measurement, with low impact on wallet

Recommended: Yes