Lee Valley is selling these German-made retro-style safety glasses, which feature aluminum cup-style eyepieces, side shields, and shatterproof laminated glass lenses.
They add that the rims are padded with a foam-filled synthetic leather material for comfort, and that the elastic strap is adjustable.
The safety glasses have a European DIN EN166 safety rating, but are not certified for industrial use.
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In other words, they might be fine for home use – Lee Valley suggests these for the home workshop – but they don’t count as safety-rated eye protection in the US.
I’m sticking with ANSI-rated safety glasses (Z87 or Z87+) for my own use, but these seemed interesting to post about.
For any cosplayers and propmakers, these goggles seem better constructed and actually functional compared to lookalike steampunk props you can find online.
Price: $19.95
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John
The deep-set sockets and side baffles would seem to restrict any peripheral vision.
Jronman
I have a more modern looking prescription option from UVEX and you’re not wrong. peripheral vision is reduced.
Rog
These have to be props, right? Who would actually use these otherwise??
MM
Steampunk cosplay prop was my first thought. They certainly don’t seem practical. They give very little peripheral vision, I’d think they would be bad about fogging up because there is little ventilation, the eyecups/straps aren’t very sanitary and soon get nasty with sweat, they’re not easy to clean, and they’re apparently not properly impact rated.
Stuart
Lee Valley says the carry a European DIN EN166 safety rating.
These look to be the same as or similar to the Schmerler Model 717 but with clear lenses.
https://www.schutzbrillen.com/en/products/welding-protection/modell-717-mn-1
Jared
I don’t think you buy these because they’re the BEST eye protection, but that doesn’t mean they’re junk either.
I don’t see anything wrong with having a little fun. Maybe you’re a youtuber, or an instructor. Maybe you get them for a kid who thinks they look cool and will actually be persuaded to wear googles when they might otherwise resist.
Nathan
Threaded for add ons
Jronman
I use prescription safety glasses from UVEX. They are more of a full seal like these but look like they are from this decade and not 10 decades ago. The foam seal wears out quickly. when I decided to replace them I will try to see what I can do to buy more foam seals when they wear out. Also I’ll probably get spare straps for replacement as the elastic wears out.
Jonathan OAF
Well they do look like fun.
notinuse
I use 3M safety goggles from Menards for $2.99 and they fit over my prescription glasses. Between this and the previous $150 flashlight, I just don’t know what is going on.
Stuart
The Streamlight release isn’t about a “$150 flashlight,” it’s about a company that has been slow to adapt finally launching a USB-C flashlight.
These are interesting.
If you’re looking for every post to feature something you feel
encouraged to buy, I can certainly do that too.
notinuse
Stuart, I don’t mean anything negative about your work. You are doing a fantastic job reporting on new products. I just don’t “get” a lot of these products coming out. $150 flashlights and $400 pocket knives just seem out of whack to me, apparently I’m out of touch.
Stuart
Some posts are about the news. The new Streamlight flashlight is news-worthy. Should you buy it? If you want, but I could recommend more affordable alternatives.
Streamlight just won a multi-year contract with the FBI. https://www.streamlight.com/community/press-release/press-releases/2025/02/04/streamlight-protac-hl-x-selected-by-fbi-as-tactical-flashlight
While consumers can buy some Streamlight flashlights, a big part of their business is in federal and law enforcement sales.
It wasn’t a flashlight I expected most readers to buy, but it’s of industry importance.
$400 folding knives. I have purchased $10 to $300+ models for the sake of ToolGuyd exploration. Based on my experiences, I would say that in most cases ~$150-$200 is the pricing ceiling above which form takes prevalence over function.
A $200 model might be 2X better than a $100 model, but a $400 model will not be 2X better than a $200 model.
At $400, you’re paying for either extreme reliability and durability beyond which the average consumer needs, very exotic materials, or a subjective component in how the product makes you feel.
The price level for “wow, that’s good” has come down in recent years, but the “wow that speaks to me” price has gone up.
As for the goggles, I’ve seen “steampunk” and other prop glasses for $13-15 or so, and they’re basically cheap plastic. These seemed interesting as they’re actually made as safety glasses. Sometimes it’s fun to post about a fun product.
With safety goggles, there is a vast difference between $3 and $12 glasses, and $5 vs $18 goggles.
The glasses discussed above are more of a novelty.
I bought and tested a lot of flashlights too. There are absolutely differences depending on the brand and price point, some of which are more important to enthusiasts than most average users. You don’t want to know how much ToolGuyd paid for the most expensive ones. But as with folding knives, I learned enough to be able to find the line between “this satisfies needs” and “this satisfies wants.”
I’m sorry about the tone; there are some readers that occasionally push back with thinking that every post should be about something they’d want to buy, and it seemed like that was where you were coming from.
CMF
I think every post should be an interesting read, that’s it.
Informative is great. Something new, something different, great. Whether I want to buy it, or anyone else, will vary.
Every post being something the reader wants to buy would kind of make you a salesman, which I do not believe is your intention.
Bonnie
They’re pocket jewelry. Same as expensive watches.
Goobus
Who is going to tell him about Surefire?
Saulac
The wife would love to have me wear these at the beaches.
KMR
These were available from Restoration Hardware at least 20 years ago. Amazingly enough RH still has the product listing up, just noted that they’re no longer available.
https://rh.com/us/en/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1214011
I’ve got a pair, still new-in-box, kicking around somewhere. Might have been a stocking stuffer gift from my wife.
Bonnie
If we’re talking retro-fashion safety glasses I’d be more interested in some wire-frames with side shields. I used to have a pair from my late grandfather.
https://i.etsystatic.com/37903876/r/il/f934ed/5653816630/il_794xN.5653816630_qfum.jpg
But I’m with everyone else that modern styled glasses are far better for both vision and protection. I actually stopped buying regular sunglasses and just use UV safety glasses from 3M.
William Adams
I found a similar pair, but with acrylic side shields, but I think it was from Micro-Mark, and looks to be discontinued.
It’s my current favourite/preferred pair. Wish I’d bought a spare pair.
Robert
I had wondered if they were useful. But more fogging is the last thing I need. I don’t think peripheral vision matters as a hobbyist, but I could be wrong.
Wayne R.
I think these, today, are more for costuming purposes than as a “tool”.
Goodie
Yep. These are great for Dr. Frankenstein (“It’s pronounced Frankenstein” or Doc Emmett Brown costume. Not putting them anywhere in my shop.
Brye
I’ve got some of these and prefer them to every other type of safety glasses. I’m at home/diy guy. These don’t really fog up, your eyeballs don’t really emit that much condensation, plus they have generous vents cut into the aluminum on the sides. They have a threaded cap so that you can swap in darker welding/shaded lenses (never gonna use them). I wear contacts so I REALLY hate when airborne dust/particles get in my eyes from working in the shop. These do a great job at keeping all of that stuff out of your eyes. The clear lenses are thicker than most regular safety lenses. Do I care if they are OSHA rated? Noooooope.
William Adams
I bought these a while back as part of my search for most comfortable PPE for running my CNC — they were okay, but I dropped them in favour of a pair of safety glasses from Micromark (since discontinued) and then got a pair of aviator-style glasses w/ side shields which I usually wear — when working outside I’ll wear a pair of HexArmor anti-fog safety glasses which sometimes get worn inside .
mark w
$20 seems like a pretty good price!
KokoTheTalkingApe
The one advantage of these guys is that the lens are theoretically interchangeable. Provided the lens are available, you can swap them if they break or crack. You can swap in ultra-dark lens, or lens designed to block particular wavelengths, etc.
Plus they’re great if you want to look like a mad scientist, or ride a Harley.
Other than that, I don’t see much point in them.
Incidentally, Garrett Wade also sells them with the same laminate clear lens, but also with gray UV-blocking lens (like sunglasses) and level 5 welder’s lens, for somewhat more money.
Mike
And I thought my BC’s from basic were bad….
eddiesky
And I thought Adam of Abom76 youtube’s Bug-Eyed welding goggles were silly…
JoeM
Bought a set of these for my Nephew when he was going through a Steampunk phase. I checked them before physically handing them to him, and I have to say they’re pretty good. You can tighten the elastic straps between the eye sockets if you’re really concerned. And, as observed elsewhere, they are genuinely meant for screw-in accessories. Most notably pre-cut Mylar Welding Lenses. They are actually German made, in the old fashion from the Victorian era. New materials and all that, but every bit the same design German Welders were using for over a century. Lee Valley already makes one set of Mylar lenses, dunno if they’ve expanded the selection since they first offered them. I’ve known about them at least 20 years! Though I will say they make better Welding Goggles than Safety Goggles.