Tool Box Buzz

Pyramex Safety Glasses Review

Pyramex SB7070SDT

Manufacturer: Pyramex
Model number: SB7070SDT
Price: 20.00

We recently had the opportunity to test out a bunch of safety glasses. Out of several styles we looked at we had a favorite pair, the Pyramex I-Force Safety Glasses SB7010SDT with anti-fog coating. We are devoting this article to that pair!

Pyramex safety glasses are popular on our job-sites mostly due to their affordable cost, durability, lightweight and features.  One thing that is apparent when going through the Pyramex eye wear we had was that they obviously solicit and respond to end-user feedback.

The eye wear we looked at were all designed to address job site issues and real life hazards. Examples of some of the job site solutions they’ve addressed are:

• Scratch-resistant hard coat
• Anti-fog lens coating
• Bifocal safety glasses
• Prescription safety glasses
• Polarized safety glasses
• Shooting safety glasses

Pyramex I-Force Convertible Safety Goggle/Glasses SB7010SDT

According to the CDC, each day about 2000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days of lost work.  The majority of these injuries result from small particles or objects striking or abrading the eye. Examples include metal slivers, wood chips, dust, and cement chips that are ejected by tools, wind blown, or fall from above.

The I –Force safety glasses were designed to prevent these injuries.  They feature a 100 percent, vented foam coverage around the eyes and dual lens separated by an air space. This dual lens system reminds me a bit like double insulated glass windows but is quite different. They look and feel like a safety glasses, but give goggle protection. Coming from a guy whose hated safety eye wear this was a nice surprise.

First Impression:

We found these glasses lightweight and loaded with innovative features. We liked the following:

• Not bulky, Low profile
• Provides full-eye protection,
• Comes with quick release temples and / or strap allows me to store on my head.
• Dual pane lens

One innovative feature on the Pyramex I-Force Safety Glasses SB7010SDT glasses is the vented foam all around the lenses. The vented foam works to prevent dust from getting to the wearers eyes and at the same time allows air to flow to the inside of the lens to vent inner heat and minimize, prevent fogging. Adjustable, attached straps keep the foam in contact with the wearers face.

Did I mention that these glasses have a double lens or dual-panes? The outer lens is made of an impact resistant polycarbonate and the inner lens is a acetate lens to prevent fogging.

The reasoning behind having the two lenses was to create an air space, which creates a thermal break between the wearer and the external air. The benefits of this air space, is an equalizing between the facial heat and outside air.

A feature offered on the I-Force safety glasses is a coating called H2X Anti-fog coating technology. The coating is applied to the outer lens and helps make these safety glasses anti-scratch, anti-static, anti-uv radiation [99% UV protection] and of course anti-fog. Pyramex claims that this coating makes their lenses unaffected by stream 15 times longer than other treatments.

NOTE:  I tested these glasses by wearing them in front of a boiling tea pot and they accumulated moisture but did not fog over.

Safety Glass Fogging – A Nagging Issue:

My biggest gripe with safety glasses is when the lens fog up.  Fogging often occurs when there is a significant change in the temperature and/or moisture around the eye lens.

The bigger the difference in temperature and moisture between the inside and outside, the faster and more severely the fogging can occur. This occurs when heat from the wearers face warms the air and condenses on the lens in colder environments.  Fogging often happens when I’m working hard, exerting myself, and always when I need eye protection the most!

The working theory behind these double lenses is if the air inside the lens is allowed to blend with the air outside the lens, both sides of the lens will more easily achieve equilibrium, and fogging will be reduced, if not completely prevented.

For me once my safety glasses fog up I remove them out of frustration and often perform the work unprotected, squinting.

Using the Pyramex I-Force Safety Glasses SB7010SDT

The I-Force glasses are comfortable to wear and I found myself leaving them on even after not needing them. That never happened with safety glasses before.

The I-Force comes with two methods of wearing the glasses. One, a quick release pair of inter-changeable temples connected with a small elastic, strap and the other is a wide, quick release, elastic strap that wraps around your whole head. Both methods allow the user to easily adjust the tension on the straps for proper fit and foam to face seal.

The only thing I would be concerned with with these glasses is if they can withstand repeated changing of the temples and strap over long periods of time.  My guess is that this connection point will weaken with repeated changing.

I changed the two out several times but was not trying to break it.  I only point this out because I feel it is a weak point.  The reality is once you decide on a favorite method to wear the glasses , either temple or strap, you’ll leave it that way until you wither lose or break the glasses.

Note – Pyramex offers a lifetime guarantee on frames and lenses from breakage under normal usage.

We found both methods to work well and secure the eye wear during use. I preferred the full strap, mostly for comfort. The full strap comfortably and easily allowed me to store the glasses around my neck, like a necklace, or on top of my head when not in use, with no fear of them falling off.

This was a welcomed bonus to me as opposed to my old method of stowing safety glasses. With other brand glasses, when not in use, I would place them on my head or hang them from my shirt collar, which always meant that they were guaranteed to drop once I bent over. After dropping them once or twice I would get frustrated and stuff them in my tool bags, which was the best way to ensure that they would get scratched!

The most impressive feature of these glasses was the anti-fog feature. It really worked, the glasses did not fog, even when walking outdoor from a warm heated environment to 25-degree temperatures.

I often place my safety gasses on my forehead when not in use and get frustrated when I pull them down t use them only to find them covered with condensation. The I-Force glasses did not fog when stored on my forehead. They were so comfortable that I was getting frustrated searching for the I-force glasses when a co-worker had to tell me they were on top of my head.

The quick release clip worked well and as advertised although I preferred to lift the glasses with strap attached off my head.

I-Force SB7010SDT Features:

• Lightweight design
• Dual pane lens provides anti-fog protection by isolating the temperature difference inside & outside of this eye wear.
• Quick Release interchangeable temples and an elastic strap.
• Indirect vented foam carriage provides maximum dust protection, as well as a sufficient airflow outlet for heat.
• The thermal lens system provides anti-fog
• $20.00 price range

Safety Standards Compliance:

The I-force SB7010SDT safety glasses meet ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 [American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices] as well as other countries safety regulations.

ANSI establishes performance criteria and testing requirements for devices used to protect the eyes and face from injuries from hazard such as:

• Impact
• Optical radiation
• Droplet and splash
• Dust
• Fine dust particles

Safety Standards Met:

• Meets ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 USA
• Meets MCEPS Class 1 Military Standards
• Meets CAN/CSA Z94.3-07 Canada Standards
• CE EN166 Certified Europe

Overall Impression:

We dropped, twisted and even stepped on these glasses with no ill effect. They are not scratch proof but do resist scratches well. I even shot brad and finish nails [100 psi] at the lenses from 20 inches away and were not able to break them.

Personal protective eye wear, should be chosen for specific work situations depending upon the nature and extent of the hazard, specific application,the circumstances of exposure.   When taken care of these safety eyeglasses will last awhile and provide you with far superior protection than standard safety eye wear.

Pyramex makes many, many different styles and models of safety eye wear. My guess is that they have safety eye wear for just about every trade and application you can think of.

1 Comment

1. Kimber Janney

   January 7, 2014 at 12:11 am

   These look great. You mention bifocal early in the article, but I couldn’t find these with that option. Does Pyramex offer that in this model?

   Reply

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