A Game-Changing Safety Solution for Any Job Site: Uvex Ultravision Safety Glasses

Hello there, fellow reader!

I've been using welding safety glasses for a while now, and I've got to say that it's a must-have for any job site. When I was buying my welding gear and choosing a welding mask, my friend, an experienced welder who's worked on high-profile projects like the Baikal-Amur Mainline, would always say, 'Protect your eyes, or they'll be scattered all over the place.' Back then, a good welding mask cost between $7 and $14, which was a lot of money for us at the time. We'd often spend that much on groceries with meat in a single week. So, we'd look for a good mask instead of buying an expensive one.

I've seen plenty of people lose their vision over the years due to poorly chosen welding masks. Some shops would give their guys whatever was cheapest, without considering the quality or the risks. It's a common problem, and it's often down to people who don't actually work with welding equipment themselves. That's why I think it's better to choose a mask based on the recommendations of experienced professionals, rather than just going for the cheapest option. I've had my fair share of masks over the years, starting with the ESAB Prof mask, which was half the price of my Korean inverter back in the day. Later, I switched to the 3M Speedglas mask. Both ESAB and 3M make great welding masks, but 3M is definitely the leader in this field. They've got a huge range of high-quality SIZ solutions, and everything I've tried from them has been top-notch. In fact, 3M is often considered the gold standard for quality and reliability in the industry. However, it's worth noting that the brand premium can be quite steep – sometimes up to 30-50% more than similar products from other manufacturers. So, it's always a good idea to approach 3M products with a critical eye and a healthy dose of skepticism.

Your eyes are a delicate receptor that's hard to repair or replace, and it's easy to damage them with a single grain of sand or a stray particle. It's a risk that's always present when you're working on construction or in a production environment, where debris can fly into your face at any moment.

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I'll be honest, I've had debris fly into my eye before - a chunk of concrete or dust from a neighboring construction site after someone messed up the process and created a mini war zone. And then you walk by...

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It's a no-brainer that you need eye protection for sports and military events.

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You don't have to be a construction expert to know that things can go wrong quickly, and you might end up with a face full of debris. That's exactly what happened to me during a project.

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As I mentioned earlier, I used to buy 3M's Pro Series safety glasses, which have been a reliable choice for individual protection (PPE) for years. However, with the sudden price hike from 2020-2021, I started looking for alternatives. I revisited a brand I had tried before, and these Uvex safety glasses impressed me. Today, I think they offer an excellent value for money, quality, and protection.

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🔶️ Panoramic Protective Eyewear Uvex Ultravision Model 9301105 Closed-Type

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From the product description.

Eye design: closed Scratch protection: yes Fog protection: yes Ventilation type: indirect Optical class: 1

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Eye protection parameters and standards

I was really impressed with the uvex ultra-vision specs I got. The strap material is made of a soft, breathable textile that's comfortable to wear for extended periods. The lens coating is uvex supravision excellence, which provides excellent protection against glare, chemicals, and scratches. The lens tint is a clear, transparent finish that doesn't distort my vision. The specs meet all the necessary safety standards, including EN 166 for personal eye protection, EN 170 for UV filters, and TR TS 019/2011 for Russian regulations. The marking on the frame is W 1 2C-1,2 3 4 BTKN, and the specs offer UV 400 protection. The lens material is a durable polycarbonate (PC) that's resistant to impact and scratches. The frame comes in a sleek, grey and transparent finish that looks great. The main coatings use advanced technology to provide excellent optical clarity. The product is part of the Construction line, which features a system of products that meet the highest standards of quality and performance. The lens thickness is greater than 5 microns, which provides excellent optical clarity and durability.

One of the things that really stood out to me was the high mechanical strength of the specs, with a velocity of B (120 m/s).

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I was also impressed with the detailed specifications and descriptions of the protective functions that come with the specs. There are two inserts that provide a detailed explanation of the functions and a breakdown of the parameters on the frame, translated into several languages.

The specs come in a protective plastic case, which is a nice touch.

They're packaged in pairsIndividual units4-5 units in a single package

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One thing that really caught my eye is the Made in the Czech Republic sticker on the product.

The brand itself is German, but the manufacturing process is clearly a high-quality one.

I've worked with this factory before, they produce a lot of products for 3M.

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📌 Something that really stood out to me, personally.

✔️ Amazing ergonomics,

This is all about comfort - nothing presses against you, the view is unobstructed, and everything feels just right.

The nosepiece (seal) is soft and flexible, yet snug and protective. I've worn these for days on end while working on my feet, and I never felt any discomfort or pressure.

The rubber on the headband doesn't stretch out and retains its properties throughout its lifespan. I've got some that are 10 years old, some that are 6 years old, and some that are 4 years old - all of them are still going strong.

The weight of the glasses is incredibly light, just 130 grams.

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✔️ Excellent field of view

The field of view for these glasses is 180°, which doesn't restrict side vision at all. The lens is specially designed to be curved, and the frame has a casing with a gap in thickness, making the glasses straight horizontally, but curved inward from the face side. This makes them suitable for different face types and any age group.

The panoramic lens has a thickness of 2.2 mm, which helps protect the face from fast particles and dust. Despite the thickness and special coating, the lens surface has a light transmittance of 91% and an optical class of #1, meaning it shows everything without distortion.

And don't forget that the lenses have UV protection with a value of 400 nm.

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✔️ Using a mask with these glasses is a breeze

It's super convenient to wear these glasses with a mask, especially when combining them with external glasses for vision. You can put on your regular or transparent glasses first, and then wear these protective glasses on top.

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✔️ It's easy to use these glasses with a mask, respirator, shield, or ear protection

One thing that's really impressed me is the soft nose pad and ear cups. They're designed to be super comfortable, even during long periods of use.

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✔️ Anti-fog protection

I'm happy to report that these goggles have a minimum of 16 seconds of anti-fog protection inside the lens.

The designers have included a clever indirect ventilation system, which helps to prevent dust from entering the goggles. I've found this to be especially useful when working with power tools or sanding surfaces.

This ventilation system also helps to maintain an optimal temperature inside the goggles, which means I don't get condensation forming.

As a result, I don't need to keep taking them off every 30 seconds during use.

And the best part? There's no distortion or fogging up of the lenses.

Anti-fogging is a common problem with many goggles, but these ones seem to have it licked.

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As you can see, there's ventilation on the sides of the goggles too.

✔️ Scratch-resistant coating with anti-static properties

The lens coating is a proprietary development called uvex supravison excellence. It's designed to withstand chemicals, oil-based messes, and even cleaning products without compromising the goggles.

The anti-static properties also help to prevent particles from sticking to the lenses, which is a major plus.

I've compared these goggles to some of my more expensive ones from РОСОМЗ, and I have to say that these ones are a lot easier to clean and maintain.

The coating on these lenses is seriously resistant to damage. I've had them hit with flying particles and splatters of molten metal, not to mention oil, acid, and alkali - and it still looks like new.

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They're certified to EN 166 (eye protection) and EN 170 (UV filters).They also meet the Russian standard TR TS 019/2011.The frame is marked W 166 349 B CE, and the lens is marked 2C-12 W 1 B9 KN CE.xa0

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✔️ Easy lens cleaning

The lens coating makes it a breeze to wipe away dirt and grime. Just be sure to clean them with running water and a soft microfiber cloth to avoid damaging the optics.

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✔️ Extreme temperature resistance.

The temperature range is -50ºC to +60ºC, and the lenses still perform flawlessly.

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✔️ Replaceable lens

The lens is securely held in place, and the frame is designed to withstand impacts. If you do happen to damage the lens, it's easy to replace it - just pop the frame open and swap it out.

This was a major plus until 2022, when the price of replacement lenses dropped and they became widely available.

The part number for the lens is 9301.255.

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One thing I noticed about the design is the clever little notches on the sides - that's actually the mechanism that holds the lens in place.

✔️ I've been impressed by how well these glasses hold up over time.

Six years from the date of manufacture is the warranty period, according to the passport.

Passport details for the glasses

On the frame, you'll find a letter-number code that indicates the class of protection and the intended use.

W 166 34 - BT The first few digits and the letter W 166 tell me that these glasses have been certified to the EN 166 standard for personal eye protection. They've been put through the tests.

3 - working with liquids (drops and splashes) 4 - working with coarse particulate matter with particle sizes >5 microns

V - high mechanical impact resistance 120 m/s T - designed to work in temperatures between -5 ºC and +55ºC. That's according to the insert and the manual.

However, the manufacturer's website lists the operating temperature range as -50ºC to +60ºC.

📌 Where can I use these glasses, Uvex 9301 105?

demolition,deconstruction,painting/coating,constructionroadworkbridge construction,tunnel construction,viaduct construction,buildings of varying heightsmetalwork,cuttingpolishing/honingshaping and preparing technological holesgeneral construction workdrillinginstalling anchors/clips on concrete and morefull-scale woodworkchemical plant workcomposite material factory workwork with cables,electricitylow-voltage systemsin heavily dusty environmentsxa0

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OPERATION

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Operation-wise, it's a breeze.

The headgear, whether you're wearing goggles with a respirator or a mask,

over a jumpsuit or not,

is easily adjustable with synthetic rubber.

The rubber is soft, yet it doesn't stretch out after years of use.xa0

The lenses are transparent, as per the specs, with a light transmittance of around 91% and an optical class of #1, plus UV protection of 400 units.

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Here's an example of taking a photo for this review, at night when it's dark outside, using my phone through the goggles.

Hey, feel free to check them out if you need to!

I've gotta say, working with these is a breeze.

I've used them in subzero temperatures -15°C and in scorching heat above 45°C, and I've had zero issues with fogging up or condensation on my lenses.

According to the specs, the temperature range is a bit unclear, but in practice, I've found that they perform flawlessly even at -15°C. And the ventilation system really helps prevent condensation, especially when I'm using a respirator or mask for tasks like drywalling or tiling.

📌 One thing to keep in mind: if your lens gets clogged, you'll need to clean it with running water. I've used Uvex and 3M cleaning solutions, and they work like a charm. For the final touch, you can use a microfiber cloth specifically designed for cleaning eyewear lenses.

If you do happen to damage the lens, you can easily remove it from the frame using the clips. Then, you can swap it out for a new one or send it in for restoration and polishing.

As I mentioned earlier, the lens model I'm using is the 9301.255.

Now, I know what you're thinking - maybe it's just cheaper to buy a whole new pair of goggles. And you know what? You might be right.

🔶️ The Verdict

Objectively speaking, the value for money on this setup is pretty great.

There are plenty of other protective eyewear options out there, but these have become my go-to choice.

I've also been using the safety glasses from our manufacturer ROSOVMZ for electrical work. They're a great resource to check out.

I started using these glasses when they were around 550-600 rubles. Even though they've gone up to 860-900 rubles, the price is still reasonable for this level of glasses. Now they're selling for 1050 - 14000 rubles. If you're going to be doing a lot of cutting, drilling, or other heavy-duty work, I'd definitely recommend these. Or, if you're looking for newer models, Uvex is another great option.

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Take care of your eyes! If you don't, you'll be paying for medical bills, and even then, it's no guarantee it'll make a difference.

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These glasses can also be used as tactical interchangeable glasses.

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🔷️ PROS

an absolute must-have for construction work;an absolute must-have for manufacturing;high-quality frame material;high-quality lens with special coating;ergonomically designed;the front lens doesn't fog up during any type of work;compatible with corrective glasses;the headband's rubber doesn't stretch and retains its properties for years, while also being adjustable to fit any head size;can be used with any PPE - respirator, headphones, shield, helmet;protects your eyes and face from small and large particles, dust, and debris;high durability;high light transmission;UV 400 protection;comfortable fit and good protection from dust and debris entering the mask;easy maintenance;can replace the lens or disassemble it for restoration;can be used in extreme temperatures; xa0

⚠️ CONS

I've noticed the price has skyrocketed over the past three years;it's not always easy to find in stores;