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3M's Newly-Designed SecureFit Safety Glasses Promise a Better Fit for All

By Rain Noe - March 6, 2013

in Hand Tools

Is there anything you use all the time, even though you know the design of it sucks? For me that thing is safety goggles. I have a hard time finding a pair that fits properly, particularly when worn with a respirator and/or ear protection. Some companies make them in different sizes to ameliorate the fit, but my local hardware shops stick with the one-size-fits-all variety, presumably to keep stock down.

3M is attempting to tackle both poor ergonomics and the retail inventory issue by designing the SecureFit, a purportedly better-fitting pair of one-size-fits-all safety glasses.

After studying models of the human face and sussing out contact points, they've calculated a (hopefully) universally-fitting wraparound curve for the lenses; coupled with the flexible temple you'll see in the vid below, they're claiming this will provide a better fit for many.

I'm eager to try them out if I can find a local stockist. The only thing that gives me pause is the permanently-pinned ear stems; since the glasses won't fold up, that means they'll be stuffed into a toolbox or drawer with a bunch of other tools in and around them, increasing the potential for my other eyewear pet peeve—scratched lenses.

I always assumed protective eyewear with design flaws was just the name of the game. Have any of you had good experiences with a particular pair, especially those of you with smaller heads? And has anyone had a good experience with prescription protective eyewear?

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Sam

11 years ago

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I have a pretty small face and bought a pair of Forceflex 3000 from amazon 2 years ago, they fit perfectly and work fine
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Angie

11 years ago

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I wear a small/medium fitted hat so I guess my head is small, and the best protective eyewear I've ever had are a pair of Oakley Flaqjackets. The temples are flat so they don't interfere with chin straps and the like. They are a bit pricey, but the poly carbonate lenses survived Iraq, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

I'm not affiliated with Oakley in any way, but I am a happy customer.
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C

11 years ago

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The issue for me has always been either wearing safety glasses while wearing hearing protection.. It pinches your ears against the arms of the glasses.

Also wearing with a respirator or dust mask. You usually have to push the nose of the glasses underneath the face mask and this in turn pushes the glasses against your face.
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