Why ANSI Z87+ Eyewear Leaves Regular Safety Glasses in the Dust
Let’s get one thing straight — not all safety glasses are created equal. Sure, a pair stamped with ANSI Z87 might look tough, but when things get real — when metal shards fly, when grinders spark, when life comes at your face fast — those basic Z87 lenses can only do so much. If you actually value your eyes (and your reputation for not being reckless), there’s only one rating that truly deserves a spot on your face: ANSI Z87+.
STANDARD ANSI Z87 vs ANSI Z87+: The Brutal Truth
Here’s the deal. The “+” isn’t just some marketing gimmick. It’s the mark of eyewear that’s passed high-velocity impact tests — we’re talking a steel ball shot at the lens at over 150 feet per second. Standard Z87 glasses? They’re tested for low-mass, low-speed impacts. Basically, the Z87+ models are the ones that survive the kinds of hits that turn cheap eyewear into shattered regret.
Think of it like this:
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Z87 = seat belt.
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Z87+ = full airbag system with roll cage.
Both technically “protect” you. Only one keeps you walking away without stitches.
Real-World Protection, Not Just Lab Hype
On paper, both ratings meet OSHA standards. But out in the real world — the job site, the garage, the welding shop — Z87+ is the difference between a scare and a scar. Sparks, flying debris, ricocheting nails — these things don’t care what the minimum safety requirement is. You either wear eyewear that overperforms, or you take your chances with something that barely qualifies.
The Edge You Deserve
Let’s be real: Z87+ isn’t just safer — it feels better to wear because it means you’re not half-assing your protection. You’re the person who actually reads the fine print, who knows what “ballistic rated” means, who doesn’t trust their vision to a sticker and a prayer.
Z87+ eyewear is built to survive high-speed impacts, extreme conditions, and long shifts. The lenses are tougher, the frames are more durable, and they’re engineered for performance — not compliance.
Why Settle for “Standard”?
If you’re already wearing eye protection, good for you. But if it’s not Z87+, you’re leaving your eyes — and your livelihood — wide open to chance.
So the next time you’re shopping for safety eyewear, look past the cheap stuff. If it doesn’t have that ANSI Z87+ mark, it’s not built for the way you work.
Protect your eyes like your paycheck depends on it — because it does.
