Gatorz ANSI Z87+ Magnum: Breakthrough in Eye Protection

I was first introduced to Gatorz Eyewear by one of my Platoon Sergeants when I saw him wearing them while doing jumpmaster checks on the airfield. He eventually packed them for our deployment, which surprised me since we were all issued a competitor that everyone already loved. However, after getting his feedback, and trying the Gatorz ANSI Z87+ MAGNUM myself, I understood his newfound love for them.

The ANSI Z87+ Magnum is Gatorz’ #1 selling model and is a lightweight, durable, scratch-resistant set of eye protection that looks as good as they feel. They have a stylish wrap around the frame, which helps us keep in line with Operator rule #1: Always look cool. That’s far from their only plus though; Here are the specs straight from their webpage that make them a top contender in my book:

• Hand made in the USA
• 7075 Military Grade Aluminum
• Adjustable Custom Fit
• Stainless dual-sided 5 Barrel Hinges with a Classic 4-rivet System
• Lifetime Warranty
• Impact Resistant Polycarbonate Lenses
• Hydrophobic Coating (Water repellant)
• Oleophobic (Dirt/Grease repellant)
• 100% UV Protection
• Anti-scratch Coating
• Anti-fog Coating
• MSRP: $255 $160

The Frames

The first thing you notice when sliding on the Magnums is that they feel sturdy and strong, but extremely light. The almost weightless aluminum frame helps you forget you have anything on your face at all. If you find yourself under a helmet for long periods of time, the fit and weight of the Magnum is a major draw. My Platoon Sergeant and I found that these glasses fit seamlessly under our Ops-Core helmets without adding pressure on our ears and temples like other eye protection options usually do. These frames have a professional and stylish look that I’d take to the range at work, but also keep in my car for when I’m cruising around town on the weekend.

ANSI Z87+ Magnum Lens

A constant annoyance I faced on deployments was getting replacement lenses for my boys’ scratched up eye-pro. Which makes the scratch-resistant lenses on the Magnums a major contender for me. If you drop them or throw them in a dusty dump pouch like a new Private, the Magnum lenses will stand up better than most. The trade-off of these lenses not being replaceable on the frames is that they are sturdier and stronger than the competition (and come with a sweet lifetime warranty).

I’m completely sold on the Magnum’s but if you’re still on the fence, listen to what my Platoon Sergeant said about them:

“I just stuck my face into the wind going 130 knots checking for the drop zone with these things (Gatorz Magnums) on my face and they didn’t budge. I’ve never even tried that with anything else.”