Safety glasses are continuously being improved by manufacturers, thus you’ll find newer and upgraded models on the market every year.
However, not all safety glasses are created equal. In fact, only a fraction of them will really protect your eyes from dust. So you have to choose wisely.
If you’re planning to do an activity that comes with a lot of small solid airborne particles (aka dust), you do need to wear dust-proof safety glasses to avoid eye irritation (especially if you’re prone to allergies).
So whether you’re doing some woodworking, sweeping, cleaning, drilling, working on a construction, or your own DIY project, wearing a dust-proof safety goggle will definitely help you maintain eye health both in the short and long term.
In this article, we have collected all the best safety glasses for dust that provide complete eye protection, so that you can easily choose the one that you like most. All models on our list are designed for dusty environments, so you can’t really go wrong with any of them.
Best Safety Glasses For Dust: One-by-One
1. 3M Virtua Anti-Fog Dust Protective Safety Glasses: Best Affordable Choice
This protective eyewear is number one on my list for a good reason: I’ve tested and tried many safety glasses over the years, and I truly believe that if you need a dust-proof goggle on the cheap, this 3M model is your best choice.
Here’s why it’s my personal favorite:
Besides being really affordable (click here to check the current price), it comes with a very effective dust seal. Also, it’s pretty durable, so you don’t have to replace it monthly, even if you wear it for several hours each and every day. This isn’t true for many other safety glasses that are available on the market.
Furthermore, it’s lightweight and comes with UVA and UVB protection. This feature is especially important if you work outside and want to protect your eyes from harmful radiation. I regularly use it when I’m exposed to sawdust and drywall dust and it does a decent job.
The 3M dust protective goggles are comfortable to wear and stay on well.
I really like that the gasket is removable because this way I can use the same safety glasses even when I don’t work in a dusty area.
The goggles also allow you to attach corded earplugs in case you work in a noisy environment. However, the earplugs do not come with the product but are sold separately.
Overall, the 3M Virtua safety glasses are a great choice for most people: they provide decent dust protection for a relatively low price. Not to mention that they’re made by a trusted and reliable manufacturer, so you can rest assured that you won’t get a poor quality product.
Main features:
- Anti-fog lens coating
- Comfortable cushioning
- Removable gasket
- UVA and UVB protection
- Durable, lightweight, and dust-proof design
- Optional corded earplugs
Click here to check current pricing on Amazon.
Make sure you also check out our ultimate list of home safety measures: click here to get some useful ideas and a helpful checklist!
2. DeWalt Concealer Anti-Fog, Dust-Proof Safety Glasses
DeWalt is another trusted brand that sells pretty good-quality products. The Concealer safety glasses come with anti-fog and anti-scratch lenses that, in my experience, are tough and durable.
The built-in ventilation channels are useful and significantly increase breathability, however, sometimes you’ll still experience some condensation, especially in extreme weather conditions.
Let’s move on to dust protection.
Overall, the injected rubber gasket does a fairly good job and keeps the vast majority of solid particles out.
However, since the plastic part of the goggle is not flexible, you might experience some difficulties when trying to adjust it to your head, especially if your face is wider than average. In that case, the dust seal may not be working perfectly and smaller particles may penetrate.
The adjustable elastic head strap will keep the goggles firmly on your head regardless of the position in which you’re doing your job.
Like the previous 3M model, this one also protects your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB radiation and it meets the same ANSI Z87.1 standards. While it’s somewhat more expensive, you get bigger and more robust safety glasses for your money that not only cover your eyes but also the surrounding areas.
To tell the truth, I usually wear the previous 3M goggle instead of this one, and here’s why:
The DeWalt Concealer is quite rigid and does not fit on my face perfectly. Therefore the dust seal is not as effective as it should be. At least, in my case. That being said, I know many people (some of them work on constructions) who love this model and use it each and every day.
Main features:
- Durable anti-scratch hard coated lens
- Anti-fog ventilation channels
- Dust protection: dual-injected rubber gasket
- Elastic head strap
- UVA and UVB protection
Here you can find current pricing and reviews on Amazon.
3. Uvex Stealth Safety Glasses
I usually use these goggles when I need some extra protection. It covers a large area around the eyes and that feature comes in handy when dealing with splashes or larger particles that could cause serious injuries when bouncing back (for instance, during splitting wood or cutting tile).
Uvex has been making safety glasses since the beginning of the last century. It’s a well-established company that has taken the time and effort to create decent and reliable protective eyewear products, including safety glasses for dust.
This Uvex model is one of the best in its category for working in dusty environments. The goggle basically consists of soft and hard components that provide a gap-free fit and great adaptive capabilities to your face. It’s very comfortable to wear (it’s great for all-day use) and the seal works as it should be: it keeps dust and dirt outside. I’ve found that it’s pretty effective against fine dust too.
It comes with an anti-fog coating and improved ventilation system that ensures clear vision and eliminates condensation in most circumstances. The field of vision is pretty wide and in most cases, this safety goggle is also a great choice for those who wear glasses (however, larger prescription glasses won’t fit).
The Uvex Stealth safety glasses meet the ANSI Z87.1 requirements and are manufactured in the USA.
Main features:
- Clear anti-fog lens with a great field of vision
- Dust-proof and gap-free seal
- Easy-to-adjust neoprene head strap
- Comfortable to wear
- Works great with smaller prescription glasses
Click here to check the current price.
4. Pyramex I-Force Safety Goggle
If you’re looking for something sporty and youthful, you may want to consider this Pyramex model (if you have a slimmer face, check out the slim version). It comes with a black frame but you can choose from many types of lenses: they’re all lightweight and look awesome.
But how does it perform in a dusty environment?
The good news is that it not only looks great but also has a highly effective seal that protects your eyes from dust, dirt, and other flying particles. Besides providing a fairly high degree of dust protection, the foam padding makes it comfortable to wear.
The lenses are highly durable, that is to say, they meet the MIL-PRF 32432 requirements that are the US military standards for safety goggles. MIL-PRF 32432 standards are much more rigorous than ANSI Z87.1 requirements and goggles that pass them are much more resistant.
So if not only dust but high impacts are also expected during your work, make sure you go for a goggle that is MIL-PRF-32432 rated to avoid serious eye injuries.
The Pyramex I-Force safety goggle comes with scratch-resistant anti-fog lenses that work pretty well most of the time. They also provide UVA, UVB, and UVC protection. The easily adjustable ratcheting head strap keeps the goggles firmly in place.
Main features:
- Sporty and lightweight design
- Scratch-resistant anti-fog lenses
- Effective dust seal
- Comfortable to wear
- Pass the MIL-PRF-32432 standards
Here you check current pricing on Amazon.
5. Uvex by Honeywell 9301 Futura Dust-Proof Safety Glasses
As I’ve already mentioned, Uvex safety glasses are well-designed, durable, and reliable products made by an established company that guarantees quality.
This model not only protects your eyes but also the surrounding area due to its wraparound design. This also ensures a wider field of vision that besides contributing to precise work, also improves safety.
Although it does not feature a dedicated dust seal, it does a pretty decent job when it comes to dust protection. It protects against chemical splashes and mist too. Also, you can use it for welding too, as it protects against infrared radiation (not all models!).
It features a special indirect venting system and anti-fog coating that help prevent condensation.
This Uvex model is not small at all, so if you’re wearing prescription glasses, chances are good that they will fit under this goggle (of course much depends on the size and design of your glasses).
The goggle passes the ANSI Z87.1 standards and it’s manufactured in the USA.
Main features:
- Protects against dust, mist, and other solid particles
- Effective anti-fog coating and venting system
- Wraparound design: protects eyes and surrounding areas too
- Easy lens replacement
Click here to find current pricing on Amazon.
6. Bolle Tracker Safety Glasses
I must admit that I haven’t tested this dust-proof goggle yet but wanted to include it on the list because I know many people who love the brand and are satisfied with the safety glasses it makes.
The Bolle Tracker safety glasses look similar to the above-mentioned Pyramex model with one important difference: it does not meet the military MIL-PRF 32432 standards (though it passes the ANSI Z87.1 requirements).
So if highly durable lenses are important, you’re better off with the Pyramex I-Force goggles.
Apart from this difference, the two safety goggles are quite similar. They both come with an effective dust seal, anti-fog and scratch-resistant lenses, and a decent UV filter.
The Bolle Tracker safety glasses are lightweight and comfortable to wear. They wrap your eyes without leaving gaps, therefore they not only protect against dust and other flying solid particles but they also offer protection against liquid splashes.
Main features:
- Sporty design
- Great dust protection
- Anti-fog, anti-scratch lenses
- Durable frame
- Removable foam padding
