Let me tell you, pickleball is a blast! I'm absolutely hooked. But early on, I learned a very important lesson: protecting your eyes is crucial. It's easy to get caught up in the game, but a stray ball to the face can ruin your day – or worse. Finding the right pickleball glasses became a priority, and I'm excited to share what I've learned along the way. Choosing the right eyewear can make all the difference in your game and your safety.
I'll admit, when I first started playing pickleball, I didn't think much about eye protection. I figured, "How hard can it be?" Well, I quickly found out! I actually got smacked in the face with a pickleball. Thankfully, it wasn't too serious, but it was definitely a wake-up call. The fear of getting hit again made me realize I needed proper eye protection. My first attempt was with the Gearbox Vision eyewear. I paid about $40 for them initially, but I've seen them on sale for around $17, so they're definitely worth considering as a budget option. While they did the job, I found myself wanting something a bit more comfortable and versatile.
One of the scariest moments was when the ball ricocheted off my paddle and went straight toward my eye. I was wearing eye protection, thankfully, and only ended up with a bruise. That incident cemented the importance of always wearing protective eyewear on the court. It's just not worth the risk.
After my close calls, I started researching different options for pickleball glasses. I wanted something that would offer excellent protection, be comfortable to wear for extended periods, and ideally, look good too. Here's what I've discovered:
I discovered that some players really like kitchen blockers. These are lensless, which is great because you don't have to worry about glare, whether you're playing indoors or outdoors. I even learned that Genie Bouchard uses them after getting hit in the eye. The lack of a lens is a unique approach to eye protection.
I tried a bunch of different glasses and ended up getting yellow-tinted glasses from RIA eyewear. My girlfriend uses the clear lens version and really likes them. The lens quality is superb, and the fit is really nice. We actually had to go to urgent care once before she started wearing glasses, so now we prioritize finding eyewear that we both like the look and feel of. It's important to find something you'll actually wear!
While researching eyewear, I also came across best cheap prescription glasses online. This is a great option if you need vision correction and want to have your prescription built right into your pickleball glasses. Cinily Net seems to have a wide selection of styles and options.
I even found these Vintage Tom For Man Optical Eyeglasses Frames Forde Acetate Women Reading Myopia Prescription Glasses 5179 With Case from Cinily Net. While I don't need prescription glasses for pickleball, I could see myself getting a pair of these for everyday wear. The acetate frame looks stylish and durable. They seem like a solid value, especially since they come with a case.
I also looked into the CRBN glasses. A big selling point for me was that they don't fog up, which is a huge plus when you're sweating on the court. They're also photochromatic, meaning they adjust to different lighting conditions, so you don't have to switch between two sets of glasses when moving from indoors to outdoors. I've even been hit in the face a couple of times while wearing them, and my eyes were perfectly fine. They're definitely on the pricier side, but the quality and convenience are excellent. I'm not a fan of carrying 2 sets of glasses, so the photochromatic feature is very appealing.
Another option I considered was the Tifosi Crit Fototec (transition) glasses for daytime use and the Tifosi Intense clear glasses for indoors and nighttime play. The transition lenses adapt to changing light conditions, which is super convenient. While this requires two pairs of glasses, the price point is reasonable, especially for the clear lenses.
Here are some key factors to consider when choosing pickleball eyewear: