The ESS Crossbow Eye Pro with Smoked Gray lenses
Eye Safety Systems, Inc. (ESS) was developed in 1998 with the intent of providing high quality eye protection for military, and law enforcement users. ESS has greatly expanded since then, and is currently the only approved eye pro provider for the U.S. Marine Corps, and also provides products for other U.S. DoD contracts and governments in over 100 countries. Something I just learned is that ESS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of wildly popular Oakley, Inc.
The ESS Crossbow ballistic eye protection are some of the highest quality and best value eye pro available on the market today. In addition to meeting strict military and civilian ballistic protection standards, the ESS Crossbow are available at a price that is incredibly affordable for any officer or shooter that is serious about eye protection.
The ESS Crossbow brand is a part of the larger ESS Cross-Series™. The Cross-Series is what ESS is claiming to be a “revolutionary new systems approach” to ballistic eye protection. Instead of simply designing multiple different lines of products, ESS has incorporated a basic platform to accept entry-level to premium eye pro lenses. All of these products are fully cross-compatible meaning the officer or shooter can switch out lens types or accessories at will and preference.
The (3) platforms available in the ESS Cross-Series™
Entry Level – Crosshair™ with core performance
Elite Level – Crossbow® with premium anti-fog / anti-scratch lenses (the focus of this article)
Premium Level – Suppressor™ for use with hearing protection.
Tri-Tech Fit
Each of the above selections comes with the ESS Tri-Tech Fit™ frame. These frames are designed to provide a universal fit that remains comfortable by having zero pressure points. ESS Cross-Series eye pro seek to provide optimal stability by balancing the weight of the eye pro evenly throughout the frame.
The nose piece and temple arms have a no-slip rubberized material to aid in the Crossbow securing to the shooter’s head. In addition, the tips of the temple arms have slots for the addition of retention straps should the shooter desire. The temple arms are folding, making stowing the Crossbows easy.
ClearZone FlowCoat lens coatings
By choosing the ESS Crossbow®, the officer will enjoy the ClearZone™ FlowCoat anti-fog lenses that are a crucial benefit when officers are performing duties in hot climates, or scenarios where temperatures can change quickly, like stepping into a warm house from the cold exterior. In addition to the anti-fog coating on the inside of the lenses, there is a scratch resistant coating on the exterior of the lenses to ensure a clear image over time and use.
Lens Clarity
ESS developed their ESSOPTICS™ technology to produce an exceptionally clear view that is distortion-free throughout the length of the lenses. This is particularly important to police officers who must accurately size up situations, and clearly identify any threats. That precise clarity not only enhances natural vision, but can actually help the officer see better in certain situations.
The ESS Crossbow Clear lens, available as an additional option.
Prismatic power is a test to determine the amount of light bend a particular lens causes. ESS lenses are above the standards required for ANSI and Mil-Spec. During the test a laser is fired through the lens from 3o feet away. A target is on the other side of the lens and the point where the laser strikes the target is measured from the center crosshair. The ESS lenses must be almost touching the crosshairs to pass ESS standards, meaning the lens quality is very high and does not bend the light. ANSI standards allow a far greater amount of light bend to pass.
The ESS Crossbow Hi-Def Yellow lenses, are also available as an extra option.
Another test of lens quality is Refractive Power. This is a test of the level of distortion or blurriness a lens allows. ANSI standards allow for a moderate amount of refraction in safety glasses, to a point that numbers on the NBS pattern are unreadable. ESS again holds a higher standard, only passing lenses that allow a minimum refraction, where the numbers are still legible. This is another reason ESS eye pro are so clear in various lighting conditions.
Lens Design and Exchanges
The ESS Crossbow lenses are frame-free on the sides and lower half. In the author’s opinion, this is a superior design for police work as it eliminates blind spots in the peripheral vision, and provides an overall more clear image of the surroundings.
Switching lenses is easy, despite the ESS Cross-Series innovative DedBolt™ Lens Lock that keeps the lenses secured during use. At the bridge of the nose the DedBolt snaps into place over the lenses, securing them to the frames. By pivoting the DedBolt up for easy release, the officer can pull the lenses downward and from side to remove.
ESS Crossbow Features
ESS Optics – Distortion free vision
Tri-Tech Fit – Universal fit without pressure points
ClearZone FlowCoat – Fog elimination and scratch resistance
Ballistic Protection – ANSI Z87.1-2000; U.S. MIL-PRF-32432; OSHA; CE EN 166
Frame Colors – Black, Terrain Tan
Lens Colors – Clear, Smoke Gray, Polarized, Photochromic, Hi-Def Yellow, Hi-Def Copper, Hi-Def Bronze, Polarized Gray & Laser Protective
Rx Insert available
DedBolt Lens Lock – Rapid lens changes and retention
Warranty – 60-Day Try-on For Fit; 5-years manufacturer defect.
ESS Crossbow with Terrain Tan frames – only available in Kits.
Available ESS Crossbow Configurations
Crossbow ONE Clear ‘OR’ Crossbow ONE Smoke Gray
(1) pair of Crossbow eye pro – Smoke Gray ‘OR‘ Clear lens
MSRP – $40.00 (Incredibly affordable for what you get)
Additional or Replacement Lenses – $28.00.
Crossbow 2x Kit – (2) Complete sets of Crossbow eye pro
(1) Standard, Black Tri-Tech Fit™ Crossbow® frame with a Clear lens
(1) Standard, Black Tri-Tech Fit™ Crossbow® frame with a Smoke Gray lens
(1) Rugged zippered hard case
(1) Microfiber pouch
(1) Snap-on elastic retention strap
(1) ESS sticker
(1) Crossbow instruction booklet, Retail packaging
MSRP – $105.00.
Crossbow 3x Kit
(1) Standard, black Tri-Tech Fit™ Crossbow™ frame with a Clear lens
(1) Smoke Gray lens
(1) Hi-Def Yellow lens
(1) Rugged zippered hard case
(2) Micro-fiber pouches
(1) Snap-on elastic retention strap
(1) ESS sticker
(1) Crossbow instruction booklet, Retail packaging
MSRP – $110.00.
Personal Experiences with ESS Crossbow
I have owned a pair of ESS Crossbow eye pro for several years now. I have used them extensively on patrol, during search warrant or barricade situations with our SWAT Team, and for firearms training on the range. The pair I have are only the Clear lenses, but I have still found them to provide the clarity of vision ESS brags about. In fact, there are times I forget that I’m wearing them. More than once I have had debris fly back during live fire and I have never had anything get to my eyes – or damage the lenses for that matter.
At the heaviest work times, when I’m wearing my SWAT heavy vest and helmet, I have found that the top quarter to half-inch or so will occasionally fog up. This is usually in conjunction to the steep rise in my body temperature, and a change of temperature conditions (cold to hot, e.g.). Despite this minor annoyance, the lenses have never fully fogged up, and I was able to continue functioning as needed.
The ESS Crossbows are very comfortable to wear, and I can’t remember a time that my temples hurt from too much pressure from the arms. Despite the comfortable fit, the ESS Crossbows have remained secure on my head during all of the situations I described above.
Though I have tried my best to keep them safe, I have occasionally dropped my Crossbows, thrown gear on them, stashed them in pouches or pockets and generally abused them like work glasses. So far I have only suffered a few minor scratches that do not hinder my view.
I would recommend the ESS Crossbows to other law enforcement officers without question. They provide outstanding ballistic protection, exceptional clarity, and the price for one pair is incredible.