Brand · American protective eyewear est. 1987

Wiley X

Built for the field, certified for impact — protective eyewear from the military and law enforcement world out.

Wiley X
Re-checked daily
Wiley X is an American company designing and manufacturing protective eyewear for military, law enforcement, and civilian use, founded in 1987 by U.S. Army veteran Myles R. Freeman Sr.

The company began life as Protective Optics, Inc. in Daly City, California, making shooting glasses for FBI agents out of a single office, before broadening into civilian sunglasses for motorsport, cycling, fishing and hunting in 1990 and renaming itself Wiley X in 2007. Its eyewear meets the ANSI Z87.1+ standard for high-velocity and high-mass impact — and the 82nd Airborne Division was the first to buy Wiley X in bulk, ordering thousands of goggles after deploying to Afghanistan in 2002. The company is now headquartered in Frisco, Texas.

United States · 1987 Founded by Myles R. Freeman Sr. ANSI Z87.1+ impact-rated Military & law enforcement HQ Frisco, Texas

The Wiley X pieces worth knowing

WX Founder
Founder tribute
WX Founder
A bold protective sunglass that turns the brand’s founder story into a current Wiley X signature.
$150 at WILEY X
 WX JAKL
Interchangeable tactical
WX JAKL
A terrain-ready shield of interchangeable-lens protection with a modern tactical stance.
$150 at WILEY X
 Saber Advanced
Trusted shield
Saber Advanced
A long-running protective shield refined into one of Wiley X’s most practical changeable-lens systems.
$58 at WILEY X
 WX Boss
High-wrap gasket
WX Boss
A confident wrap frame that pairs bold temples with Wiley X’s irritant-blocking protection language.
$134 at WILEY X
 WX Gravity
Performance wrap
WX Gravity
A central Wiley X wrap shape with shatterproof-lens protection and refined rubberized details.
$134 at WILEY X
 WX Peak
High-wrap summit
WX Peak
A sport-forward high-wrap sunglass built around peripheral-light control.
$122 at WILEY X
 WX Axe
Ultra-light modern
WX Axe
A modern Wiley X frame that foregrounds lightness, impact resistance, and a sharper performance profile.
$224 at WILEY X
 WX Apex
Premium sport
WX Apex
A top-end Wiley X sport sunglass with a sleek modern frame and premium polarized positioning.
$255 at WILEY X
 WX Valor
Ballistic semi-rimless
WX Valor
A semi-rimless tactical staple built around MIL-PRF ballistic protection claims.
$95 at WILEY X
 P-17
Active Lifestyle staple
P-17
A compact rectangular Wiley X staple that official copy calls one of the Active Lifestyle top sellers.
$110 at WILEY X
 WX Ovation
Side-shield style
WX Ovation
A side-shield Wiley X model that blends safety rating, removable utility, and a fashion-adjacent profile.
$125 at WILEY X
 WX Spear
Ballistic goggle
WX Spear
A full protective goggle that expresses the brand’s military and tactical eyewear roots.
$122 at WILEY X

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Wiley X shopping FAQ

Are Wiley X sunglasses worth it?+

If you want eyewear that protects against impact as well as sun, Wiley X is a strong case. The brand's whole reason for being is protective eyewear, and reviewers who try it often become advocates, finding the clarity competitive with premium lifestyle brands plus real safety credentials. For everyday fashion-only frames there are cheaper options, but for protection-plus-style Wiley X earns its keep.

What makes Wiley X different from regular sunglasses?+

Wiley X is built around protection first. The company designs and manufactures protective eyewear for military, law enforcement and civilian use, so impact resistance is engineered in rather than added on. That safety focus, not just sun shading, is the core of the brand.

Is Wiley X eyewear actually safety-rated?+

Yes. Wiley X eyewear meets the ANSI Z87.1+ standard for clarity and for both high-velocity and high-mass impacts. That certification is precisely what sets it apart from ordinary fashion sunglasses, and it's why the brand is trusted on jobsites and in the field, not just on the street.

Who founded Wiley X and when?+

Wiley X was founded in 1987 by U.S. Army veteran Myles R. Freeman Sr., who started out in Daly City, California making shooting glasses for several FBI agents from a single office. That military and law-enforcement DNA has shaped the brand ever since. It grew from that one office into a specialist eyewear manufacturer.

Why was the company once called Protective Optics?+

When Myles Freeman founded the business in 1987 it operated under the name Protective Optics, Inc., a literal description of its mission. The company changed its name to Wiley X, Inc. in November 2007. So if you come across the older name, it's the same company's earlier chapter.

Does the military really use Wiley X?+

It does. According to the 2006 book Battle Rattle, the 82nd Airborne Division was the first unit to buy Wiley X in bulk, ordering thousands of the SG-1 goggles, originally developed for the Ranger regiment, shortly after deploying to Afghanistan in spring 2002. That battlefield adoption is central to the brand's reputation.

Where is Wiley X based now?+

Wiley X has moved a few times as it has grown. From its California beginnings, the company relocated its headquarters to Livermore, California in 2010, and then moved again to Frisco, Texas in 2022. Its current home base is Texas.

Has Wiley X appeared in movies and TV?+

Yes, the brand has shown up in plenty of screen productions, including American Sniper, Army of the Dead, Bright, S.W.A.T., The Office and Big Little Lies. That on-screen presence fits a brand rooted in tactical and protective eyewear. It's part of how Wiley X has built recognition beyond its core users.