August 2023 - 42

Matco Tools
ForceFlex Safety Glasses
Reviewed by Jaime Lazarus, retired technician
from Ocala, Florida.
W
ith all the safety glasses on
the market today, it may seem
difficult to choose one you
can say is " just right " for you. When
comparing, I look for comfort, low
visibility distortion, and of course, how
safe the glasses actually are. With the
Matco Tools ForceFlex Safety Glasses,
I found all of those requirements are
met, and are met with flying colors.
For their production, Matco Tools contracted
with a company called Radians to
build ForceFlex Safety Glasses. Radians
has become a major leader in the safety
industry by manufacturing high-performance
personal protective equipment
(PPE) for the industrial, construction, and
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The full-frame Matco Tools
ForceFlex Safety Glasses provide
high-performance vision protection
that meets the ANSI Z87.1+ and CSA
Z94.3 safety eyewear standards. The
patented frames adjust to any head
size, eliminating pressure points
behind the ears and at the temples
and nose. This means one pair has
the custom-fit capabilities to be worn
securely and comfortably by many
technicians, which promotes compliance
and allows for easy stocking and
distribution on the mobile tool truck
and in a garage. Matco's ForceFlex
Safety Glasses resist scratches, are
durable, and hold up in the shop, while
offering an ideal user experience in
flexibility, comfort, and adjustability.
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safety markets. ForceFlex Safety Glasses
feature eight accepted patents and have
four patents pending.
Some of the features that Matco has published
are " key flex points ... with an elastomeric
compound which provide incredible
flexibility while retaining the original form "
and " i-Form flexible frames [that] perfectly
fit any size head, eliminating pressure points
and providing maximum comfort. " I found
these are why the glasses are so comfortable.
The level of comfort is important if you wear
safety glasses for extended periods of time
and do so daily. If you wear safety glasses
that aren't comfortable then you're likely
to not wear them as much as you should.
The lenses have no distortion, and, as
Matco advertises, the " polycarbonate substructure
provides maximum durability. "
To me, durability equates to fewer scratches
and longer life. They're also advertised as
having " T-axis optics [to] provide unparalleled
optics engineered for zero distortion
across the entire lens. " I noticed mine did
not fog up despite the high humidity in
which they were used. Again, an important
feature for safety glasses.
" ForceFlex frames exceed the highest
ballistic standards ANSI Z87.1 - CSA
Z94.3-2014 - EN 166 - ASTM F803 -
MIL-PRF-31020, " Matco states. That
means these glasses meet a U.S. civilian
This product was given to the reviewer free of charge from the manufacturer.
42 PTEN AUGUST 2023 www.VehicleServicePros.com
ballistic eyewear standard (ANSI Z87.1),
a Canadian ballistic standard (CSA Z94.3),
and a European standard (EN 166), but not
any U.S. military standards (APEL requirements).
Of note, I was unable to locate any
specific description for " MIL-PRF-31020 "
that was also advertised.
Pro(s): 22 styles available: Full-frame,
half-frame, or frameless versions
offered with various lens shapes and
colors enough to suit almost any safety
glasses wearer. Intrablock UV protection
lens infusion technology provides 100
percent UVA, UVB, and UVC protection.
Con(s): They do not fit over prescription
eyeglasses. These are not adjustable.
JAIME LAZARUS retired in 2020
after 41 years in the transportation
repair sector. Throughout
his career, he filled such positions
as " lube tech " , mechanic,
technician, shop-owner,
inventor, automotive technologies instructor,
and published author. Also known as " The Car
Whisperer " , he was widely diversified in automotive
diagnostics. Lazarus focused his career on
emerging automotive technology, recognizing
early on that the biggest challenge for automotive
repair technicians is diagnosing electrical systems
and electronic components. He was a four-time
certified ASE Master Automotive Technician that
had held the L-1 (Advanced Engine Performance)
certification since the test's inception.
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August 2023

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