Wiley X had lenses that were Mil Spec ballistic rated and wouldn't shatter if a small rock or other flying debris hit them. The company adapted these for the outdoor/sporting market. I immediately liked the protective lenses, having been in boats where lures suddenly popped loose from snags or fish and rocketed back toward my head. Wiley X still offers many sporting sunglasses with lenses that are ANSI Z87.1+ certified, meaning they can withstand something like a 1/4-inch steel ball flying at 150 feet per second (102 miles per hour), or 17.6-ounce pointed projectile dropped from 50 inches.

The more I looked at sunglasses over the years, the more I realized how saturated this market was becoming. People who regularly attend trade shows have seen the explosive marketing, and growth, of some of these brands.