Bomber Eyewear Review: Floating Safety Glasses and Sunglasses — Z87+ Ratings, Returns and Fees Explained
Bomber Eyewear is a family-run eyewear brand based in Costa Mesa, California. It makes safety glasses and sunglasses with a foam lining that helps them float. The founder, world champion jet ski racer Tommy "The Bomber" Bonacci, started by lining his jobsite glasses with foam from his jet ski seat, and the store says he patented the idea in 1997. Today the catalogue serves two kinds of buyers: people who work outdoors and need safety-rated glasses, and anglers, boaters and paddlers who don't want their shades to sink.
This review covers what Bomber sells, which models are safety-rated and which float, how prescriptions work, prices, shipping, and the return terms, which include a fee most buyers won't expect.
At a glance Checked October 2026
Bomber Eyewear suits buyers who want affordable safety glasses or sunglasses that float. The main catch is that only pairs with "Safety" in the name are safety-rated, and every cash refund carries a $5 fee.
- Best for: Tradespeople who want Z87+ safety glasses for $30–$45, and anglers, boaters and paddlers who want shades that float.
- Typical price: About $42 for a typical pair; the range runs from $8 to $100, with polarized safety models often $70–$77.
- Shipping: USPS from Costa Mesa; $5 under $80, free over $80; 1–3 business days processing, then 3–4 business days standard delivery.
- Returns: 45 days from purchase, tags on and in the original bag; $5 handling fee on cash refunds, none for store credit.
- Watch out for: Not every pair floats (Strange, Z Bomb, E Bomb, X Bomb, H Bomb), and BUZZ Bomb and CLUTCH meet Z87+ only with side shields.
What Bomber Eyewear sells
At the time of writing the store listed about 410 eyewear products. Roughly 320 were safety glasses and 90 were sunglasses, with each lens color listed as its own product. The main groups are:
- Safety glasses. Styles such as the BUZZ Bomb, CLUTCH, MEGA, BOOGIE, TIGER and BOMB RIPPA, many with removable side shields.
- Sunglasses. Lifestyle styles such as the GOMER, JACO and IRIE, including the youth-sized GROM.
- Specialty lenses. Polarized, photochromic, anti-fog, blue-light, Hi-Def color-enhancing, bifocal readers and T5 torch-cutting shades.
- Accessories and apparel. Microfiber bags, shirts, safety vests, beanies and gift cards.
Safety ratings, floating and lenses: what to check
Not every pair is safety-rated. The FAQ says "most, but not all" of its glasses are safety-rated: only those with "Safety" in the product name. For that line, the store says its glasses "meet and exceed the ANSI Z87+ safety standard," with Z87+ stamped on the frame and special-purpose markings on the lens.
Side shields matter on some models. On the BUZZ Bomb and CLUTCH listings, the store specifies that the glasses meet "ANSI Z87+ safety standards only when worn with side shields." If your jobsite requires Z87+ eyewear, keep the shields on.
Not every pair floats. The FAQ says most styles float. The exceptions are the Strange, Z Bomb, E Bomb, X Bomb and H Bomb. The last four are also the cheapest safety glasses in the store, so a low price is a clue that a pair won't float.
Specialty lenses. The Hi-Def lenses are listed as polarized smoke with 9% visible light transmission. The T5 torch-cutting MAGNUM is listed for braze welding, plasma and flame cutting, and light TIG/MIG work. The store states it is "not suitable for full penetration welding or driving." Bifocal safety readers come in +1.5, +2.0 and +2.5.
Prescription. The MAGNUM is the store's only over-the-glasses style. The FAQ says prescription lenses are offered on select styles through bomberrx.com, which redirected to the SportRx site when we checked. It also warns that having your own optometrist fit lenses to a safety frame may mean the glasses "no longer pass safety standards." Discounts and rewards don't apply to prescription orders.
Prices
Prices are in US dollars. Eyewear ranges from $8 for the basic non-floating safety styles to $100 for Hi-Def lenses, and the typical pair costs about $42. Polarized safety models often sit at $70–$77. Examples at the time of writing:
- X-Bomb Safety – Yellow: $8
- CLUTCH Safety – Smoke (Original or Grande fit): $30
- CLUTCH Safety – Bifocals Smoke: $34
- BUZZ Bomb Safety – Smoke: $40
- GOMER – Polarized Red Mirror Black: $55 (listed from $70)
- BUZZ Bomb Safety – Smoke Hi-Def Lens: $100
About 50 products showed a crossed-out compare-at price. Treat that figure as the store's reference price rather than proof of a bargain.
Shipping
All orders ship from Costa Mesa via USPS. Standard US shipping is $5 on orders under $80 and free over $80, based on your total after discounts and before tax. Processing takes 1–3 business days, and orders placed after 11 a.m. PST start the next business day. Standard delivery is 3–4 business days after shipping, and Priority is 2.
The FAQ isn't fully consistent. Elsewhere it gives processing as 1–2 days and standard delivery as 3–5 days, and it allows up to 4 business days during sales. International shipping is offered, but we did not find published international rates. Route shipping protection is an optional add-on at checkout.
Returns and warranty
The FAQ gives you 45 days from purchase to return glasses for a refund. You generate a return label through the store's returns page. The conditions are strict:
- Tags and bag. Eyewear must come back with the tags on and in the original plastic bag, in new condition. Returns without them will not be refunded.
- $5 fee. Every cash refund carries a $5 handling fee. Choosing store credit avoids it, and exchanges get a $5 credit.
- Speed. Refunds are typically issued within 48 hours of inspection.
The separate refund-policy page gives only the return address and doesn't mention the 45-day window or the fee, so use the FAQ as your reference. The warranty is also 45 days and covers manufacturing defects. It excludes normal wear, lens scratches and accidental breakage.
Payment
The checkout shows Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Apple Pay and Shop Pay. A gift card can be combined with a discount code.
Who should buy from Bomber Eyewear
- Tradespeople who want Z87+ safety glasses that look like ordinary sunglasses, for $30–$45.
- Anglers, boaters and paddlers who want shades that float.
- Welders and cutters who need T5 torch-cutting shades that fit over prescription glasses.
- Readers on the job who need bifocal safety glasses.
Think twice if your work demands a certified rating on a specific frame you haven't confirmed (check for "Safety" in the name and keep side shields on where required). The same goes if you're likely to return a pair after removing the tags, or if you need prescription safety lenses that stay compliant.
Bomber Eyewear coupon codes
We did not find a verified public coupon code at the time of writing, and we do not publish codes we cannot confirm. The store's own savings are free US shipping over $80, sale prices on selected styles, and the Bombastic Rewards program. You get 25 points for signing up and 1 point per dollar spent, and 100 points are worth $10, up to $30 per order. Only one code or promotion applies per order, and codes don't work on sale items. Any working offers we find are listed on our Bomber Eyewear coupons page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bomber Eyewear legit?
Bomber Eyewear is a family-run brand based in Costa Mesa, California, founded by jet ski racer Tommy "The Bomber" Bonacci, who the store says patented its floating foam lining in 1997. Its FAQ publishes a 45-day return window and a 45-day warranty against manufacturing defects, and checkout shows PayPal, Apple Pay and major cards. The main things to check are the $5 fee on cash refunds and that the refund-policy page omits these terms.
Are Bomber safety glasses ANSI Z87+ rated?
The store says all glasses in its Safety line meet and exceed ANSI Z87+. Some models, such as the BUZZ Bomb and CLUTCH, meet it only with side shields attached.
Do all Bomber glasses float?
No. The store lists the Strange, Z Bomb, E Bomb, X Bomb and H Bomb as non-floating.
Does Bomber offer prescription glasses?
On select styles through bomberrx.com, which redirected to SportRx when we checked. The over-the-glasses MAGNUM is the alternative.
What is the Bomber return policy?
45 days from purchase for new, tagged items in the original bag, with a $5 fee on cash refunds.
Where does Bomber ship from?
Costa Mesa, California, by USPS.
The bottom line
Bomber Eyewear is a good fit for affordable safety glasses that don't look like safety glasses and for sunglasses that float. Prices are reasonable and US shipping is quick. Read the product name and listing to confirm the safety rating and floating claim for the exact pair, keep the tags on until you're sure, and expect $5 off any cash refund.
Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on the Bomber Eyewear website at the time of writing and may change.