Wiley X Founder Bold-Silhouette Tactical Sunglasses (Removable Side Shields)
Price range: $110.00 through $206.00
Return & Shipping DetailsBold style meets visionary design in the WX Founder sunglasses. This iconic square frame packs a punch with its rugged good looks and high-performance technology.
Description
The Founder is the Wiley X you wear when you want to be seen. Bold-silhouette frame, full-coverage lens, removable side shield kit that switches the configuration between everyday sunglasses and OSHA-compliant industrial PPE in 30 seconds. ANSI Z87.1+ on the lens either way. From $110.
Why a ‘statement’ tactical frame is its own use case
Most Wiley X tactical frames are designed to disappear — slim temples, neutral silhouettes, the kind of frame you can wear to dinner without anyone asking what they are. The Founder runs the opposite direction. The frame is wider, the lens is bigger, the temples are heavier, and the overall presence is deliberate. Wiley X built it for buyers who want the certification stack without the disappear-into-the-crowd aesthetic — military / law-enforcement off-duty wear, off-road and ADV motorcycle use, and the segment of buyers who want their sunglasses to look like sunglasses rather than like industrial PPE.
How the removable shield kit changes the configuration
The Founder ships with the side-shield module pre-attached. With the shields installed, the configuration carries OSHA 1910.133 lateral-protection compliance, which means you can wear them on a job site where industrial PPE is required. Pull the shields off — they slide out of a captive-pin track, no tools required — and you have a pair of ANSI Z87.1+ sunglasses with a clean silhouette and no obvious safety-frame markers. The certification on the lens itself doesn’t change. What changes is whether you’re compliant with the lateral-protection clause. That dual-mode capability is rare in tactical sunglasses; most frames in this category force you to pick one mode at purchase.
If you want prescription, here’s the path
The Founder accepts a ground-in prescription cut directly into the lens — no insert required. The lens curvature is moderate enough that the optical centers stay aligned with the wearer’s pupil after the prescription is applied. Polycarbonate covers most working-adult prescriptions; high-index 1.67 is available for stronger Rx where edge thickness in standard polycarbonate would protrude. Tint options for the prescription configuration include clear (rare for a tactical frame, but useful), smoke-grey, polarized smoke, and copper. FSA and HSA eligibility applies to the prescription configuration.
- Frame style: Bold-silhouette tactical wraparound, larger and wider than the Saint or JAKL
- Lens material: Selenite polycarbonate, ANSI Z87.1+ rated
- Tint options (sunglasses): Smoke-grey, polarized smoke, copper, specialty colorways
- Side shields: Removable kit included — attached by default, slide out without tools
- Frame material: Wiley X tactical-line frame, wider temples
- Prescription path: Ground-in Rx in the lens itself — no insert required
- UV protection: 100% UVA / UVB
- Compliance: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 high-impact; OSHA 1910.133 with shields installed
- Use cases: Off-duty wear, ADV/cruiser motorcycle, off-road, statement everyday eyewear, industrial PPE (with shields)
- Price range: $110 – $206 depending on colorway / lens configuration
- FSA / HSA: Eligible only on the prescription configuration
Additional information
| Product Type | Sunglasses |
|---|---|
| Gender | Mens, Womens |
| Certification | ANSI Z87.1, ANSI Z87+ |
| Frame Color | Black, Clear, Green |
| Rim | Full Rim |
| Frame Shape | Square |
| Frame Material | Plastic |
| Frame Feature | Lightweight |
| Temple Type | Bent |
| Frame Size | Medium |
| Bridge Width | 17 mm |
| Lens Width | 56 mm |
| Temple Length | 135 mm |
| Lens Height | 44 mm |
| Face Shape | Heart, Oval, Round |
| Activity | Commercial, Lifestyle, Driving, Fishing, Golf, Hiking |
| Collection | Wiley X Active Lifestyle Sunglasses |
| Prescription | Yes |
| Brand | Wiley X |
Product Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the silhouette like — how does the Founder compare to other Wiley X tactical frames?
The Founder is the largest, boldest frame in the current Wiley X lineup — heavier face coverage, wider lens, more visible presence. Where the Saint reads as understated and the JAKL reads as aggressively athletic, the Founder reads as a statement frame. The matte build and the removable side shields keep it functional, but the design intent is visibility — a frame that announces itself rather than blends in.
Are the side shields removable, and does that affect compliance?
Yes, removable. The Founder ships with the side-shield module attached, which puts the configuration into OSHA 1910.133 lateral-protection compliance. With the shields removed, it’s still ANSI Z87.1+ rated for frontal impact, so you can wear it as everyday sunglasses off-shift and snap the shields back in when you need OSHA-compliant industrial coverage. That dual-mode flexibility is the main reason buyers pick this over a permanent-shield industrial frame.
Does the Founder come in prescription, or sunglasses only?
Both paths exist. The sunglasses configuration is the most common buy — Selenite polycarbonate in smoke-grey, polarized smoke, or copper for variable conditions. The prescription configuration is also available; the Founder’s lens housing is moderately curved (less aggressive than the Saber Advanced shield), which means it accepts a ground-in Rx cut directly into the lens rather than requiring the PTX insert. FSA/HSA applies only to the prescription path.
Will they work with motorcycle helmet use?
Yes, with the temple geometry tuned for mid-range helmet compatibility. The Founder’s slightly thicker temples don’t slip under a full-face helmet as cleanly as the JAKL’s slim profile, but a modular or 3/4 helmet works fine. If the priority is full-face helmet compatibility, the JAKL is a better pick. If you want a frame for cruiser, ADV, or off-bike everyday wear with the option to convert into compliant industrial PPE, the Founder is the right call.
What's the price range and what are you paying for at the top of it?
The Founder runs $110 at the entry colorway and up to $206 for premium configurations with polarized lenses and specialty colorways. The price-to-value math is heavily front-loaded: the entry $110 configuration carries the same ANSI Z87.1+ certification, the same Selenite lens material, and the same removable shield kit as the $206 configurations. The premium pricing pays for polarized smoke, specialty frame colors, or limited-edition collaborations rather than for material differences.
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