The best face shields, compared.
Top pick: Oregon Q515061 mesh and muffs – Highest score in the set: muffs in the box, CE EN 1731 and CE EN 352.1 in the bullets, and 4.7 from 12,284 reviews at about £22.79. Best value: Portwest PW91 clear browguard – Highest price-credibility score on a different ASIN: EN 166 1B and 3B at about £14.99, with more than 1,000 reviews and spare visor PW92. Updated October 2026.
Face protection means a visor on a browguard or a strap, sold to stop flying debris while you strim, grind or cut. A printed mark and the hazard come before fit and price. A picture of a yellow helmet is often only a headband. None of these rows is a hard hat, and none is molten-metal protection. Splash and fine dust suit a clear sheet. That split is set out in [mesh or a clear visor](/hub/occupational-safety/face-protection/sub/face-protection-mesh-or-clear). New certification uses EN ISO 16321, while stock on the shelf still shows EN 166. On amazon.co.uk the choice is a mesh screen, a clear polycarbonate sheet, or a mesh browguard that also carries ear defenders. Neck gaiters and balaclavas are outside this set. Coarse chips and stones can suit a mesh visor. Mesh gives airflow and can glare in sun. Clear screens ship with film on both sides and scratch when scrubbed. An elastic strap shield sits close to the face and does not.
Face protection means a visor on a browguard or a strap, sold to stop flying debris while you strim, grind or cut. A printed mark and the hazard come before fit and price.
28 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +24,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What is flying at your face?
The Oregon Q515061 is a browguard with a steel mesh visor and ear defenders, listed at £22.79 and 500 g, with 4.7 from 12,284 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets print CE EN 1731 for the mesh and CE EN 352.1 for the muffs, and they quote up to 25 decibels, which is not an SNR you can compare like a labelled hearing protector. Reviewers describe a brow cover rather than a hard hat, and one says they would not use it for chainsawing while others say they have. The same bullets say safety goggles can be worn underneath, which matches the point that a visor is not a substitute for eye protection. Care on the listing is mild soap and water, then air dry, and it says not to machine wash the set. In this comparison it is the top pick when you want debris cover and muffs in one box at a mid price, with the limit that it does not finish a chainsaw kit and the mesh still lets fine dust through.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You strim or cut hedges and want muffs on the same browguard.
Less suitable: You need a forestry helmet, a clear screen for grinding, or a quoted SNR.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this Oregon include ear defenders?
Yes. The title is a browguard, ear protection and steel mesh visor. The bullets say the muffs are certified to CE EN 352.1 and quote up to 25 decibels. That phrase is not printed as an SNR.
Is the Q515061 a chainsaw helmet?
No. Reviewers say it covers the brow and is not a full helmet. One reviewer would not use it for chainsawing. Others say they have used it while chainsawing. The listing does not claim a hard-hat standard.
Can goggles go underneath?
The bullets say the mesh visor allows safety goggles to be worn underneath. That is a listing claim, not a measured fit.
The Oregon Q515064 is listed at £19.62 and 440 g, with 4.6 from 5,041 reviews, and the title says a steel mesh visor on an EasyFit ratchet browguard. Two bullets call the same product a clear polycarbonate visor and also print CE EN 1731, so the page does not agree with itself. Reviewers describe mesh, and one says a magnet sticks, which fits steel rather than a clear sheet. There are no ear defenders in the box, and reviewers say separate headphones are awkward. One reviewer says the visor often will not stay up when pushed clear of the face. It is a popular mesh browguard if the item that arrives is the steel screen the title and the reviews describe, and a poor default if you needed the listing to settle mesh versus clear before you pay.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a mesh browguard without muffs and you will check the screen on arrival.
Less suitable: You need a clear visor the listing has already confirmed, or hearing protection in the same box.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Q515064 mesh or clear?
The title says a steel mesh visor. The material row says alloy steel. Two bullets call it a clear polycarbonate visor and also say CE EN 1731. Reviewers describe mesh, and one says a magnet sticks.
Does it include ear defenders?
No. Hearing protection is the other Oregon listing, Q515061. Reviewers of this one mention that separate headphones are awkward.
Will the visor stay up?
One reviewer says the visor often does not stay when pushed up. The listing does not promise a flip-up lock.
The Jackson Safety 14200 Maxview is a clear polycarbonate face shield at £39.12 and 794 g, the heaviest listing in this set, with 4.6 from 4,589 reviews. The bullets say it is CE compliant to EN 166, ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3, though that line is not repeated in the specification table. Reviewers report glasses and goggles underneath, film on both sides, and a visor that swings up on the 370 Speed Dial ratchet. One reviewer says normal full ear defenders will not fit, and another could not find a replacement lens. At this price you are paying for a side and chin guard and a large review file, not for muffs or a hard hat. Choose it when a clear marked shield and a ratchet that lifts matter more than the £14.99 Portwest, and skip it if a spare lens or hearing protection has to be in the same parcel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Workshop grinding where you want a clear shield that lifts and you accept the price.
Less suitable: You want muffs included, a named spare visor, or the lightest browguard in the table.
Specifications
Common questions
What standards does the Jackson 14200 listing name?
The bullets say the clear tint shield is CE compliant, meeting EN 166, ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3. That line is not in the specification table.
Does the visor have a protective film?
The bullets do not mention film. Reviewers say there is film on both sides, and that visibility is good once it is off.
Can it be worn with ear defenders?
Ear defenders are not in the box. One reviewer says it cannot be used with normal full ear defenders. Other reviewers do not repeat that fault.
Hestya's two-pack of mesh face shields is £18.99 and 544 g for the pair, with 4.5 from 219 reviews and no EN 166 or EN 1731 line in the listing table. The title uses helmet and chainsaw-helmet wording, while the bullets and the reviews describe a mesh visor on a headband. Several UK reviewers say the fit is tight or impossible above about 60 cm head circumference, even at the maximum adjustment, and that figure comes from reviews rather than a size chart. One reviewer who wears glasses reports no problem. The material row lists both stainless steel and polycarbonate. It is a spare-screen pack if your head is inside that review limit and you accept an unmarked listing, and a mismatch if you needed a printed standard or a hard hat shell.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a second mesh screen and your head is under about 60 cm.
Less suitable: You need a printed standard, a large-head fit, or a hard hat.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Hestya two-pack state EN 166 or EN 1731?
No. The specification table has no standard line.
Will it fit a large head?
Several UK reviewers say the fit is tight or impossible above about 60 cm head circumference, even at the maximum adjustment. That figure is from reviews, not from a size chart.
Is it a safety helmet?
The title says safety helmet and chainsaw helmet. The bullets describe a face shield visor. Reviewers talk about a mesh and a headband, not a hard hat shell.
The Portwest PW91 is a 290 g clear polycarbonate browguard at £14.99, rated 4.4 from 1,034 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the bullets say the 1 mm visor is EN 166 1B and 3B, CE certified by BSI Netherlands, notified body 2797. Portwest's datasheet describes that code as medium-energy impact protection. A blue or green film sits on both sides and has to come off before the visor is clear, which reviewers confirm. The wheel ratchet tilts the visor, and the PW92 replacement is sold separately when the screen chips. One reviewer who wears glasses finds it useful, and there are no ear defenders in the box. It is the best value pick here when you want a printed EN 166 clear visor under £15 with a named spare, and a weak match if you needed muffs, a mesh screen, or molten-metal protection, which Portwest puts on a different model that is not in this set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a printed EN 166 clear visor under £15, with a spare screen you can buy later.
Less suitable: You need muffs in the same box, a mesh screen, or molten-metal protection.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Portwest PW91 listing state a standard?
Yes. The bullets say a 1 mm clear polycarbonate visor rated to EN 166 1B and 3B, and CE certified by BSI Netherlands, notified body 2797. The specification table does not repeat that line.
Why might the PW91 visor look coloured?
The bullets say a blue or green protective film is on both sides and must be peeled off before use. Reviewers say the visor is clear after that film comes off.
Is a replacement visor named?
Yes. The bullets name the PW92 as a separate replacement when the screen scratches or chips.
The Generic detachable face mask is the lowest price in the set at £8.99, with 4.2 from six amazon.co.uk reviews, UV400 and anti-fog claims, and no EN, CE or UKCA line in the table. The bullets say the face guard and the goggle lens separate, so the goggles can be used alone, and they also say it cannot replace a professional welding helmet or an industrial gas-tight respirator. The brand field says Generic and the warranty field says NO. Weight, dimensions and a material specification are missing from the table, though the bullets mention an impact-resistant lens and a sponge lining. Six reviews are too few to show how the strap holds on a strimmer or a grinder. It is a cheap split mask if you will check the lens yourself on arrival, and it is not a substitute for a marked browguard.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cheapest split mask in this set and you will not treat it as certified PPE.
Less suitable: You need EN 166 or EN 1731 on the page, or a review file large enough to show faults.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this replace a welding helmet?
No. The bullets say it cannot replace a professional certified welding helmet or an industrial gas-tight respirator.
Can the goggles be used on their own?
Yes, according to the bullets. The face guard and the goggle lens separate.
Is a standard printed on the listing?
No. The table has no EN, CE or UKCA line. The brand field says Generic, and the warranty field says NO.
The Gaomumu is a 160 g polycarbonate strap shield at £9.97, with 4.1 from 11 reviews, an anti-fog claim, and no standard line in the listing table. The headgear is an adjustable nylon strap, not a hinged browguard, and one reviewer said they would have preferred a headband that lifts. The title mentions welding, but no shade number and no welding standard appear on the page. The bullets say eyeglasses fit under a raised nose bridge, while one UK reviewer found it very snug with glasses and was unsure both would work. Care is soap and water. It is a light close-fitting screen if you accept eleven reviews and an unmarked listing, and it is the wrong buy if you expected a flip-up visor or a welding helmet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short job where a light strap shield is enough and you already wear separate eye protection.
Less suitable: You need a ratchet browguard, a printed mark, or a welding shade.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a welding shield?
The title mentions welding. No shade number and no welding standard appear in the listing table. It is a polycarbonate strap shield.
Will it fit over glasses?
The bullets say eyeglasses fit under a raised nose bridge. One UK reviewer found it very snug with glasses and was unsure they could wear both.
Is a hinged browguard included?
No. The strap is nylon. One reviewer would have preferred a hinged headband.
The Hestya four-pack puts two mesh visors and two clear plastic visors in one box at £23.89 and 600 g, and the amazon.co.uk line is 3.5 from 12 ratings. Three United Kingdom reviews call it flimsy, cheap, or unused. No EN, CE or UKCA line appears in the listing table or the bullets. A UK reviewer says the picture looks like a full hard hat and the product is not that. The bullets say the visor can be raised or lowered on a ratchet knob, and the size lines disagree between 37 × 21 cm and about 27 × 28 × 15 cm. You get both screen types to try, at the cost of a thin review file and no printed mark, so it is a weak default next to the marked Oregon and Portwest rows.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want both screen types at home and you will not treat the photo as a helmet.
Less suitable: You want a marked visor with a large review file.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this four-pack include a hard hat?
No. A UK reviewer says the picture looks like a full hard hat and the product is not that. The bullets describe face shields and headgear.
Is a standard printed?
No EN, CE or UKCA line appears in the listing table or the bullets.
How many of the reviews are from the United Kingdom?
The listing shows 3.5 from 12 ratings. Three United Kingdom reviews call it flimsy, cheap, or unused.
Eight face-shield listings on amazon.co.uk were scored on 20 October 2026 from amazon.co.uk prices, star lines and review notes, not from a laboratory impact test. A star rating is not an EN 166 result and not an EN 1731 result. Weights are Amazon evidence 30, standard and shape 35, review notes 20, and price credibility 15. Deductions can apply for fewer than 10 reviews, no EN, CE or UKCA line, a helmet or welding claim the page does not support, or a title that disagrees with the bullets on mesh versus clear. None of these listings is a hard hat or molten-metal protection.
Amazon evidence
30%Up to 30 points from the star average, then a volume band: under 10 reviews adds nothing, 10 to 99 adds 2, 100 to 999 adds 4, 1,000 to 4,999 adds 6, and 5,000 or more adds 8. The block is capped at 30.
Standard and shape
35%Up to 35 points for a printed mark and the headgear. EN 1731 plus EN 352.1 with muffs in the box scores 32. EN 166 1B and 3B with a named spare visor scores 30. EN 166 plus ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 on a clear browguard scores 28. A printed EN 1731 where the title and two bullets disagree on mesh versus clear scores 22. No standard in the table scores 10 or 8.
Review notes
20%Up to 20 points from the repeated theme in the amazon.co.uk reviews: a brow-only limit on a very large file, film that has to be peeled, a visor that will not stay up, a head-size limit near 60 cm, a snug fit over glasses, or a thin file that calls the pack flimsy.
Price credibility
15%Up to 15 points for shelf price against what the page prints. The marked clear visor at £14.99 with more than 1,000 reviews and a named spare scores 15. The marked muffs kit at £22.79 scores 13. The £39.12 clear shield scores 8. Unmarked packs and the six-review mask score lower.
Start with the hazard, then a mark you can read on the amazon.co.uk page, then fit over glasses and muffs, then price. The notes below follow that order for these eight listings. None of the scores is a laboratory test.
Face protection in this comparison is a visor on a browguard or a strap, sold to stop flying debris while you strim, grind or cut. On amazon.co.uk the choice is a mesh screen, a clear polycarbonate sheet, or a mesh browguard that also carries ear defenders. Neck gaiters and balaclavas are outside this set. A picture of a yellow helmet is often only a headband. None of the eight listings is a hard hat, and none is molten-metal protection. Start with the hazard.
Hestya titles use helmet wording. Reviewers describe a mesh visor on a headband. None of these eight listings is a hard hat, and falling branches need one.
BS EN 1731 is not for liquid splash, molten metal, electrical hazard, or infrared and ultraviolet. Small particles pass a mesh screen. A clear sheet is the screen for edges and splash.
Clear screens, including the Portwest PW91, ship with film on both sides. Reviewers say the visor is clear only after that film comes off. Scrubbing the sheet scratches it.
Coarse chips can suit mesh. Splash, fine dust and a need to see edges suit clear polycarbonate. Read EN 166 or EN 1731 only when that listing prints it. The Oregon Q515061 bullets print CE EN 1731 and CE EN 352.1. The Portwest PW91 bullets print EN 166 1B and 3B. The Jackson 14200 bullets print EN 166, ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3. The Q515064 bullets print CE EN 1731 while two of them also call the visor clear. The Hestya packs, the Gaomumu and the Generic mask do not print EN 166 or EN 1731.
A ratchet browguard lifts. The Gaomumu nylon strap and the Generic elastic strap do not. STIHL's UK page says a visor alone does not adequately protect your eyes, so add safety glasses. Glasses under a strap shield can be too tight. Only the Q515061 includes ear defenders, and up to 25 decibels is not an SNR. Portwest names the PW92 as a separate visor when the PW91 screen chips. The Jackson listing does not name a spare lens.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want debris cover and ear defenders on one browguard, and you will still wear safety glasses. The Oregon Q515061 is about £22.79, with CE EN 1731 and CE EN 352.1 in the bullets. It is not a hard hat, and up to 25 decibels is not an SNR.
Splash, fine dust and a need to see the edge call for a clear shield that lifts, not mesh as the default. The Jackson Safety 14200 is about £39.12, with EN 166, ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 in the bullets. Muffs are not in the box.
You want EN 166 1B and 3B printed, a named spare, and a price under £15. The Portwest PW91 is about £14.99 with 4.4 from 1,034 reviews, and the bullets name replacement visor PW92. There are no ear defenders in the box.
In this set of eight amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Oregon Q515061 at about £22.79, with 4.7 from 12,284 reviews, CE EN 1731 and CE EN 352.1 in the bullets, and ear defenders in the box. It is a browguard, not a hard hat, and up to 25 decibels is not an SNR. The best value is the Portwest PW91 at about £14.99, with EN 166 1B and 3B, more than 1,000 reviews, and replacement visor PW92. Mesh is the wrong default for grinding splash. None of these scores is a lab test or a British Standard result measured for this page.
Oregon Q515061 mesh and muffs
Highest score in the set: muffs in the box, CE EN 1731 and CE EN 352.1 in the bullets, and 4.7 from 12,284 reviews at about £22.79.
Portwest PW91 clear browguard
Highest price-credibility score on a different ASIN: EN 166 1B and 3B at about £14.99, with more than 1,000 reviews and spare visor PW92.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources listed below, last checked on 20 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures for these eight listings. The price bands are this set, not a market average.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings checked on 20 October 2026. We did not lab-test these face shields.
