1. Good Eye Protection (Ballistic, Sun-Blocking, and Comfortable)
Welcome to our post on the top essential summer shooting bag must haves! If you missed our last post about the The Ultimate 5 Essentials for Gun Enthusiasts
Let’s kick things off with the most overlooked necessity: quality eye protection. In the summer, your eye pro should do more than just stop fragments or brass. It should also protect your eyes from harsh sunlight, reduce glare, and make it easier to pick up targets under bright skies.
Tinted lenses are a great option. You can go for your standard smoke or mirrored lenses, but we’re big fans of amber tints too. Amber lenses block less light overall but enhance contrast which means better visibility of targets, even on cloudless days.
Josh is a fan of this setup for a good reason. During both of his Afghanistan tours, amber-tinted lenses were a favorite among front-line guys. They were so preferred, in fact, that they got banned in rear areas because they didn’t match regulation standards. Troops still wore them in the field, though, and started calling them “Kill Pro” instead of eye pro a not so subtle nod to their preferred use case: combat operations.
At TFirearms, our top picks for summer eye pro include:
- Wiley X – Durable, affordable, and purpose-built for shooting.
- Pit Vipers – A little flashy, but fully ballistic-rated and great for range flair.
- Oakleys – Heather’s favorite, especially for their comfort and style.
2. A Good Hat to Beat the Heat
A proper hat is more than a style statement it’s a functional piece of gear that protects your head, improves visibility, and even acts as a safety feature.
When you’re shooting under full sun, a hat keeps your head cool and helps prevent sun glare from interfering with your shots. Just as importantly, it creates a buffer between your eye pro and any ejected brass that might otherwise sneak behind your glasses a surprisingly common (and painful) experience.
Josh typically rotates between a Hazard 4 ball cap and a collection of surplus boonie hats, which offer a full brim for extra protection. His logic is simple: a brimmed hat works better for longer sessions under the sun and gives more protection from rogue brass.
Other TFirearms team members lean toward:
- TFirearms branded hats
- /k/ommando Store exclusives for unique and high-quality surplus hats
Don’t underestimate the power of a good hat. It keeps you in the game longer and adds a layer of protection that’s often forgotten.
3. Sunscreen (And Lightweight Long Sleeves)
Even if you’re planning to be out for “just a few hours,” UV exposure adds up fast. The TFirearms crew knows this all too well. That’s why sunscreen is a permanent part of our summer shooting bag.
We’ve tested plenty of brands, but lotion-based sunscreens perform best. They last longer, apply more evenly, and don’t evaporate as fast when you start sweating. Popular picks around the shop include:
- Cerave
- Neutrogena
Sprays are easy, sure. But they wear off quickly and tend to leave hot spots. A good lotion gives full coverage and peace of mind.
Pro tip: combine sunscreen with long sleeve, UV-protective shirts like rash guards or combat shirts. These wick moisture, shield your arms from sun, and reduce how much sunscreen you even need to use. Most of the TFirearms team wears:
- Lightweight surplus combat tops
- Quick-dry rash guard shirts
A sunburn will sap your energy, ruin your day, and make shouldering a rifle tomorrow feel like torture. Don’t skip the SPF.
4. Gloves for Burn Protection and Better Control
Ever dumped a few mags on a summer day and tried grabbing your barrel or rail without gloves? We have. It sucks.
In summer, guns heat up fast. Especially rifles with slim handguards or anything metal. Add suppressors to the mix, and you’re practically working with a forge.
That’s why we keep gloves in our summer shooting bag at all times. They protect against:
- Heat from barrels and handguards
- Brass burns during mag changes or reloads
- Rough or sharp surfaces during barricade drills or prone shooting
The TFirearms team regularly uses:
- Mechanix Gloves – The industry standard. Tough and affordable.
- USGI Nomex Flight Gloves – Lightweight and flame-resistant.
- USMC FROG Gloves – Rugged, breathable, and perfect for summer training
Bonus: gloves help with weapon retention and manipulation if your hands get sweaty.
5. Water, Water, and More Water
Let’s finish strong with the most important item in your summer range bag: water.
We can’t stress this enough. Hydration is survival.
If you’re training hard, wearing gear, or even just walking back and forth resetting steel, you’re losing water. And once dehydration sets in, your focus, energy, and accuracy start to suffer.
At minimum, we recommend:
- 1 gallon per shooter for a full day
- Double that if you’re doing physical drills or it’s over 90°F
Toss in electrolyte packs or keep some Gatorade in the cooler, but water is king. And don’t leave it in your truck—it gets hotter than you think.
Funny enough, Josh has a running joke that “with enough water, you can cure brain tumors.” (He should know.) It might not be true, but staying hydrated really will make or break your training day.
Final Thoughts: Beat the Heat, Shoot Smarter
There you have it. These five summer range bag essentials may seem simple, but they’ll drastically improve your comfort, performance, and safety.
- Ballistic eye pro with sun protection
- A hat that works as hard as you do
- Reliable sunscreen and long sleeves
- Gloves to handle the heat
- And of course, water to keep you on your feet
At TFirearms, we’re big believers in training smarter, not harder. Showing up prepared means you get more out of your range day and go home without burns, blisters, or heat cramps.
Want help getting your summer bag dialed in? Stop by the shop or shoot us a message. We’re happy to recommend gear, share tips, and make sure you’re ready for whatever the Oklahoma summer throws your way.
Until next Tech Tip Tuesday, stay safe, stay hydrated, and keep shooting straight.
