Heat Wave Visual has built side shields into three different systems across its Z87+ lineup, and none of them work the same way, which is why the question shows up in search over and over: does this frame have side shields, and if not, can I add them. The short answer is it depends entirely on which frame you're holding, and getting it wrong means either paying for an accessory that won't clip onto your glasses or assuming lateral coverage that was never there.
Three different approaches, same brand
The Future Tech frame builds its side shields directly into the frame geometry. There's no separate piece, no clip, no removing them. The wraparound polycarbonate lens and the frame sweep are one continuous shape, so the lateral coverage is permanent by design.
The Performance line, which includes the Performance Vise and the Performance Lazer Face / Lazer SLIM, uses what Heat Wave calls a Quick-Latch side-shield system. These ship installed out of the box, and the pitch is that they snap on and off without tools if you ever want the open-frame look for a shift where Z87+ coverage doesn't apply. The same Quick-Latch hardware shows up on the Performance Quatro and Performance Rayth as well, so if a frame name has "Performance" in front of it, assume the shields are already there rather than something you'll need to track down separately.
Then there's the standalone accessory: the Heat Wave Visual Z87+ Side Shields, sold as a pair for $12 in black, smoke, or clear. This is the piece that actually answers most of the search traffic on this topic, because it's the one people are trying to buy separately, usually after they already own a frame and want to know if it applies to what's on their face.
The accessory shields fit the standard Vise and XL Vise. They do not fit the USA Vise, and Heat Wave says so directly on that product page.
What the clip-on shields actually fit
The Z87+ Side Shields are built for the standard Vise and the XL Vise, both non-Performance versions. They're shatter-resistant polycarbonate, embossed with Z87+ on the inside, and they attach with a slide-lock mechanism rather than a snap or a screw. Slide them on, they stay, slide them off when you don't need them.
What they don't fit is the USA Vise, which uses a different frame profile despite sharing most of the Vise name and silhouette. If you own the USA Vise and were hoping to add the accessory shields, that's not an option Heat Wave supports, and no amount of forcing it will get a clean seat.
They also don't fit the Performance line, but that's because the Performance Vise and Performance Lazer Face already come with their own Quick-Latch shields attached. Buying the standalone accessory for a Performance frame would be buying a part you already own.
Why a pair of glasses needs side shields at all
Standard Z87 covers direct front impact. Z87+ is a stricter high-velocity rating, and depending on how a frame is built, meeting it can also depend on closing the gap at the temples where debris, dust, or a stray spark can get in from the side. A frame with continuous lateral coverage, whether built in like the Future Tech or added like the Vise with its shields installed, is doing a different job than an open-sided pair of shop glasses. That's the whole reason this shows up as its own accessory category instead of just a cosmetic add-on: it changes what's actually protected.
Picking the right setup for the job
If side coverage matters for the work, the Future Tech is the simplest choice because there's nothing to install or lose. If you like the option to go without shields on lighter days, the Performance Vise or Performance Lazer Face give you that flexibility built in. And if you already own a standard Vise or XL Vise and just want to add the coverage, the $12 accessory pair is the cheapest path to the same result, as long as you're not trying to put it on a USA Vise.
None of this is a reason to guess. Check the product page for the exact frame in hand before assuming compatibility either way, since Heat Wave's own naming (Vise, USA Vise, Performance Vise, XL Vise) makes it easy to grab the wrong one. It's also worth checking before you order if you're buying for more than one person, since a crew that mixes standard Vise frames with a couple of USA Vise holdouts from an earlier order will end up with some people who can add shields and some who can't, no matter how the invoice reads.
The slide-lock shields on the standard Vise and XL Vise are meant to come off clean when you don't need them, which matters if the job moves between a bay floor where lateral coverage is worth having and a front-office stretch where it isn't. Wipe the slide channel down periodically if the shop runs dusty; grit in the track is the most common reason a shield that used to slide smoothly starts fighting you on the way off.
Common questions
Do the Heat Wave Vise side shields fit the USA Vise?
No. Heat Wave states directly on the USA Vise product page that it is not compatible with the Vise Side Shields. The USA Vise uses a different frame profile despite the shared name.
Are the Performance Vise's side shields removable?
Yes. The Performance Vise ships with its Quick-Latch side shields installed, and Heat Wave designed the system to snap off without tools if you want the open-frame look, then snap back on when you need the coverage again.
Does the Future Tech frame have removable side shields?
No. The Future Tech's lateral coverage is built into the frame's continuous wraparound shape rather than added as a separate piece, so there's nothing to remove or reattach.
How much do the standalone Heat Wave side shields cost?
The Z87+ Side Shields sell as a pair for $12, in your choice of black, smoke, or clear, and they attach to a compatible frame with a slide-lock mechanism.
Can I use the clip-on side shields on any Heat Wave frame?
No. They're built specifically for the standard Vise and XL Vise. Performance-line frames already have shields installed, and the USA Vise isn't compatible with them at all.
For the full rundown on the frame the shields were built for, see the Heat Wave Vise buyer's guide, and for what Z87+ actually requires versus base Z87, see ANSI Z87.1, Explained. Browse the full lineup in the Heat Wave Visual collection.
