in all fairness cheap is never a word you should say when talking about something that is designed to be a safty aid..........would you rather cheap body armour if you were a soilder.......or something with a price tag.
ESS are fantastic, i had a pair (past tense) need to buy a new set, after seeing all those adverts claiming that they can withstand a shotgun, i decided to test out the theory at the clay range, and well although i only got the one shot on it, they stood up well, wasn't usable any more, but nothing went though it.......although if you get shot in the face by a shotgun, eye sight is prob the last of your concerns. as the back of your skull will most prob look like your girlfriends vagina when she's on the rag.