Reviewing sun shades is hard enterprise. It’s actually laborious to quantify issues like “clear,” “sharp,” or “outlined.” However these adjectives are inclined to roll off the web page, describing good optics with out a lot assist.
Traditionally, a handful of prime sun shades manufacturers have earned these accolades persistently. Though Wiley X is sweet, it hasn’t been one in every of them.
Till now. I’ve worn the Wiley X WX Founder mannequin for six months. And greater than as soon as, I’ve mistaken it for a pair from Costa, which I’ve discovered persistently to make the very best sun shades in the marketplace.
From the very best my eyes can inform, Wiley X has leveled up.
In brief: The Wiley X Founder is a medium-to-large sunglass with wonderful consolation and noteworthy lenses that compete with the very best polycarbonate lenses in the marketplace. They’ve confirmed comparatively sturdy after 6 months of testing.
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Match
Medium to massive -
Lens
Captivate polycarbonate lenses -
Particular options
ANSI Z87.1 security requirements, dual-injected rubber temples
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Mild and comfy -
Wonderful lens readability -
Good sturdiness for polycarbonate lenses
Wiley X Founder Sun shades Evaluate
To place this on the market as a benchmark, I personally suppose Costa del Mar is the present standard-bearer for high quality sun shades. However to get the very best of Costa, it’s worthwhile to go along with its glass lenses, which have two downsides: weight and a scarcity of safety.
That is the place polycarbonate shines. Wiley X has introduced a top-shelf polycarbonate providing with its Captivate lenses. I’ve put the Wiley X Founder sun shades with polarized inexperienced mirror lenses into common rotation within the Colorado solar since January.
I used them snowboarding, climbing, path operating, and turkey looking. They even got here to Arizona, the place I wore them on a dusty ATV trip and whitewater rafting. Simply final weekend, I took them SUPing on the Chatfield reservoir close to Denver, the place they took a number of unplanned swims with me whereas I used to be making an attempt to show my canine to SUP.
And darn if these sun shades haven’t carried out flawlessly. They’re comfy, simple on the nostril and ears, and safe sufficient to not fall off throughout a number of swims — even when my hat popped off my head from the impression with the water.
The lenses are additionally wonderful. Do they compete with glass? Not fairly. Nonetheless, polycarbonate lenses that meet ANSI Z87.1 security requirements are about nearly as good as they get.
There’s one draw back: They don’t include a tough case. I’ve merely used instances from different sun shades that I personal. However in the event you want a tough case and don’t personal one, preserve this in thoughts when procuring.
Who Ought to Purchase the Wiley X Founder Sun shades?
Wiley X makes sun shades with safety in thoughts. Based in 1987 by U.S. Military veteran Myles Freeman Sr., the model’s mission has been to “Construct the world’s greatest protecting eyewear.” Which means eschewing glass for different, extra protecting supplies.
The Founder mannequin carries this similar protecting story as the remainder of the road, assembly ANSI Z87.1 security requirements with non-obligatory facet shields (that I haven’t examined).
These sun shades are for individuals who need dependable eye safety that competes with the very best optics in the marketplace. At round $200, the Wiley X Founder additionally packs a premier value, which implies it’s going in opposition to the very best. And thankfully, it measures up.
Attempt on a pair. In the event that they suit your face and also you just like the fashion, the Founder is a superb pair of sun shades that ought to meet the calls for of most outside adventures.
