Reviewing sun shades is hard enterprise. It’s actually laborious to quantify issues like “clear,” “sharp,” or “outlined.” However these adjectives are likely 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 constantly. Though Wiley X is sweet, it hasn’t been considered one 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 constantly to make the very best sun shades available on the market.
From the very best my eyes can inform, Wiley X has leveled up.
Briefly: The Wiley X Founder is a medium-to-large sunglass with glorious consolation and memorable lenses that compete with the very best polycarbonate lenses available on the market. They’ve confirmed comparatively sturdy after 6 months of testing.
-
Match
Medium to massive -
Lens
Captivate polycarbonate lenses -
Particular options
ANSI Z87.1 security requirements, dual-injected rubber temples
-
Mild and cozy -
Glorious 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, you’ll want to go together 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 working, 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 snug, 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 affect with the water.
The lenses are additionally glorious. Do they compete with glass? Not fairly. Nonetheless, polycarbonate lenses that meet ANSI Z87.1 security requirements are about pretty much as good as they get.
There’s one draw back: They don’t include a tough case. I’ve merely used circumstances from different sun shades that I personal. However when you want a tough case and don’t personal one, maintain this in thoughts when buying.
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 identical protecting story as the remainder of the road, assembly ANSI Z87.1 security requirements with elective aspect shields (that I haven’t examined).
These sun shades are for individuals who need dependable eye safety that competes with the very best optics available on the market. At round $200, the Wiley X Founder additionally packs a premier value, which implies it’s going towards 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 type, the Founder is a wonderful pair of sun shades that ought to meet the calls for of most out of doors adventures.
