I had seen normal Gunnar “yellow” glasses at various events like PAX for awhile now, but never really messed around with them. The original versions were really only meant for indoors, particularly to prevent headache and fatigue from extended gaming or computer-viewing sessions. Recently they introduced a sunglass version that is supposed to provide the same screen-viewing benefits with the addition of blocking excess sun rays. Apparently those benefits don’t come cheap though, as these normally go for a slightly spendy $100+ price tag. I was able to score a pretty good deal on a pair of the ‘Groove’ model with ‘ash gray’ lenses from Fab.com however, despite not having much experience with Gunnar beforehand. I really have no need for dedicated gaming glasses, but I use electronics out in the sun often enough that I was intrigued by the idea of glasses that could make screens easier to read.

More after the break.

Large lenses provide good sun blockage.

In terms of their ability to function as a pair of sunglasses I would say they perform perfectly well. The only major issue is that they aren’t polarized, which is probably to increase legibility of digital screens in sunlight (try looking at an iPhone with polarized sunglasses sometime). When I used them on a recent 500 mile+ drive I had no issues with sun glare, being able to read an iPhone screen or comfort. The only thing that really sets these apart from other pairs I have worn in the past is that images appear to have a bit of a  yellow-ish tint to them, which is likely due to the utilization of the same regular Gunnar glasses “technology.” I didn’t find this to be bothersome however and things in general looked very clear.

Hidden pictures of me not included with purchase.

On my recent long drive and other selected occasions I always found the glasses very comfortable. The default fit is pretty good and they even include 2 metal tabs on the front that can be adjusted to your particular nose width and sunglass height preferences.

But despite how they felt, build quality isn’t as good. You can easily flex them and the long stems coming off the frames feel to be largely made of bendable plastic. The nose tabs could maybe break off if they were to be continually adjusted, but I had no issues with mine. They are also slightly large when folded (a lot bigger than my current 10 year+ pair of Oakleys), but they could potentially fit in a loose fitting pocket. Just don’t expect to put these in any hipster jeans without bending them or having a fairly large pocket bulge.

Relatively good sun protection however is included.

Having said all that however, how do they fare overall?

Pros: Electronic screen visibility improved over Oakleys, comfortable to wear.

Cons: Retail price, slightly flimsy build quality.

Final Say: Unless you can find them for cheap, feel free to go for a regular pair of sunglasses.