Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Although SPY Optic’s Discord sunglasses have been available for a while now, they only recently included the option of glass lenses. Your excitement level over this development most likely depends on your preference: glass or plastic.
Both types of lenses offer advantages. Plastic lenses are particularly lightweight and durable. Glass lenses, on the other hand, offer scratch-resistance, vision clarity and are less likely to be damaged by extreme temperatures.
SPY promotes these new glass lenses as some of the best color- and contrast-enhancing lenses on the market. They certainly live up to the hype, offering crisp detail and a bold pop of color. Protection-wise, they block short-wave blue light, UVA and UVB, while allowing long-wave blue light to pass through to the eyes. They compare favorably to other elite lenses out there, like those from Oakley and Costa Del Mar.
While the glass lenses work wonders for the optics of the sunglasses, they also add weight. That can be problematic for sunglasses with a tendency to slide off your head, but the Discord frame is designed to remain snuggly in place. The arms have a tackiness to them that keeps them stationary, even when your face is sweaty.
That being said, some people may not like the increased weight. I found that it gave the sunglasses a nice heft, without making them too heavy. It’s clearly a preference thing, however, and glass lenses won’t be for everyone. But if you're interested in lenses with stunning clarity, you may want to check these out.
GRADE: A
PRICE: $250
Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com contributor team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. He is also the author of the book "Rhino Trouble." You can contact him at grantorrin@gmail.com.
