Over the years GUNNAR Optiks has released a number of exciting collaborations, but I don’t think any of them could match the popularity of their Fallout Vault 33 frames. These frames sold out not once, but twice, and with its recent restock it seems like the perfect time to see if the Fallout glasses are worth the hype. With Gunnar’s impressive blue light blocking technology, coupled with Fallout’s unmistakable retrofuturistic style, are they worth the wait, or is it all just hype?
Gunnar Fallout Glasses Review Overview
Prescription Experience
Prior to talking about the glasses themselves, I want to cover on the prescription aspect since it won’t apply to everyone. Before I was able to get either pair of glasses I had to submit a current prescription. It was nice to see them verify it was current since the last time I bought glasses they didn’t even verify I had a prescription. They also requested I download a mobile app to measure my head/pupil distance. It took about 20 seconds, gave them the numbers, and they did the rest.
Since my last eye exam my prescription changed, so I can’t compare these glasses to another pair I obtained elsewhere. However, I can say with absolute certainty they’re a lot clearer than my old pair. For this reason I would personally trust them to make lens with the right prescription.
I will also note the glasses featured in this review are based off the regular, and prescription version.
Unboxing
For those unfamiliar, Gunnar recently changed their packaging to reflect the companies new direction. Instead of having a simple white box with the company name, they feature a grayish blue and white box that matches the recently revamped website.
Inside is the glasses case, which contains everything included with the Fallout Glasses.
Accessories
Like most recent collaborations, Gunnar did a fantastic job with the included accessories.
The case, which is the same as their Stark Industries Edition, is made of two decently thick pieces of metal in an eye catching electric blue color. In person the color perfectly matches a new Vault jumpsuit, a touch fans will immediately appreciate.
On the top is the Vault Industries logo in its usual yellow color. The only change is the addition of the number 33, which is obviously a reference to the recently released Amazon series. The other side features logos for Gunnar, and Fallout with their copyright information.
Eye Catching Design
For the most part I genuinely like this case. In fact, I could see a lot of people purchasing these glasses specifically for it. The only downside is the textured coating. My fear is misuse will result in damage, ultimately removing the eye catching blue color. I can already see some marks on one of my cases that likely came from minor mistakes. That said, I could see a some fans viewing a distressed case as more authentic to the universe.
Inside is a small plastic insert with a soft, felt-like, finish. On the top is Vault-Tec’s slogan, “revolutionizing safety for an uncertain future.” It’s honestly the perfect touch given how well it brings the entire experience together.
Like all Gunnar products a cleaning cloth, and pouch are also included. The cleaning cloth simply reuses the images found on the case, in a lighter shade of blue. Despite this being a little underwhelming, a Pipboy is featured on the pouch giving the usual thumbs up. Not the most exciting combo, though I could easily see a fan repurposing the pouch.
Design
I think the Fallout glasses really highlight Gunnar’s recent change in approach. Instead of trying to utilize Pipboy, or another popular aspect of the games, they went with a style that wouldn’t look out of in a Fallout game.
The frames feature a large metal body that flares up in the back, thin temples, and fairly standard nose pads. Not only is it a unique style, gunmetal and olive work really well with Gunnar’s iconic amber lens. This is something I can’t say about every frame, but it’s great to see it on one where the amber tint better captures the franchise.
Do You See the Logo?
Another touch many fans will appreciate is minimal branding. Outside of a small Vault 33 logo by the temple hinge, it’s impossible to tell these are gaming glasses. Said logo is also etched into the metal, meaning there is no fear of damage long term.
Comfort
Despite the positives, I feel like Gunnar made a mistake making the Fallout glasses an Epic performance level product. One of the main differentiators between Epic, and Legendary is customizable spring hinges.
I’ve highlighted this feature a few times, since it vastly improves comfort. Instead of having to bend each temple to fit my face, they simply have a second hinge that pushes them to the side. This keeps the frame in pristine condition, along with eliminating another problem.
As a result, the Fallout glasses have a tighter fit. It isn’t so bad I feel the need to get them adjusted, something a LensCrafters or similar service will do for free, though there is no give. I assume this choice was made to better capture the style, it just sucks seeing a great feature being excluded.
Performance
Let me start by saying this review is simply based off my personal experiences with Clear 35, Clear Pro 20, Amber 65, Amber Max 98, and a pair of Blokz I obtained years before. I can also confirm I’ve worn a pair of Gunnar glasses every day for over a year now.
The supposed benefits of blue light blocking glasses include reduced digital eye strain, and better sleep-wake cycle. These root issues can also cause additional problems, such as headaches.
While I strongly believe these helped with my frequent headaches, I saw no additional benefits with any Gunnar lens. Even after going down to Clear Pro 20, my sleep-wake cycle didn’t feel any different. In fact, I’d be legitimately surprised if there was any difference compared to Clear 35, even if I took detailed logs.
Lens Differences
The regular Fallout glasses come in either Amber 65, Clear 35, or sunglasses. Prescription options include the previous tints, plus Amber Max 98, along with transitions in Clear 35, or Amber 65.
To make things easier we’ve included examples of each of these lens, plus their newly released Clear Pro 20. Please note, Clear Pro 20 is currently limited to either the Arbor, or Strata collection. They also recently released a prescription version of Clear Pro 20.
Clear Pro 20 vs Normal
The pictures above give an idea of how Clear Pro 20 perform next to our white theme. A thorough examination shows no real difference with the webpage. The only thing that looks kind of off is the website on my laptop. However, that tint is present on the version without any of the glasses, consistently appears across multiple images, and when enlarged seemingly matches Clear 35 images.
Clear 35 vs Normal
Having worn Clear 35 for a months, it’s surprising how quick the adjustment period is. Most things look largely the same, kind of like comparing a television set on cool, and then changed to warm. Where the difference is most pronounced are white backgrounds, like the page I write these articles on is immediately noticeable, or similarly colored objects. Though by and far it will not stand out if you’re not doing color work.
Clear 35 vs Amber 65
The difference between Clear 35, and Amber 65 is less pronounced than one might think. Instead of being a radically different look, the world looks closer to a sepia tone photo. This is most noticeable with white backgrounds, though other colors vary.
Clear 35 vs Amber Max 98
Amber Max 98 is a lot more pronounced. Not only does it take a minute to get used to, it radically changes how things look. Worth considering if blue light blocking is the most important thing to you.
Reflections
Reflections have been something of a battle with Gunnar glasses. The different tints, and elements to each lens result in varying amounts of reflection, which can be a big deal depending on the situation.
Consistently Amber has been the best at it, followed by Clear Pro, Clear, and finally Amber Max.
Gunnar Fallout Glasses Review Verdict
While I wouldn’t say Gunnar’s Fallout glasses are perfect, these are extremely close. On a basic level they include some of the best accessories Gunnar has offered. As for the glasses, it’s great to see Gunnar embrace different design choices. They offer a distinct style that captures Fallout’s style without being overwhelmed by it. Even if I would love to see flexible hinges on this model, the final product is something that fans, or those who simply like the aesthetic will likely love. Just make sure to act fast, as these have historically sold out extremely fast.
Editor’s Note: Gunnar Fallout glasses were provided to us for review purposes. Since certain elements are unchanged from our other Gunnar reviews, they were reused here. The comparison pictures feature various Gunnar frames.
