Over the years we’ve covered a number of Gunnar glasses. These ranged from wood, collaborations, to even unique concepts, but none of these were classified as “mythic” performance level. This tier was previously limited to more ambitious offerings, such as the stunning Loki glasses, though this has finally changed with Tahoe. Given high expectations, and this being the first pair to feature mineral glass lens; is it worth the premium, or is it all hype?
GUNNAR Tahoe Review Overview
Prescription?
One of Tahoe’s “key features” confirms it’s not available with prescription lens. It’s possible this will change sometime in the future, but I would not expect this to change with this particular style.
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 the box is Tahoe, along with the included accessories.
Accessories
Tahoe includes a case, pouch, and cleaning cloth. Unfortunately, the version we received had their standard glasses case. Gunnar confirmed this product should come with an “exclusive quadfold case,” and said case is described as “mythic-level.”
Prior to writing this review I looked to see if anyone happened to upload an image of this case, but the only thing I could find was another review that featured the same case. For this reason I am including the best image of the case I could find. For those curious about the old case, it’s something we detailed in our previous Vertex reviews.
Tahoe also includes Gunnar’s standard cleaning cloth, and pouch. This is the “current” version, so the cloth is grey with a G icon, and the pouch is a dark blue with dots across one side.
Design
Right off the bat I noticed the lens looked different from other Gunnar glasses. After examining them next to several other Amber 65 lens I think they’re noticeably sharper. In an effort to see if that is true, or it’s just a placebo effect I asked three people which lens they preferred. In all three cases they selected Tahoe.
I also believe Tahoe has a slightly different amber tint. The mineral glass amber has a more orange hue, whereas the standard lens is closer to yellow. Whether this is true or not I wouldn’t expect them to offer a measurable performance difference.
The difference in build quality is also immediately apparent. When touching the “high-quality Italian” acetate it feels more polished. There is still a certain slickness, just one that is smoother to the touch compared to even Gunnar’s “Premium acetate.”
In addition to feeling better, there are a lot of small touches that make this feel like a premium product. For instance, there is a catch for the temple tip that securely holds it in place next to the hinge. The temples feature a substantial aluminum magnesium alloy segment that is unlikely to break. A small metal bar, and accent are present on the top further reinforcing the frame.
Premium vs Basic
I even like the way the acetate itself looks. I snagged a pair of $15~ readers with a similar style, and the colors don’t blend as well. I am sure given enough time I could find something similar, though another big difference is how the support frame is utilized in the aesthetic.
Hidden Accents
When light hits these sections it causes the metal to shine through the acetate. It’s a striking look that comes off as somewhat playful. Similar accents are present on the sides as well. All of this gives Tahoe some much needed flare without being too ostentatious.
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
Tahoe comes in either Amber 65, or Clear Pro 20. This is unique among Gunnar styles, and it’s hard to say if they will expand the mineral glass line to include the other tints. Since the options are very specific on this frame we’ve changed our normal selection to reflect that. The full range can be found in other reviews, such as the Fallout glasses.
Clear Pro 20 vs Normal
The pictures above gives 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.
Amber 65 vs Normal
Amber gives everything a slight yellow tint. This isn’t a big deal in most situations, though not ideal for anyone with a job where color accuracy matters. They will also have an adjustment period that can last a couple hours, to multiple days.
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.
Since this is a different type of lens, one I only have in the amber tint, I figured I would simplify things by showing the two side by side. Please note, Amber 65 has consistently done the best with reflections, with Tahoe doing an even better job.
GUNNAR Tahoe Glasses Review Verdict
While Tahoe isn’t for everyone, it seems like a no brainer for professionals. It’s a stylish frame that features premium materials built to last. It’s also great to see the Clear Pro 20 line continue to expand, given there are a lot of potential buyers waiting for the right offering. For all of these reasons it makes a compelling package, one that is worth the higher cost of entry.
Editor’s Note: GUNNAR Tahoe was 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.
