I have reviewed Gunnar glasses for a long time. I am always excited to see their latest designs and try them out. With their partnership with Overwatch, I knew that Gunner would deliver frames that encapsulated each character. From D.Va’s aesthetic to a style that best represented the brand as a whole. Each frame has so far stood out and with the latest edition, Reaper, I have to say that this forward momentum is paying off.
Design
Perhaps my favorite pair to date, the Reaper glasses have this wrap-around style that meshes with my head perfectly. The curvature of the lens seems to run parallel to eyes, providing a level of clarity I have come to expect out of Gunnar’s lab. I get a clear view of my work and they feel quite natural. The only issue I have is how any spec or smudge will ruin the experience and the cloth that comes included with the glasses doesn’t do a great job at removing these imperfections. Besides that, the rest of the build is excellent! The arms themselves are rigid and strong as Gunnar typically designs their glasses. Instead of typical ABS plastics, Gunner opted for a unique polymer material that is lightweight and impressively durable. I have brought these glasses with me everywhere and they have been retaining their structure even when they are kept inside the drawstring cloth bag.
Upon wearing them, I immediately noticed the snug fit that doesn’t feel too intrusive or painful. At first they look to be designed for smaller heads, but when I placed them on my melon of a noggin, I was surprised to see how comfortable they are. Since the arms lack any sort of inset flair, it’s a smooth feel even around your ears. When I wear my over-ear headphones, I don’t get that pressure that some other glasses of this caliber have. Honestly, the only time where I feel any sort of discomfort is when I am wearing my Beats Pro earbuds which wrap around the ear and make contact with the glasses; granted that is a universal experience when it comes to these particular headphones. When it comes to the weight, I’ll admit that sometimes I forget I am even wearing them. Gunnar makes a lot of different frames in a variety of styles, each one unique. A few that I have tried so far have these embellishments that makes the theme of the glasses really stand out.
If there is one thing that Gunnar knows how to do, it’s marry concepts and deliver a finished product that doesn’t look too opulent or tacky. They have an incredibly keen idea on where their designs should land and they absolutely nailed it with this pair.
Aesthetics
Sure, Reaper is most likely the most “edge lord” looking character who jumps into the fray with his black cloak and white mask, and this pair lends itself to that style. It is adorned in a matte black which I love and his signature mask is seen on the sides in a muted aluminum look. I love how the mask itself melds with the arms and even bends to the shape of the arms. While they are themed after a video game character, they don’t feel that way even with the mask embellishment. The only other refinement is towards the tips of the arms where three aluminum-looking dots are present, which seems to be a Gunnar signature.
Conclusion
There really isn’t much to say on the negative side of this pair. Overall I think they are one of the better pairs of gaming Glasses that one could buy. The only complaint I do have is how they fold as they are not very compact even when put away. But still, when you understand how unique this pair is and how effective they are, you’ll spare the space.
I firmly believe that Gunnar is one of the few companies out there that looks at a brand like Overwatch and knows exactly what to do with them. They always stand on the edge, becoming the razor that slices through other companies that don’t bother to take aesthetics into consideration. This is a strong pair and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for something to accommodate your dark style.
