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So far, we’ve brought you reviews of glasses from Gunnar Optiks that are great for blocking the sun, as well as a frame that is made for swapping out lenses. What if you’re looking for a simpler setup, something that’s lightweight but still feels sturdy? Perhaps it’s the Gunnar Menlo that will fit the bill for you.
Gunnar Menlo: what they are
The Gunnar Menlo is a fairly lightweight set of glasses (just 28g) that block a healthy dose of the blue light rays coming at your eyes from the computer, tablet, phone, and even e-reader. For our review, we had a pair come in with their amber lenses, which block 65% of the blue light spectrum. Does this tint things that you’re seeing? Sure, but you get used to it fairly quickly.
The frames themselves have a familiar look to them, sort of like a softened keyhole frame approach. What is great about these is that the frames themselves, as well as the arms, are fairly slim. There’s enough there to give things some presence, but not so much that they become heavy on your face. The resin used also feels robust, so you’re not worried about setting them down on the table or shelf.
Wearing the glasses
As I’ve mentioned in other glasses reviews, I’ve got a fairly wide face, which makes fitting glasses difficult. Here, I thought things fit quite well. The arms were long enough, and the lens themselves were wide enough that they didn’t seem undersized on my face. I wouldn’t have minded if the bridge was a touch wider to let the frames sit lower on my nose, but that’s a preference thing for how glasses sit and fit. This is also why it’s a good idea to try glasses on in person when you can.
These glasses quickly settled into being my main readers (we had them come in with a prescription). By that, that means they stayed in the bedroom, and are the glasses I grab when it’s reading time, normally in the evenings. They definitely get the job done, and I thought they worked well for keeping the stray blue light from my eyeballs, which is particularly helpful in the evenings.
Wrapping things up
Unfortunately, it does not appear that the Gunnar Menlo is actually still available from Gunnar. They have an Attache frame that offers a similar style, albeit in a tortoiseshell frame. If you want the Menlo, it looks like there are other retailers out there you can find it at, including over at Amazon for just under $100. gunnar.com
Gunnar Menlo Specs
- Lens Width: 56mm
- Bridge: 18mm
- Temple: 145mm
- Weight: 28g
- Fit: Wide
