Overall
Rating: 9/10
If you are into water sports, these are the sunglasses you’ve been looking for.
Methods
We received two pairs of Rheos to test – Coopers and Waders. I’ve been wearing them primarily while hiking in various weather conditions ranging from rainy to sunny, and for driving.
Features
Rating: 10/10
These sunglasses are packed with a surprising amount of benefits for their low price point – buoyant, polarized, 100% UV protection, anti-fog, hydrophobic, oleophobic (oil resistant), and anti-scratch.
Function
Rating: 8/10
I tested all of the boasted features and found that Rheos perform well in almost every category.
I smeared the lenses with my oily fingerprints and was pleased at how well I was able to clean them with just the microfiber pouch that came with them. While I didn’t intentionally try to scratch them, I have thrown them around my car and purse quite a bit unprotected, and the lenses still look great. I tossed them into Sabino Creek, and not only did they float perfectly, they dried without any water spots.
The polarization is excellent for an inexpensive pair of glasses, but I was a little disappointed that the red tinted lenses actually look quite blue from the inside as I prefer looking through warmer hues. They are fairly dark, and best on days with full sun. I hiked with them once on a cloudy day with bright, diffuse sunlight and found that I had to take them off and put on a lighter pair as I just wasn’t seeing enough contrast.
Comfort
Rating: 10/10
Probably the most comfortable pair of glasses I’ve ever worn. They feel extremely light on the ears and nose.
Style
Rating: 7/10
They don’t really ooze style. This category is entirely subjective and I’m no fashionista, but I found both the Waders and Coopers to be somewhat awkward looking. The front of the frame is very straight and juts out from your face instead of wrapping around it, which means they have a little more prominence than other sunglasses. No, they’re not ugly, but you’re not going to win any fashion awards.
Value
Rating: 10/10
These are an excellent pair of shades for the low price point, especially if you’re able to snag them on one of the frequent sales that Rheos runs. They include a lifetime warranty for any manufacturing related defects, and a one-time replacement in the event of damage or loss for a flat fee of $20. Having donated more than a few pairs of sunglasses to the ocean, I’m pretty stoked on that perk.
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