I sometimes cringe when out playing a round and being paired with various players. So often, I see people with no hat, no sunglasses, and their forehead turning the most painful hue of crimson by the time we reach the 18th hole. With all that is known about skin cancer and eye damage caused by the sun, it’s more important than ever to be sure to take precautions to prevent such damage from occurring.
I’ve been a devoted sunglass user on the golf course for years. While I appreciate that my eyes are being protected, and I don’t have to walk around “squinting” to shield my eyes from the sun’s rays, sunglasses while golfing can be a pain. Can you trust that you’re seeing the breaks on the greens correctly with them? Do they provide the right amount of shading for various light conditions? Are they simply comfortable on my face, and stay put while addressing a shot? These are some of the questions and demands I place on a pair of golf sunglasses.
I saw an ad for PeakVision Sports golf sunglasses in a recent golf publication. It featured various tour professionals giving their testimonials that they “Trust their PEAKS.” I read the product info, and decided that they at least sounded like what I was looking for in golf sunglasses. I decided to give them a shot. With their 30 day “No Quibbles” return policy, I figured I didn’t have anything to lose.
PeakVision Sports sunglasses feature “Dual Zone” lens technology. With a darker grey tint in the upper portion of the lens, and a lighter amber portion in the bottom, “PEAKS” are supposed to cut glare from the sun above, while still providing optimal clarity for green reading. This makes sense, because after all, -who’s going to change their sunglass lenses in the middle of their round?
The model I went with is called the SL8, or “Slam.” They are a sports shield design with split lenses. One design feature I appreciated about them was the spring-loaded temples. (Yeah, I admit it- I have a fat head.) The PEAKS’ temples accommodated my oversized melon nicely. I was quickly able to adjust the nose pads to fit the width of the bridge of my nose, which in turn, helped to raise the lens to keep them from resting on my cheeks. These are very thoughtful design elements that can often be found on sunglasses that are often a hundred or more dollars above the price of the PEAKS. The adjustability meant they stayed put for me while addressing the ball, and provided a comfortable fit. Just finding sunglasses that fit and feel good on my face is half the battle, and it’s one that the PEAKS came out victorious on.
After the fit of the sunglasses, there is of course the question of optical performance. I’m not an ophthalmologist, as I suspect most of us are not. So when it comes to UV protection, I leave it up to the manufacturer to spell it out for me. But I felt obligated to finally do a little research and find out just what UV 400 protection is when it comes to sunglasses. I found out that invisible ultraviolet light is measured in “nanometers,” or “wavelengths.” Ultraviolet light is found between 50 nanometers and 380 nanometers. So lenses that block the spectrum up to 400 nanometers are of course the best protection for your eyes. That is where the term “UV 400” stems from. Well, PEAKS have UV 400 protection, so we can all rest easy.
Speaking of resting easy- that’s just what my eyes did after my rounds of golf. I was amazed at how fresh my eyes felt after my rounds when wearing the PEAKS. Lessening of eyestrain is one benefit that PeakVision touts, and I can actually say I could tell the difference. The clarity of the lenses was also readily apparent. Everything was very clear, and colors seem to be very true.
So the big question going into this review, of course, was: Can you read putts better with the PeakVisions? While I cannot say for certain that I can read putts “better” with them, I can say this- I didn’t find myself propping them up on my hat while putting like other sunglasses. The reduction in glare was apparent, as was the lessening of eyestrain. Those two factors alone probably will do as much as anything to help read putts “better.” Also, the PeakVisions seem to allow for greater variances in light conditions without the need to remove them. I particularly enjoyed wearing them while practicing in the low evening sun. Some sunglasses I own are very sensitive to a reduction in light, and I need to remove them to clearly see the ball or they are too dark. I was able to keep my PEAKS on right up to sunset without any deterioration in my ability to see clearly.
Overall, I was very impressed with my PeakVision sunglasses. If I could change anything about the model I chose, it would be to have a little more “grip” to the rubber nosepieces, and also some rubber temples to securely keep them in place. They were quite secure under normal conditions. But in 90+ degree heat and humidity with sunscreen on my ears, they did want to shift a little. But that was probably the “litmus” test as far as extreme conditions. PeakVision includes a cleaning cloth that doubles as a protective case, and also includes a hard case that will protect them from crushing while in your golf bag. PeakVision warrants their glasses for one year from date of purchase against structural defects (screws or parts coming loose, faulty frames, etc.) There is also an “insurance” program that will replace the glasses if scratched, broken, the dog eats them, etc. This program is $79.95, so you’ll have to determine just how hard you are on your sunglasses.
I learned to “Trust My PEAKS” while out on the course. They stayed where they’ll be useful- on my face- and not on top of my hat. The clarity of the lenses, as well as the reduction in eye fatigue, allow me to fully recommend them. Take care of your eyes and skin out there people! Make PeakVision Sports’ sunglasses a part of this vital protection. Who knows? You may just sink a few more birdie putts in the process!
Michael White (a.k.a. “Mr_Divots”)
Independent Equipment Consultant/Forums Moderator
Golf-Gear-Review.com
