Review: GUNNAR Plaid glasses – a professional and comfy style for gamers

Sometimes, you want some outrageous glasses to bring attention to your face. Maybe something with a splash of color (or in the brightest colors you can think of). But, once in a while, you may want something a little more subtle. GUNNAR has always been very good about balancing a bit of both, such as their new GUNNAR Plaid style of glasses.

If you’ve been a reader here for a while, you know that I adore GUNNAR glasses as a whole. But, I’m not afraid to critique any of their styles. So, how does the GUNNAR Plaid stack up in a sea of frame options?

What’s in the box?

Aside from the frames, GUNNAR glasses tend to come with some basic accessories when you purchase them. In nearly all options, you can generally find a branded microfiber cleaning cloth and pouch. But, their nicer glasses tend to come with a full glasses case in the box as well.

For the GUNNAR Plaid, the cloth and pouch are nothing special. No special details or art printed on them. But, they get the job done and I can’t complain much about that.

I’ve spoken at length across several GUNNAR reviews about their glasses cases. Sometimes, they offer glasses that don’t actually fit in the case due to the frame shape of something like the tokidoki glasses they put out this year. Often, you find them giving the cardboard cases, which aren’t bad but can feel like a cop-out. But, once in a while, you get their premium faux leather case. I got that case with the GUNNAR Tallac glasses (which I reviewed over on Knowtechie earlier this year).

The GUNNAR Plaid comes with the same nice case. It’s the saving grace for the otherwise monotone (and simple) accessories. It’s also potentially partially why these glasses are over $100.

I should add an additional note that, while these are the best cases that GUNNAR offers, there’s a felted liner in the case that is a little less premium on these cases. While this has not happened to my Tallac, which I’ve had and used over several months, the Plaid’s case liner did have some glue issues. The box was warm after I got it in the mail, so I’m wondering if heat makes the glue less sticky.

Tech in the Specs (or, Holding a Lens Up to These Glasses)

As with all GUNNAR offerings, the GUNNAR Plaid rocks all of the usual coatings and features of the brand. If you’re unaware, you get anti-reflective, smudge-resistant, and oleophobic (oil-resistant) coatings. 

As with other models, they also work amazingly for blue light blocking and help decrease my eye strain when I wear them. With all of that said, it’s one big reason why I’m constantly giving so much praise about the brand: consistency.

From the get-go, I was baffled at one choice the company made for the GUNNAR Plaid, though. It only comes in their 65 Amber coating. For most frames, they mostly give the choice of Amber or their basic Clear lenses for those who don’t want everything to be yellow. 

But, this frame sticks with only Amber. Even their licensed yet inferior Overwatch collection gave you more lens options.

The prescription option offers so many lenses, however. The Amber is still there, but also the Clear, Amber Max (A much darker version of Amber), and transitions.

The frames are, honestly really nice. Some of their licensed glasses can feel a little more plasticy. But, the GUNNAR Plaid has magnesium-aluminum alloy and feels ridiculously sturdy.

But, wait, that usually means they’re super rigid, right? For once, you’d be wrong.

Wearing the GUNNAR Plaid glasses

I was really surprised at how comfortable the GUNNAR Plaid was to wear. If you’re new here, I have a pretty big head and need a little flexibility. So, imagine my surprise when this rigid-looking frame was so damn comfortable on my face.

Something that this kind of style often does is keep the hinges pretty unmoveable, digging into my head with their metal arms, like the GUNNAR Diablo IV, Sanctuary Edition glasses. But, this pair gives just enough and is super light that I barely notice them. 

And with full nose pads, they sit on your face really comfortably and unobtrusively. If not for the fact that they tint your vision a little yellow, you’d almost forget you’re wearing them. I think this style, unfortunately, would have lent really well to their newer Clear Pro lens option, especially due to the style.

Visually, they’re really nice to look at, too. The shape is nothing super special, but it is a nice, pleasant rectangular design. Instead of just printing a plaid design onto this frame, they went the extra mile to etch the pattern into the metal itself.

All in all, the comfort and design are GUNNAR at its best, while not going for their more crazy looks.

Final Verdict

I’ve never been afraid to speak my mind about GUNNAR’s glasses options. But, I’m happy to report that I don’t actually have much to say negatively about the GUNNAR Plaid glasses. 

I wish they came in other lens options than just their Amber coating. But, for what they’re designed to do and be, the GUNNAR Plaid does exactly what they intended for it.

You can grab the GUNNAR Plaid glasses on their website for $105. While they aren’t the cheapest pair of blue blockers you can get, they’re worth the price. 

While you’re here, you should actually read about the GUNNAR Arbor Collection. They’re by far my favorite offerings from the company at large and I reviewed them here at Comfy Cozy Gaming back in May.