Whether it’s my PC monitor, my phone, or a handheld gaming device, I spend a lot of time looking at screens. While I love a good dark mode and tinker with blue light settings whenever possible, I’ve always been curious to see if glasses meant to block blue light make a difference.
I knew I had to jump at the opportunity to try out a Fallout-themed pair. I’m happy to say that the GUNNAR Fallout Vault 33 Glasses with Amber Lens provide the support they claim, albeit with one smudgey hitch.
Presentation
If you’re feeling drawn to this particular piece of headwear, there is a good chance you’re a fan of the Fallout TV show or the franchise in general. As a fan myself, I can assure you that the first impression is pretty great.
Inside the unassuming grey Gunnar box is a lovely blue metallic hardshell glasses case that evokes the iconic blue vault jumpsuits. Nestled in the case is a microfiber cloth, a drawstring pouch featuring the Vault Boy mascot, and the glasses themselves. They sport a Gunmetal/Olive color scheme and square rims that would feel right at home in the Fallout universe.
What I liked
The good news is that they work as intended. Navigating a white-screen webpage wasn’t nearly as egregious. My eyes were noticeably more comfortable after a late-night gaming session. Even reading digital comics felt better when I didn’t need to lower the brightness after a while.
It helps that they’re quite comfortable. Both in a visual sense, since I got used to the lens tint very fast and rarely noticed it afterwards, and in a physical sense. As heavy and metallic as they sound, they’re lightweight and fit snug on my face. Gunnar does list these as having a 136mm frame width, so I’d recommend checking any similar-sized glasses you may have before purchasing.
I’ll also say I appreciate that the glasses are subtle with brand promotion. Aside from the model type listed on the inside of the left temple and tiny Vault 33 logos on the hinges’ exteriors, they just look like retro-style glasses. That’s just my personal preference, though!
What could be better
The only issue I have with these is that they smudge very easily. This could be apples to oranges, but I have cheaper sunglasses that I wear outside and don’t get dirty as fast as these have for me. Although the provided microfiber cloth is a big help when I notice, I’m not sure the smudge-resistant G-Shield Plus lens coating works as well as they’re meant to.
Verdict
Functionality is the most important thing a product has to get right for me, and the GUNNAR Fallout Vault 33 Glasses nail that. It provides a difference I noticed immediately and prefer over making my displays orange or less bright. Not that this would ever fully replace any display’s anti-blue light feature, but using them together is an enhanced experience.
