Proper eyewear is one of those things you just need in life. Some people have their standard go-tos that they use for years. Some people have full collections of glasses. Then there are the folks who lose sunglasses, no matter how much they paid for them. A perfect product line that would suit picky collectors and aloof scatterbrains alike is the Knockaround brand of sunglasses. We take a look specifically at a set of “premium sport” glasses.
We got our hands on a pair of Premium Sport limited edition Nerf glasses and are basing our review on our experiences with them. The Nerf Limited edition glasses appear to be no longer offered by Knockaround, but they have a huge and impressive line of other glasses to check out.
A little about Knockaround
According to the Knockaround website, founder Adam “Ace” Moyer wanted to produce a set of sunglasses that would “be affordable, if you lost them or broke them, no big deal.” Glasses are said to start at $34.00. Sure, you can get some gas station specials for less…But, these aren’t gas station specials. Knockaround glasses have some quality and thought put into them.
The styles
Knockaround has an extensive selection of 25 frame styles and offerings, and counting. Whether you’re looking for a trendy and eye catching style or something subdued and muted, Knockaround has quite the selection.
The lenses
Knockaround offers lenses that are polarized and non-polarized. Their site advertises lenses to be “offered with both standard UV400 protection and polarized lenses.” What’s also unique about the lens selection is that Knockaround has over 18 polarized colors, 18 non-polarized, and different blue light filter lenses, per options in their custom build wizard.
The frames
Each model of Knockaround sunglasses has a unique style and is rooted in an artistic vision. Depending on the style of glasses, you could be looking at over 45 different frame colors, and that’s just one type of custom frame options available.
Frames are offered in sport or non-sport configurations. The sport option has a rubberized nose bridge pad. The pad offers friction between the glasses frames and your face, making them less likely to slip and move.
Where things get really cool are in the limited editions and collabs.
Limited editions and collabs
There are a myriad of limited edition and collaborative glasses. Limited editions are unique and designed to embrace an ideology and or scene. For example, the “Headbanger” Fort Knocks glasses are adorned with the “‘Sign of the Horns’ hand gripping a bolt of lightning.” Collaborations that are featured include sports teams, musicians, and other pop culture trademarked properties.
As noted earlier, the glasses we got our hands on are the Nerf limited editions.
How’d we like the polarized limited edition Premium Sport sunglasses?
The Nerf limited edition Premium Sport sunglasses came packaged in a cardboard box and they were within a microfiber lens cleaning drawstring bag. Both the packaging and microfiber protective pouch have the 90’s retro neon color motif. Removing the glasses from the case revealed the loud and proud neon design of these unique glasses.
The frames are made of standard plastic and they are lightweight. The arms are constructed to retain their shape but do have some give to them. Designed to be for “medium” and “small” sized faces, the frames are comfortable and don’t pinch at the temples or around the ears. Premium frames are advertised to be well suited for “oval,” “square,” and “rectangle” faces.
Sport versions of the Knockaround glasses include rubber padding, as noted earlier, where the frames meet the bridge of the nose. The padding is a nice addition and does keep the glasses from sliding with every movement of the head.
The lens quality really shocked me. I’m big on having anti-glare lenses, and these polarized ones really did the job. Not only do the lenses block out a sufficient amount of sunshine, they also add visual acuity to the wearer’s vision.
Cost
I had my eyes set on the Nerf Knockarounds for several months and then waited until they were half off before pulling the trigger. Apparently I got in right at the end of their reign, as they’re no longer being offered at the Knockaround site in the U.S.
That being said, the limited edition Premium glasses currently run between $40.00 and $45.00. Standard glasses are priced as low as $28.00 and sale items pop up all the time. The most expensive set of sunglasses, at the time of publication, seem to be at $75.00. A two lens set of ski goggles ran up to $90.00 as well.
Considering the price range, these are fashionable glasses that won’t break the bank.
The quick and dirty
Pluses: Trendy designs. Quality made. Good lens quality. Affordable.
Minuses: Made of a more rigid plastic which could make them more prone to breakage.
Overall the Knockaround Premium Sport glasses were a good buy. If you shop around, you can find them for different prices. The glasses hold true to their namesake, they’re good to just knock around in. If you’re looking for a new set of glasses, I’d seriously consider checking out Knockaround’s line of eyewear.
A whole slew of Knockaround glasses can be purchased over at Amazon.
