GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft Glasses Review: Prescription Sunglasses That Finally Made Me Ditch the Clip-Ons

Eyeglasses can be such a personal thing. I’ve worn glasses all of my life, and over the years, my sunglasses have always been clip-ons. Yeah, I can go with transitions, but they darken way faster than they lighten. That bugs me. I’ve never considered prescription sunglasses because my insurance wouldn’t give me a discount, and I have progressive lenses, which can be a major financial roadblock. When I was offered the chance to review the new GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft sunglasses, their retro 1930s field style intrigued me. Prescription? Yes. Progressives? Yes. Better than clip-ons? Let’s find out.

What Is It?

The GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft eyeglasses celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Tomb Raider game. Along with the glasses, GUNNAR includes collector items: A Dagger of Xian sword pin, a microfiber cloth with anniversary insignia, a microfiber pouch, and a tough hard glasses case.

What’s Included?

• Croft sunglasses in the Sun Lens Tint
• Microfiber drawstring pouch
• Microfiber cleaning cloth
• Hard collector’s case
• Daggar of Xian Collector pin

Tech Specs

• Lens width: 50 mm
• Lens height: 45 mm
• Nose: 22 mm
• Frame width: 134 mm
• Temple: 145 mm
• Weight: 28 grams
• Stainless-steel frame
• Flexible spring hinges
• G-Shield Plus anti-reflective and smudge-resistant lens coating
• Blue-light filtering
• 100% UV protection

Design and Features

Although I am reviewing the Croft sunglasses, GUNNAR makes glasses with a wide range of lens options for both indoor and outdoor wear. Even if the Croft design isn’t your “cup of tea,” they offer other styles that may suit your taste.

The GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft eyeglasses feature a stainless-steel frame with flexible hinges. The nose piece is part of the frame, rather than an add-on nose rest used on so many other frames. The anti-reflective and smudge-resistant lenses (easy to clean) offer 100% UV protection.

I’ve never been a fan of roundish glasses frames on my round, chubby face. However, once I tried on the Croft glasses, I thought that they looked pretty darn good. Granted, I got the Sun lenses—a dark blue reflective tint that enhances auto and sports viewing as well as looking at smart device screens outdoors. They block 90% of blue light, which can contribute to digital eye strain.

There are many lens shades offered for the GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft eyeglasses; here is the breakdown:

• Amber
  This light tint blocks 65% of blue light. It’s for indoor use and suits computer work and reading.
• Clear Pro
  This clear, slightly tinted lens aims for perfect color. It’s designed for photo editing, graphic design, and creatives.
• Clear
  Clear is similar to Clear Pro, but with even less tint.
• Amber Max
  This darkish amber tint blocks 98% of blue light. This helps with photo sensitivity, migraine management, and even post-concussion therapy.
• Sun Lens
  Then there’s Sun Lens tint. I call this true sunglasses, which is what caught my attention. It blocks 90% of blue light. This review will concentrate on this tint. Here is a photo with and without Sun Lens tint to highlight the difference. The color is far more accurate when viewed through the Croft lens. Note that the Croft photo is blurred because I shot it through my Rx lens.

You need to visit the GUNNAR site to see each shade properly. Descriptions don’t do them justice.

As I am not a gamer and have never played Tomb Raider (I did enjoy the movies, though), I didn’t understand the significance of the dagger pin or the insignia that came with the GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft eyeglasses. No matter.

The glasses still look cool. I always use the included microfiber pouch since I keep the sunglasses in a compartment in the dash of my sexy 2016 Ford Edge. The included hard case is too large to close the Edge’s compartment lid. Each time I get into my car, I swap my glasses for the Croft sunglasses; it’s become my new routine.

The GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft sunglasses are not polarized, which bothered me when I found out. However, the reason makes sense. GUNNAR designs their glasses to work with smart screens, and if you’ve ever used a smartphone with polarized lenses, it can cause a headache—if you can even see the screen!

I am more than satisfied with the Sun Lens Tint I chose. They are dark enough for our bright Florida sun, but not so dark that I would need to remove them instantly when walking into a store or coffee shop. Plus, they look so cool in their blue, reflective tint. The combination of style and lens is one of GUNNAR’s better offerings.

Then there’s comfort. Out of the box, the GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft sunglasses are my most comfortable pair—even more comfortable than my daily Ray-Ban horn rims. Maybe I’ll consider getting a pair for my indoor glasses. 😉

There’s one caveat to the GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft eyeglasses. The $99 price is reasonable considering their quality. However, with the Rx option, the price can jump considerably, depending on the prescription. I need progressives, so mine were near or at the top of GUNNAR’s price list. Plus, they took 2-3 weeks to arrive after I ordered.

Understand that any pair of Rx sunglasses is going to be expensive, no matter the brand. I get that’s why many choose clip-ons. But once you have sunglasses in your prescription and they are this comfortable … well, there’s no going back.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been wearing the GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft sunglasses for about a month. The longer I wear them, the more I appreciate them. One of the biggest compliments I can give something I’ve reviewed is that it’s now incorporated into my routine. My driving routine now is that once I shut the car door, I reach for the Croft sunglasses. It’s my new muscle memory. 

The GUNNAR Tomb Raider Croft sunglasses start at $99, and prescription options are offered; they are available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample

What I Like: Very comfortable; Stylish retro design; Prescription and progressive options; 100% UV protection; Strong blue-light filtering; Lightweight stainless-steel frame; Flexible spring hinges; Smudge-resistant lenses; Good color clarity; Works well with digital screens; Dark enough for bright sun without being too dark indoors; I appreciate the comfort and freedom of swapping out my glasses for the Croft sunglasses each time I get into my car

What Needs Improvement: They cost more with the Rx option