Zeal Optics Range Review

Zeal Optics was started in 1997 in Moab, Utah.  They moved their business to Boulder, Colorado shortly thereafter, which is where they still reside.  They believe in being stewards of the environment.  Their frames and lenses are made from plant based materials and their prescription lens lab produces zero waste, either recycling or repurposing the leftover materials.  In fact, they are the only company in the world that uses 100% plant based materials to make their sunglasses, which is pretty cool.

The frames are made from the oil of the castor bean instead of from crude oil like most companies use to make their frames and lenses.  The Castor plant is the perfect resource because it is an efficient, fast-growing perennial that is not only drought-tolerant, but can thrive in less than ideal conditions.  Zeal Optics calls this the Z Resin Process. 

The lenses are made using what Zeal Optics calls the E-llume process.  It uses a plant based bonding agent instead of petroleum-based materials.  They can produce great clarity using this process while still being eco conscious.  They can do all of this and still provide complete protection from UVA, UVB, UVC, and HEV light.  The polarized lenses cut 99% of the glare and use the best polarizing film on the market from Japan.  Their sunglasses not only meet, but exceed the tough ANSI Impact Resistance Standards.

The Range comes with mirrored lenses that look great.  The lenses have a hydrophobic lens coating that repels water, oil and dust and an oleophobic lens coating to reduce fingerprints.  The nose bridge and arms are injected with what Zeal Optics calls Pro Flex, which provides a soft comfortable hold.  These are made for people with average sized faces.  I love the way that they fit and look. 

Zeal Optics offers a 30 day money back warranty as long as the sunglasses are in resellable shape when they receive them.  That is the only thing that surprised me.  These are such great sunglasses and all of the other sunglasses companies that that provided sunglasses to test give at least a lifetime warranty against manufacture defects.  I also did notice that when I was driving and the sun was shining on the tail light of the car in front of me, there were three halos that appeared.  It seemed like the sun had to be in a specific position because I didn’t notice this other than a few times.  Not a big issue for me.

Pros:

Very light weight material

Great fit, doesn’t bounce around while running

Great peripheral coverage

Mirrored lenses look great

Made from plant based materials, better for the environment

Cons:

The warranty is not as good as other sunglass companies

On very rare occasion, I noticed red halos when looking at a cars tail light.

The Range is a great pair of sunglasses.  I not only use these for running, but they have become my everyday sunglasses as well.  That is saying a lot because there were several amazing sunglasses that I tested.  While they were the most expensive sunglasses I tested (at $139.00) they are well worth the price.

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Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.