Spy Sunglasses

Spy Optic, Inc.

Based in San Diego County, California, Spy Optic is in a perfect location for sports enthusiasts of all kinds. Staff members have access to surfing ,skating, wakeboarding, motocross, mountain biking, and snowboarding, which might explain why the company's sunwear is popular among serious athletes in these sports: sports-friendly features are the result of sports-oriented designers and developers working to perfect the product. Among the athletes who contribute to SPY's research and development efforts are:

• Keith and Chris Malloy (surf)
• Todd Richards (snowboard)
• Rob Drydek (skateboard)
• Kevin Windham (motocross)
• Cory Nastazio (BMX)

What's Unique About Spy Sunglasses?

Rather than being manufactured on conveyor belt assembly lines in China, Spy sunglasses are hand-crafted in Italy. The company states that all color fading on their sunglasses and goggles is handpainted by an Italian artisan. The Spy logos are likewise hand-painted (or hand set). Design of the product lines is done in California, but the manufacturing process is done under strict quality-control conditions in Italy.

Because Spy sunwear is made for use in rugged athletic conditions, some of which require helmet use, there are five styles of goggles that are specifically recommended for use with helmets: Blizzard, Comet, Orbit, Soldier, and Targa.

Two different lens types are available: spherical and cylindrical. The spherical lenses use ARC technology, while the cylindrical lenses are thermoformed, making them less expensive but also quite clear. Prescription lenses are available through SOLA Sunlens, which distributes solely to dealers. These lenses are available for certain frame types, and only in bronze, gray, and clear.

Spy Sunglass Innovations

Spy Optic has developed a number of advancements in sun protection. Spy products protect 100 percent against UVA, UVB, and UVC, and they meet the ANSI Z80.3 standard. They are protected by 37 pending patents. Some of their developments include:

• ARC Prismatic polycarbonate lenses: ARC stands for "accurate radius curvature," which means that the lens is thickest at the optical center, then thins toward the edges. This technological advance was developed when researchers found that the standard sunglass curve caused refraction that led to headaches and vision distortion. The shape and thickness of the Spy lens combats this problem by eliminating the refraction.
• Trident polarized lenses: Spy's special polarization film reduces glare by 99 percent, making these lenses ideal for high-glare sports like skiing, snowboarding, and wakeboarding.
• Scoop frames: Scoop technology is an anti-fogging device that forces air through special vents as the wearer moves forward, so that humid (warm) air is drawn out from behind the lens. This technology is one of the most effective anti-fogging strategies ever developed.

Warranties and Replacement Lenses

Spy offers a generous warranty against manufacturer's defects, with clear instructions on how to make a claim under warranty. The warranty does not cover scratches, but the company does offer replacement lenses for a number of its frame styles. These replacement kits are reasonably priced, and make it far less worrying to invest in this performance eyewear. Scratches happen, especially in action sports, so knowing that a relatively simple, inexpensive solution is available adds security.

What Color Lenses Are Available?

Spy has products in nearly every color that might be desired. Gray or bronze are recommended for general use, while clear, orange, yellow, and rose are available for low-light conditions. Mirrored lenses are available, as are cyan lenses for those who prefer them.

What Products Are Available?

Spy has several product lines, including a backpack line and a clothing line. Sunglass styles are divided into Women's (8 styles), Fashion (17 styles), Scoop (4 styles), Snow (7 styles), and MX (4 styles). All styles are on the cutting edge of fashion, with shapes and patterns to suit a variety of personal tastes. The online gallery is easy to navigate and gives a good all-around image of each style and the colours in which it is available. One really amazing frame pattern is the "Wood Stock" collection, patterned to look like they are made from teak-wood. This limited-edition finish is available only in certain styles.

Celebrity Cachet

If you follow the stars -- star athletes, of course -- then Spy is definitely the brand to go for. Big names in all of the actions sports wear Spy. Dozens are listed on the website, but here are a few to whet your appetite:

• Wade Goodall
• Devine Calloway
• Erica Hosseini
• Keala Kennelly
• Erik Christensen
• Corey Bohan
• Parks Bonifay
• Lauren Loe
• Sean Hamblin
• Heath Voss
• Charles Gagnier
• Liam Downey
• Marie Martinod

Related Sunglass Links

• Sport Sunglasses
• Polarized Sunglasses
• Cool Sunglasses
• Choosing Sunglasses
• UV Index