In the forum section of The Hackers Paradise there is thread titled “What would you like Golfer Gal to review?” In that thread I take suggestions on what people would like me to review and the overwhelming response was sunglasses. I figured I would hear suggestions for equipment or golf balls but instead it was eyewear. Well, I aim to please so I reached out to several different eyewear companies to seek out golf specific sunglasses and I was pleased with how many responded. One of those companies, whose glasses turned out to be the overall favorite by the men, was Bollé Performance Eyewear.
About the company:
Bollé delivers the highest quality sunglasses for performance and protection. Al Bollé we are constantly refining our trademark combination of fit, fashion, and comfort, resulting in some of the freshest and most technologically advanced eyewear in the industry.
Performance Innovations:
*Lightweight, shatterproof lenses
*Flexible, virtually indestructible Hydration frames
*Advanced, sport-specific lens technology
Superior Products for Over 100 Years:
Since 1888 Bollé has crafted premium sunglasses, ski goggles, safety eyewear, and military and tactical eyewear from the finest frame and lens material in our own factory.
As touched on in the ‘About the company’ section, Bollé has been making high quality sunglasses for over 100 years. The quality is what made us think of this brand but it is their golf specific technology, called Eagle Vision, that made us reach out to them.
EagleVision Technology:
The Bollé 2010 EagleVision collection consists of six distinct styles and two lenses, EagleVision 2 and EagleVision2 Dark. The technology works by optimizing contrast in the green portion of the color spectrum, resulting in an enhanced view of the subtle undulations in the green and significantly reduced glare.
Bolle EagleVision/2
EagleVision lenses are Constructed of b20.3™ polycarbonate, these lenses are 20 times more impact-resistant than glass and three times lighter.
From the sleek Warrant with b-Toric™ lenses – which closely follow the natural curve of the face, improving peripheral vision and UV protection – to the newest model, Vitesse, all Bolle sunglasses with EagleVision feature semi-rimless or rimless frames for an unobstructed view, especially while glancing down.
For greater versatility, three EagleVision models have Optics Control System™ (O.C.S.), Bollé’s unique and easy-to-use interchangeable lens technology. The availability of Bollé’s exclusive Sport Optical System™ (S.O.S.) ensures that golfers requiring prescription glasses can also enjoy the benefits of EagleVision.
We had two styles of Bollé glasses to test called the Parole and the Kickback. There were a few factors that we were looking at when reviewing theses glasses. Does the technology really work? Are they comfortable? And how do they look? We will start with the technology. We had several different golfers wear these glasses for their rounds and each and every golfer had the same response “These glasses are great!” They all agreed that the technology really does work. They were able to see the greens clearly, there were no issues with glare and no distractions from the sunglasses. Durability was another factor for many and Bollé passed the test there as well. After being thrown in the golf cart, in their golf bags, the car, and even dropped on the floor these glasses held strong and looked as good as new.
Another important quality we looked for was the comfort. It’s great if the sunglasses perform well but if they aren’t comfortable it won’t really matter because no one will wear them. I am happy to report that our testers said the Bollé glasses were incredibly comfortable and many said they were more comfortable then their current glasses. They sat nicely on the face and were not too tight on the ears or nose. They also fit well and did not move or slip when looking down or taking a swing. A true test of this is when you forget you are wearing them and THP’s own JB on two occasions forget he even had them on. The Bollé sunglasses definitely passed the comfort test.
Finally, we wanted to know what people thought about how they looked. Both styles were very well liked, but of the two sunglasses the Parole’s won the looks contest by a very small margin. I think a lot of that had do do with the additional interchangeable lenses which were a big hit with the testers. They also really liked the shape of the frame as it seemed to be a better fit for the golfers’ faces. It was nice to have two different styles because it offered up something for everyone.
Sunglasses can be a very personal thing and the decision on which pair to choose is not often taken lightly. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to test out two amazing pairs of glasses from a company that has been around for a long time and for a very good reason. Their EagleVision technology is quite remarkable and our testers are still talking about it and a few have been completely converted. The debate of sunglasses on the golf course is as popular as whether or not to wear a glove while putting. Some can’t imagine putting with a glove on and others feel it’s the only way to play. It’s the same thing with sunglasses. If you are a person who doesn’t normally wear sunglasses on the course but have thought about trying them out, I hope you put Bollé on your list. I truly believe you will be pleasantly surprised and when you pack technology into comfort and style, you have it all. To see all that Bollé has to offer you can visit their website here.
Your Fashion Guru
Golfer Gal
I like the Paroles. They are they kind of sunglasses I like to wear (wraparound). I do have a couple of questions:
1. Are the lenses polarized?
2. Above the X shape of the nose piece it looks like there is a tab that can be taken out. When I got fitted for glasses and was looking for sunglasses, they had a pair similar to these that had a rubber piece that held two regular prescription lenses behind the sunglasses (and snapped into the tab). I would have gotten those, but the lenses were not polarized. Is this the same kind of thing?
Good review GG. I’ve always like Bolle’s quality and their lenses are top notch!
Thanks for the review GolferGal. I really like the looks of the Parole.
Smallville-
Below are the answers, directly from the company, regarding your questions:
1.) The EagleVision lens is not polarized. Nearly all Bolle sunglasses are available with the option of polarized lenses, including the ones featured in this article.
2.) Yes, it is exactly what you described. If you, or anyone, are looking for a sport sunglass with polarized lenses which can be fitted with a prescription insert, Bolle’s Parole (and Vigilante) model would fit the bill.
If you have any other questions please let me know.
Golfer Gal
Thanks, GolferGal!
I own a pair of the Parole with 4 different lenses for different conditions. They are great and more durable than my Oakley’s that broke twice.
Morgan,
(This is Mrs. T2GRN) Does the Bolle V3 claim of showing the breaks and undulations of the green more clearly hold true? I’m really reluctant to sink more money into sunglasses that don’t live up to the hype.
I say give them a try the next time you are at a THP event. Might be the best way to tell. For us, they worked quite well in the bright sun.