Under Armour’s Storm collection of eyewear consists of several styles of sunglasses for an active outdoor lifestyle. I was able to review the Under Armour Storm Igniter 2.0 with polarized lenses. Each model in the Under Armour Storm collection is based upon a lens that is resistant to the outdoor elements of salt water, insect repellent, and oils, while offering a strong, light frame. I am an active cyclist and encounter these elements almost daily, which creates havoc with lens clarity.
The Igniter 2.0 is a model that has minimal bulk with a half-frame design, with a frame made out of “ArmourFusion”, which is a hybrid material of titanium and Grilamid (a very light polymer), so the frame is extremely light and has a nice “springy” feeling to it. I am confident in stating that the Under Armour Storm Igniter 2.0 is capable of surviving rough treatment better than other frames that may not offer as much flexibility.
Under Armour designed the Storm Igniter 2.0‘s earpieces with a nice spring-loaded “snap in to place” feeling when opening the frames up for wear, and the inside surface is coated in a rubber-like material, as is the nosepiece. Another nice feature on the nosepiece is that not only is it rubber -like, it is textured to help with grip and prevent the frames from slipping down when wet.
Moving on from the frame to the lens, Under Armour has made the Storm collection‘s lenses meet and exceed ANSI Z87.1 standards for eyewear. All lenses block UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. These lenses on the Storm Igniter 2.0 are polarized lenses to help reduce glare.
Inside the box you get a hard case, a nice storage bag and the sunglasses. The fit is slim with a very secure feeling. Optical clarity is excellent and they did not slip at all when I was sweating. I have never been 100% satisfied with polarized lenses as there are times when you are not able to see an LCD screen at all due to glare. The Igniter 2.0 was better than most polarized lenses in allowing me to see my bicycle computer and car radio‘s screen without too much trouble of tilting my head a certain angle to offset any glare.
While the Under Armour Storm Igniter 2.0 is incredibly light and a half frame design, there was quite a bit of the frame in the top of my field of view which was exacerbated while cycling and at times I found myself looking over the top of the frame entirely. During normal outdoor use, I do not think that this would be a deal breaker, but I would try these out prior to buying to make sure their fit and design will work for you. There are other frame designs and shapes in the Under Armour Storm collection to suit most people and their needs.
Despite the frame in my field of vision, I found the Storm Igniter 2.0‘s lenses to the clearest I have used to date. The polarized feature does not hamper using my cycling computer at all and the reduction in glare from riding along the water, puddles, and shiny metal from cars is a wonderful bonus.
I have found very few sunglasses that are capable of handling rough treatment while still being light and offering a good lens. The Under Armour Storm Igniter 2.0 is among the select few that can handle an outdoor lifestyle while providing clarity and protection for your eyes. Check them out at www.underarmour.com
– Alex (Dos)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Under Armour Storm Igniter 2.0 sunglasses for free from Under Armour, in consideration for review publication