MAVERICK EYEPRO FROM SINNER
Cheap eye protection is a false economy in virtually
every respect I can think of. Luckily these days we have a
wealth of manufacturers to choose from when it comes to
protecting those all-important “Eyes and Ears”, and testing
for such products is amongst the most stringent out there.
Each and every manufacturer makes the claim that “their
eyepro” is the best on the market, offering huge levels
of protection, that it won’t fog, and will be comfortable
to wear all day long, but in reality anyone that has worn
eyepro will know that it’s a bit of a crapshoot as we all
have different shaped heads and faces and different
metabolisms, and what fits well and performs flawlessly
for one person doesn’t work at all for another!
I’m constantly amazed at how big a market “eyepro”
has become, and the sheer number of “cool guy” brands
that have entered this marketplace with offerings that
whilst they look “tacticool” are actually next to useless
on the range, let alone in any form of “live fire” scenario.
Having glasses that make you look like you’ve just
come off a fashion shoot are all very well, but does their
design make them up to par for what we need in terms
of full-spectrum eye protection?
I was recently contacted by an old friend in the outdoor
performance industry who now works quite high up for
the SINNER brand; now I’ve known of SINNER, a Dutch
company that’s been making high-performance sporting
eyewear since 1996, and I have to say I like their pitch,
which goes;
“There is a SINNER in all of us, whether you like it or not.
We are unique. You too. Because we believe in ourselves
and our passion, we overcome almost every obstacle and
let our dreams come true.”
Now whilst they’ve produced some excellent models for
water sports and winter sports I’ve not been aware of them
in the “world of bangs”, so it was with some surprise that
I reacted when Kev contacted me. What he sent me to try
were the initial models from SINNER, the “Mavericks”, and
thus far I’ve been pretty impressed with them!
The Mavericks (cool name right enough!) are a classic
modern eyepro design with just enough of a “signature”
to make them stand out from the herd. The set I was sent
arrived in a sturdy protective zipped softcase, with three
abrasion resistant lenses (dark, clear, and amber), an
adjustable nosepiece, neoprene headstrap, and a cleaning
cloth that’s for once big enough to use! So far so good…
The glasses are documented as being tested by ICS Labs
in the USA, and are rated ANSI Z87+ and BS EN166 which
makes me happy and assured that they’re good to go for
the intended use. They also come with a clearly-written
and illustrated information guide that’s obviously been put
together by someone who actually knows what they’re
about, as it talks about “best, most protective fit” in a way
that’s understandable!
The fit is very good as I’d expect from an eyewear
specialist, and lens changing is easy and straightforward.
It’s not really been hot enough yet to really push
the lenses in terms of fog-resistance, but rest assured
I’ll do so and report back after a few summer range/
training sessions. My first impression of the “Mavericks”
is extremely positive, and I believe that we can expect
good things from SINNER in the future. If this is how they
set their stall; as yet the Mavericks are not available for
sale so I’m unable to give you a firm price on them, but I
would certainly recommend you try a pair for yourself as
soon as you see them, as personally I believe SINNER are
onto a WINNER!
GEAR ON TEST
pmcimagazine.com