ProView – Zeal Optics Minturn

How many times have you said something along the lines of “I just buy the cheap sunglasses because I’m just going to lose, break, or scratch them anyway”? I’ve probably said some version of that sentence one hundred times. To be honest, yeah, I usually do end up breaking my sunglasses. However, after a few months with a pair of Minturn’s from Zeal and a one year old baby with a new found love for my hat and sunglasses, I am starting to think that maybe my sunglasses always break because they are just cheap sunglasses.

For someone with eyes that are so light sensitive that I sometimes wear my sunglasses while driving in snowstorms, you might think I’d invest in a nice pair of sunglasses. As it turns out (no surprise here), it actually makes a world of difference. 

I began testing my pair of Minturns earlier this summer in the sunny foothills west of Golden, Colorado. Since then, I have worn them literally everyday. I’ve had them with me on trips to ten different states. I’ve worn them in sun, rain, and snow. They’ve been a nice companion in every condition. 

Fit/Comfort

So, I’ve got a larger sized head and many sunglasses that I try on don’t fit my face. The Minturn uses Zeal’s oversized Z-Lite frame and they fit my face really nicely. Obviously everybody’s face is unique but if you have a larger head/face then these sunglasses might be just what you’re looking for. 

In terms of comfort, these are really comfortable sunglasses. They’re super light weight and I basically forget that they’re on my face. Which is exactly what I want. They sit on my face nicely and I haven’t experienced any pinching or pressure from the band behind my ears like I do with other sunglasses.

Look/Style

When it comes to looks I really do like the way they look. I think they look similar to many other sunglasses in Zeal’s line. I tested the olive green frames with dark grey lenses and I love the color combo. The green is really nice and I prefer un-colored lenses. 

Features

The Minturns come with really high quality Ellume Polarized lenses, the aforementioned oversized Z-Light frame, and two-stage Camloc hinge to keep the temples from scratching your lenses. They’re also impact resistant which I can attest to because my one year old absolutely loves to spike my pair on the concrete and they still look brand new. I also really appreciate the rubber on the band where the band touches your head behind your ears and the rubber where the bridge touches your nose. 

Weight/Packability

Look, I’ll be honest; I don’t really know what the qualifier is for “ultralight sunglasses” but in my opinion these are ultralight sunglasses. They feel weightless on my face. What else could you ask for?

Function/Performance

Function and Performance? These function just how I would expect a premium pair of sunglasses to function. Which is to say, they function really well. The lenses are crystal clear (when I havent just removed them from my son’s mouth), they protect my sensitive eyes from the sun in a wide variety of conditions, they’re light weight and they’re comfortable. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier with the performance of these sunglasses. 

Durability/Construction

As I’ve mentioned several times, my son has been trying to destroy these for months. So far, he’s been unsuccessful. I’ve stepped on these, wrecked my bikes on these, and dropped them a thousand times. They still look brand new and the lenses have held up as well. Overall, I am very happy with the durability. 

Friendliness to the Earth

Plant based frames AND lenses! The Minturn is made with both and that means less petroleum based products on the market and in the landfills.

The Final Word 

If you are looking for a premium pair of sunglasses that fit as well as they perform then give the Minturn a try! The fit is geared toward people with larger heads and faces so keep that in mind. After several months of daily use I can honestly recommend these high quality sunglasses. 

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