Defender Lens Technology
What is the Defender Lens?
The Defender Lens is our signature polarized TAC Nylon material with a hard-coating applied to the lenses after they have been shaped. This hard coat creates a stronger foundation for mirror application which enhances the durability of the lens against corrosive agents - like salt-water and sweat.
If you want the defender lens today, the Rockpile is the only style available; however, the Scraggy, Stone Cat, and Kingfish will be available with the defender lens soon! Guaranteed in time for Summer 2025. Make sure you are signed up for our newsletter to stay up to date.
If you've ever had a pair of sunglasses that started to have their mirror coating scratch and wear away, it is thanks to the corrosive powers of salt. The Defender Lens is our solution to the degradation of sunglasses from salt-water and sweat. Take a look at these sunglasses:
This happens because the salt-water is able to "stick" to the lens surface and dry, leaving sharp salt crystals on your lens. As you clean your lenses these crystals start to scratch the lens coating (mirror) and eventually you end up with a pair of sunglasses looking like that.
But I don't live near the ocean...
And neither do we! Apart from the coast, salt-water is not a concern; however, sweat is something we all produce. Activities like:
- Triathlon
- Cycling
- Distance Running
- Weekend Hiking
- Errands with the kids
All happen outside, in the sun (hopefully while its nice outside)! Wearing your sunglasses daily, to protect your eyes from harmful UVA/B rays, means your lenses may inadvertently come in contact with sweat--salt--and degrade over time.
Extended Product Lifetime for the Outdoor Inspired
So how exactly do we extend the lifetime of our Defender Series?
We apply the Defender coating after the lens has been shaped. Not only does this assist with salt-water protection, the durability of the lens increases as well. The end result is a product with incredible visual clarity and longevity.
A longer product lifetime means less waste and CO2 over time. Did you know we also make our frames out of Planet Friendly Materials, like GRS plastic and G850 Castor Bean Resin, to reduce our footprint?
What does the Defender Lens do?
It creates a stronger foundation for additional lens coatings to attach to. Lens coatings could include, but are not limited to:
- Mirrors
- Corrosion Resistant
- Hydrophobic
- Oleophobic
- Anti-fog
Our Defender lens is applied to our lenses before the mirror coating is applied, making it more durable than our standard lens.
If you are interested in Hydrophobic, Oleophobic, and Anti-fog Sunglasses check our our Premium Performance Line.
Here's how we tested the lens:
What were we looking for in the Defender?
Throughout development we focused on four key aspects:
- Saltwater Durability - Anglers, like Matt Becker come in contact with salt-water regularly. When competing at the top level, every detail matters, and having a crisp and clear lenses is vital.
- Scratch Resistance - Everyday wear and tear can put your lens mirrors through a lot. Having confidence your eyewear will stand up to the test let's you focus on your mission.
- Visual Clarity - Clear eyesight is possible the most important benefit a pair of sunglasses can provide. More durability and less scratching = clearer vision.
- Performance in Diverse Conditions - While we design and test all of our style here in Colorado, our 'mission' is to make the outdoors more accessible. We've tested the Defender lens across numerous conditions, including: 100 mile bike rides and salt-water fishing.
How did we test it?
Team Nerve collected data on daily usage. Daily usage consists of:
- Using the Defender Lens in daily activities
- Cleaning the Defender Lens in the same fashion one would clean their "regular" sunglasses
Special consideration was taken to note any abrasions on the mirror coating
What key attributes were we observing?
We focused on four (4) key attributes:
- Scratching
- Do the lenses resist scratches from cleaning or handling?
- Clarity
- Are there distortions or reflections in the lens or coating?
- Does the field of view remain clear?
- Experience
- Does the Defender lens function well in your environment?
- Life Expectancy
- Do the lenses look and perform as expected after regular use?
- Do the lenses last longer than similar products?
Key findings:
We found that the Defender Lens reduced the visible abrasions on the lenses, maintained visual clarity, functioned across environmental conditions, and -- most exciting -- gave our testing team a lens they felt rivaled the durability of something 3x the price.
Defender or Standard Lens? Which should I get?
The answer is ultimately up to you. Both lenses will provide visual clarity and 100% UVA/B protection for your eyes.
The Defender lens is currently only available on the Rockpile. This style was created for Anglers to quickly read their electronic equipment without the lens polarization interfering with the display. The flip up lens lets you transition from polarized precision to natural light in a flip - they'll have everyone asking where you got 'em.
Defender Lens: Coming Soon | Summer 2025
The Defender lens will be available on the Kingfish, Scraggy, and Stone Cat starting Summer 2025!
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