Panoptx Zephyr Women's Sunglasses and Taku
Men's Sunglasses
by Rick K. and Kim C. for webBikeWorld.com
More:
wBW
Reviews Home
| Owner Comments (Below)
As you can see in the right-hand column, we have
plenty of webBikeWorld reviews about motorcycle helmet visors, visor
cleaners, anti-fog treatments (and more on the way),
sun shades and more.
But we never quite got around to motorcycle
sunglasses, for some reason. It certainly couldn't be
for lack of choices, because there are dozens
of different brands and types of motorcycle-specific
sunglasses for sale today.
But thanks to the kind
folks at Panoptx, who pointed out our error of
omission and sent us a couple of pair (are two
sunglasses two pair, a pair, two pairs or a pair squared?) of their
new-for-2007 "Speed" series, we now have a
motorcycle sunglasses review for your reading
enjoyment.
The Panoptx brand celebrates its 10th anniversary
this year, and they're known to motorcyclists as the
company that "developed the technology that combines
the protection and performance benefits of goggles
with the style of sunglasses".
Panoptx offers several different
eyewear "Collections", with sunglasses
designed for fishing, skiing, snowboarding and
general sports in addition to eyewear designed for
military and tactical use.
One of the most popular Panoptx sunglasses are
the Velocity CV series; they have a removable and
replaceable eye cup that fits on to the inside of
the eyewear surrounding the eyes. The eye cup
is designed to keep wind and debris from blowing
into the rider's eyes when wearing an open-face
helmet.
These are very popular with cruiser
owners and there's no question that they look a lot
better than a pair of goggles! The Velocity FX series is similar, but the eye
cup is non-removable.
The Panoptx Taku and Zephyr
shown here are part of the Speed series, and these
use an "Air Dam" instead of an eye cup. These
sunglasses are designed for use in a full-face
helmet and for general use. They're also
called "SR 75"; a "Speed Rating" that is 75% of the
full eye cup series; that is, they are 75% as
effective at blocking wind and debris, including
wind, dust, pollen, UV light and glare.
The Taku is the men's model in the gray
frame in these photos; it's also available in Gloss
Black and Horn, which is a faux tortoise-shell
pattern.
The Zephyr is designed for women and it's
available in the Bone frame color shown here in
addition to Sandalwood and Glossy Black.
The Panoptx "AirDam" that surrounds the inside of
the lenses is made from EVA foam and it does seem effective in
blocking some of the glare that otherwise might leak
through the top and sides. But in general, the design of the Taku and Zephyr are very effective at
blocking the sun and glare anyway, even without the
AirDam. The frames have a nice wrap-around
shape and wide temples, which does seem to help block
much of the sun and glare, and they may be better in
this regard than
sunglasses without the same features.
Several different types of lenses are available
for all of the Panoptx motorcycle sunglasses, including the "PureTec"
Day/Night light-sensitive (photochromic) lenses
shown on the Taku and Zephyr in these photos.
The Day/Night lenses range from 85% down to 18%
light transmission. The lenses are slightly
tinted indoors or in the shade, but they get nice
and dark outside as long as they are irradiated by
UV light from the sun. Note that some
motorcycle visors block UV light, so the sunglass
darkening effect may vary.
Other available lenses include the "ColorTec" in
copper or gray with a slight metallic coating for
higher contrast, and polarized lenses are also
available. All of the
motorcycle sunglass lenses are also treated with an
anti-fog coating, and it really seems to work --
Panoptx should sell their secret formula to helmet
visor manufacturers!
Between the various frame types, lenses and
coatings, there are quite a few choices, and prospective owners can
even build their own
sunglasses online by mixing and matching frame
types, frame colors and lens types.
The lenses are made from something called "NXT",
which apparently was designed for use in military
helicopters due to its ability to absorb a bullet
without shattering.
The use of NXT also seems to help the
photochromatic characteristics of the lens; it seems
to change very quickly from light to dark and NXT is
also claimed to hold its photochromatic capability
longer than other types of materials. And
there's a bonus: NXT can combine both polarization
and the photochromatic treatment in a single lens.
NXT lenses are also
claimed to be 15% lighter than CR-39 and 10% lighter
than polycarbonate lenses, and this is proven by the
very light weight of the Taku at a mere 32
grams (1.125 oz.). In fact, when they're first
picked up, the sunglasses feel "cheap" because they
don't have the heft that gives them a "presence".
But no fears, because the quality is there.
| Panoptx
Motorcycle Sunglasses - wBW
Lightbox - Click photo to view. |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
AirDam Liner |
Nose Bridge |
Temple Thickness |
Kim feels that the Zephyr sunglasses could have
a darker tint; we're not sure if the automobile glass in the
car blocks some of the UV light, preventing the photochromatic lenses from
darkening? Our men's Taku does seem to require
a dose of
full sunlight to become darker, but the lenses do seem to
transition back and forth more quickly than other
photochromatic lenses (or visors) we've used.
Both the Taku and the Zephyr seem to fit slightly
different than our expectations. The men's
Taku is designed for medium to large heads (although
the website says small to large) and the women's
Zephyr sunglasses are designed for smaller heads.
It took a
slight adjustment to get both versions to fit
comfortably inside full-face helmets, but once we
figured it out, it hasn't been a problem. The helmet may have to be
adjusted slightly for the eyewear to fit comfortably
(some full- and open-face helmets must be pushed
down and forward on the rider's face to fit
correctly),
but the temples are very thin and they do seem to
slide easily between the rider's face and the liner
in most helmets.
The Taku has a relatively wide nose opening,
which makes them feel loose when worn without a
helmet. But once they're held in place inside
the helmet, the wide lens combined with the
wrap-around styling makes the frames disappear from
peripheral vision and they provide excellent
coverage and sight lines.
The sunglasses come with a very nice semi-hard
zippered case, a neck lanyard, a micro-fiber
cleaning cloth and an owner's manual with
instructions on cleaning and care.
If you've priced a pair of prescription
eyeglasses lately, you'll probably agree that the
Panoptx motorcycle sunglasses are actually very
reasonably priced, especially considering the
quality and style. Panoptyx will also fit
prescription lenses for the frames.
Conclusion
The quality, design and the ability to customize
Panoptx sunglasses for the individual wearer are
strong selling points, but they also have
motorcycle-specific features that make these a
pleasure to use both on and off the bike.
| Product
Review: Panoptx Motorcycle Sunglasses |
| Available
From: Panoptx |
Suggested
Retail Price: $75.00 to $175.00 |
| Colors:
Taku - Horn, Glossy Black, and
Charcoal. Zephyr - Bone, Glossy Black and
Sandalwood. |
Made
in: Taiwan |
| Review Date:
November 2007 |
Note: For informational use only. All material and
photographs are Copyright © webWorld International, LLC - 2001-2008. All
rights reserved. Read the
Terms and Conditions. See the webBikeWorld®
Site Info
page.
ADDENDUM:
Panoptx to Launch 7EYE Brand
November 28, 2007 - Panoptx announced that it will
launch a new logo in January 2008, a stylized numeral
"7" tied to a new brand: 7EYE. The first Panoptx
frames bearing the 7EYE logo are already being
introduced as the "Seven by Panoptx Limited Edition
III", with new versions of the Taku and Whirlwind.
The entire product line will be in stores in January of
2008.
Explaining the rationale behind the new name, Panoptx
President and CEO Bob Hall noted, "We wanted a name with
instant recognition, a logo that would stand out, a
domain name that people could spell, a name with
youthful energy and attitude. We found that
combination with the logo and brand."
To the question, "Why 7?," Hall replied , "At 7EYE,
we create eyewear that helps consumers see all seven
colors in the spectrum of visible light. By
helping people see the world in all its colors, we give
them the freedom to do whatever they want to do better
and in greater comfort. We loved the 7EYE logo the
moment we saw it. The reception by dealers and
consumers with the Limited Edition III products has been
strong, indicating that the future looks bright for
7EYE," Hall added.
A complete line of 7EYE by Panoptx products for all
categories will be ready by mid-January 2008. Most
models will bear familiar names and fits to help
retailers through the transition, including the Bora,
Churada and Whirlwind in the Seal Protection Factor
(SPF) 100 collection, and the Taku, Zephyr, Vortex and
Gale in the SPF75 series.
"The introduction of 7EYE is the beginning of a new
platform for product development," notes Hall. "We have
new eyecup technology and new frame designs due to roll
out in 2008 that will clearly separate us in a very
competitive market from the wanna-bes. We are
creating a solid foundation for brand expansion and
sales growth, and with new styles and new technology in
the pipeline, 7EYE by Panoptx will fuel that growth."
►Owner Comments
Comments? Send them to
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
From "W.C.": "I have a pair for
several years now and I still like them. I
have a pair with the day/night lens. I only
wear them when it is not really bright out.
They block the wind very well. I agree I never wear
polarized lenses on a bike, not only is it annoying
with the visor down, but it is hard to see wet and
slick spots on the road b/c the lenses take away the
glare."
From "M.A.": "As usual, your
reviews of new products never fail to drum up
interest among your readers - who could resist
reading about the newest, coolest shades on the
market, especially with cold weather settling in -
we all need something to dream about for the next
warm spring day.
A short note of caution though -
polarized lenses are BAD news when it comes to most
(if not all) motorcycle face shields and
windscreens. Although I haven't had the
opportunity to try them all ..., each and every
helmet visor and motorcycle windshield I've ever
looked through with a set of polarized sunglasses
has had the same visual effect - dark bars and
stripes clearly visible due to the polarizing
effect, which impede the ability for the rider to
see clearly if at all.
If you concur, would you consider
adding a short note/warning to the review about the
effect of polarizing sunglasses?"
Editor's Reply:
I've been wearing polarized clip-ons over my regular
eyeglasses for years with many different helmets and
visors, and although occasionally I may see a spot
or two, I really haven't had any problems at all.
So either I'm really used to it or perhaps it isn't
much of an issue? Does anyone else have a
comment on this?
From "C.": "I've got 2 pairs... The
"Bora" in transition and the "Gale". Both are
prescription...bifocal. The service and the
quality is outstanding! I highly recommend
them.
If you wear a full face or any style
helmet with a visor, they do not change that much.
Same, in the car. That's why I got a pair of
"Gale" with Copper42."
From "P.C.": "There's a line in
the review that says, "we're not sure if the
automobile glass in the car blocks some of the UV
light". I just wanted to point out all glass
blocks UV. If Kim was testing the tinting of
the glasses inside her car, she was probably looking
at very little no tinting at all."
