Sunski Dipsea Review

We tested the Sunski Dipsea with Brown lenses. They're a Small-Medium fit and come standard with a drawstring microfiber bag.

Performance Comparison

Lens Quality

The Sunski Dipsea are available with a variety of lenses paired with frames that all make for interesting style choices. We tested their Brown lenses (with Champagne frames), which are polarized, though in scrutinizing the polarizing layer, we could see it loses some effectiveness nearer to the edges of the lenses. This particular color has a fairly high Visible Light Transmission of 15%, which puts them on the lighter side of lenses we tested. This lightness, combined with the small size of the lenses and transparency of the frames adds up to less than ideal protection in super bright lighting. They're much better suited to lower lighting.

The triacetate cellulose lenses on the pair we tested had a few small distortions in the lenses, though we only noticed them when specifically looking for flaws, not when simply going about our day. The specific shade of brown adds a level of contrast we liked, making bright greens seem just a hint brighter without distorting colors far from reality.

The Dipsea have no anti-reflective coating and a flat shape. This adds up to a bit of counter reflection from the backs of the lenses. Because they're smaller, this effect is lessened, but it's still evident, particularly in moments where the bright sun is beating directly down onto your face or coming in the sides. While we enjoyed wearing these lenses in a lot of situations, when we really needed serious protection from harsh lighting, these aren't the pair we reached for.

Comfort

The Dipsea are designed to fit small-to-medium-sized heads, which they do quite well. The rather narrow frames appear slightly too small on wider faces. However, they're more flexible than most glasses we tested, particularly in the bows. This flexibility lets them not only be more comfortable across the board but also accommodate any sized face for someone who's truly in love with the style. The bows curve inward at the back, adding some security to the fit. On some of our testing team, this narrowness also pulled them closer to the face, in which case they touched across the center of the brows. Though the lenses are smaller than most, they're taller than average, bringing them into more contact with the cheeks.

Weighing just 19 grams, the Dipsea are some of the lightest glasses we tested — and they wear like it. They're only minutely front-heavy in balance, while their overall lightness and that same narrowing of the bows at the back help keep them securely on your face. The Champagne frames we tested are smooth and glossy, making them pleasant and easy to slide on and off. They lack any additional padding on the frames, but we didn't miss it.

Style and Versatility

The rounded shape of these small sunglasses offers an interesting style that provides a unique fashion statement without being so bold as to not go with certain outfits or most styles. Just by looking at pictures of the Dipsea prior to purchasing them for testing, we knew they would offer some style not found in other pairs. What we didn't expect, is the wide appeal they ended up having among our entire range of testers. Even across a significant variety of face sizes and shapes and personal styles, all those who tried these enjoyed their unique look.

When it comes to versatility, the Dipsea might lose a point or two because of their relatively narrow size that fits better on smaller heads. However, flexible frames help them to still fit a larger size range than expected. Narrow across the front, one of our testers fondly said, "they're kind of like Sergeant Pepper shades".

Frame Quality

One of Sunski's guiding principles is sustainability, leading them to craft their frames from scrap plastics into recycled resin that's both lightweight and very functional. Their frames are impressively flexible, adding to their ability to withstand a little extra pressure if need be. The frames feel solidly constructed and we appreciate the versatility that this flexibility brings to the table.

Standard three-barrel metal hinges hold the bows to the front of the frames. Though the frames, bows, and hinges are all thin, they proved themselves up to regular wear through our many months of rigorous testing. There's no wobble in the hinges or any other chips or flaws we could find.

Coverage

With small lenses, pretty straight frames, and a narrow form, the Dipsea aren't built for coverage. They have the obvious flaws that you would expect from this particular shape and configuration, letting sun in the sides and, depending on how close you wear them to your face, over the top. Additionally, the particular Champagne frames we tested provide even less coverage. Where opaque frames will block sun that hits the body of the glasses, these transparent, slightly pink frames don't do that at all. This translates to additional sunlight filtering in through the bridge and over the lenses through the tops of the frames. But, since we specifically chose a transparent frame over the many opaque options the Dipsea are available in, we're not holding it against them.

In terms of staying put on the face, the Dipsea do better than we'd expect from a totally glossy-smooth set of glasses without any rubber or silicone padding. The narrowing of the bows at the back adds extra security, while the overall lightness and good balance keeps them pretty handily in place even on hot, sweaty days.

Case Quality

The Dipsea is sold with a drawstring microfiber bag. It works well for cleaning the lenses and keeping them safe while jostling around inside your bag.

Value

If you're on the hunt for sunglasses that combine bold, yet everyday style with solid performance and a good fit, the Dipsea are that blend. While other models work well as crossover style and function shades, these cost a lot less than most, making them a good value for what they offer.

Conclusion

The Sunski Dipsea are a smaller pair of sunglasses that still manage to fit and look good on a wide variety of faces. The particular color combination of lenses and frames we tested is best in medium to low light. We love their flexible frames, comfortable fit, and great style, all available for a pretty reasonable price.