Outdoor Hub Review – Gatorz Delta Polarized Sunglasses
Patrik Orcutt 10.03.23
Gatorz Eyewear is a renowned name in the world of performance eyewear with a rich history that spans over three decades. Founded in 1989 by motorcycle enthusiast and aerospace engineer Paul Sperry, the company was born out of a desire to create sunglasses that could withstand the rigors of extreme sports and adventure. Initially, Gatorz Eyewear focused on crafting eyewear for the demanding needs of motorcyclists, particularly in the competitive world of motocross. Their first breakthrough came with the introduction of the patented “adjustable” frame technology, allowing wearers to customize the fit for unparalleled comfort. This innovation quickly gained traction among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, establishing Gatorz as a trusted brand. Over the years, Gatorz Eyewear expanded its product line to cater to a broader range of sports and outdoor activities. One such community is the American Special Forces and it has become customary to see elite operators rocking Gatorz while HALO jumping, clearing a shoot house or just grabbing some beers at the beach.
Five months ago I was asked if I wanted to review a copy of one of their sunglasses and I quickly jumped at the opportunity to see what all the buzz was about these shades. The Particular set of sunglasses I received was the Delta’s in all black and ballistic lens.
The Gatorz Delta was provided by Gatorz Eyeware for this review and while I am allowed to keep the product indefinitely, this will not change my opinion on this product or any of Gatorz Eyeware’s current or past offerings.
Aside from wearing them practically every day for the past 5 months, I have taken the Gatorz Delta’s on multiple vacations and work trips while also using theme at the range and recently have taken them to the Tactical Games in South Carolina.
Specs – Gatorz Delta
Weight – 1.4 oz / 40 Grams
Country of Origin – United States of America
Lens Options – Ballistic, Non-Polor, OPZ, Polar
Lens Color Options – Many
Lens Coating – Scratch Resistant
MSRP as Configured – $215
Frames – Gatorz Delta
When I first picked up these sunglasses the most notable thing to me was the frame. It’s not very often that you find a pair of shades that are fully constructed of aluminum and it’s less common that they’re actually adjustable. The second thing I noticed when I put on the Deltas was that they did not fit my face. It was then that I quickly opened up the manual, and realized that these sunglasses are meant to be adjusted. One of the more interesting points about all of Gatorz Eyewear is that with the aluminum frame, you can make custom adjustments to the width of the frame and the temples. You can also adjust the silicone nose piece so that the sunglasses sit on your nose at the right height. I personally don’t know any other companies that put features like this into their sunglasses while being constructed as well.
The frames are machined out of aluminum, and there are four stainless steel rivets that bond the hinges to the frame. I have found in the past that the hinges are usually the weakest part of all sunglasses. On any pair of cheap sunglasses, the hinges are what will fail you first. Just opening and closing the Deltas is kind of fun because they are made to such a high-quality standard that everything fits together perfectly. These frames are also given either a Cerekote or an anodized coating for prolonged durability. While, I don’t have any evidence to back this up, Gatorz does say on their website that their sunglasses go through a “100+ points measurement quality check”. While I’m not 100% sure what this means or what one quality check could really be, this does make it sound like they are very keen on making sure that a high-quality product leaves their factory.
Lenses – Gatorz Delta
While there are multiple types of lenses you can get for the Deltas, I opted to go for the polarized non-ballistic version. While I appreciate that Gatorz offers their sunglasses in so many different lens colors. I am a man who simply prefers the color black because it goes with everything. It’s also the only color lens that is authorized for sunglasses while in uniform. Another option that you can get the Deltas in is the non-polarized version. They also offer a digitally optimized polar, which has all of the same benefits as polarized sunglasses but will allow you to be able to look at screens as if you were wearing non-polar sunglasses. Then finally, there are the ballistic variations which are mil-spec. All of the lenses are scratch-resistant and have an anti-fog coating along with a Hydro-oleo coating. Essentially what this means is that the lenses will almost always stay clean regardless of the conditions you were in. As far as durability is concerned, I’ve been incredibly impressed with the durability of these lenses. I have not been particularly nice to these sunglasses in the time that I’ve owned them and there are zero marks or scratches on the lenses at this point. Ironically, I have more scratches on the frames than on the lenses.
Comfort – Gatorz Delta
In terms of comfort, having a fully custom fit, that is user-adjustable is a really big deal. It’s always nice when you can customize your gear to fit you best and the Gatorz Deltas allow that to happen. While I do really like the durability and feel of aluminum sunglasses, I have found that they are not quite as comfortable as polymer-framed sunglasses. I used to be able to wear my Magpul Explorer sunglasses all day and not have any sort of hotspots around my face from the shades. After a few hours, I definitely noticed some sore spots around my ears and this is exaggerated if I’m wearing over-the-ear protection while shooting. And one other negative to the aluminum frame sunglasses is that they are going to become hot or cold based on the environment they are in. While I have not had time to actually wear these in the winter, I can already tell that leaving these in my car overnight and then putting them on while driving to work in the morning is it going to result in some very cold temples. One more note that doesn’t really relate to comfort that much is the size of the sunglasses. Most sunglasses when they are folded up, become very thin and are easy to put in a jacket pocket. Where the gators have a bit longer of a frame, the sunglasses will take up more space in your pocket. It’s not necessarily a negative but something I noticed.
Likes
- Adjustable out of the box.
- Come in multiple lens/lens color/ frame options.
- Super Durable!
- Very good-looking shades.
Dislikes
- Expensive
- Can become uncomfortable
Wrap Up – Gatorz Delta
In the end, if you were looking for a set of sunglasses that are incredibly durable while sacrificing a little bit of weight and compactness, the Gators are a really great option. If you’re the kind of person who loses sunglasses all the time, maybe don’t go with these because the polarized versions start at $215 with the ballistic versions costing $250. I have really enjoyed my time using these sunglasses this summer and I think that this is a top-notch quality product. They do have some downsides to them but overall, they are a fantastic-looking set of sunglasses with some well-thought-out features that are made right here in America. Also, you can tell your friends that you’re a Navy seal if you wear these and they probably won’t believe you, but they’ll probably ask you where you got those shades.
