I spend a lot of time outdoors whether at work or on my own time. Most of that time requires both eye protection and protection from the sun. Gatorz has always been an industry leader in providing both. They continue to expand their line of aluminum framed, made in the USA eyewear with modern styling in mind. The Marauders are another example of staying stylish while still providing the best protection. I have been wearing my cerakote black frames with blacked out logo and Sunburst Mirror polarized lensed Marauders for the last couple months while traveling, working on and off the range.
The Marauders have some of the thinnest temples in the Gatorz line up, while still providing wrap-around protection. The earpieces create a weight reduction with the thinner shape and cerakote finish. The folding earpieces are held in place with the dual hinges and secured with stainless steel rivets. The ballistic version has four colors for the earpieces: gunmetal, tan OD and black. The polarized and non-polarized lens versions come in black only with logo color dependent on the lens colors. The lens shape provides protection without interfering with your peripheral vision. The lens have been coated for scratch resistance and anti-fog while still maintaining UV protection and impact resistance. Their gray based lenses reduce brightness and increase color perceptions and the brown or rose based colors enhance contrast and depth perception. As with all their frames the aluminum construction allows for multi-point adjustment that allows for a semi-custom fit. The three points of adjustment are: center frame width, earpiece curve/width and silicone nose piece. Adjustment instructions provided in the box and a video support link found on their website.
Gatorz are made in the USA and have a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. For the first year you can replace your nose pieces and lost hinge screws for free. And like most high end eyewear they have a lens replacement and repair program at a nominal fee, for those times you scratch or break them doing cool stuff (or dumb stuff). The fit of this style provides wrap around protection without looking like oversized eyewear. After adjusting the frames for my face, I have very minimal gaps beside my nose (if at all) and the side protection beyond the edges of my eyes. The temples or earpieces are thin and comfortable and ride nice under headgear or Peltor ComTacs. There is still enough curve to help with retention during active times or looking down. The Sunburst Mirror polarized lenses have minimized the effects of the bright sun while outside or driving on the sunny days of the south and southwest. Marauders are one of the styles available for their prescription lens program, including clear and photochromic lenses.
Final Thoughts: As with all of Gatorz eyewear, the Marauders provide protection while still looking cool. I went out of my comfort zone with the orange lenses but enjoyed the fact that they were polarized. I expect these to last a long time, especially with the lens repair program. The Marauder style is a classic look that will last as long as the eyewear themselves.
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By the numbers:
Comfort – 5/5 The three points of adjustment allow for a user customizable fit at all the usual friction points, nose piece, width and temples. Plus the thin aluminum temples improve comfort while wearing hearing protection or headgear.
Durability – 4.5/5 Aluminum frame with double hinged temples makes for a pretty solid construction backed by a manufacturers’ defect warranty and lens replacement program. The Ballistic lenses are rated for flying debris and other coatings to protect them. We will see how long the Cerakote lasts, I haven’t had a pair of eyewear that the temples didn’t show some wear on the finish.
Functionality – 5/5 What can I say, these are adjustable framed sunglasses that come in polarized or ballistic lenses, providing protection from both UV and flying debris. The Marauders provide near full wrap-around protection.
Weight – 5/5 The aluminum construction makes for a very lightweight pair of eyewear.
Value – 5/5 These made in the USA sunglasses prices are on par with competitive sunglasses manufacturers that manufacture both in the USA and overseas. They are definitely a good price for both aluminum construction and made in the USA. They do have a military/first responder discount and an Elite Program which offers discounts and special access to products.
Overall rating – 4.9/5 Gatorz Marauders are a stylish pair of aluminum framed, protective eyewear made in the USA for a reasonable price.
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience with the product.
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