| Quick Verdict: While the glasses are incredibly stylish and easy to wear for most people, it doesn’t offer a lot for people with larger heads. Also, if you’re looking for something that reflects the current era of WoW or Sylvanas, this isn’t going to do much for you. |
| Brand: | GUNNAR |
| Product: | World of Warcraft Sylvanas Glasses |
| Review Score: | 8 |
| Cozy Score: | 8 |
| Pros: | Very stylish for men or women, comfortable to wear for moderate periods |
| Cons: | Sylvanas is no longer the “Queen of the Forsaken” meaning the accessories are out of date, rigid hinges not designed for larger heads |
| Price: | $99 |
| Lens Options: | 65 Amber, 20 Clear Pro, Prescription |
World of Warcraft is such a long-running game that it’s amazing to me that they’re still producing major merchandise for it. But, honestly, the GUNNAR World of Warcraft Sylvanas Glasses is a great specimen that keeps the brand fresh, even if it isn’t focusing on current lore.
If you don’t know the critically acclaimed MMO World of Warcraft, it’s a (very) long-running multiplayer game set in a fantasy world with a war initially between the humans and the orcs. A lot has happened over the two decades since launch, but one of the arguably most iconic characters is the former Banshee Queen of the Forsaken, the Dark Lady herself, Sylvanas Windrunner.
What’s in the box?
Speaking of Sylvanas, the accessories for the GUNNAR World of Warcraft Sylvanas Glasses go all in on making sure you know what you bought. As this is around the $100 range of GUNNAR glasses, you’re going to expect a hardshell case, a microfiber travel pouch, and a microfiber cloth.
First thing you see out of the box is a custom version of GUNNAR’s classic magnetic hardshell case. It’s adorned with the World of Warcraft logo all over it, along with the GUNNAR branding. Opening it up, it’s a velvet/felt interior with the words “Queen of the Forsaken” adorned on the inside in a fun font.
In addition, you’re going to notice the Icon of Torment on the pouch, a symbol highly tied to Sylvanas and the Forsaken. The microfiber cloth has some great art of Sylvanas by Eric Braddock. The full version of the same picture doesn’t crop out his signature and it’s really unfortunate that GUNNAR does this often. So, here’s Eric’s ArtStation with the same official 7-year-old art, uncropped.
But, you may have noticed something I said earlier. Sylvanas is the former Banshee Queen of the Forsaken, which means that this brand-new pair of glasses was already outdated when it was released. I’m sure you could make the argument that she’s still the Queen in WoW Classic, but this collab isn’t about WoW Classic and makes no mention of it.
This is a common problem that GUNNAR runs into, where glasses feel like they’re too late to the party with licensed things, such as the Borderlands 4, Ripper gaming glasses that also recently released, or when they still use the first Overwatch logo instead of the sequel’s logo, and so on.
Tech in the Specs (or, Holding a Lens Up to These Glasses)
Any GUNNAR glasses automatically earn points for their scores when you consider that the lenses are top-notch and the frame itself is just a vehicle for the real technology involved.
As with any GUNNAR lenses, you’re looking forward to anti-reflective, anti-smudge, water resistance, and 100% UV protection. Plus, with the 65 Amber, you’re getting some good old-fashioned blue light blocking from this coating. I got the 65 Amber sent for this review, but there is also the option to do their classic 35 Clear instead, if you don’t want your world quite as yellow-tinted.
The glasses themselves are “premium engineered polymer frame material”, which just means they are on the cheaper side of the GUNNAR spectrum. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but don’t expect superpowers out of the frame. They’ll do the job they set out to do.
Wearing the GUNNAR World of Warcraft Sylvanas Glasses
Honestly, I don’t have a lot of qualms when it comes to wearing the GUNNAR World of Warcraft Sylvanas Glasses. As I just said above, they do the job they set out to do.
The rounded horn-rimmed style looks very nice and doesn’t try to do anything extravagant. Sylvanas, as a character, is classy and glasses that are based on her follow that pattern. The color is something like a mulberry or sangria, not really a shade Sylvanas is known for, but looks really nice nonetheless.
You can find silver design accents on the sides of each arm to give it a really regal look, with the World of Warcraft logo (also in silver) adorning the tips of each of those arms. All in all, the glasses themselves look great.
Wearing the GUNNAR World of Warcraft Sylvanas Glasses, though, is tougher for people with larger heads, as the multi-barrel hinges have a hard stop at 90 degrees. The polymer used has a little give, but it can only do so much without trying to flex the entire frame.
For most people, they’ll be comfortable wearing them for moderate to high amounts of time, though. But, as someone who doesn’t need glasses to function (like me), I wear them for the protection and blue blocker tech, and I couldn’t wear them for a super-long amount of time due to the lack of flexibility on my head.
Final Verdict
I know I give GUNNAR a lot of grief when it comes to their licensed frames. But, when they do it right, they do it really right.
The GUNNAR World of Warcraft Sylvanas Glasses themselves are not terrible to wear and they look really good for the price range. I just worry that the additional throw-in items and care for the license itself just ends up coming off lazy in a lot of their collaborations.
If you’re looking to pick up the GUNNAR World of Warcraft Sylvanas Glasses, you can find them for $99 on GUNNAR’s website. You can get this frame in the 65 Amber, 35 Clear, or in various additional lens options if you are going with a prescription.
