One of the best lens colors is grey, the darkest, most common tint.
In This Article
How Do Grey Lenses Work?
Grey lenses seem to be straightforward when it comes to the science behind them, but there are a lot more details that add nuance. That nuance can result in huge differences between lenses, and between an average lens and an exceptional one.
The color of a lens will let more of the same color light through relative to other colors. A green lens lets more green light in, and a rose lens lets in more red and blue (what combine to make rose).
But Grey is not a color.
When we see grey or black it means the object we are looking at absorbs almost all wavelengths of visible light and reflects very little, if any, back to our eyes. The absence or minimal reflection of light across the visible spectrum results in the perception of black.
This is why black objects can get warmer than lighter-colored objects when exposed to sunlight as they absorb more light energy.
So a black or grey lens absorbs all colors equally, and that means that a grey lens will not change the color balance of our view the same way a green, brown, or rose lens would.
However, two factors greatly affect how a grey lens will differ from other grey lenses.
The tint itself can incorporate shades of other colors.
The lens technology can manipulate the light spectrum to boost specific colors.
The tint itself can incorporate shades of other colors.
It is impossible to show the differences in how grey lenses will render a view when looking through them on a phone or computer screen.
But look at all the different tints within the grey category.
These lenses are all listed as grey, but they are significantly different. The Vuarnet is almost blue and many of the lenses lean towards green. You can't see it in the photo, but the Oakley has a faint rose effect.
Differences in grey lenses are subtle and much less noticeable than in other color lenses. They are smaller differences that matter less but still make one lens feel significantly unlike another.
The lens technology can manipulate the light spectrum to boost specific colors.
Using a variety of filters and other technology, brands have been able to manipulate the light spectrum to reduce and boost specific wavelengths of light.
This will cause reds, greens, and blues to be brighter and more vibrant, without making the lens any brighter than a standard lens.
It would be impossible to show an actual simulation of the grey lenses without exaggerating it, as the differences are so subtle that only our brains can pick them up. But our brains can definitely pick them up.
And though many brands claim to pull off this feat, only a few actually do.
Making a grey lens into a color-enhancing lens is among the hardest things to do in sunglass tech. With other lens colors, a lot of the heavy lifting is done by the color tint itself, and the added tech is adding to the natural color effect. With grey lenses, too much light manipulation will change the lens tint and the lens will not be grey anymore. Too little will make no difference.
VLT (visible light transmission) makes a bigger difference with grey lenses than other colors, as a 10% VLT will feel much darker than a 17% VLT. A brown lens, for example, might not feel as different depending on the shade of brown used. However, using VLT can still be misleading. VLT is a bit outdated when it comes to color-enhancing lenses because they reduce annoying light more than normal lenses but let more good light in. So to some degree, they are supposed to be brighter while still feeling comfortable to most people.
The key to great grey lenses is managing light, not manipulating it. They are best used in full sun where the colors and available light are abundant.
There may be no way to accurately show the difference between grey lenses through a computer screen but we can compare other aspects in a review of a grey lens. The clarity, brightness, contrast, and colors can all be noticeably different. Much of that is due to the materials and processes used to manufacture the lenses.
Even within brands, there can be differences. Maui Jim makes a superior grey lens, but their glass lens is better than their MauiBrilliant lens material which is better than the MauiPure lens material.
What are Grey lenses good for?
In bright sunlight, grey lenses will never be a bad choice, even if there are better ones available. If the view is already bright, warm, and colorful, there may be no need to add any color or warmth.
Grey lenses are not good for overcast or even mixed conditions. When the amount of available light is already reduced, turning it down even further without enhancing colors can make the world cold and dreary.
Grey lenses are more visually comfortable in bright sun than other lenses over long periods because our color memory doesn’t have to adjust as much as it would for other tints and get tired.
Color memory means we remember how objects are supposed to look and adjust subconsciously so they appear correct.
Grey lenses will never feel weird after long exposure because they match our color memory. Other tints can eventually feel odd in some way, like the sky being a different shade of blue during a certain time of day than we would normally expect
Sports
In full sun, grey lenses will be fine to use for sports, but not ideal. Since grey lenses are neutral, they are neither calming nor vibrant. When we play sports we want the view to elicit feelings of energy, vibrant, and warmth. For that, a brown or rose lens will be a better choice.
Maui Jim may be an exception here because their grey lens enhances colors and clarity more than many brown lenses do.
Grey lenses are great for water sports and fishing.
It is best to not wear glass lenses for sports.
Driving
Grey lenses will be a good choice to drive with in full sun, but often we drive in overcast or mixed conditions, depending on our environment. In those instances, grey lenses will not be ideal. We generally want warmer, more alert colors when we drive, so similar to sports, a brown or boosted grey (using a mirror) will be a better choice for driving.
Polarized lenses are recommended for driving.
Beach
Grey lenses can be great at the beach. They are dark and comfortable and allow for a much more relaxing experience. The more beautiful the view is, the more the grey lenses will assist in displaying it.
Polarized lenses are highly recommended for the beach.
Adding a Mirror to a Grey Lens
The color of any mirror, with some exceptions, will block the same color as the mirror and create an opposite effect. A blue mirror will block blue light and make a grey lens more orange or amber. This is explained in more detail here.
Here is Maui Jim SuperThin Glass with different mirrors on the grey lens.
Depending on the mirror color, the lens will get a warmer or cooler effect.
Grey with a small touch of warmth, like a blue mirror, makes us feel like the world is natural but everything is slightly boosted, which to some degree makes it feel more boosted than others. With a rose or brown lens, it can be hard to forget you are wearing sunglasses because the view, though beautiful, is far from what you would normally see. A gray lens will feel "natural", and a small touch of warmth will not be noticeable to our brains but it will still enhance the same colors a brown lens would, green and red.
The same is true of a grey lens with a mirror that has a cooling effect, like a red mirror. The view will be slightly calmer but not to the degree that the world feels unnatural.
Some of the best lenses you can buy are mirrored grey lenses.
Top Grey Lenses
Here are my picks for the best grey lenses:
Maui Jim Neutral Grey Superthin Glass
The best of the best, this lens is arguably the most advanced and impressive lens in the world. Everything looks more picturesque, with enhanced reds, blues, and greens, without shifting the overall color.
Costa Del Mar 580G Grey
Costa is renowned for making offshore, dark lenses, and this is no exception. This lens is very comfortable to wear in full sun while still boosing colors more than a typical grey lens. The clarity rivals the Maui Jim.
Oakley Prizm Black
The only non-glass option on this list, which makes it better for sports, and highly lightweight. This lens has a faint rose hue to it that boosts blues and reds and adds contrast to the view.
Vuarnet Grey Polar
A slightly more blue lens than the others, this lens is very relaxing and dark. The VLT is lower which makes it ideal and comfortable for very bright days. Colors are not noticeably boosted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, grey lenses stand out as one of the best choices for those seeking a neutral and visually comfortable option in bright sunlight. Their ability to absorb all colors equally without altering the color balance of the view makes them a reliable choice for various outdoor activities, including beach outings and driving in full sun. Although they may not be the best option for sports or overcast conditions, their neutrality helps reduce eye strain over long periods and aligns well with our color memory, providing a natural and fatigue-free visual experience.
Adding a mirror to grey lenses can further enhance their performance by subtly altering the warmth or coolness of the view, making them even more versatile.
Overall, while grey lenses may seem straightforward, their subtle nuances and advanced technologies can make a significant difference, ensuring that wearers enjoy a balanced, vibrant, and natural visual experience in bright conditions.
