Serengeti makes some of the best sunglasses for bright and mixed conditions and the Serengeti Drivers Gold lens is easily one of the best and most versatile lenses on the market today.
Check out the Serengeti Drivers Gold lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Serengeti's website).
If you would like to know how brown lenses work in general, click here.
This review is only for the Serengeti Drivers Gold in mineral glass lenses, not the Saturn or PhD 2.0 lenses.
In This Review- Serengeti Drivers Gold Lens
Lens Specs | Serengeti Drivers Gold Polarized |
Technology | Spectral Control, Photochromic |
Lens Color | Brown |
Mirror Color | Solid Gold Mirror |
VLT | 8% to 18%, Category 3 to 3 |
ABBE | 58 |
Coatings | Anti-reflective, Scratch-resistant, Oleophobic, Hydrophobic, UV, Infrared and Blue-light blocking |
Material | Glass |
Weight | Moderate |
Scratch Resistance | High |
Prescription Available | Yes |
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The clarity of the Serengeti Drivers Gold is off the charts because of the quality of the mineral glass lens and the fine-tuning of colors.
The mineral lenses are made with borosilicate optical glass, from Corning, which is 20% thinner and lighter than standard glass. They provide exceptional visual acuity.
They are also chemically tempered to ensure scratch and impact resistance.
All Serengeti lenses are photochromic, adapting to any light condition in any setting. They are activated by the amount of UV radiation in the atmosphere and engineered to gradually transition from light to dark.
In bright conditions, UV radiation is more intense. The lens molecules expand in size, darkening the lenses. Less light can then pass through.
In darker conditions, UV radiation is less intense. The molecules shrink and separate, lightening the lenses. More light can pass through.
Your eyes are always protected and receive the optimal amount of light needed at any time and in all weather conditions.
The visible light transmission (VLT) for this lens is listed at 82% to 92% absorbance, meaning an 8-18% VLT (Category 3 to 3) vs the 77% to 91%, 9-23% VLT (Category 2 to 3) of the standard non-mirrored Drivers lens. In other words, Serengeti claims that both lenses get around the same darkness in tint when fully activated, but the standard Drivers lens gets lighter than the Drivers Gold.
The difference between the two lenses is very slight, though the Drivers Gold is just a bit darker if you look closely. The main consideration between the two lenses should be aesthetics, whether or not you want the gold mirror, since there is no real difference functionally. The mirror hides the eyes better than the Drivers but is a bolder look.
Because the lenses are so similar, much of this review will be the same as the Drivers.
As to whether the photochromic lenses darken behind a UV-protective windshield, you can read about that here.
The lenses include a light management technology called "Spectral Control". Besides dealing with potentially harmful High Energy Blue light, Serengeti claims the filter "enhances a natural color balance and improves contrasts and perception by acting like an “HD” visual equalizer to achieve the perfect mix of colors across all conditions. It selectively manages light wavelengths, distinguishing reds, greens, and yellows.
Landscapes that would be washed out, dull or flat with other lenses become defined, vibrant, and vivid — while your eyes remain cool and relaxed."
Is it eligible for prescription?
Yes, one of the only brands that makes mineral glass lenses.
Glass lenses are available +2.50 to -3.50* (Cyl +3.00) - Conventional surfacing and +2.50 to +4.00 and -3.50 to -7.00 * (Cyl +3.00) - VarioDrive Thin Design.
In Trivex, prescriptions can go from +6.00 to –8.00* (Cyl 4.00) for the Serengeti® sunglasses range.
Flightsunglasses.com has partnered with Serengeti to provide these options, though many local options may be able to work with Serengeti as well, depending on location and availability.
For non-prescription, check out the Serengeti Drivers Gold lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Serengeti's website).
How does the lens look?
The front has a gold mirror that looks something in between subtle and flashy. In some lighting and angles, the mirror is less noticeable; in others, it is almost glowing bright.
The back has a blue shine from the anti-reflective coating. The color of the tint is brown, and a more rosy brown than many of the browns sold by other brands, which are usually more solid red.
What does the view look like?
Generally, it is better to add some warmth to a lens to make the world more colorful and vibrant. This is because blue light, which brown lenses transmit less than green and red light, is cooler and has higher energy, making it annoyingly prevalent and hurting our ability to see other colors clearly. In addition, we like to add warmth and color to the view because it makes us more alert, energetic, and happy.
Not only is this brown tinted beautifully, but the added color-enhancing technology in the lens highlights red, greens, and blues taking this lens to the next level. The glare is removed and the colors are boosted spectacularly. This is one of the lenses people merely need to try on outdoors to be completely sold on. I have yet to meet anyone who isn't wowed by the Serengeti Drivers Gold.
The effect is like the world has a new coat of paint. Like everything is how it should be. It feels natural, warm, and lively. It is hard to imagine a better view than what the Drivers Gold can produce.
These photos are what Serengeti and other sources have used to show the view. Keep in mind that photos will never look as good as the real view looking through the sunglasses with your own eyes.
Sunny Conditions
Often, brown lenses can be too "hot" feeling in bright sunlight. This is because they lean too much towards a redder brown, boosing reds relative to greens and heavily reducing blues. The Drivers Gold lens leans a bit more rose, and the colors absolutely pop. This lens is invigorating, energetic, and vibrant in full sun. The Spectral Control does a great job removing annoying light and keeping useful light. This lens is very bright and colorful in full sun.
The following few pictures are from Serengeti's marketing material and are mostly an accurate depiction of the lens view.
Interested in experiencing the Serengeti Drivers Gold lens for yourself? Check out the lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Serengeti's website).
This picture is what Serengeti uses on its product page but it does not represent a good view of the lens. It is more accurate to say it is a good depiction of the tint.
This picture is a lens in front of a camera, which is generally a hard picture to take accurately, but I think this picture is actually a decent representation.
Here is my simulation of how the lens looks compared to a grey lens and a standard brown lens. The drivers adds a perfect amount of warmth and color without overdoing it. The grey is more calm and cool, with the colors left as is, but that may not be as ideal for driving or casual use as what the Drivers Gold lens provides. The brown lens is too hot and distracting in full sun for my taste, but some people like that effect.
Cloudy Conditions
The versatility of the Drivers Gold lens really shines when it is cloudy or in mixed conditions. The lens thrives with lower contrast lighting, changing the colors to brighten the view. When a grey or green lens is too dark and dreary, this lens adds warmth and color in a very pleasant way.
I think the last picture is the most accurate depiction. The glare is gone and the colors are comfortably boosted. The view is bright but still clear, calm, and colorful.
Even in darker conditions, they work well, as long as there is excess glare and haze. The colors become more saturated and calm.
What views is it good and bad for?
The Drivers Gold lens is (tied with the Drivers lens for) the most beautiful lens in the world in my opinion. It is amazing for all conditions and I cannot think of any situation where they will not be good, if not great. I wear this lens very often, especially in mixed or overcast conditions, where the Drivers Gold has no equal. They may not be the absolute best lens to wear in bright conditions, but they are still excellent.
It has served me well in spring, summer, and fall, and even winter. My wife took them to Florida and Canada and wore them nearly the whole time. We walked regular streets in Montreal marveling at the beauty until we took the lenses off and fell back to earth. In winter, when there isn't as much colorful beauty to work with anyway, you may prefer a rose lens but the Drivers Gold will work fine, at least as well as most other lenses.
I will say that when I took the Drivers to Arizona they didn't wow me, because there is so much red and so little green there that it was a bit too "hot" for me. They still performed very well, but I preferred green and grey lenses in those conditions.
Sports
These lenses work well for sports in both sunny and overcast conditions. The color and contrast they provide, as well as an energetic tint, help with acuity, comfort, and perception.
Avoid the glass lens if the activity has any chance of significant impacts to the face. Avoid this lens entirely if polarized lenses would not work for your sport.
Keep in mind for long exposure in bright conditions the Drivers Gold may be fatiguing, even though the view is amazing. I wouldn't do offshore boating or fishing with them.
I have spoken with several commercial pilots who told me that Serengeti Drivers are common among them, though only the non-polarized versions.
Interested in experiencing the Serengeti Drivers Gold lens for yourself? Click here to buy on Amazon.
How the lens is marketed
"Launched in 1985, this ideal driving sunglass is the original and emblematic lens of Serengeti®. The amber-colored Drivers lens naturally amplifies contrast and definition. It is engineered to transmit and distinguish red, green, and yellow colors, so they can pop in all environments. This lens provides technicolor sensations of warmth and is ideal for driving because it enhances colors and contrast while lightening and darkening to provide optimal light transmission in any condition."
"This lens has all the benefits of our signature Drivers lens, along with a stylish gold-flash mirror. The amber-colored Drivers Gold mirrored lens provides an additional layer of protection, amplifying contrast, and definition to reveal vibrant colors in all environments."
Is the brand’s marketing accurate?
Yes. There really is no way to describe this lens properly. It needs to be tried on to understand what it is. This Serengeti Drivers Gold lens review will hopefully get you to do just that.
I will say when they claim it "provides an additional layer of protection, amplifying contrast, and definition to reveal vibrant colors in all environments", I do not really get that any more than the Drivers lens, but there is no need to embellish on an already perfect product.
Comparison to the same brand - Serengeti
Serengeti Drivers Polarized
This is the same lens as the Drivers Gold but without a reflective gold mirror on the front. In theory, the gold mirror should make the lens a bit more neutral and slightly darker, but I cannot tell any difference between the two lenses when wearing them. Practically, they have the same lens view, just with a different aesthetic. Some may prefer to have the lens with a mirror as when the Drivers are not fully darkened they are light enough that the wearer's eyes are often visible to others, depending on the lighting.
See here for the full Serengeti Drivers review. Click here to buy on Amazon.
Serengeti 555nm Polarized
The 555nm is a wonderful green lens that is the most color-enhancing and vibrant green lens I have ever worn, but that is only in comparison to green lenses. The 555nm is better in full light than the Drivers Gold, as it is more calming, but the Drivers Gold is more versatile and the views are more amazing in all other conditions. I view the 555nm as a great full-sun condition compliment to the Drivers. My wife keeps both in her car.
See here for the full Serengeti 555nm review. Click here to buy on Amazon.
Serengeti 555nm Blue Polarized
The 555nm Blue lens is the same as the 555nm but with a reflective (but not solid) blue mirror. The effect of the blue mirror is to push the tint of the green lens a bit towards yellow. This adds to the brightening effect of the 555nm and greens and yellows really pop with bright color, while blues and reds stay pleasant. As with the 555nm lens, the 555nm blue is better in full light than the Drivers Gold, as it is more calming, but the Drivers Gold is more versatile and the views are more amazing in all other conditions. I prefer this lens to the 555nm and I keep both the Drivers and the 555nm Blue in my car.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
Serengeti Sedona Polarized
The Sedona lens (here in its bi-gradient silver mirror version), is a rose-based lens that boosts reds and blues while keeping greens highlighted. This lens takes a minute to adjust to but quickly settles down to feel like a grey lens with the colors glowing with brightness and vibrance. Where the Drivers Gold strikes a perfect balance in almost every condition, the Sedona excels in bright haze, winter, golfing, and when you want to dial up the color to an even warmer and colorful degree. I use them when I am in that sort of mood, but I generally prefer the Drivers Gold, though I will explain more fully in the Sedona review.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
Comparison to the same color of different brands
Maui Jim HCL Bronze
This is the only lens that can compare to the versatility and beauty of the Drivers lens, and the only lens I wear nearly as often. The colors are vivid, the clarity is off the charts, and the view is stunning. Because the Drivers Gold is photochromic, it gets much lighter than the HCL Bronze but never gets quite as dark. The Drivers Gold lens is better in mixed or overcast conditions, but the HCL
Bronze is more comfortable in full sun.
See here for the full Maui Jim HCL Bronze Review. Click here to see on Amazon
Ray-Ban B15 Polarized
The Ray Ban B15 is an excellent brown tint. The Serengeti's are significantly better in every way, as the colors are noticeably richer and more pleasing, even in full sun.
See here for the full Ray-Ban B15 review. Click here to buy on Amazon
Persol Brown Polarized
Even redder than the Ray-Ban B15, the Persol's have a very dark, saturated view that boosts reds, keeps greens bright but highlighted, and heavily reduces blues. It can take a few minutes to adjust to. A great lens, especially if you like the redder browns.
Click here to buy on Amazon
Randolph American Tan Polarized
This lens is nearly the same as the Persol, but performs slightly better in full sun and not as well in overcast. The Drivers Gold lens is much more pleasant to me.
Click here to buy on Amazon
Conclusion: Should you buy it?
The Serengeti Drivers Gold lens stands out as one of the best and most versatile options available for sunglasses today. With its superior mineral glass composition, advanced photochromic properties, and Spectral Control technology, it provides exceptional clarity, adaptability, and enhanced color perception. These lenses excel in bright and especially mixed conditions, making them ideal for driving and other outdoor activities. The Drivers Gold lens delivers an unmatched visual experience, ensuring your eyes are protected and comfortable in any lighting.
If you're in the market for a pair of sunglasses that combine functionality with style, the Serengeti Drivers Gold lens is an excellent choice. Its remarkable performance in diverse conditions makes it a reliable and worthwhile investment.
I am confident I do not have to sell this lens to you. Once you try it on, the Drivers Gold will sell themselves. They are that good.
