GUNNAR’s Tioga glasses include some of the highest quality materials and design that the company has ever put together, resulting in an extremely stylish and functional pair
I’m a sucker for natural materials in products. I took several Design classes to understand that the native beauty in material purity is something that always connects with humans. I know they cost more, but we love to see REAL things. We’re inundated with synthetics — and while they can also look terrific and last forever there’s just some magic with something that is (or feels) of the earth.
GUNNAR has already done a few pairs of glasses using metals and earthy parts, but the Tioga set takes that to the next level. Immediately striking is the mixture of Italian acetate with wood, in this case huing closer to the reds with Rosewood (there’s a gray version too). There are hints of carbon fiber, and it’s all attached with metal accents around the temple spines, and the GUNNAR name is etched on the side of the wood.
Sick!
The acetate frame shape is rounded, and even though it’s just a TAD bit too small for my face shape the metal hinges bend well and have enough play that they don’t squeeze my head. It’s a comfy pair, and I really like the look, I just wish they were ever so slightly wider.
Photographs copyright Dali Dimovski/SideQuesting
This is all works to support the glass, which is possibly the most intense and exquisite part of the glasses (and obviously the most important). This time GUNNAR have chosen to use a special “mineral glass” that is typically found in higher grade telescopes and camera lenses. Why put it in glasses? Well, they don’t scratch. At all. I’m prone to dropping glasses and I’ve already dropped these, but the glass is sturdy and tough and impervious, and feels slightly thicker than others. The Amber color in this set does a nice job of toning down the bright blues, but with the superior mineral glass it leaves a weird halo effect whenever there’s high contrast. I see a little bit of the yellow/amber in the edges of colors around whites, which isn’t optimal for someone that works all day on static screens like I do. But during gaming sessions or when viewing stuff on my TV at a distance I found no issue. In fact, I’ve found myself replacing my regular glasses with these for the majority of my day around the house.
Photographs copyright Dali Dimovski/SideQuesting
The GUNNAR Tioga are a high-quality, stylish pair of glasses that definitely turn heads. With stunning material combinations and a shape to die for, and some of the best quality lenses in the market, they’re a great premium choice for those who want to game and look great all day.
This review is based on a product sent to SideQuesting by the manufacturer. Images and video courtesy manufacturer and SideQuesting. This video first appeared on The SideQuest for March 06, 2026.
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