REVIEW – Recently, I have been seeing one company after another advertising sunshades with built-in Bluetooth audio and phone functions. The Mutrics Stylish Smart Sunglasses with Surround Sound is another addition to devices of this type.

What is it?

The Mutrics Stylish Smart Sunglasses with Surround Sound offers protection from the sun along with the ability to listen to music and to conduct phone calls in an attractive and stylish package. The frame is available in 4 colors and the lens in 5 color options.

What’s in the box

1 x Mutrics Stylish Smart Sunglasses with Surround Sound
1 x Proprietary Magnetic USB Charging Cable
1 x Instruction Paper

Design and features

The sunshades come with what feels like an imitation leather type case with the name branded on the magnetic open/close flap. The inside of the case is lined with a soft material to prevent any scratches.

The controls for the shades are on the arms of the shades. The right arm of the shades has the contact points for the magnetic charging USB cable. This is a proprietary connection. On the left arm, there are the function controls. Further down near the ends of the arms there is an enclosed speaker on each one.

Performance

(The following picture is the user guide exactly as printed and included with the product.)
These glasses work very well as sunshades and feel very comfortable when worn. I can literally almost look directly into the sunlight with them. They are somewhat wide, so they may not be suitable for someone with a narrow face.

Charging the shades is very easy albeit via a proprietary cable, and the pairing process is also easy. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the good news ends there. While the shades do allow you to clearly hear the music, for me the experience is like listening to a transistor radio. The only thing related to surround-sound is that you get balanced sound for both ears. In addition, once you turn up the volume, folks around you can also clearly hear the music you are listening to.  Last but not least, although I can hear phone conversations very clearly, the party on the other end of the test calls kept complaining of a persistent and distracting echo.

Also, the user guide is printed on a piece of paper that looks like someone cut it out of a scrapbook.

What I like

• The shades lens are really great ion the sun and work perfectly as effective sunshades
• The rubberized coating on the shades

What can be improved

• The shades are all one rigid form with no ability to adjust the nose bridge or arms
• When playing music, everyone around you can hear
• The call quality for the other person on the line
• The audio quality for music

Final thoughts

I have tried several types and brands of sunshades/glasses that incorporate music and phone capabilities. As technology progresses, my personal demand for a great experience from all of the features offered by a device has become a critical part of my perspective. While these shades from Mutrics work well as sunshades, for me, that is as far as they go. I am not sure if the general perception will be that for the price they are worth it even just as shades, but for my personal choice, I would pass on these.

Price: $69
Where to buy: Mutrics website
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by Mutrics

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Sunglasses

Mutrics Stylish Smart Sunglasses with Surround Sound review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 6, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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REVIEW – Rule #1 is “Always look cool.”  And what better way to look cool when the temps outside are hot than a pair of cool shades?  Knockaround Sunglasses is keen to this; they’ve been doing cool shades since 2005, and for one of their cool brand collaborations check out these Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary “Rodger Dodger” shades.  Gadget on!

What is it?

These shades are a brand collaboration between Knockaround, makers of cool, durable and affordably-priced sunglasses, and Hot Wheels, icon makers of beloved 1:64 scale toy cars for generations.  These Fort Knocks shades are styled to be reminiscent of the Hot Wheels “Rodger Dodger” toy car, with its distinctive blue and red flames chrome accents.

Hardware specs

• Polarized silver chrome lenses with full UV400 sun protection
• Microfiber cloth pouch

What’s in the box?

As a child of the 70s and 80s, I had an immediate feeling of nostalgia when I first saw the packaging of these shades.  The packaging itself is designed to very closely mimic that of the classic Hot Wheels toy car packaging.   I have to say that of all the products I have reviewed, the packaging of these shades is one of the most impressive and clever.

Inside the package:

• Knockaround “Rodger Dodger” Fort Knocks sunglasses
• Microfiber “Rodger Dodger”-styled drawstring storage/cleaning pouch

Design and features

As a bit of background, I first became aware of Knockaround when I stumbled upon their G. I. Joe Premium shades, which I wrote a short news article about here.  (Note to Knockaround: I’m a huge G. I. Joe fan and still hoping to be able to try them out!  Yo Joe!)

Let’s check out the shades themselves.  First off, Knockaround has done a great job with the styling on these, the blue and red paint color scheme is bold, bright and eye-catching, and it really does look like something that would have originated in the 80s.

These frames are Knockaround’s Fort Knocks style frames, which have a classic style but with a slightly wider fit than their other frames.  Plus, Knockaround claims they were so named because they are tough and can take a beating.

The inside of the front has a “hot rod red interior,” which is a neat contrast to the arms in blue.  When I first put them on, the red rims produced a cool effect when looking through them.

The Knockaround Fort Knocks sunglasses also include hidden spring hinges that help provide a more comfortable and conforming fit.

I noticed something on the right arm, as seen above, which appeared to be a bit of white residue.  In the process of scraping it off with my fingernail, I thought the flames would come off with it, but they did not.  

The other arm was fine, with no residue, as seen above.

Knockaround calls this styling “nitrous blue flame,” but to me, it looks like red flames with a blue background.  Either way, it looks cool.

The blue and red color scheme is not the only thing that is reminiscent of the Hot Wheels “Rodger Dodger” racecar.  These sunglasses also have chrome accent, like the little silver squares on the front, and the recessed chrome “Knockaround” logo on both of the arms, as seen in the image above.

Knockaround also included a classic Hot Wheels logo in white on the inside of the right arm.

The upper right corner of the right lens of these shades has a tiny “50” molded in, a nod to these being Hot Wheels 50th anniversary edition.  You can also see one of the small chrome accents bars.  Note also that these Fort Knocks style sunglasses include Polarized silver chrome lenses (which gives them a very slight reflective look) with UV400 sun protection.

The microfiber drawstring storage/cleaning pouch is a really nice addition.  It features a lifelike image of the Hot Wheels “Rodger Dodger” race car sitting on a racetrack.

While I do like the nostalgic 1980s styling and linkage to such an icon and beloved toy company, I’m not sure these shades really fit my own personal style.  I’m more of a subdued, wraparound shades type of guy.  Still, these Rodger Dodgers are definitely fun and eye-catching.

It’s worth noting that last time these Knockaround “Rodger Dodger” Hot Wheels Fort Knocks sunglasses went on sale, they sold out very quickly.  As of this writing, they are currently sold out, but Knockaround reports that these will be re-issued starting in “mid-October.”

What I like

• Retro 70s/80s throwback styling
• Polarized lenses, UV protection and durable frames, but affordable pricing
• Microfiber drawstring storage bag/cleaning cloth is included

What needs to be improved

• Just that bit of white residue on the outside of the arm that I had to scrape off with my fingernail.

Final thoughts

Fun and nostalgic Hot Wheels styling with durable frames and polarized lenses, yet affordable pricing.  Knockaround has something good going with these brand collaboration shades.  These shades have a definite 80s throwback look and are definitely bold and eye-catching, so if these you think they are your styles, they are worth a look (pun intended).

Price: $35.00
Where to buy: Knockaround.com
Source: The product sample for this review was provided by Knockaround.com.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Sunglasses

Knockaround Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary “Rodger Dodger” Fort Knocks sunglasses review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 15, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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