You’ll never find a sporting optic that’s more rugged, lightweight, or clear than a Leupold. That much has been known for decades. Innovation and performance have always been part of the company’s lifeblood. Whether you call upon a Leupold riflescope, reflex sight, binocular, spotting scope, or rangefinder, you can count on it to deliver. Now, that same level of expertise has been applied to a new product line: Performance Eyewear. Earlier this year, Leupold officially debuted its new line of Performance Eyewear, which is now available to consumers nationwide. Designed, machined, and assembled in the United States, the Performance Eyewear line takes full advantage of the 113 years of optics manufacturing knowledge only Leupold can offer.
Five styles are available in a variety of lens and frame colors: the Katmai, Becnara, Packout, Switchback, and Tracer. All five styles are made from lightweight, ballistic-rated materials and ship with scratch-resistant polarized lenses as rugged and clear as Leupold’s legendary sport optics. Three of the five styles – the Packout, Switchback, and Tracer – meet or exceed ANSI Z87.1 high-velocity impact standards for eye protection.
“Whether you’re talking about riflescopes, reflex sights, mounting systems, or observational equipment, our products have always outperformed the competition under the harshest conditions, without fail,” said Tim Lesser, Vice President of Product Development for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “Now, with the Performance Eyewear line, we’re applying that same level of excellence to a new type of optic, so you can experience Leupold’s rugged clarity every day.”
The Katmai is the choice for any adventurer. Lightweight, rugged, and exceptionally clear, they can be trusted to keep your vision true. The Becnara, meanwhile, fuses Leupold performance with everyday style. Polarized, rugged, and crystal clear, they won’t let you down. The Packout and Switchback designs are at home with any hunter or shooter, and pair proven optical clarity with an ANSI Z87.1 high-velocity impact protection rating. The Tracer carries that same ANSI Z87.1 high-velocity impact protection and also ships with additional clear and yellow interchangeable lenses, making it a must-have for any die-hard shooter.
All five styles share numerous top-of-the-line features like Leupold’s Guard-ion hydrophobic coating that sheds dirt, water, and fingerprints for a clear, crisp image. Diamondcoat-hardened lenses, meanwhile, reduce surface scratches. A no-slip bridge design provides all day comfort with soft-touch rubber pads. Daylight Max technology provides complete UV protection for optimal performance in any environment.
Chief among the features, however, are the line’s ballistic rating and In-Fused polarization.
Ballistic-Rated Materials vs. ANSI Z87.1+ Certification
Leupold has been manufacturing crystal-clear optics for over a century. From the Twilight Max HD Light Management System the company developed for its sport optics to the Daylight Max UV protection engineered into Performance Eyewear, the lens clarity and durability are second to none. The company leveraged this extensive experience in optics manufacturing to bring consumers extremely resilient polarized lenses.
Every pair of Performance Eyewear is made from ballistic-rated materials. Leupold uses shatterproof lenses that are crafted to the same standards as its sporting optics. The lenses eliminate distortion and enhance clarity, all while providing impact protection.
Leupold combines the shatterproof lenses with frames that are made from the most resilient non-metal materials on the market (TR90 & TR90 NZZ). Rugged, lightweight, and flexible, the frames maintain their structure under stress and can withstand the harshest weather conditions.
The Katmai and Becnara styles feature a 6-base curve – meaning they have a flatter design and don’t wrap around the side of the face. That’s why, though they’re still made with ballistically-rated materials, they don’t feature an ANSI-rating.
The Packout, Switchback, and Tracer have an 8-base curve, meaning they wrap around the side of the face and offer protection from the side. That gives them the ANSI Z87.1+ rating that makes them a perfect partner on the range.
In-Fused Polarization
Why polarized lenses? Stray light reflecting off surfaces like snow, water, and asphalt can wreak havoc on your eyes, causing distortion and eye fatigue. Polarized lenses redirect this stray light, dramatically reducing glare. But not all polarized lenses are created equal.
Leupold’s In-Fused polarized technology uses an advanced manufacturing process that fuses the polarization film between two of the lens layers, providing permanent protection. This process ensures that the film does not scratch or deteriorate over time. Bottom line, don’t be fooled by low-quality polarized lenses that only use surface coatings or an inferior manufacturing process. Leupold’s In-Fused technology eliminates glare and stands up to the elements like only a Leupold lens can.
When you combine Leupold’s In-Fused polarized technology with our other lens technologies, you get a crystal-clear image that keeps your eyes protected and your vision fresh all day long.
The result? Eyewear that’s perfect for shooters and outdoorsmen and women alike, whether you’re on the range each weekend, hiking a ridge looking for a trophy bull, or just driving to work every day. Best yet: the entire Leupold Performance Eyewear line is proudly designed, machined, and assembled in the United States.
Check out the entire line of Performance Eyewear at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse today.
