Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost Review

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We ask a lot of our sunglasses in Southern California. Navigating mid-afternoon traffic, roughing sand and surf on the beach, looking good during drinks at downtown rooftop bars…add blistering UVs and a style-conscious population to the mix, and we’re left with high demands on versatility, performance, and polish. If these demands sound familiar to you, you’d do well to consider Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost edition  sunglasses as your go-to shades this season.

Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost Sunglasses Summary

Outfitted with Kaenon’s proprietary Polarized SR-91 lenses, the Burnet sunglasses I’ve been testing for the past few weeks in Los Angeles are part of a special Winter Frost collection that boasts translucent frosted crystal frames.

I’ve worn these sunglasses driving around town, jogging beachside, ordering cocktails, and completing outside home maintenance projects. In all activities, the Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost product has provided remarkable comfort and exemplary technical performance in a design package that exudes cool confidence.

These specs are perfect for pulling off SoCal insouciant chic without compromising on performance.

Frame Build and Components

There’s no mistaking the high quality of these sunglasses. Solid construction, high-end materials, and fresh design can be appreciated right out of the box.

The Burnet’s hinges open and close smoothly and silently. There’s lots of confidence built into the five-barrel stainless steel hinges on these glasses. I’ve experienced no looseness or creaking during a month of heavy testing, including plenty of time in high-humidity areas at the beach.

Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost frames feature five-barrel stainless steel hinges that provide superior sturdiness.

This sturdiness does not come with a weight penalty. The Burnet’s frame is lightweight. One might even say featherweight. In part, the low mass owes to the use of TR-90 material for frame construction. The material provides superior strength-to-weight characteristics, yet the frame also flexes where it should. The net result is comfortable wearing even during long stretches of physical activity. There’s no unwanted pressure on the nose bridge or behind the ears.

The TR-90 material also is said to retain memory and provide temperature resistance to forestall shape loss over time. While best evaluated over the longer term, to date, I have not experienced any warping or shape loss.

Over the shorter term, the frame’s recessed Variflex nose pads have proven themselves to be hypoallergenic as advertised. I’ve experienced no skin sensitivity wearing these shades for hours at a stretch in a variety of temperature and humidity conditions. These pads are integrated, almost flush, into the frame housing. They have left virtually no skin indentations on the bridge of my nose even after long sessions of wear. The Variflex material has a rubbery, silicone-like texture that is comfortable and durable.

Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost frames include Variflex recessed nose pads, which are made of hypoallergenic material.

Frame Design

The winter season Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost collection frames I’ve been testing are white frosted crystal, a finish that evokes the color and texture of glass washed ashore from the sea. The styling exemplifies Kaenon’s design aesthetic, which is meant to reflect the Southern California environment. These Frost edition Burnets do so with understated conviction.

The shape of the frame, too, suggests littoral heritage. Its clean and flowing lines are reminiscent of windswept sands. The Kaenon branding plates at the frame’s temples are a nice piece of styling work, cleanly integrating into the frame and enhancing visibility of the frame’s lines.

Kaenon’s California-based designers have created a top-flight piece of industrial design.

Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost sunglasses are a top-flight piece of industrial design.

Lenses on the Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost

My Frost edition specs are equipped with Kaenon’s darkest Black Label Black Mirror G12 lens color. As the name suggests, these are dark-tinted mirror lenses tailored for bright, full-sun conditions.

The G12 lenses, like all Kaenon Polarized lenses, are machined from the company’s proprietary Polarized SR-91 lens material. SR-91 lenses offer various performance advantages. According to the manufacturer, the SR-91 lenses provide full broad-spectrum UV protection, strength and impact resistance equal to polycarbonate, and superior optical quality. This all comes in what Kaenon deems a “lightweight” package. I’d argue only the lightweight description since it doesn’t do justice to the leanness of these lenses. Again, “featherweight” is more like it.

There’s no arguing the UV protection. The midday sun in Los Angeles, especially when it’s refracting off the beach or surf (or glaring bumpers in traffic), is as unforgiving as it gets. These lenses have not once left me feeling uncovered or as though I need to squint. At the same time, they provide high-visibility viewing and no discernible distortion. Colors remain true. Though I have not had the chance to directly test the theory, I anticipate these lenses would perform as well in snow conditions as they do at the beach (or at rush hour).

I have not tested lens durability in any scientific way; however, my casual usage would not be classified as “careful.” I’ve dropped the Burnets more than once on hard surfaces and they remain in mint condition, lenses included.

Kaenon SR-91 lenses carry a lifetime warranty. Kaenon frames are protected by a one-year warranty.

Who Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost Sunglasses Are For

These premium sunglasses provide superior technical performance in a high-design package. The Frost edition imparts unique seasonal style with finishing touches that render the frames noticeable and perfect for the winter sports and social scene. Several people commented on the unique finish of the frames during my testing. These sunglasses receive plenty of attention from the fashion-conscious.

Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost collection sunglasses are well suited to the needs of users seeking cool, casual, and classic looks without compromising comfort and lens performance. To my mind, it would be difficult to design eye wear that is more aesthetically pleasing than these Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost shades. They are strong all-around performers, designed with versatility and aesthetics to spare.

It should be noted that users seeking specialized sunglasses for task-specific or extreme-condition wear might find more technically appropriate eye wear elsewhere. Kaenon, for instance, offers other sunglasses frames more oriented toward athletics.

Sizing

According to the manufacturer, the Kaenon Burnet frame is designed for “small to medium” face sizes. Numerically, “small to medium” translates to a frame width of 133 millimeters. I would consider my face size solidly in the “medium” range, and the fit of these glasses is perfect.

In order to test the “small” range of sizing, I asked my wife to try wearing these sunglasses for a few hours. She reluctantly gave the sunglasses back to me and reported a comfortable fit.

Colors

The Kaenon Burnet frames are available in several colors and finishes. Winter Frost edition frames are available in the frosted crystal style.

Included In The Box

My Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost frames arrived with the following accessories: a white microfiber drawstring bag for cleaning, storing, and transporting the sunglasses; a black, semi-rigid zippered sunglasses case; a Kaenon Polarized sticker; and a warranty registration postcard. (The warranty also can be registered online.)

Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost sunglasses come with a microfiber bag, semi-rigid zippered storage case, sticker, and warranty card.

Final Thoughts on the Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost

Kaenon Polarized Burnet Winter Frost sunglasses have style to spare and provide no-compromise performance for casual and athletic eye wear. The Frost edition trim is a great way to “winterize” your wardrobe regardless of whether your seasonal plans entail wearing parkas or trunks, sipping drinks or surfing. For more information on the Burnet Winter Frost sunglasses and other Kaenon products, visit: www.kaenon.com or www.amazon.com/kaenon.