Product Reviews

Sometimes one can immediately sense the quality of a pair of sunglasses by just holding them, which was my occasion with the Spy Optics Hennepin model. As I took them out of the box, light reflected off the lenses, a royal-blue-changing-to-green affair, and I became quite excited to put these on. Not only do they look great on me (as they would on anyone), the Hennepin shielded my eyes from the sun coolly, as though my visual plane had been transformed to that of the moon. The particular lenses are from Spy’s Happy Lens line, of the Happy Grey Green variety. They’re meant for driving and any sort of casual situation in which sunglasses may be preferred, and they live up to their promise of “cutting down brightness without distorting colors”—I’d even say that they increased my visual focus while driving. Spy claims that they feature an “anti-reflective inner lens coating,” which is effective, by and large, though I think I caught a glimpse of my eye “in the mirror,” so to speak, but no matter. The black-and-white turtleshell frame, made from hand-machined acetate, is stylish yet understated with a classic Wayfarer-like shape. I like that they flash with a subtle flare, but are mostly black. It’s like I’m the leader of the bad guys or something. –Alexander Ortega

Subtech have created a completely waterproof, slim-fit skin for smartphones and tablets, so all you outdoor enthusiasts can rest easy. The Dryskin is a condom for your phone. It’s a thin, stretchy plastic that wraps tightly around your device, and a sticker across the back completes the seal. Once on, the phone is 100-percent water, sand, dirt, and snow proof. And like all screen protectors, my phone’s touchscreen was responsive through the case. Even the Touch ID on my iPhone 5s could easily read my fingerprint. When submerged underwater, my phone was kept dry and safe. Although Subtech claims that you can take underwater photos and videos with their product, my touch screen became completely unresponsive once submerged. With the Dryskin on, you have no access to charge your device or use headphones, either. Dryskin is a great temporary product (each skin can be used three times) to keep your phone safe during harsh weather conditions or outdoor activities, but personally, I prefer something a little more stable over a momentary fix. –Nate Abbott