It seems as though I will never be satisfied with a pair of sunglasses. I’ve reviewed numerous pairs of shades on this site, and while many are PDG (pretty damn good), few reach the upper echelons of true greatness. Utah is one of the sunniest states in the country, and a good pair of shades is essential. Are the Helm 2 glasses by Spy worthy of being your go-to pair? I ran them through the ringer of both casual and adventure scenarios to find out.
The Helm 2 at a glance
The Spy Helm 2 sunnies are beefy in appearance and solidly built. Grilamid (a thermoplastic prized for its lightness, impact resistance and pliability) construction ensures that they can take a beating in the outdoors. Spy states that their Happy Lens technology boosts color, contrast and clarity, as well as enhances your mood. Hmmmm…an interesting claim. The ARC lenses also offer 100% UV ray protection, which is a must for any serious pair of shades. Finally, rubber on the inside of the temple tips keeps the glasses where they belong- on your face!
Spy built the Helm 2 as a compliment to the popular original model. The second generation is geared for people who want a good looking pair of glasses for around town, and don’t want to swap them out when it’s time to get after it in the outdoors. Being able to pull off this feat is one of my biggest make-or-break points when testing sunglasses, and the Helm 2 did not disappoint.
Tough enough for any adventure
I had doubts about these shades. To me, they are absolutely awesome-looking as a lifestyle accessory. Big, bold and so slick in the black on black option. However, I’ve found that these larger, urban themed glasses often fall short on the trail. Or simply just fall off your head. Not the Helm 2s. I did everything in them- mountain biking, canyoneering, easy hikes with my dog, and rugged ridge climbs in the Uinta Mountains. The Spys never came off my face, and were tough enough to throw into my pack without having to worry. Though they are on the larger side, the weight of the frames was never noticeable enough to be uncomfortable, even after wearing them for several hours. The only adjustments I needed to make were sliding them back up my nose after rough sections on bike rides.
When it comes to the lens performance, it’s another win with the Helm 2s. I did find the black lenses to be a bit dark, which is great on super-sunny summer days but not so great when clouds roll in. However, I can affirm the quality of the lens; colors are robust-looking, and the contrast is definitely a strong point. These guys can definitely do it all.
Final Verdict
The Spy Helm 2 sunglasses are tough to beat if you’re looking for a single pair of shades to bring everywhere. These are PDG and then some. In fact, I’d put them at the top of the pile when it comes to the sunnies I’ve tested over the past few years.