Blenders Eclipse Volleyball Sunglasses Review

The Blenders Eclipse Polarized Sports Sunglasses target the sweet spot between disposable gas-station sunglasses and $200+ premium sport frames. At $50–80, the Eclipse gives you genuine polarization, full UV protection, and a wraparound fit in a frame that looks good enough to wear off the court — which matters more to recreational beach volleyball players than most review sites acknowledge.

After testing the Eclipse across multiple beach sessions — casual doubles, recreational league play, and pickup games at the park — the takeaway is clear: they perform well above their price point for casual play and fall predictably short of premium frames when conditions get serious. That's exactly what you'd expect, and exactly what most recreational players actually need.

On-Court Performance

Glare and Vision

Beach volleyball is a worst-case scenario for glare. Sand reflects UV radiation upward, water reflects it horizontally, and the ball is white against a bright sky overhead. Without polarization, you're squinting through all three.

The Eclipse's polarized lenses handle this well. The horizontal glare that bounces off wet sand and nearby water is effectively eliminated — you can read the court surface without that washed-out haze. Tracking the ball overhead against a bright sky is significantly easier than with non-polarized lenses.

Where the Eclipse shows its price point is in contrast detail. Premium lenses like Oakley's PRIZM or Bolle's Phantom enhance specific color channels — making a white ball pop against blue sky, or revealing subtle sand texture changes. The Eclipse polarization simply reduces glare without that selective color enhancement. The ball is easier to see, but it doesn't jump out at you the way it does through PRIZM lenses.

For casual play, this distinction is academic. For competitive play where reading the ball's spin out of the server's hand matters, the contrast gap becomes more relevant.

Retention and Stability

Beach volleyball involves constant lateral movement, diving, jumping at the net, and sudden head turns to track the ball. Sunglasses that shift during any of these movements are a liability.

The Eclipse's adjustable nose pads and temple tips provide a good baseline fit. After adjusting both to match face width and bridge shape, the frame stays in place during normal play — lateral shuffles, standing jumps, and overhead swings.

The limitation shows up during heavy sweat. The Eclipse uses standard rubber grip surfaces. Premium sport frames use hydrophilic materials (Oakley's Unobtainium, Under Armour's ArmourFusion) that get tackier as moisture increases. The Eclipse grip stays the same or gets slightly slippery. On hot days after 30+ minutes of hard play, the frame starts to creep. A $5 sport strap solves this, but it's an addition you wouldn't need with a premium frame.

Diving is where the Eclipse loses the most ground. A hard face-first dig into the sand with standard grip means the frame takes a hit. Sport straps help here too, but if you're a player who dives regularly, the strap becomes mandatory rather than optional.

Durability

The polycarbonate frame is lightweight and flexible, which helps it survive being tossed into a beach bag. After multiple sessions, the hinges remain tight and the lens shows minimal scratching despite exposure to sand (though I avoided wiping sand off the lens dry — always rinse first with water).

However, the frame flexes noticeably more than Oakley's O-Matter or Under Armour's Grilamid TR-90 on impact. A direct ball strike would flex the frame inward more than a premium frame would, and there's no impact certification to guarantee it won't crack. For recreational play where direct ball-to-face hits are rare, this is acceptable. For competitive play at the net where hard-driven spikes are common, it's a risk.

Lens Tints for Beach Volleyball

The Eclipse comes in a wide variety of lens tints and mirror finishes. For beach volleyball specifically:

• Smoke/grey: The most versatile choice. Reduces brightness evenly without shifting colors. Good for all-day play in direct sun.
• Brown/copper: Enhances contrast between the ball and sky. Slightly better for tracking the ball in variable conditions (partly cloudy, late afternoon).
• Blue mirror: Reduces overall brightness in intense midday sun. The mirror coating reflects additional light before it enters the lens.
• Rose/amber: Boosts contrast in lower light. Good for late afternoon or overcast sessions, but too warm-tinted for bright midday sun.

For a single all-purpose lens, grey or brown are the safest choices for beach play.

Blenders Eclipse vs. Oakley Turbine

The Oakley Turbine ($150–200) is the most popular premium option for beach volleyball. Here's where the money goes:

The Turbine justifies its premium through three specific advantages: PRIZM lens contrast (you genuinely see the ball better), Unobtainium grip (it stays put when you sweat), and ANSI-rated impact resistance (the lens is tested to not crack under ball strikes). These gaps matter progressively more as play intensity increases.

For 2–3 casual sessions per week, the Eclipse delivers 80% of the experience at 40% of the price. For competitive players who practice daily, the Turbine's advantages compound over time.

Who Should Buy the Blenders Eclipse

Buy the Eclipse if:

• You play recreational beach volleyball and want effective polarized protection under $80
• Style matters to you — the Eclipse offers more aesthetic variety than any sport brand
• You're testing whether you like playing in sunglasses before committing to a $200 pair
• You need a beater pair for casual beach days where you don't want to risk premium frames

Skip the Eclipse if:

• You play competitive volleyball where ball-to-face impacts are common
• You sweat heavily and don't want to add a sport strap
• You want the best contrast enhancement for reading the ball (PRIZM delivers more)

Final Verdict

The Blenders Eclipse earns its 3.5-star rating by doing the basics well at a fair price. The polarization genuinely cuts beach glare, the UV protection is full-spectrum, and the wraparound coverage blocks peripheral light. The fit is good enough for casual play — not quite locked-in enough for competitive play without a strap.

At $50–80, the Eclipse is the best value option for recreational beach volleyball players. It's not trying to be an Oakley Turbine, and it doesn't need to be. Most players on most courts will be well-served by the Eclipse, especially if they pick one of the wide range of colorways that Blenders does better than anyone else in this space.

For competitive players or a full comparison of beach volleyball sunglasses at every price point, check our best beach volleyball sunglasses guide. The Eclipse's polarized lenses also work well for other water and sand activities — our guide to polarized fishing sunglasses covers what to look for when glare reduction on water is the priority. For eyewear across other sports, see our complete sport eyewear guide.