As I jogged along the trail, I could hear the sound of gravel beneath my feet and Maynard James Keenan singing clearly in my ear. If my friends (ahead or behind) shouted at me, I’d still hear their voices through my chugging metal playlist. But when we stopped and I asked, they couldn’t hear my music unless they focused and leaned in.
That was pretty cool. But it wasn’t even the coolest feature of these techy shades from Chamelo. As the brand’s founder explained to me at the Summer 2024 Outdoor Retailer show, the Music Shield sunglasses take transition lenses to the next level. Unlike traditional photochromic sunglasses, I adjust the tint on the Music Shields manually and instantaneously with the touch of a finger.
Those two features together in a single set of eyewear caught my attention. It’s why GearJunkie presented Chamelo with a Best in Show award at OR — we’d never seen anything quite like it.
![chamelo music shield electrochromatic transition sunglasses bluetooth](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/07/file-11-1.jpg)
But I had questions. As nifty as the technology of these futuristic shades looked, I wondered how effective its design would be in reality. What happens if it runs out of battery? Is it possible for the lens tint to malfunction? And would the lens actually offer enough variance in tint shade to actually be a useful feature?
At the tradeshow, I walked away with a pair of the Chamelo Music Shield sunglasses ($250) to test, bent on finding answers. I used them on hikes, runs, and bikes over the subsequent weeks. I even loaned them to my partner to get her impressions. We both agreed the design isn’t perfect yet. But the Music Shield sunglasses from Chamelo could represent a leap in sunglasses tech — especially if it gets better from here.
In short: The Chamelo Eyewear Music Shield sunglasses allow the wearer to manually adjust the lens tint instantly at any moment. Two small Bluetooth speakers on the undersides of the arms play music while keeping you plugged in to the world around you. The technology still has some room for improvement — I’d love more range of tint and full waterproofing. But for anyone who doesn’t like the transition lag of photochromic lenses and wants a safe, comfortable way to enjoy audio during high activity, the Music Shield could be an awesome option.
If you’re shopping for sunglasses, check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Cycling Sunglasses and the Best Sunglasses for the Outdoors.
- Weight: 1.7 oz
- Battery capacity: 180 mAh
- Battery life: 100 hours (tint adjustment), 6.5 hours (listening time)
- Charge time: Charge 80% in 30 minutes
- Charge device: Custom pogo pin cable
- Speakers: 16mm with 20-20,000Hz frequency
Pros
- Can listen to music without plugging your ears to external sounds
- Allows users to adjust lens tint manually and instantly (no need for swapping lenses)
- Solid athletic eyewear
Cons
- Battery powered, can die
- Not waterproof
- Limited range of tint
Chamelo Music Shield Sunglasses Review
![chamelo music shield electrochromatic transition sunglasses bluetooth](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/07/file.png)
Music to Your Ears
![chamelo music shield electrochromatic transition sunglasses bluetooth](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/07/file-7.jpg)
Charging & Battery Power
![chamelo music shield electrochromatic transition sunglasses bluetooth](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/07/file-1-1.jpg)
Fit, Feel, Style
![chamelo music shield electrochromatic transition sunglasses bluetooth](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/07/file-13.jpg)
Room for Improvement
![chamelo music shield electrochromatic transition sunglasses bluetooth](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/07/file-3-1.jpg)
The Final Word: Chamelo Music Shield Sunglasses
![chamelo music shield electrochromatic transition sunglasses bluetooth](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/07/file-12.jpg)