District Vision Keiichi Review
Performance eyewear in an approachable silhouette that is over engineered to last.
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Review Summary
The Keiichi sunglasses from District Vision were the ones that introduced me to the brand and instantly had me hooked. This everyday model in a familiar silhouette is super simple to wear and can double for both driving around town as well as hours of endurance activities. The composition is what you would expect from a high end performance brand like District Vision; Japanese engineering, ultra lightweight full titanium core, anti glare polarized shatterproof lenses, and an adjustable fit that sculpts to the contours of your face.
General sizing of the Keiichi is on the smaller side and certainly more suited for narrow or petite faces. I’d classify my face shape as average and I still felt that the arms protrude slightly outward when viewing from the front. The adjustable nose pad and temple tips allow you to dial in the comfort and secure the sunglasses in place to withstand the jostling of running, hiking, or cycling. Because the Keiichi sunglasses only weigh 24 grams, there’s practically zero movement no matter the intensity of exercise. This pair of sunglasses should feel right at home as these offer a more tame aesthetic than some of the other District Vision offerings. Value is high with durability being even higher making the District Vision Keiichi sunglasses a solid choice for around town casual shades.
OVERALL: 86%
FIT: 84%
CONSTRUCTION: 94%
STYLE: 82%
VALUE: 78%
PROS:
Ultra lightweight titanium core and slightly flexible nylon make for a very durable pair of sunglasses
Adjustable nose pad and temple tips allow you to dial in the fit to keep the sunglasses in place even during endurance activities
Proprietary polycarbonate shatterproof lens with anti-reflective and oleophobic treatment looks great and performs even better. Polarized anti fog lenses are available on select models.
Engineered in Japan to strict standards and built to last for many many years
CONS:
Starting at $250, these are cheaper than other District Vision models, yet still on the high side for activewear sunglasses
The Keiichi model is more narrow than other offerings from the brand and may fit better on smaller faces
Review Details
District Vision Keiichi Fit
The well thought out design elements incorporated into the District Vision Keiichi sunglasses help create a fit that is unique to each individual. Being primarily focused on movement (and obviously eye protection), the District Vision Keiichi sunglasses were built to stay in place regardless of the physical pursuit that you may engage in. I regularly take the Keiichi sunglasses on long hikes and occasionally reach for them during my more mellow jogs and cycling rides, of which there has never once been a discomfort or distraction issue.
I’ll first start off with the general shape and dimensions of the District Vision Keiichi sunglasses. The width of the frame measures roughly 5.8 inches in total while the overall height is around 1.75 inches. I ordered this pair online, not yet having tried them on. Once they arrived, I was a bit surprised by how small they appeared. I put them on and immediately noticed that my relatively thin and average face still felt just a bit too large for these sunglasses. I wouldn’t say that they fit abnormally or that any passerby would think they look strange, but the lenses just felt small.
Each lens measures roughly 2 inches wide by 1.5 inches tall. The nose bridge is about average and when worn the arms slightly flare from the corner of the frame back to the top of the ears. This leaves the design feeling somewhat compact. That might be the best way that I can describe how I feel these fit on my face. I imagine the District Vision Keiichi sunglasses will fit perfectly fine for most, but be warned that they may feel small for some.
Looking past the general size of the Keiichi, there are features that are found on each and every pair of District Vision sunglasses that allow for a definitive perfect fit.The nose pad allows for multi directional adjustments to accommodate all nose shapes and positions. It can be pinched or widened to hug the bridge while also pulled back towards the face away from the sunglasses if needed. There are subtle ridges on the nose pad where it contacts the face to add some minor grip. This keeps the frame from sliding during movement or when met with moisture.
Temple tips at the end of each arm can be rotated either in, out, or upside down to add some necessary friction and pressure around the back of the ears. This too serves the purpose of keeping the frames planted and free of any unwanted shifting during activity. When hiking or jogging, the super lightweight Keiichi sunglasses feel like an extension of your face. They’re practically unnoticeable except for the positive protection they provide from the harsh sun's rays.
District Vision Keiichi Construction
As with all District Vision sunglasses, the construction quality is second to none and instantly recognizable. I’m a sucker for small operations that go all in on over engineered functional design that fully serves a specific purpose. Undoubtedly, this is District Vision’s modus operandi. Seeing as this checks all my boxes, I’ll try to cover the construction quality without coming off as too much of a District Vision shill.
Starting with the frames, the exterior is made up of a slightly flexible and highly durable nylon material that is able to take continual punishment. Some models of the Keiichi come in a translucent finish while others are more opaque. When opting for the transparent versions, you’ll be able to clearly see the grade 2 titanium core that runs through the temple tips and nose pad. Grade 2 is a titanium typically used in aerospace applications due to its flexibility, strength, and corrosion resistant properties. It too is also incredibly lightweight allowing the Keiichi to hit the scales at only 24 grams, a truly impressive number.
The hypoallergenic adjustable nose pad and temple tips are made up of a marginally more pliable rubber than the rest of the frame. This allows for the nose pad to easily move in and out or toward the nose for proper fitment. Once dialed in, the titanium core holds its shape to ensure continued security during activity. The rubber temple tips essentially have two sides that vary to some degree. One side follows the natural curvature of the arms while the other side has a more hook-like trajectory. The latter provides added hold around the back of the ear for activities that may be more vigorous. The temple tips can effortlessly swivel a full 180 degrees to engage each setting or be left somewhere in between to match the contour of your head.
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District Vision lenses are a thing of beauty. While the rest of the frame construction is awe inspiring in its own right, the lenses are where form and function truly shine. Similar to the other District Vision offerings, the Keiichi comes in a variety of lenses that range in performance and aesthetics. Each lens starts off as a shatterproof proprietary form of polycarbonate. Initial standards are then applied to all lenses which include 100% UVA/B protection, an anti-reflective interior application, and an oleophobic treatment making it water and oil repellent. From there each lens begins to differ pending the intended application.
D+ black rose, for example, is an advanced transitionary lens that allows for variable light transmission ranging from 15.6% - 35.15% and blue light of 14%. This is perfect for situations where you’re moving quickly through full daylight followed by heavy shadows. The D+ anti-fog (also referred to as calm-tech) is said to be the world's first porous lens that absorbs fog and light rain drops to prevent any type of visual disturbances. This lens transmits 18% of light and 18.5% of blue light. It also looks pretty awesome with a reddish orange outer appearance. The D+ silver flash has a unique mirror coating for maximum infrared screening and eye protection. It successfully transmits 10.3% of light and 9.7% of blue light. The list continues on with purpose built finishes that are suited for whatever your outdoor needs may be.
The general tactile feel of the Keiichi is satisfyingly solid. The arms require you to pull them open where they then stay in place until you decide to close them. They don’t freely fly open like you may see on lower quality sunglasses. The marrying point where the arms meet the frame is a tight tolerance that is free from any wobble whatsoever. You can toss these around, throw them in a bag, and keep them in a pocket without much worry about what will happen. After 2 years of use and abuse, these sunglasses have held up impressively, only needing to be tightened once.
District Vision Keiichi Style
Of the roughly 9 models of District Vision sunglasses, the Keiichi could be considered the more everyday easy to wear silhouette with a somewhat more traditional style. While the Junya Racer and Koharu scream serious speed, the Keiichi is closer in shape to a much more modern wayfarer. That’s not to say that this pair of sunglasses is basic in any way, they’re just less dramatic and more traditional compared to some of the other offerings from District Vision.
With the Keiichi, there are many unique lens and frame pairings that all amount to some incredible combinations. District Vision is undefeated when it comes to design (pink moon will 100% always be a grail) and never disappoints with their creative direction. I purchased the limited run Reigning Champ collaboration with District Vision which features a tame all black frame and custom tinted subtle purple hued lenses. Under certain lighting conditions, the lens appears dark and more average. However, at certain angles, the purple lens really comes through with a deep tone.
Other combinations available include an anti fog polarized lens which features a red orange appearance and is paired with either a black or translucent gray frame and red temple tips (probably my favorite variation of the Keiichi). There’s also the tortoise frame and silver flash lens, gray frame and black rose lens, and then the more traditional color ways in standard specs. I admire the amount of options available to dial in your style, all featuring varying levels of light transmission, blue light protection, and overall performance pending your application.
As mentioned above, on a day to day basis these are the more easily wearable sunglasses from District Vision. The Keiichi model is typically my default since they seamlessly blend with just about anything I may have on. Paired with a casual t-shirt, sweatshirt or an outer shell jacket makes no difference. Where I do tend to face more of a choice is when selecting what pair to wear for exercise. The Keiichi, being so casual, certainly does amazing and looks right at home with somewhat static outdoor exercises like hiking, golf, or many other ball sports. When it comes to more fast paced movement like running or cycling, I prefer the wraparound aggressive lens shape that provides aerodynamics and protection over a larger field of vision. The Keiichi would no doubt hold up fine during these exercises, but from a purely style standpoint the Junya Racer reigns supreme. All in all, you can’t go wrong with the District Vision Keiichi. Is it my absolute favorite style from District Vision? Not really. The tame nature makes it less exciting than the other offerings, however, it does have its place in my constant rotation.
District Vision Keiichi Value
The District Vision Keiichi model could be classified as the entry level for District Vision. Starting at $250, these are one of the more affordable pairs from the brand, right there next to the Nako multisport. While still not cheap, they do pack a range of features paired with undoubted durability which helps justify the price. When considering that the District Vision Keiichi sunglasses can serve the purpose of eye protection during any type of activity imaginable followed by an outing to the grocery store, the price seems more reasonable (I usually don’t wear my Junya Racers or Koharus to the grocery store).
There is also the fact that the lightweight nylon frame is nearly indestructible (within reason) and the lenses are shatterproof. If you’re hard on your sunglasses, throwing them around without any type of proper storage, the Keiichi will give you grace. I’ve had numerous pairs of District Vision sunglasses over the years with each and every pair continuing to both wear and appear as new.
Rarely if ever do District Vision sunglasses go on sale, at least on the District Vision website. In fact, more often than not it’s quite the opposite where the strong colorways tend to sell out, oftentimes quickly. Because of that, District Vision is certainly a pay to play purchase choice that in my opinion is generally worth it. When it comes to the Keiichi model, the value is decently high if the dimensions suit your face and you’re into the more simplistic silhouette. That being said, if I was told that I could only own one pair of District Vision sunglasses, these would be lower on the list for the sole reason of how they fit my face.
Words by Tyler Holland with pictures courtesy of District Vision.
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