YY Vertical Plasfun Evo Belay Glasses - Black Edition Review (2026)

What these glasses are for

Belay glasses angle a prism so the belayer can watch a climber overhead while looking straight ahead rather than tilting the neck back for an entire pitch. The Plasfun Evo is YY Vertical's mid-tier model, sitting above the simpler Plasfun First and using extended BK7 glass prisms that the manufacturer describes as giving a wider field of view than smaller prism designs. The frame is polycarbonate with a soft-touch coating, keeping weight low for long sessions at the gym or crag. Like the orange edition, this black version is built to be worn over prescription glasses or sunglasses, which is useful for belayers who already wear corrective lenses. The optics and frame shape are identical across YY Vertical's color options, so the choice between black and orange comes down to visibility preference rather than performance.

Fit, comfort and everyday use

The Evo is meant for people who belay often enough that neck strain becomes a real issue, including gym staff, route setters, coaches and climbers with regular partners. Its soft-touch coated frame is designed to sit comfortably through extended sessions, and the shape is a refinement over the cheaper Plasfun First, which some climbers find fits less securely. Because the glasses accommodate prescription eyewear underneath, they avoid the common problem of prism glasses only working for people with narrow face shapes or no other glasses. The black colorway keeps the look low profile for climbers who do not want bright gear, and it also tends to hide chalk dust and dirt marks that build up on a well used pair better than lighter colors would.

What comes in the box

The black Plasfun Evo ships with the same accessory set as the rest of the line: a hard case with one-hand opening and an integrated carabiner for clipping to a harness, a safety cord, a microfiber cleaning cloth, a small screwdriver, two spare screws and extra nose pads. That is a fairly generous kit for the price point, since the spare screws and screwdriver let an owner tighten or replace hardware without a trip to a shop. The case is meant to protect the prisms between belay sessions, and the cloth is intended for the optical surfaces specifically rather than general use, since coarser fabric can scratch prism coatings over repeated cleanings.

Durability and care

Like the orange edition, the black Plasfun Evo uses a polycarbonate frame rather than metal, which keeps the glasses light but means they can show scuffs or wear faster than an aluminum-framed pair if dropped on rock or pavement. YY Vertical's two-year warranty against manufacturing defects applies to this edition as well. Because the black frame hides scratches and grime better than the orange or blue versions, it may look presentable for longer even as normal wear accumulates underneath. Storing the glasses in the included case when they are not clipped to a harness is the simplest way to protect the hinges and prism surfaces, and using the microfiber cloth regularly keeps the lenses clear for belaying in bright outdoor light.

Who should buy the black edition

Pick the black Plasfun Evo if you want the same wide-prism optics and refined frame as the orange version but prefer gear that blends in rather than stands out, whether that is for personal taste or because a subdued look fits your other equipment. It suits regular belayers who want a clear step up from a basic prism model without paying for a metal-framed flagship pair. The tradeoff is that a black pair is harder to spot if it comes unclipped in tall grass, a dim gym corner or a cluttered gear pile, so climbers who often misplace small gear might prefer the brighter orange or blue options instead.

Frequently asked questions