Anyone have a recommendation on sunglasses?

GregInPitt

Well-known member
Oct 13, 2021
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Wife and I were doing some shopping at Tanger outlets yesterday and then at Kohl's today and I kept looking at Oakley sunglasses. Particularly the Whisker style. It's not that I am against spending $189.99 if the glasses were really worth that compared to all the other brands selling for less that also are polarized and seem to have very good user ratings. Oakley has a reputation for high quality lenses, but is there a significant quality difference from other brands?

Any recommendations?
 

rudedude

Well-known member
Oct 6, 2021
6,568
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Wife and I were doing some shopping at Tanger outlets yesterday and then at Kohl's today and I kept looking at Oakley sunglasses. Particularly the Whisker style. It's not that I am against spending $189.99 if the glasses were really worth that compared to all the other brands selling for less that also are polarized and seem to have very good user ratings. Oakley has a reputation for high quality lenses, but is there a significant quality difference from other brands?

Any recommendations?
Blenders online. Nice sunglasses, wide variety, reasonable price.

https://www.blenderseyewear.com/col...MIs5fsrOeZ9wIVkQaICR1_zgdoEAAYASAAEgId-PD_BwE
 

91Joe95

Well-known member
Oct 6, 2021
2,843
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Wife and I were doing some shopping at Tanger outlets yesterday and then at Kohl's today and I kept looking at Oakley sunglasses. Particularly the Whisker style. It's not that I am against spending $189.99 if the glasses were really worth that compared to all the other brands selling for less that also are polarized and seem to have very good user ratings. Oakley has a reputation for high quality lenses, but is there a significant quality difference from other brands?

Any recommendations?

Do some sunglasses actually work better than others? No, you can only block out 100% of UV rays. Even regular glasses can easily and are routinely made to do that without resorting to tinting. The only real differences are personal preferences regarding tint, style, and build quality. Just view them like a piece of jewelry as opposed to having quantitative improvements and go with what you like.
 
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PSU1969A

Active member
Nov 3, 2021
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Wife and I were doing some shopping at Tanger outlets yesterday and then at Kohl's today and I kept looking at Oakley sunglasses. Particularly the Whisker style. It's not that I am against spending $189.99 if the glasses were really worth that compared to all the other brands selling for less that also are polarized and seem to have very good user ratings. Oakley has a reputation for high quality lenses, but is there a significant quality difference from other brands?

Any recommendations?
I like Eagle Eyes. Had them for several years.
 

Nitt1300

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Oct 12, 2021
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tried and true
 

razpsu

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Oct 19, 2021
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One company owns 90 percent of sunglass companies and therefore jacks the price on all of them.
Many times you can find good sunglasses at dicks or pga superstore or Costco for 50.00 bucks.
 
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CvilleElksCoach

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2021
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One company owns 90 percent of sunglass companies and therefore jacks the price on all of them.
Many times you can find good sunglasses at dicks or pga superstore or Costco for 50.00 bucks.
That is correct. Luxotica owns most of them. I wear Ray Bans for my sun glasses and use their frames for my corrective lens.
 

PSU Mike

Well-known member
Oct 6, 2021
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I’ve had Oakley and Maui Jim scrip sunglasses for the past 15 years. Oakley lenses cracked from poor design, but they did replace them twice. No issues with the Maui Jim’s. Optics better on the Jim’s as well. Don’t know if part of that is on the optometrist - seems to be the radius was off on the Oakleys.
 
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Yogiman71

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2021
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I have worn Oakley Radars for over 20 years for all outdoor activities. I used to bike a lot and they were my favorites. I used their ski goggles also never had any problems. Comfortable and they don’t fog up. They have great hard shell travel cases that they come with also.
 
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PSU Mike

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Oct 6, 2021
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For sport? Pool? Look cool? Haven't worn Oakley's since HS. Only wear Tom Ford now (handmade in Italy) ;) .

Oh, James Bond does too...

Loved my Tom Ford frames when I had them as my mains. Kept them around for TV viewing where the prescription being off by a tad doesn’t matter 98% of the time.
 
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Got GSPs

Well-known member
Oct 7, 2021
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I buy relatively expensive ($100-300) sunglasses and they perform very well, I take care of them, and they last several years. I have friends who buy cheap sunglasses, don’t take care of them, and buy multiple pair a year. They may be saving money but you can’t compare the performance.

my current go to for active stuff is Oakley garage rock, Shawn white edition.

for driving or other non active purposes, I have a couple pair of Randolph engineering aviator style. Squarish shaped lens with straight temples.
 

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Ghost of OM

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Oct 30, 2021
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I love my Maui Jim’s but I’d never pay that much for sunglasses - they were a gift. What I wear most are my $50 polarized Bolles. They are almost as good as the Mauis and I don’t worry about dropping them.
 
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PSU87

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Oct 12, 2021
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Do some sunglasses actually work better than others? No, you can only block out 100% of UV rays. Even regular glasses can easily and are routinely made to do that without resorting to tinting. The only real differences are personal preferences regarding tint, style, and build quality. Just view them like a piece of jewelry as opposed to having quantitative improvements and go with what you like.
Yes. Some sunglasses work better than others. It's not just about blocking UV rays. There is a difference in optical quality. I can tell a pair of good lenses from poor ones. Not everyone can tell the difference, just like I can't tell the difference between good Scotch and cheap Scotch.

For those who can't tell, those $39 Walmart glasses are fine. I can absolutely tell the difference....its not even close for me.... and I prefer quality glass lenses.
 

Got GSPs

Well-known member
Oct 7, 2021
7,572
9,452
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Yes. Some sunglasses work better than others. It's not just about blocking UV rays. There is a difference in optical quality. I can tell a pair of good lenses from poor ones. Not everyone can tell the difference, just like I can't tell the difference between good Scotch and cheap Scotch.

For those who can't tell, those $39 Walmart glasses are fine. I can absolutely tell the difference....its not even close for me.... and I prefer quality glass lenses.
I'm with you on both the sunglasses and the scotch...
 

Still in State Colllege

Active member
Oct 12, 2021
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I think there is a difference between cheap and expensive sunglasses. The optical quality is different.

I like Smith Optics. One place to look is Sierra Trading Post. Owned by TJ Max and you can get some good deals.
 

cmentheadcra k

New member
Sep 23, 2021
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I am a Smith optics guy at this point in life. The Luxotica brands are all the same lenses and similar frames. All are good.

Don’t pay anything north of $75 for polarized plastic lenses.
The worst place to shop for sunglasses is at a Sunglass Hut or Cabellas/ Bass pro because Lux owns the Hut and the rights to Cabella’s. (Everything is designed for you to walk out with an $125 purchase).

the Lux brands make excellent glasses, but are way over priced imo.
 

BriarwoodBash

Member
Oct 12, 2021
148
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Wife and I were doing some shopping at Tanger outlets yesterday and then at Kohl's today and I kept looking at Oakley sunglasses. Particularly the Whisker style. It's not that I am against spending $189.99 if the glasses were really worth that compared to all the other brands selling for less that also are polarized and seem to have very good user ratings. Oakley has a reputation for high quality lenses, but is there a significant quality difference from other brands?

Any recommendations?
Greg, I’ve owned multiple pairs of Oakley, Costa Del Mar, Ray Ban, and Maui Jim. My favorite by far is Maui Jim. Their optics are the best, selection of style and color is broad and their service is incredible. I tend to keep mine a long time and currently have 3 pairs of MJ’s. Sent many back for cracked lens, bent frame, etc. only ever paid for shipping. Oldest is from around 2000. Newest bought in Honolulu in 2018. I also have a pair of costa’s from 1994 trip to Key West. Last pair of Costa’s I bought in 2015 I had problems with lenses.
 

91Joe95

Well-known member
Oct 6, 2021
2,843
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If you ever look at an eyeglass prescription there is a lot of information on it, most of which deals with the location of the eyes, width of the temples, etc so that the lenses can focus the light to the right spot. Only part of the prescription actually deals with the corrective prescription part. So, while one brand may work better for someone than someone else, there is no right answer for everyone. The size of the frames, shape of them, where they focus light, etc are dependent on each face. You really do need to try a lot and decide what works best for you.
 
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My Master

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2021
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Wife and I were doing some shopping at Tanger outlets yesterday and then at Kohl's today and I kept looking at Oakley sunglasses. Particularly the Whisker style. It's not that I am against spending $189.99 if the glasses were really worth that compared to all the other brands selling for less that also are polarized and seem to have very good user ratings. Oakley has a reputation for high quality lenses, but is there a significant quality difference from other brands?

Any recommendations?
Glasses Diamondsday GIF by Elton John
 
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