Lets talk sunglasses
- Thread starter Joe Snuffy
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I just bought a pair of RayBan polarized sunglasses this year.
I've been using their non-polarized sunglasses for 50+ years, but I'm really having problems getting used to the polarized effect, to the extent I would NOT buy polarized again.
I've been using their non-polarized sunglasses for 50+ years, but I'm really having problems getting used to the polarized effect, to the extent I would NOT buy polarized again.
I got a polarized pair at Walgreens for c. $15 that slide over my regular glasses. They don't look goofy, and they work well. I don't usually wear glasses for sailing (only for reading) so sometimes I wear the Walgreens pair alone just because they have better shades around the edges. Otherwise I wear whatever West has on sale, $10 - $15 or so.
good glasses
Ditto on the Costa Del Mar glasses. Yes, they cost a bit but don't give me a headache, don't scratch at the first drop and if you keep a strap on them, you'll have them for years. I figure I'll go through at least a half a dozen pair of cheapos (broken frames, scratched lenses) in the time I get out of a pair of Costas. At $20 a pop for cheapo's it's about a wash price wise and I'm not screwing up my vision.
Around here, the people who work on the water pretty much are either in the Maui Jim or Costa camp. Both are great. I like the ones with the spring loaded hinges and wrap around frames.
Ditto on the Costa Del Mar glasses. Yes, they cost a bit but don't give me a headache, don't scratch at the first drop and if you keep a strap on them, you'll have them for years. I figure I'll go through at least a half a dozen pair of cheapos (broken frames, scratched lenses) in the time I get out of a pair of Costas. At $20 a pop for cheapo's it's about a wash price wise and I'm not screwing up my vision.
Around here, the people who work on the water pretty much are either in the Maui Jim or Costa camp. Both are great. I like the ones with the spring loaded hinges and wrap around frames.
Reflection
It depends on what protection you want. For us elders who see catarrachs coming in the future you are better off with Maui Jims. I believe they are the only glasses with non reflective coating on the outside and inside. For this reason they are probably the best. However, get either glass or relatively flat plastic lenses because vision is disstorted in the bent shapes. For you real men who don't wear sunglasses out on the water, or even for diriving, see you later at the eye doctors office.
It depends on what protection you want. For us elders who see catarrachs coming in the future you are better off with Maui Jims. I believe they are the only glasses with non reflective coating on the outside and inside. For this reason they are probably the best. However, get either glass or relatively flat plastic lenses because vision is disstorted in the bent shapes. For you real men who don't wear sunglasses out on the water, or even for diriving, see you later at the eye doctors office.
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for cataracts i have found that in thrift stores for 1 dollar. there is no reason for brand names. there is more uv protection in those cheepo wraparounds than in any high dollar brand name anything. in this day and age most folks have been brought up by television-- which dictates your needs to you , rather than have you make your own decisions about something, hence the need for name brands rather than easy to afford no name brands...LOL....i was raised exactly opposite that ideology-- never pay retail--there is no need to give more money than the item is worth. old money never pays retail--new money never buys at thrift stores--go figger.(how do ye think the folks with old money kept it in the first place..LOL..)
Buy quality
I have to buy with a prescription so that 100 clams figure would be a delight. Worse than that its bifocals time and nowadays that means something like variolux. You're already in big numbers you might as well get a good lens. Little distortion, no cloudiness - good vision is a gift. In races this weekend I could spot a mark before anyone else.
I waver on polarization. It is a PITA to not be able to see my instruments from even slightly from the side. They say polarization reduces glare but I'm not so sure. I have Maui's, full frame, spring hinges, plastic lenses and they are bullet proof. I've broken every pair of frameless I've ever had. I ski with them too.
Zeehag: That GC culture follows you a long way in life. I spend like the nuevo and so I'm another class - the no so riche.
I have to buy with a prescription so that 100 clams figure would be a delight. Worse than that its bifocals time and nowadays that means something like variolux. You're already in big numbers you might as well get a good lens. Little distortion, no cloudiness - good vision is a gift. In races this weekend I could spot a mark before anyone else.
I waver on polarization. It is a PITA to not be able to see my instruments from even slightly from the side. They say polarization reduces glare but I'm not so sure. I have Maui's, full frame, spring hinges, plastic lenses and they are bullet proof. I've broken every pair of frameless I've ever had. I ski with them too.
Zeehag: That GC culture follows you a long way in life. I spend like the nuevo and so I'm another class - the no so riche.
shemandr--my not so immediate ancestors saved and saved and executors ran like the scalded dog thieves they were so i get to use my grt aunt's words with new meaning--LOL--we stay the poorer in funds as we spend and spend--is all we can do to keep afloat--so we do things as the elders advised yet without the massive funding pool for safety net..LOL.... i guess i am the newly impoverished... is all good--at least i have the "escape" method---SAIL!!!!
so i get my prescriptions at wally's and i use the best wraparounds i can find for 1 dollar over them--works great!!!!
since there is a generation to buffer the alleged blow, i am a proud member if the no so riche as well---is an excellent class of which to be a member -- i call my budget the 2 knot broken shoestring budget for cruisers....LOL
so i get my prescriptions at wally's and i use the best wraparounds i can find for 1 dollar over them--works great!!!!
since there is a generation to buffer the alleged blow, i am a proud member if the no so riche as well---is an excellent class of which to be a member -- i call my budget the 2 knot broken shoestring budget for cruisers....LOL
value vs. price
I buy what works for me and what I feel represents value. Sometimes that happens to be a name brand and sometimes not. In the world of optics, there are cheap lenses and good lenses but seldom both. If you can afford it, splurge and pic up a decent pair. Your eyes will thank you and you'll hopefully have them for a long time.
I buy what works for me and what I feel represents value. Sometimes that happens to be a name brand and sometimes not. In the world of optics, there are cheap lenses and good lenses but seldom both. If you can afford it, splurge and pic up a decent pair. Your eyes will thank you and you'll hopefully have them for a long time.
If you cannot see because of eye damage all the money in the world is not going to make you a happy person until dead do us part.
Half of sailing is the peace of being out on the water and "SEEING" the sights. I don't think saving $40 every couple of years is worth it, but to each their own.
PS: I also do not drink 2-buck-chuck! (most of you will understand what that is)
Half of sailing is the peace of being out on the water and "SEEING" the sights. I don't think saving $40 every couple of years is worth it, but to each their own.
PS: I also do not drink 2-buck-chuck! (most of you will understand what that is)
I find the addage, you get what you pay for, applies 80% of the time. I have to get prescription for my poor distance vision so I get prescription sunglasses as well. Employer subsidized medical plans help tremendously. My last pair was Ray Ban and they were great, still are. My current pair that I just got last July are Maui Jims, man are they expensive or what, but they are fully guaranteed and they are the best I have ever worn over the years I have worn precscription glasses. I would not go back to cheapos after the Ray Bans & Maui Jims especiallly the MJ's. I also keep all my glasses, regular & sunglasses on a floating croakie when anywhere near the water. I have had occasion to successfully retrieve glassses that went overboard but it has been a while since that has happened and I am very carefull with my current glasses as both are quite expensive and they do happen to be designer frames and lenses but that is just me, I like the high end labels.
Once you lose your vision it is pretty much gone for life, I value and look after the eyes I have since I don't think I'll ever be replacing them. What are your eyes worth to you?
Once you lose your vision it is pretty much gone for life, I value and look after the eyes I have since I don't think I'll ever be replacing them. What are your eyes worth to you?
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Thanks for the good info thus far. I looked at the MJ's and had a bit of sticker shock. Costa seems more in my price, as I don't need an Rx. Does anybody know much about Harken's line of sunglasses?
lol. i get polarized lenses in wallys and wear wraparounds over--that is bad to my eyes?? lol.... isnt you get what you pay for--that addage doesnt work anymore--lots of inferior items with high price tags--i know--been there seen that and laughed my behind off... QUALITY is found in surprising places, not with a designer label.
'i have shopped both extremes of the retail and non retail arenas-- i find my combination, which costs me under 100 dollars for everything, is same EXACT sruff the designer names have..lol.. bu tmine is soo much less pricey--kinda like name brand meds as opposed to the generic brands--is no reason for the price gouging, doesnt matter what the item produced is.
'i have shopped both extremes of the retail and non retail arenas-- i find my combination, which costs me under 100 dollars for everything, is same EXACT sruff the designer names have..lol.. bu tmine is soo much less pricey--kinda like name brand meds as opposed to the generic brands--is no reason for the price gouging, doesnt matter what the item produced is.
This thread always gets a lot of response and comes up on motorcycle forums a lot, too. For driving and general wear, I use Ray-Ban aviators, but for riding and sailing, I use inexpensive safety glasses that wrap around more, fit closer and are made of some kind of rubbery stuff, keeps the wind out, even at bike speeds, and are plenty dark enough. Don't wear polarized cause LED displays tend to wash out or go weird.
I'm with Chris, Serengeti's for me.
As far as I know they're the only manufacturer who uses glass lenses. I bought some nice Bolles a year ago. After two weeks in the boat yard this summer airborne chemicals destroyed the plastic lenses.
As far as I know they're the only manufacturer who uses glass lenses. I bought some nice Bolles a year ago. After two weeks in the boat yard this summer airborne chemicals destroyed the plastic lenses.
Same expensive taste for me. It hurts less when they fall off my head or I step on them. We have a huge dollar tree by the lake I sail at and they carry polarized in the spring and summer for a buck.
Maui Jim, Costa Del Mar, Ocean Waves, Ray Ban, Smith and Harken all still have glass lenses. In general the optical quality of a glass lens is much sharper though some are still sharper & less distorted than others.
BTW Kaenon sunglasses are the closest I have ever seen a polycarb lens come to the optical quality of glass. They come darn close to Maui or Costa or Ocean Waves in sharpness and lack of distorion.
They are not cheap and will still scratch easily compared to glass but they are lighter on the face if that is a concern. Their polarized polycarb lens is rather amazing for plastic..
I am of the belief you do get what you pay for.... polarization and UV coatings for a buck are not as the same quality as the more expensive glasses.
My current pair, are polarized, UV coating, prescription, bi-focal, and wrap right around my face to block the reflections from the side. I only have one set of eyes for life....
My current pair, are polarized, UV coating, prescription, bi-focal, and wrap right around my face to block the reflections from the side. I only have one set of eyes for life....
I like my Oakley's, but not plastic lens like Mainesail says. I also have jumped in the water and lost a few cheap ones sooo no Oakley's if swimming. I should try a floating leash, just need to find one and buy it. I do not care for polarized as I cannot read lcd guages when at the wrong angle. So a bit no from me on polorized of any brand.
These are great!
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These are awesome. They last a long time and they have readers built into them.
http://www.amazon.com/HD-Readers-Bl...ef=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1285116156&sr=8-5
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