Hi, with the summer getting closer i want to buy a pair of sunglasses but i have no idea where to start, there’s too many models (and i basically only know the classic rayban in photo and the aviators) so i’d like some suggestions.
My face shape is oval, maybe rectangular but im not 100% sure.
I’m oriented in buying second hand so i’ll be saving money (ideally i would like to spend below 100€) and also i don’t want to be bothered if they get scratched or damaged (since im going to the beach often, playing like beach volley and shit).
Thank you for every suggestion, have a nice day :)
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There was a reddit thread a few years ago where insiders from industries were asked what was true about their industry that the moneymakers wouldn’t want the public to know. A sunglasses guy said that the build quality of all sunglasses above something like $10 was identical. Above that price you’re literally just paying for the logo
Make sure they’re UV safe, make sure the lenses don’t distort your vision, and buy something cheap
RE: Raybans - my friend gave me shit for purchasing the cheaper “plastic” lens option compared to theirs with real glass.
A number of years later he switched to the plastic lenses also. He complained about the weight of the glass ones being a issue.
/ end shitty story time
Go to the mall, find a sunglasses stand. Try on polarized sunglasses until you find something you like under $12 or so.
You’ll find the brand/model number written somewhere on the frame. Google it, and find someplace to buy them by the case.
By a case of 10, put it in your drawer. Bonus points for getting it in another color (I have a set of white frame chunky glasses, but also the exact same model in black for fancy occasions).
Now you have sunglasses you can afford to lose constantly, a backup supply, and a signature look.
This is a bit outside the box, but you might want to go to the hardware store and look at safety glasses. There are a variety of tints and they are wrap around, making them superior for actual eye protection. Glasses that are open on the side are harder on your eyes.Granted, you might not care for the look.
Used those for years in Australia when driving around. Outdoor safety glasses were the best set of sunnies I ever had.
This is what I use. The extra protection is great when I ride my bicycle or it’s really windy. I can’t stand sunglasses that are flat/open on sides and sports sunglasses are just expensive safety sunglasses IMO.
Don’t spend a ton of money on the sunglasses unless you need Rx sunglasses. Fancy name brand sunglasses are a scam - they’re all owned by the same company that creates a false sense of competition between their brands. This allows them to keep prices up on Ray-Ban and other expensive brands. Look up Luxxotica.
If you’re purchasing sunglasses for daily wearing and you know you’ll be wearing or carrying them into situations, just get a comfortable pair of cheapo polarized sunglasses from Walmart. Expensive sunglasses lose value as soon as they’re purchased and if you scratch them, they’ll be functionally and financially worthless from that point forward. Comfort is the most important thing, followed closely by style.
And don’t spend money on fancy prescription sunglasses - that gives you an extra pair of expensive glasses to lose. You can get over-glasses sunglasses for like $20 each. They fit over your regular glasses; provide more sunglare protection from the sides, overhead and even reflected upward; you’ll still be wearing your regular glasses so you won’t lose them; and they’re cheap enough that you don’t need to worry about scratching or losing them.
They also double as birth control.
Yep, if you wear prescription glasses, and are travelling to South East Asia, get a few pairs of ‘Ideal’ brand slip-over sunglasses. Cheap and cheerful.
My producer, Sendo, likes his custom Oakley pair, of which was around $223 USD at the time he bought it. It’s all back with some white accents if you look at them. Yes, they’re polarized too.
I go through a lot of these, as I tend to forget them all over, but the gist of my strategy is this:
- As dark as possible
- I prefer non-polarized, as polarized sunglasses tend to interfere with plane cockpits and car HUDs
- Big enough to cover most of my sight angles
- I never liked those thick nose bridges, as I find them too hipster-y
- Other than the above, IDGAF about how they look. I wear them for me, not for others.
Brand sunglasses (raybans, Oakley, etc) are OK, but I generally find that they’re not very durable. The glasses resist scratching very well, but the frames could be a lot stronger.
My best pair of sunglasses are a pair of dark lenses with a snake motif that I got at a thrift shop for like $15. Keep them in a glasses case and they won’t get scratched.
Fwiw, if I see someone wearing fancy looking thick black rectangular lenses nowadays I assume they’re a predator thanks to Meta
Tbh if you wear even normal Ray Bans, I’d wind up a punch or insult before double checking it’s not a Meta camera.
I do like Knockarounds and Nectars.
Expensive sunglasses are a waste of money.
online glasses shops will sometimes have a “shop by face shape” section. I’ve used zenni’s and it was fine.
https://www.zennioptical.com/b/glasses-for-oval-face I’m not the best for recs here since I’ve only used this site ever and got my frames from the eye doctor and lenscrafters before that.
https://www.wikihow.com/Determine-Your-Face-Shape If you genuinely aren’t sure of your face shape, and you care if you guess wrong, get out the measuring tape.
If you have an oval face:
https://www.eyebuydirect.com/guides/sunglasses-for-oval-faces
I’ve been looking at Neven, but have no idea if they’re as big as they seem or if they’re any more durable than Knockaround.
I like Knockaround’s styles, specifically the Fast Lanes for being somewhere between a classic Rayban and a square aviator, but I keep ending up with scratched lenses. They do have a one-time warranty, but I’m not sure the extent of replacement due to wording. Only tried it once directly through customer service before I realized there’s an actual policy. I took much better care and even ordered more (different colors), but they still wear out. Daily wear, rotate through ~6 pairs. Get about 2 years out of them. I guess that’s fine, but my old sunglasses weren’t so consumable. Maybe I just not familiar with the longevity of mirrored coatings. They’re ~$35usd each and sales are frequent. The custom shop is neat.
I look for optical clarity. I had a pair if Maui Jims with glass lenses for 7 or 8 years and loved them. They were tough as nails and remained scratch free. I even forgot them on top of my car once and they flew off at speed. Little ding in the frame but lasted for quite a while after that. Only recently did I open my backpack to find one of the lenses cracked. It was a sad day.
