Sunglasses buying philosophy

[Setsuna]

My midrange is Aqua East sunglasses. About $20-$25 but sturdy as heck. Only reason I've had to buy more than one is because I lost my other 2 like a dummy. 3rd pair still going strong after more than 2 years. Just need new croakies.

[jidar]

Hard for me to believe this isn't mostly just image driven.
Is an ounce less of weight worth a hundred more bucks?

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by jidar

Hard for me to believe this isn't mostly just image driven.
Is an ounce less of weight worth a hundred more bucks?

Yes, comfort matters. So does lens quality. Style is good too.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Yes, comfort matters. So does lens quality. Style is good too.

Got a buddy that’s a Journyman Electrician and when he was working the high power lines he wore mostly Oakleys telling me, “If you’re going to spend all day in them they’ve got to be comfortable.”

[Fish]

Originally Posted by jidar

Hard for me to believe this isn't mostly just image driven.
Is an ounce less of weight worth a hundred more bucks?

It has much more to do with the quality of optics than the weight. And there can be a huge difference in the quality of optics between the cheapies and the good ones that make them worth the money. I have a small head. All the cheap sunglasses don't have enough of an angle to properly cover my peripheral vision. And any that do have the correct angle, look absolutely horrible and warped when looking through the part of the glass that bends. The more expensive glasses have the same optical clarity despite the bend in the glass. The cheaper glasses also use more shading than actual UV blocking, because it's so much cheaper. They just make them darker instead of making them clear while also blocking UV. Good quality glasses aren't necessarily "dark" when you look through them. They should be clear enough to see fine even in low light, yet block 100% of UV rays.

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by jidar

Hard for me to believe this isn't mostly just image driven.
Is an ounce less of weight worth a hundred more bucks?

Some people will pay a ridiculous amount just for a brand.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by lcarus

Some people will pay a ridiculous amount just for a brand.

I think I paid around $60 for my Nauticas, which have outlasted more than $60 worth of cheapies.

It's not like I'm the sort of person who'll spend $500 on a Bolivian calf-skin wallet from Needless Markup. All I'm looking for in a pair of sunglasses is something that's going to last and doesn't look reeruned.

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by frazod

I think I paid around $60 for my Nauticas, which have outlasted more than $60 worth of cheapies.

It's not like I'm the sort of person who'll spend $500 on a Bolivian calf-skin wallet from Needless Markup. All I'm looking for in a pair of sunglasses is something that's going to last and doesn't look reeruned.

60 bucks for a good pair of sunglasses is reasonable. I've seen some sunglasses that are nearly 200 bucks, and I guess some people buy them, or else they wouldn't sell them for so much.

[007]

Originally Posted by lcarus

Some people will pay a ridiculous amount just for a brand.

Got my Maui Jims for $79. they are normally a $200 pair.

[Aries Walker]

I grab standard mirrored aviators whenever I see a pair on the rack on the way to the checkout line at the 7-11. I think I have three pairs floating around currently.

[qabbaan]

I am not much of an expensive sunglasses person, but there is a website Oakley runs, Oakley outlet or something like that. You can pick something up for a reasonable price if you deal with the small selection. I bought a pair with lenses that darkened in brighter light some years ago that worked well. I just wear the polarized kind now. There is snow on the ground about half the year here so a good pair is a must.

[Frazod]

I'm sure I'd draw the line well under $100.

[Rain Man]

Mine are expensive, but it's because they're prescription sunglasses. I don't think the frames were expensive.

[lcarus]

I mean...seriously? 250 dollars?

http://www.oakley.com/products/6948/26176

[trndobrd]

I've spent more than five years of my adult life living in desert environments and out of habit wear sunglasses any time I'm outside during the day.

Picked up a pair of Wiley-X about 8 years ago. Durable, and one of the few glasses that keep 100% of the wind out of my eyes. I use them for riding and shooting. For daily wear I go for something polarized in the $25-35 price range.