Topic: Review: Sunglasses well sort of

[lil goat]

I don't know about the rest of you but I am kind of a Sunglasses junkie, I thing I have 20 pairs floating around. I have several pairs of expensive ones as well figured I would share some recent observations. First off let me say I have an added concern whenbuying shades as I also ride a Harley so I need them to block wind as well.

I have worn Gatorz as my favorite for several years, they have an aluminum frame and you can get the lens replaced or frames rebuilt for life for $60 at most and that is a total rebuild or replacement, obviously these are not cheap glasses. They run in the $150 range depending on the lens you pick. I have 2 pair with different lens types, more on that later.

I recently went to Las Vegas and both of my pairs of Gatorz had seen better days and needed a rebuild. I like them so much I figure buy a third pair to wear while they were getting repaired. I tried and could not find what I wanted anywhere, backordered. So one of the companies that sells Gatorz also sells Liquid and convinced me to try these, also expensive. I ordered these, they are polarized with blue mirrored lens

http://www.activesportsunglasses.com/liquid-tflex-200.html
I wear contacts and to be honest have been less than impressed with these expensive glasses. They look cool, but the lens is just not as clear as it should be most likely due to the wrap around, I have never been thrilled with them but it was all I had in Las Vegas and they did do a very good job of blocking the Las Vegas desert sun.

I sent my Gatorz in for repair, they have some new lens since I first bout them, one that gets lighter or darker and one that is a "blue blocker" I had them repaired with one of each. The ones Transition lens seem to be very fast to change and get surprisingly dark I like them a lot and will be great for driving in the evening or on cloudy days when you just don't need dark glasses. They are not polarized but work very well and are easier to see somethings with that the polarized, almost no distortion from the wrap.

I also got the Defender blue blocker and I am super impressed with these, they do some magic thing and block blue light, I guess you wouldn't be able to see Smurfs at all. I don't know how they work they just do, they are far superior to my polarized lens. I was driving home last night and the sun was behind some clouds and making a very bright halo around the cloud, it hurt my eyes to look at it with out the glasses and I was driving right at it, with the Defenders on the difference was fantastic, didn't bother me at all. I have never tried the blue blocker thing before, but it works! I know they sell cheap versions on TV and eBay if you don't want to spend a ton but it is worth a shot if you never tried them. Here are the Defenders I have, this is the third set of lens in each of these frames and I have had the ones below for at least 10 years (they replaced the frame and all on these this time)


If you have any interest in these just search Gatorz on the web, they are available lots of places including direct.

[Critterman]

I lose them very quickly, so I tend to stay in the 10-20 dollar range for mine.  Bought 3 pair this spring on base in Annapolis, spent from 14 to 29 dollars for each pair and I still have 3 pair.  Of course the pair I bought last fall (blue blockers) have gone for a walk...

[Uranium-238]

I'm with critter. I guess I'm pretty hard on sunglasses, because they either end up scratched or broken fairly quickly. My last pair lasted all of 2 months...

[lil goat]

Funny how when you buy a better pair you take care of them, at least I do. Like i said I have had these frames for many years, just keeping getting the lens replaced. They do have cheap blue blockers though.

http://www.blublocker.com/prodinfo.asp?number=2735K
$20 for these, the blue blocker thing actually works JUST LIKE ON TV!

[DirtyMike]

i've had so many sunglasses over the years raybans,gucci,cartier,okley,revo ect.. my favorite are the costa del mars, a have two pairs and the others collect dust.
I had some Costa Del Mar's and they were great until I broke them. That's was about the time I got my first pair of Ocean Wave's with aluminum frames, then switched to Gatorz at a bike show after I trashed the lens on the Wave's. I have had much better luck with aluminum frames, and the repair for life thing has worked for me. I have discovered for fishing or around the water I really like polarized but for every day and driving not so much, you can't read a gas pump for one thing.

[Kelu]

I always buy my glasses based on the lens, that's why I bought now a Polaroid.

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    *  Straightforward, classic styling
    * Gently curved nose grip
    * Strong and streamlined arms
    * Filter category 3
    * Polaroid polarized lenses
    * 100% UV protection
    * Comes with Polaroid hard case

Generally I loose/brake/scratch the lenses in maximum 3 months. I have these for 2 months in perfect condition but I wear them only while I drive and keep them in the car only.

[Derf]

I wear glasses so that kind of limits my options. Have used Bolle Parole Cycling Glasses for a Long time, changed to Bolle Swiftkick a couple of years ago. The prescription insert is almost weightless and the look is great.

[lil goat]

I have polarized prescription sunglasses too, I prefer contacts and regular shades. I have gotten away from polarized lately, I have a polarized face shield on my helmet and they make rainbows together. I actually prefer the blue blockers over the polarized, and I have done side by side tests. That is just me, the polarized are great around water but I don't like them so much for driving anymore, although I have worn them for years.