FAO Sunglass Aficionados

[duncs500]

Who makes the best quality sunglasses, as in they'll last a while and not get scratched to fuck?

I've been a Ray Ban man, but they seem to scratch so easily and generally pretty fragile. It's not like I wear them that often.

Advice welcome.

[JLv3.0]

My advice as someone who lives in sunglasses and has tried all brands - they're all the same in terms of toughness and longevity. Best thing to do is buy ones you like and then just replace the lenses when they get FUBARed.

Either stock off the 'Bay but I like a bit of homebrew so I feel "special"- check out Fuse lenses - https://www.fuselenses.com/ - they have nicer choices than stock Ray-ban lenses and are not dear at all (I'm guessing you still like your existing frames).

Really takes the pressure off knowing you haven't got to baby sunglasses around.

[duncs500]

Interesting, I do still like the frames so I'll have a look at this. Cheers.

[Mito Man]

I’m blind so get prescription sunglasses, but all prescription lenses come with anti scratch coatings as standard so I never get that problem - is that not offered on off the shelf ones?

[mik]

Did not know this was a thing. Good link JL

Mrs mik’s sunnies always end up scratched to bits.

My Oakley Tincans (purchased July 2014 - just before Mr JL did the same) either sit on my head or inside the case and still look brand new.

[ZedLeg]

Persols seem to hold up well. I’ve had two pairs for a couple of years now.

Oakleys are pretty tough as well. I’ve had a pair of fives in with my riding gear for years.

[NotoriousREV]

They’re all made pretty much made by Luxottica anyway, so whichever you like the look of.

[JLv3.0]

My Oakley Tincans (purchased July 2014 - just before Mr JL did the same) either sit on my head or inside the case and still look brand new.

I reckon I've been through about 15 pairs of sunglasses since then - sadly I just seem to rent them, for the full asking price. I had a pair of Raybans that I bought in early 2014 last a good few years, albeit with maybe 5 pairs of lenses in them over the years - they went flying to a watery, salty grave last time I was on the boat

[DeskJockey]

I appreciate you live in sandy land, but still. I'm on my fourth pair since 2000. What do you do to them?

[JLv3.0]

Dunno mate. I just suck at them. Leave them places, bung them in the washing machine, lose them, break them, and so on. Bit of a pain really!

[PaulJ]

I've had lots of Ray-Bans and still have a couple of pairs, but my 'go-to' choice for driving are Serengetis. Beautifully made and very comfortable.

[Nefarious]

Dunno mate. I just suck at them. Leave them places, bung them in the washing machine, lose them, break them, and so on. Bit of a pain really!

Same. Convertible cars are a particular hazard. I either leave them in my head and they go flying off at speed, or I remember, put them down on the passenger seat and somebody sits on them.

Too much of a cheapskate these days - I buy fake wayfarers in bulk. At £2.50 a pop, there's only so many fucks I can give when they get lost, run over, or sliced with an angle grinder.

[ZedLeg]

Aye tbf the glasses I wear the most just now are Vans branded wayfarers I got for like a tenner. No qualms about chucking them into a bag or pocket without a case and they’re still going alright after a year.

Reminds me how good polarised lenses are when I go back to the nice ones though.

[Rich B]

I found some ridiculously cheap eBay ones that I really like, they were about £4 so I bought about 6 pairs I think. The frames themselves are definitely lesser in quality to the Raybans I’ve got, but the lenses are pretty similar.

[Nathan]

Please be careful with cheap sunglasses, your pupils will dilate behind a tinted lens but cheapies tend to offer poor UV protection

[Rich B]

Please be careful with cheap sunglasses, your pupils will dilate behind a tinted lens but cheapies tend to offer poor UV protection

these ones are good - I did buy a pair once at a festival that clearly had little or no UV protection and basically hurt after an hour or so. I threw them straight in the bin.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I've had 2 pairs in 20yrs and still got both! A pair of Police ones that recently became my driving ones and some Maui Jims that replaced them.

I do like my Maui Jim pair. A lot.

[McSwede]

I don't buy them often as I look after them. I have a pair of original 1990's Oakley's eye jackets in Matt black with black iridium lenses. I currently wear Oakley Antic in Black with black lenses. I like that fact that if you break your frames then Oakley will replace them. I have used this a couple of times.

I do a lot of boozy customer events during the summer so tend to go to TKMaxx to buy some OK ones cheap so it doesn't matter if I'm hammered and lose/break them

[mik]

I like that fact that if you break your frames then Oakley will replace them. I have used this a couple of times.

Wasnt aware of that!

5yrs on I have no desire to swap my tincans for anything else. Love the ball-bearing race hinges.

[dinny_g]

Fuse lenses - https://www.fuselenses.com/

Bloody typical - I actually need a new lens for a pair of Ray Bans and they're not listed...

However, bookmarked. Great site. I see lenses are available for at least 2 other pairs I've chucked due to scratched lenses (always the same - get into car with them on top of my head, catch the lining on the door frame - scratch!