Posts Tagged sunglasses
Looking Sharp: Costa Jose Sunglasses
I’ve read enough marketing hype in my time. But when Costa says its sunglasses “fit so well you’ll forget they’re on,” I’d have to agree.
I’ve been road testing Costa’s new Jose style, named after famed saltwater angler Jose Wejebe. And it’s difficult to find anything not to like. They look good, the optics are sharp and the fit and quality are excellent.
Just like with cameras, the quality of the lenses makes a huge difference in sunglasses. Costa doesn’t cut corners here with its patented 580 glass lens. The optics are sharp and offer full protection from UV rays. The lenses are optically correct and scratch resistant.
Costa has also just introduced its 580P polycarbonate lens available in the Jose and other styles. The polycarbonate lenses are lighter and impact resistant. Purists may still prefer the 580 glass for its optical qualities and resistance to scratches.
For me, Costa’s Jose sunglasses fit perfectly right out of the box—something I can’t say about other shades I’ve worn over the years. From the no-slip nose pads to the ear pads, they fit just right. The frame is made of tough nylon.
Costa sunglasses are built by hand at the company’s headquarters in Florida. A lifetime warranty covers any manufacturing defects, but not normal (or extreme) wear and tear. A protective case is also included, something I’ve found will really extend the life of a pair of sunglasses.
Of course, you won’t find the Jose or other Costa models built this well in the $5 bin at the nearby convenience store. The retail price for the Jose line ranges from $159 to $259, depending on lenses, and is available at Amazon. But I’ve seen lesser sunglasses selling for higher prices, so that doesn’t seem unreasonable.
My colleague, Tim, recently heaped praise on another Costa model he’s been wearing, the Bomba.
Costa sunglasses are a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts. But the Jose model isn’t just for fishermen, and works great for travelers on the road, in the air or at the campground.
Posted by JohnG in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, General Gear on August 3rd, 2010
They’re the Bomba: Sunglasses from Costa del Mar
I just moved to a new country for a year, taking only what I could pack into a few suitcases. When it came to sunglasses, the first ones I reached for were these Bomba sunglasses from Costa del Mar. They’re the best all-around pair I’ve ever worn, simple as that.
I checked out a whole range of Costa del Mar sunglasses on the trade floor of the Outdoor Retailers Show back in January, but this model made me sit up and notice because of the extra shielding on the side. While the Julbo Bivouac sunglasses I reviewed a few weeks ago do a good job of keeping harmful rays from getting in from the sides, these take a step further by letting you still see out of the side in your peripheral vision.
All well and good, but that feature alone is just a sideshow if they don’t fit well and have high-performance lenses. Fortunately, the Bomba is the complete package, with amazingly comfortable lenses and frame design. These sunglasses stay in place better than most, thanks to the built-in grip pads in strategic places. Plus my eyes feel very rested with them on: more than once I’ve forgotten I had them on.
The company touts their lenses as “beyond polarized,” because they see that as just the starting point for quality glasses, so naturally the brand is a big hit with fishing enthusiasts and others who spend lots of time on a boat. Costa del Mar offers three levels of lenses in glass and polycarbonate, with the 580s being the top of the line.
So the type of lens can have a big impact on the price—the Bomba can run from around $140 to $240. Then there are seven lens colors to choose from, each with its own characteristics. The blue mirror ones pictured to the left, for example, are meant for open water. The company rep I met with a couple months ago matched the lenses on my model to my blue eyes, correctly judging the gray ones to offer the best mix of protection and clarity. The colors came alive riding across the Blue Ridge Mountains on my way home and these shades have opened up impressive vistas every time I’ve worn them since.
This is just one model out of more than 50 from Costa del Mar (Coast of the Sea, appropriately), so you won’t be hurting for choices, no matter what kind of frame you like best. Surfers, beach bums, yacht crews, and sport fisherman may gravitate to this brand naturally, but it’s a good choice for travelers as well. All models come with a hard shell case to protect them from the rigors of travel when the sun’s not shining.
Get the Costa Del Mar Bomba Sunglasses at Backcountry.com, where there is a great selection of other models.
See all the choices at CostadelMar.com
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, General Gear on July 8th, 2010
Julbo Multi-functional Bivouak Sunglasses
At the Outdoor Retailers show earlier this year, I spent a lot of time checking out sunglasses from different companies. I came away thinking that setting yourself apart with specific sunglasses is almost as hard as doing it with socks. Most of what makes one pair of sunglasses more expensive than another is pretty subtle until you put them on read the specifications. It’s hard to talk about “features” as much as technological innovations in the lenses and frame types.
So I was drawn to these Julbo Bivouak sunglasses because they do actually have some features to set them apart, plus there’s a bit of double-duty gear action with these. Sunglasses that aren’t wraparound generally don’t protect you from the sunlight coming in through the side. That can be bad for your eyes and your skin—especially since this area of the face is where crow’s feet wrinkles start as you age. If you’re climbing a snowy mountain or skiing, it’s even more of an issue because of the reflective rays.
So the Bivouak sunglasses have these little magnetic shields on the side to block off the area. When you need them, they shield the sides of your eyes from the harmful rays. When you don’t, like in the car, you can just pop off the shields and stow them.
There’s no need to attach Chums or some other kind of cord: there’s one built into the design. The included adjustable cord hooks into small holes at the end of the earpieces. As with the shields, this is removable when you don’t want or need it.
The model I’ve been testing came with a Zebra photchromic lens. I’m a big fan of photochromic lenses that get lighter or darker according to the conditions. I found I could keep these on all the time as I moved through sun and shade, car and parking garage, outside to inside. They fully change from a shade-worthy category 2 to darker category 4 in only 28 seconds. The Zebra lenses also have built-in anti-fog properties, which passed with flying colors when I tested them against some cheapo sunglasses. Going from crisp air conditioning to humid outdoors, plus biking on a foggy morning, these lenses stayed clear. There are small vents built into the top corner too, a feature I’ve always appreciated with Tifosi shades, as this seems to keep my eyes from getting teary when I’m biking downhill or skiing fast.
The Julbo Bivouak sunglasses come in seven colors and three different lenses, with the latter determining the price (list of $120-$190). This is at the high end of Julbo’s range—these are geared to serious climbers, skiers, and mountain bikers more than casual travelers. With the ability to adjust the shields and the cord as needed, however, they can be the only pair you need to carry for a wide range of activities.
See more styles at JulboUSA.com and see more of our Julbo reviews here.
Check Julbo Bivouak sunglasses prices at Campmor
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on June 16th, 2010
Review: Randolph Engineering Avion Sunglasses
We love our sunglasses here at Practical Travel Gear. In fact, I’ve got two different kinds—good ones that are well-made and last a long time, and cheap ones I can throw in the car as a backup and don’t fret if they get lost (like the buck-a-pair models from one of those closeout sites).
Randolph Engineering’s Avion sunglasses definitely fall into the first category—comfortable and built to last. The name might not be as familiar as some of the fashion brands. But after trying out the Avion on a five-and-a-half hour drive, I’d be comfortable carrying these glasses on any of my travels.
The first thing I noticed, besides the aviator-type style, was how light these glasses felt. I could easily forget I had them on during a long drive. They fit snugly and comfortably.
The style is backed by meticulous manufacturing. The company was founded in 1972 and for nearly two decades, Randolph Engineering has been supplying sunglasses to the US military and air forces around the world. The lenses protect your eyes by blocking 98 to 100 percent of UV rays.
There are more than 200 production steps, most by hand, involved in making every pair of Randolph sunglasses at the company’s headquarters in Randolph, MA. Randolph Engineering even makes its own solder flux, so the solder joints are guaranteed for a lifetime of normal use.
One thing I really like about the RE sunglasses is the maintenance kit that’s included. Inside, there are replacement screws and nose pads and a small screwdriver. This could extend the life of the sunglasses by months or years.
Randolph Engineering’s careful manufacturing process is important when looking for a pair of sunglasses that will last. Over the years, some ”big name” sunglasses I’ve owned have broken at the solder joints on the frames. Others wound up in the drawer after screws came loose or nose pads fell off and it was a hassle finding parts.
Avion sunglasses retail for $119.95 at RE’s store and other online retailers. That’s a reasonable price for a pair of sunglasses made to endure. Mirror glass and polycarbonate lenses are also available for an additional charge.
By the way, I hope Randolph Engineering doesn’t change its name to Randolpho Ingenue or something like that to compete with the fashion brands. To me, getting well-made sunglasses from a company with “engineering” in its name seems so, well, practical!
Check prices online for Randolph Engineering sunglasses
Posted by JohnG in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, General Gear on April 20th, 2010
Bollé Sunglasses for Kids
Finding kids’ sunglasses that fit well, will last a while, are reasonably priced, and aren’t pieces of junk isn’t easy. These Bollé sunglasses fit the bill and have three great attributes on top. 1) The kid likes them. 2) I like them. 3) They haven’t broken yet.
As I mentioned in this review of Chums sunglasses straps earlier, it’s hard to justify spending good money on sunglasses for kids because odds are they’re going to either lose them or break them in no time flat. The problem is, their eyes are even more sensitive than ours, so you feel like a guilty parent outfitting them in dollar store cheapies of questionable sun blocking ability. This is especially important if you are taking kids hiking at high altitude, boating out on the water, or to a mountain for spring skiing.
These Bollé Breezy sunglasses generally run $30 to $40 at retail, about the price of a good pair of kids’ sneakers, but for that you get shatter-resistant polycarbonate lenses that block 100% of UV rays and very strong but flexible nylon frames. There are absorbent rubber grips on both the nose and the ears so they stay on the little one’s head easily.
The key attribute for me is that these are cool enough and comfortable enough that there’s not much whining involved when I give the order to wear them all the time when we’re in the bright sun. My daughter’s version picture here is girly pink, but there are three other colors including the Crystal Lime ones at the bottom.
These are meant for kids 7-10 years old, but Bollé has a whole line of other options. They start with strap ones that are suited for tiny toddlers on up to the very suave Sarah style for ages 9-12. The Bollé site is in Flash, so get on something not using the iPhone operating system to check out the whole product line for kids, men, and women—sunglasses and goggles.
Posted by Tim in Kids and Family on April 14th, 2010
