Posts Tagged sunglasses
Comfy Tag Sunglasses from Costa del Mar
I have a lot of sunglasses I like and I tend to switch them out for different trips, but as I said in this review for my Costa Bomba shades, I keep coming back to the my Costa del Mar ones. They just plain make everything look better and they’re so comfortable I forget I’m wearing them sometimes.
So I was psyched to try out this new Costa Tag model released recently. It’s a little less bulky, with a smaller frame, but built with the same great technology for the lenses and fit. These are fashionable sunglasses that look good—and expensive—but are not just for show.
You can get these in three frame colors and they come with a wide variety of lenses, from everyday use ones to mirrored polarized ones for the open sea.
As for how good they look and feel, that’s something you have to experience to believe. But when you put these on (provided you don’t need a larger model for your head size), they feel just right. A rubberized part goes over your nose to keep that part from slipping and rubber parts on the ear stems make you forget they’re there after a while. They just feel well-made and fitted.
Costa is no upstart: the company started in the 198os and supplied sunglasses to America’s Cup sailing winners in 1986. Since then they’ve become the preferred sunglasses for people who spend lots of time on the water, like sailors, fishermen, and beachcombers. By now it’s safe to say they’ve got the tech part figured out. With these Tag frames, I’m feeling pretty suave looking as well.
There’s nothing cheap about these polarized sunglasses though, from the hard packing case they come in to the warranty, which “covers defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product.” Don’t pick these up before backpacking through third world countries on trains and buses rife with pickpockets. Buy these for situations where cheap sunglasses will leave your eyes strained and your head aching, like when going out on a fishing trip or long boat ride. The Costa Tag sunglasses range from $149 to more than $250 depending on the lenses.
See multiple versions, including the polarized polycarbonate model, at Backcountry.com.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear on May 25th, 2011
Ryders Eyewear Sunglasses: Looking Good at Half the Price
Sure, we like to try out fancy travel clothing and expensive sunglasses, but what really gets us excited here at Practical Travel Gear is when we find a great bang for the buck. That’s definitely the case with the sunglasses I’ve been wearing around lately that came from Ryders Eyewear.
I checked out this company’s booth near the end of the Outdoor Retailer show in January, after I’d already made the rounds seeing sunglasses that retail for $150, $250, and up. (I won’t even talk about the $369 ski goggles I saw…) It was refreshing to try these on and then do a double-take when I saw the tags: $69.99 for the polarized Rockslide ones pictured at the top and 45 bucks for the Hijack ones pictured below. “The most expensive glasses we sell are $90″ was my favorite quote of the day.
These are not your basic mall kiosk cheapies though. Those Hijack sunglasses, for instance, come with three interchangeable lenses in different shades. They have adjustable soft nose grips and rubber “temple tips” that hold them in place, but have grooves to let the heat/air escape. They also look darn cool when I’m wearing them.
As for the other pair, when’s the last time you saw a pair of good, comfortable, polarized lens sunglasses for $70 or less? (Street market bootleg ones that just have a sticker saying “polarized” don’t count.) I’ve worn these on a lake, at the beach in Zihuatanejo, and to a swimming pool in the past month and they’ve performed as well as pairs with a sticker price of two or three times that amount.
So what’s the downside? They’re not quite as “precision engineered” feeling like you get with a pair of Serengeti or Costa del Mar sunglasses, and in my tests the lenses tended to smudge a bit easier with fingerprints. But hey, you can buy a lot of lens cleaning cloths for the $70 or $100 you’ll save picking up the Ryders.
These two models, which both come in six colors, are just the start. Ryders makes a whole line of reasonably priced, good-looking sunglasses, including some for biking or other outdoor activities. They also make some ski goggles that will not cost you $40, not the equivalent of a week’s lift ticket. See more at RydersEyewear.com.
Get the Ryders Rockslide Polarized or the Hijack sunglasses at Amazon.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on March 23rd, 2011
Serengeti Velocity Sunglasses for Your Glove Compartment
If you visit the websites of companies making sunglasses it can get a little overwhelming. There are sunglasses for fishing, for golf, for snow, for cycling, and on and on. This Velocity model from Serengeti Eyewear though is for when most commuters use their shades the most: while driving.
These are the kind of compact sunglasses everyone used to keep in their glove compartment before giant bug-eye shades that cover half the face became all the rage with fashionable women—and a few too many men. These have a titanium metal frame and the model I’ve been testing has gradient glass lenses. They’re a little darker at the top than they are at the bottom—kind of like a car windshield. So you have dark glass in front of you when your eyes are on the road, but you can see to wipe the coffee you spilled off your pants when you look down. Or if you’re a pilot, you can see all your instruments.
These feel like sunglasses a real adult would wear, someone who is driving a nicer car than I’m usually buzzing around in, actually. I always worry that I’m going to trash sunglasses with elegant metal frames in two weeks flat, but these are far stronger than most and the flexible joints have some give to them. It doesn’t hurt either that these come with a nice hard case. So they won’t get smashed when someone shoves something into the glove compartment on top of them.
These fit into a jacket pocket or shirt pocket easily and they’re very comfortable to wear. I think they look pretty good on me too without dominating my face.
The Velocity gradient driving sunglasses come with espresso or gunmetal color frames. They list for more than $200 but usually retail somewhere in the $115 to $150 range. Get more info at the Serengeti Eyewear site and click the links below to check online prices.
Check Serengeti Velocity prices online
Serengeti Velocity gradient sunglasses at Amazon
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear on December 23rd, 2010
Out of the Blue Eyewear
Last month I waxed poetic about my new sunglasses from Serengeti. These are quality shades, but they’re not cheap at more than $100 a pop. If you’re looking for fun, fashionable glasses in a variety of styles and with some awesome features, consider Out of the Blue Eyewear, which retail at a much lower price point.
Secure an Eye Tote to your purse handle for easy access.
OTB Eyewear’s signature products include funky and functional reading glasses (aka Clear Readers) that slip securely into Eye Totes. These slim cases — which fit readers and narrow sunglasses — have a loop handle with velcro enclosure, so you can secure inside or outside your purse or backpack for easy access.
OTB also sells combination sunglasses and reading glasses (aka Sun Readers), which help make reading on the beach or by the pool that much easier. No more having to layer sunglasses over reading glasses! Some are bi-focal, with the reading glass on the bottom and sunglass lens on top. Choose from dozens of different styles and colors, and then order according to your power level. Retail prices for women’s styles range from $22 to $52.
SunTint and Clear Weeding Glasses
Another really cute option from OTB: Weeding Glasses. These are whimsical frames handpainted with flower designs, and they come in a brightly colored vinyl case. The Sun Tint version ($22) provides 100 percent UV/UB protection from harmful rays. These also come in bi-focal ($22) and clear ($20) options, and a portion of Weeding Glasses sales go to the Sierra Club Foundation.
Since I don’t need reading glasses — yet! — I sampled some of the stylish sunglasses from OTB Eyewear. Currently in women’s designs, there are 17 different options, ranging in price from $18 to $40. (Men have fewer to choose from: nine different styles.)
Women's Jet sunglasses
I like the Marauder Polarized ($40) from the Signature Collection; because they do have polarized lenses, with 100 percent UVA/B protection, they’re great for use on the water or on the slopes for reducing glare. The glasses come in an microfiber pouch, which pulls double duty as a lens-cleaning cloth.
The Jet ($18) style with non-polaraized lenses are also sporty looking, but with their wide “arms” and wrap-around style, I think this pair of shades would also be at home in any city setting. They fit securely, if a little tight above the ears, and snugly on the face. The Marauder are decidedly looser, but not too loose. Both pairs are in now my arsenal of travel eyewear.
Posted by Kara in General Gear on November 5th, 2010
Sporty, Versatile Sunglasses from Serengeti Eyewear
I truly mourned the day I realized my favorite Native sunglasses were simply too scratched to wear. A freebie from my husband’s work colleague, these glasses were my go-to shades for everyday wear, and they took me from carpools to campsites to cruise ships. I dreaded shopping for new quality sunglasses. Thankfully, Sergenti Eyewear swooped in with an offer to review a pair just in the nick of time. These sporty Fasano shadesfrom the Serengeti Sport Collection are my new versatile favorites.
First of all, I love the unexpected red color. In fact, the red is a little more muted in real life — more of a brick red — than it appears in this photo at right, at least on my laptop screen. The hue isn’t bright, and doesn’t shout, “Look at me!” which I like. (Check out this post to see me wearing the glasses while kayaking in Florida.)
The technical features of the glasses deliver a little more than I probably need for the casual sports I engage in, but I sure appreciate all of the protection of my eyeballs. The Polar PhD lenses are shatter resistant and lightweight; made with trademarked NXT lens technology, they are 10 percent lighter than polycarbondate, and four times lighter than glass. The polarized lenses not only block out harmful UV rays, but because the polarized technology is embedded in the lenses, they won’t peel and they’ll deliver crisp, clear images over years of use (that is if you don’t drop your glasses, scratching them like I often do).
Indeed, I’ve worn these glasses on bright sunny days and their function delivered. They don’t fit as snugly on my face as my Native Triumphs did, but they are certainly comfortable and secure (and they stay on top of my head, when I often use these Serengetis as a headband, once I’m in the shade).
The sporty red Fasano sunglasses retail for $159.99 on the Serengeti website.
Serengeti Eyewear makes dozens of styles of sunglasses for all sorts of occasions. Another pair I checked out are the Bianca shades in shiny black. I love the style — part of the Cosmopolitan collection and definitely a look that’s versatile for travel. The pair I have (#7409) are non-polarized “Drivers” lenses, meant to be used behind the wheel of the car in average to strong sunlight. According to Serengeti marketing materials, these brown glass lenses adjust to changing light conditions you experience while driving. All I know is that they are comfortable to wear in the car, and they are sleek and stylish to boot!
I found the cool Bianca glasses on the Serengeti website for $169.99, but also check Amazon.com for discounted pricing.
Posted by Kara in General Gear on October 26th, 2010
