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RAY BANS...yays and nays.....

#61
The big questions is "how much time do you spend outdoors?" If you're a vampire or mole person, you can probably do without shades. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the snow or on the water, not wearing sunglasses is akin to posting up on a speaker at a loud concert without hearing protection.
 
#62
elgecko said:
The big questions is "how much time do you spend outdoors?" If you're a vampire or mole person, you can probably do without shades. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the snow or on the water, not wearing sunglasses is akin to posting up on a speaker at a loud concert without hearing protection.
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I used to be a delivery driver, outside all day every day. Never wore shades--never needed them. I can see how if I had worn them I would have become accustomed to wearing them and then felt that I needed them. My best friend is never outside in the day without his shades on.

It's a personal preference. Shades seem very unnatural to me. If you have to squint, then squint, or wear a hat. It feels unnatural to have your eyes wide open with the sun in your face.
 
#63
matante said:
I used to be a delivery driver, outside all day every day. Never wore shades--never needed them...
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Almost all modern windshields provide UV protection and unless you were driving a convertible, the roof provides some protection.

matante said:
...It feels unnatural to have your eyes wide open with the sun in your face.
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Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun! :p
 
#64
elgecko said:
The big questions is "how much time do you spend outdoors?" If you're a vampire or mole person, you can probably do without shades. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the snow or on the water, not wearing sunglasses is akin to posting up on a speaker at a loud concert without hearing protection.
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Yep...most of my hobbies, except playing bass, are out in direct sunlight on or near the water or in the air. I would never think of not wearing shades under such conditions.
 
#65
I wore $10 sunglasses all my life. Got tired of them breaking all the time (I used to carry them around in my cargo pant pocket when not using them), I got an expensive set of Oakley's. They're expensive enough that I am forced to take good care of them, use a nice case etc. Had I taken care of the cheap ones, I guess they'd last just as much. These Oakleys are light and comfortable, for sure, but probably not worth the money for me.

As for looking pretentious, I don't care. I'm in SoCal so they help with the sun, and in addition I commute by a fast bike and they help vs the wind. They are not a fashion statement for me.

But I am slightly put off by people who wear sunglasses that are more for fashion then utility, like the Blues Brothers Ray Bans and those woman's cover-your-face lens sizes. People wear those all the time in my beach town. I'm also a recent immigrant from Europe so there you go.
 
#66
They're tools to be used like any other. If where you live everyone is wearing them they are not "pretentious" they are simply just a tool to keep the sun from overwhelming your eyes, that happens to also be fashion/fashionable in some circles. If they wear them indoors though, well, then you might be on to something.
 
#70
I collect (hoard).. I have close to 100 pairs of shades. most are vintage raybans (US made stuff from 60's-80's), and 80's Vuarnets. I have a couple Revo's, Bolle, Arnette etc. I cycle so I am a long time Oakley user as well..All of my Oaks are US.

Rayban used french made nylon frames forever, but now that Luxotica owns 'em it's a mixed bag, and for sure the stuff is not as good as the old classics.
 
#72
Bocete said:
I wore $10 sunglasses all my life. Got tired of them breaking all the time (I used to carry them around in my cargo pant pocket when not using them), I got an expensive set of Oakley's. They're expensive enough that I am forced to take good care of them, use a nice case etc. Had I taken care of the cheap ones, I guess they'd last just as much. These Oakleys are light and comfortable, for sure, but probably not worth the money for me.

As for looking pretentious, I don't care. I'm in SoCal so they help with the sun, and in addition I commute by a fast bike and they help vs the wind. They are not a fashion statement for me.

But I am slightly put off by people who wear sunglasses that are more for fashion then utility, like the Blues Brothers Ray Bans and those woman's cover-your-face lens sizes. People wear those all the time in my beach town. I'm also a recent immigrant from Europe so there you go.
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i like the ones so deeply woven into the hair do's that keep them permanently on top of the head
 
#74
I have worn many brands I can honestly say that my current ray bans (RB 4057 polarized) are the most comfortable, high quality, well fitting sunglasses I have ever tried on.

I could feel the difference instantly between my previous $250 Arnette's and my $300 Ray's. Everything about them felt better, and the lenses are great.
 
#75
I don't lose things often, and I take good care of stuff, yet with sunglasses I tend to lose them or they break easily.
For me to spend $225 on a pair--or even 24% of that makes no sense.

I get ones that have good lenses (Polarized) but the frames are cheaper.

They last just as long for me as the expensive pairs--and I wind up spending a lot less money that way.
 

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