Now that the Northern Hemisphere is getting ready to tip towards the sun again, more than a few of us are considering investing in a new pair of sunglasses. And the level of that investment can vary greatly. The argument for both spending quite a bit, or keeping it cheap when it comes to UV blocking eyewear, can be found below.
The case AGAINST paying more than $100 for Sunglasses: Sunglasses are the BASE jumpers of the style world. No one in their right mind would want to sell them insurance. They meet their demise so often by getting left in cabs, sat on, dropped onto concrete, or just flat out seem to walk away. So spending a ton is just too high of a risk. Plus, there are plenty of good looking homage style sunglasses out there. Why drop $300 to look like Steve McQueen when $10 gets you moving along that same road? If cheap sunglasses are good for the Reverend Willie G… they’re good for me. And let’s remember that not all sub $100 sunglasses are gas-station foakleys. Quite the opposite in fact. If the under $100 AO Original Pilots
The case FOR paying more than $100 for Sunglasses: Sunglasses are like your hair and your coat. While other items move through on a rotation, your coat for that season and your hair (if you have any) see use almost every single day. As do your sunglasses, assuming you’re not addicted to squinting. So quality and durability can absolutely be a factor. You might get lucky with a cheap pair of sunglasses, but the vast majority have some sort of oddball drawback. They sit funny on your face. They dig into your nose. They rattle when you take them off. And yes, there’s always the risk of scratching or losing your sunglasses, but with expensive sunglasses, you’ll never have to pick the plastic wrap-like tortoise pattern out of your hair since your $35 shades have flaked and disintegrated over time. Some would say this is similar to the “never buy cheap shoes” argument, but unlike shoes (of which you have many pairs), one or two pairs of sunglasses is really all you need for any situation. Pick a highly versatile, classic, well built pair, and you’ll be set for a very very long time.
Vote below for whatever camp you’re in. Feel free to make your case for your side, plus mention your sunglasses of choice in the comments. (Note: Ben F. ^ wears the ridiculously expensive Tom Ford 108s. Many will recognize them.)
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For a matrix of what styles of frames are dress and which are sporty, click here.
Have to say, I own very few pairs of sunglasses.
However, I do own a pair of tortoise shell Persols. Classic. No risk. All reward baby.
Just take of your things, treat it like an investment. Unfortunately, there’s a monopoly in the sunglasses industry, and a lot of major, stylish brands are owned by Luxottica.
But I never made such an excellent purchase as the day I bought those sunglasses almost two years ago. They make you look and feel like a million dollars.
If it was my wedding, I would demand to wear Ray-Ban sunglasses. Expensive Ray-Bans. In fact I would demand that everyone would have to wear Ray-Ban sunglasses.
Well I need prescription sunglasses so I have not choice but to spend more than $100 to get anything decent.
I voted “under $100”, but it has more to do with avoiding the over-inflated Luxxotica pricing and distribution model than any other factor. Luxxotica is the parent company that owns Ray Ban, Oakley, Persol, Maui Jim, and others, as well as most retail outlets at the local level (Sunglass Hut, Lenscrafters, etc) in the US and abroad. Their profit margin for sunglasses is 52 cents on the dollar. Source: http://tinyurl.com/2un7m4a
But we live in interesting times. The internet has made it possible to support small and mid-size boutique companies that put out high value products with solid quality sold at reasonable prices. Some “< $100" options include:
* American Optics – Classic well-built aviators without the Ray Ban/Luxxotica markup.
* FatHeadz – Great option for those who need wider frames.
* Warby Parker – Solid quality, reasonable prices, great "try it at home" program.
* Wiley X – Great motorcycle and sport glasses if you're looking for that Oakley wraparound look. Impact resistant, and good enough for the US Gov.
* Knockaround – Solid wayfarers for under $30. High quality beater glasses.
* Costco – Stocks some impressive frames at the $45-70 price range.
I’m way too prone to losing them. Plus, I’ve had a couple cheap pairs that lasted a while.
So basically a single company owns the entire market? That’s a shame.
I see Ray-Ban’s as crazy expensive and it’s easy to pick them (New Wayfarers) up for under $70. Oakley’s can be had for $50 or under. I don’t understand why I would pay more than $100 for sunglasses. Now if you mean sunglasses over $100 MSRP ok, but who pays MSRP for designer sunglasses? That’s nearly like paying MSRP for watches.
I’m a big proponent of quality sunglasses which generally means above the $100 price point. The big noticeable difference, at least for me who is rarely without sunglasses, are the lenses. A good quality lens vs. cheapo lenses is like the difference between standard definition and HD. Who wouldn’t want to be seeing things in HD as they go about their day?
Very good points in the comments section here. I believe sunglasses are an investment for style and protection. I’m not an albino or anything, so I don’t need THAT much protection, but polarization is important. I’ve been knocking around a few cheap pairs for years, hoping someone would gift me a pair of polarized Ray-Bans or Costas. I bit the bullet and shelled out the dough for a pair of gold/bronze Maui Jim Wiki Wiki’s (following some Dappered advice about lightweight, clean, thin-framed shades). I can wear these year round with any outfit. And I do. Also, it’s like I’m seeing the world in IMAX 3D, hehe.
No experience with other brands but you can definitely get REAL Ray-Ban sunglasses for half price on eBay IF you have done all of your research and knows what to look out for.
I got a pair of folding wayfarer on eBay for less than $100 and took it to sunglass hut for them to check the authenticity and they said that it was 100% real! Which leads to me thinking, what is the profit margin then if they are retailing for 200$ at the store??!
I understand your sentiment, and sunglasses are generally overpriced, but Maui Jim isn’t owned by Luxxotica. I’ve been wearing them way before anybody heard of them and I feel they’re worth it. (Forbes listed them among top 100 things worth every penny) Most impressively is their customer service. I had a pair that developed a lens defect after 8 years, I sent them in for repairs, and received a new pair gratis. Not bad. Also they’re among the lightest sunglasses around, which was of utmost importance to me at the time.
Since I need prescription lenses I tend to spend more than $100 regardless.
I have a couple of pairs, but the last pair I spent more than $75 on lasted all of two months. I get the most use out my sunglasses when I’m fly fishing and there’s no more helpless feeling than bending over to net a fish and your sunglasses slide off of your head and into the water rushing by. I refuse to wear the goofy looking lanyards, so it’s my choice.
Wayfarers can be had for a reasonable price. I feel no need to wear anything else. I don’t mind a cheap watch because they can be stylish and keep time as well as an expensive one. With sunglasses cheap is always cheap looking.
I was coming to mention just this. I totally appreciate the sentiment. But Maui jim isn’t owned by Luxxotica, and Maui Jims are the only Sun Glasses over 100$ I’d buy.
Second. I spent about $400 on prescription Maui Jim’s, but I’ve had them for 4 years now.
Anybody else ever notice that you tend to lose the expensive pairs, but if you have cheap ones they seem to stick to you like glue! I swear I can wear a pair of cheap sunglasses to a wedding, drink all day and night, throw them on a table and somehow those f*$kers will find their way back into my pocket by the end of the night. If I wear expensive (I’ve had Ray Bans and Persols) I’ll worry about them the entire time and tend to them and still somehow they manage to fall out of my pocket or get stolen/damaged! I have both in my drawer, but I find I always pull out the cheap ones just so I can just enjoy myself and not waste time checking on my shades.
Im a $100 and over because I always seemed to lose the $15-30 pairs I would snag at walmart or something.
In time it started to add up so i went ahead and got a pair of Ray-Ban Caravans and have been rocking them for 3 years now. Only dropped them once on the asphalt but they came out pretty much unscathed.
It seems that since I actually put money into them I take much better care of them and are much more aware of what I do with them.
Not to mention the optical quality is far superior to anything you can get out of cheap (not inexpensive) sunglasses!!
I’m another one in the “prescription lenses/must spend more than $100” camp. That said, I’m VERY careful about my sunglasses. I wear them all the time (some would say too often) and I’m always aware of where they are and where my regular glasses are since I have to switch back and forth fairly regularly. I’ve had the same pair for about 3.5 years now without loss or problem.
I have been on both sides of this debate. For me, it comes down to the lenses. You may be paying a large mark-up for many of designer brands, but the lens quality is usually a step up from generic fashion sunglasses. If you want to avoid the mark-up, the key is finding brands that aren’t a part of the cartel that have a reputation for solid lenses.
I think for the price, the AOs can’t be beat. Plus they have many different sizes, which comes in handy for someone with a smaller than average face. For a more beat-around pair, I have some Suncloud Optics that have held up pretty well for a few years. They were about $50, polarized, and IIRC are part of the Smith Optics family. Not the most stylish (but not bad) and good for more casual, active stuff.
the functionality of sunglasses is important to me, so i think high quality matters. things like polarized/polarchromic, impact and scratch resistance, distortion correction on the edges, etc. are nearly (definitely?) impossible to get sub-$100. usually when someone tries on my sunglasses, they quickly become converts. guess i’m willing to sacrifice a bit in the style department to have a better and safer product (though, i think smith optics does a solid job of functionality + style). plus, i think if you’ve spent more on your shades, you’ll be more inclined to keep track of them.
I don’t mind spending more than $100 when it comes to performance eyewear for sports or recreation. I tend to get dizzy on runs if I’m wearing bad lenses, but my Smiths offer great clarity along with the ability to switch out lenses depending on the conditions and time of day. Having said that, I’ve seen plenty of great looking pairs for under $100. Even with markups, I think there’s a big difference between something you shelled out $70 for and something you grabbed at the checkout counter.
I thought the same thing and will likely eventually pick up a pair of Rx RB aviators, but I have 2 pairs of Rx sunglasses on the way from Zenni optical for <$40. This is my first order, and I understand their quality can be hit or miss, but I figure for <$20 a pair I can't possibly be worse off than with a $20 pair from Target or something. If nothing else they should easily work as a pair to leave in the car or take to the lake. We'll see.
I usually buy sunglasses for around $100. That seems to be the point where you can get good lenses without overpaying. The more popular Ray Ban models (aviators, wayfarers, etc.) can be had for around there and they have good quality lenses and frames. My last pair of aviators lasted for a half decade – actually they’re still OK except for a giant scratch in the lense that happened when I dropped them on concrete and kicked them across the floor.
I have a pair of Warby Parkers – their lenses are good, their frame quality is so-so. The acetate they use isn’t as high quality as the designers use so the frames warp more easily, but so long as you don’t leave them in a hot car in the summer they should be OK.
I have a pair of Suncloud too, and they have nice lenses for the price point and don’t look too bad. I also found a pair of Brooks Brothers Aviators with a tortoise shell accent on the “eyebrow” piece and tortoise shell arms. They sold for $95 normally but I found them for $25 at Nordstrom rack. They look great but the lenses suck – they’d be a ripoff at full price but for only $25 they make a stylish beater pair. I never pay more than $150 for sunglasses but I don’t need prescription lenses. I guess that means I’m OK with semi cheap or cheap, and don’t spring for expensive.
Here is the reason I vote for cheap sunglasses: In 2006, I bought a new pair of Ray Bans, and towards the end of summer, I left them in a rental car. Since then, I have only purchased cheap glasses, usually for around $16-20 from Target. I usually pick up a new pair around this time every year, and I don’t get too upset when they get lost, broken, or stolen. Thursday, I bought a pair for $16 from JCP and it rained Friday, so I didn’t get to wear them. On Saturday, I took the dog for a ride in the car (still raining) and the dog crushed my glasses that were set gingerly in the passenger seat. Tossed them. Going to get a new pair tonight. I would have been pissed if they had been expensive.
Over $100, so long as it’s not made in China/Third World.
It’s all a matter of context. My costa del mar’s are beach and fishing glasses that were $350. I have a floating neck strap with them because they’ve been dropped in the water over a dozen times. They are worth every penny. That said, I wouldn’t drop $350 on a pair of sunglasses I’m going to be barhopping with.
^ For those (like me) who don’t understand why this is being upvoted, a Google search reveals that this is a quote from American Psycho. Excuse me now while I go watch the Batman Trilogy, American Psycho, The Prestige and slam my head against a wall till I erase the memory of having to watch Reign of Fire.
AO original pilots (Optics Planet has great pricing) and BR Corbins (got them at 40% off – or was it the friend & family 50% off? – either way, on sale – never pay full price at BR) are my two decent pairs in heavy rotation. I have a few $5 H&M new wayfarer wannabees in various colors for dorking around at the pool, but they actually pretty much feel (and kinda look) like $5.
I’d go so far as some RB New Wayfarers or Caravans, but only on sale. Otherwise I’m good with my current setup.
I have those TF108s and I love them! I wear them a lot, so the economy of scale means I’ve got very high quality frames and lenses on my face extremely often – the cost per wear is down past a quarter by now, and they’ve held up very well. Not to mention that I think they’re very unique and make me feel a little like my hero, James Bond, every time I put them on.
The Knockarounds look great for the price point. Considering buying some. Anyone own any that can speak to their quality?
I think it depends on how you are with sunglasses. Do you sit on them by accident regularly? Do you leave them in taxis or restaurants often? If so I think cheap in the way to go. For me I’m good about both of those things have have owned expensive sunglasses in the past, but for the last three years I have been wearing cheap pairs from H&M. While they aren’t as sturdy as a decent pair, I found a frame there that fits my face well. If they fall apart after a season then I don’t feel bad about buying another $10 pair… and I have. About 7 of them so far. Plus buying cheap sunglasses allows you to change them up as styles/tastes change and not feel guilty about having a $300 pair of Ray Bans sitting in the drawer waiting for them to come back in style.
You sound like a Warby Parker advocate. I don’t blame you. I love mine!
I would debate you on the quality of Warby Parker. I went to their Soho location and find the quality matches the price on those. Cheap hinges and very flimsy. Plus as someone with a wider face I found most of theirs were designed for the pinhead set. 🙂
I bought some nice Ray Bans for $150 about 3 years ago. I still have them. I bought a second pair last summer. Still have them.
As long as you’re not one to lose or break your glasses with regularity I don’t see an issue with paying a decent amount. There is a noticeable difference in build quality between those and the cheap stuff you see on the racks.
I’ve sat on and lost enough sunglasses to stick w/ only sub $20 sunglasses…
Spectacles, testicles, wallet, watch… never move anywhere without getting that basic check down to reflex.
Thanks for the reminder!
I’ve got those ao pilots and absolutely love them. Honestly I cannot afford expensive sunglasses. There are things I’d much rather spend the little money I do have on.
I’ve always been a proponent of quality sunglasses. 10 years ago, I bought a pair of polarized Bolle’s, and they were excellent. Great optical quality, very durable and they just felt well made. I wore the heck out of them and was sad to retire them last year. I really wanted to get another pair of good, polarized lenses, but the prices for them now is ridiculous. There were a couple pairs of wire-framed Oakley’s that I liked, but I couldn’t justify spending $240 for a pair of them. I ended up getting a non-polarized version of them for about $60 on a deal-a-day site, and I feel like they’re probably not worth much more than that. Optical quality is fine, but compared to the Bolle’s they just feel cheap. My 2 year old son bent one of the temples a few weeks after I got them and when I took them to Sunglass Hut to try to have them bend them back, they said they didn’t want to, out of fear that they might break them. With the prices of “quality” sunglasses these days, I just cant see myself buying another expensive pair.
Solid discounts on Amazon, too, from time to time. You can usually chip enough off MSRP to get some solid Ray Ban models under $100.
The usual caveats of buying online apply.
Good to know. I’d heard nothing but good things about them so far, but I need a wider frame myself and ruled out any of their models based on their spec sheets.
I can vouch for Fatheadz personally, if you’re looking for frame widths above 140mm. Solid frames and polarized glass lenses with UV400 rating for $50 shipped.
I bought some Fort Knocks about a year ago. They’re solidly built plastic frames with polarized UV400 lenses for $30. They were too narrow for me, but I gave them to a buddy and he’s been wearing them for a year now. I think they’re a really good deal for solidly built beater glasses.
Are they super fancy? No. Will you convince somebody you spent $150 on glasses? No. If you wanted to go more upscale, I’d recommend Warby Parker or deal-hunting a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarer variants online. Those will put you in the $50-100 neighborhood.
At the $30 price point, Knockaround is really tough to beat in terms of value.
Good catch! I edited Maui Jims off the list of Luxottica owned brands.
Don’t know much about Jims myself, but I know they’ve got a big rep in the fishing world.
I’m jelly. They make a great product.
I recently checked their product line and they don’t make a frame even close to wide enough for my big ass dome.
2 pairs cheap – leave 1 in each car – plus 1 expensive as option to take along as necessary.
I have ($250) and regretted it. Too many good options at $100 now. But, like anything, this is a truly personal thing I think.
As a fellow wide-header, I can confirm, based on having ordered Warby’s widest frames for a try-at-home, that they are woefully inadequate for those of us with large heads. Unfortunately, this is true with most glasses. 🙁
I have had 3 people buy Maui Jims after I let them try mine on. There are sunglasses and then there are Maui Jims, I don’t buy them for fashion or name because they are not exactly a household name. The plastic ones are great all rounders than can be used for exercise and general use. The glass ones are a real optical treat, but are too pricey for me to feel comfortable running in.
For sports glasses I have Tifosi (good lenses but seem to cloud after a lot use, I think the sweat corrodes the plastic) and Rudy Project (not the worlds greatest glass, but the tints work well and they seem to hold up well). I have thought about buying some of those Chinese Oakley Racing Jacket sunglasses because I like the fit, but can’t justify getting another pair sunglasses just to match my new bike’s colors.
The only fashion sunglasses I have are Persol, because Bond and they go great with a suit.
If I were a wealthier man I might splurge on some expensive sunglasses. I have a $50 pair of AO’s that I love though. They seem to hit that perfect spot between being affordable and really well made.
Same here; $300 for a pair of RB Caravans with polarized+prescription lenses was well worth it.
My regular glasses are Warby Parker. They are lower quality materials. But the designs are (IMO) good. And somehow they are the only glasses I’ve ever had that don’t end up tilting on my face.
Ray-Ban New Wayfarer. I have such a small face that nearly all sunglasses look silly on me, at any price point. They’re all too wide. The Wayfarer is such a classic that it never looks bad on anybody, ever. And I do appreciate the quality of them as well. I lost them once, while I was overseas. It was so bright I had to buy a new pair. They were nearly 50 dollars more expensive than stateside because of import taxes. 🙁
Having just put my money where my mouth is for a pair of polarised Ray Ban 3379’s, I’m obviously happy to pay more for better quality sunglasses. I try to take reasonable care of them (despite the circumstances around the demise of my previous 7yr old Ray Bans, which were still in better condition than they deserved to be) and appreciate the extra quality. That said – there’s a ceiling for what I’ll pay – the local price was $360, but FramesDirect came to the rescue for under $200.
Aside – I really wanted to get a pair of more traditional aviators, since they’re what The Internet currently loves. Unfortunately with a long pointy face, they just look terrible on me (think face-meltingly droopy). The more squared-off AO’s may be worth a look though.
I usually just buy the cheapies but then I went and tried on the Ray Ban 3477. I might have to splurge.
that profit margin actually sounds way too low for luxottica
I wear Rx and thus need to spend more. I have two pairs in my rotation for style RayBan Wafarers from your typical shopping mall eyeglass shop and a pair of wraparound Maui Jims for sport use. The optical quality of the Maui Jims is unmatched by anything else I’ve owned. You get what you pay for in this case and yes I’ve been worried about breaking either pair but haven’t and have had them for years.
That said my daily wear normal Rx glasses are Warby Parker or Classic Specs (higher quality IMO, in fact I even once got a pair of SHuron sidewinders for <$100 from them).
My sister worked as a regional manager at a place called sun stop here on the west coast for a long time and she has influenced me a lot. Its worth the extra money not style wise to me but hugely health wise for your eyes it is worth it. My fav pair right now are Oakley Holebrooks
Real men don’t lose things. This post reminds me of the 45 year men I work with who still cant wrap their head around having a pen on them at work. That being said, going polycarbonate is always a safer bet.
Since I wear glasses and not contacts, I prefer prescription sunglasses, so buying off the rack brand name then getting prescription lenses put in costs even more than I would want to pay any way. So, I stick with cheap, online bought prescription glasses and sunglasses from zenni optical. I can order 3 – 5 prescription sunglasses for the price of AO Originals.
Crazy that we share a name and pretty much posted the same thing.
I own a pair of Randolph Engineering sunglasses and would definitely buy another pair for sure. As of a few years ago they were (I believe) starting $99 but appear to be a little more these days (starting at $139).
I used to buy the cheap ones all the time. They’d fall apart, get left in random places, get stepped on etc… For Xmas last year I asked for a pair of ray ban new wayfarers. I got looked at by my family like i was crazy. But surprisingly I got a pair. Best. Gift. Ever! Not only am I much more aware of them and never forget them, but the quality difference is huge. Now there have been accidents where I was sure I’d scratched a lens or cracked them. NOPE!!! I’ve taken them all over the world and back. I’ve had them in freezing weather, pouring rain, dropped them several feet onto solid concrete, YOU NAME IT! STILL PERFECT! Not only do they go with everything, but its almost like they are indestructible. I’ll never buy another set again. Love my sunglasses!! I’ve had cheap ones snap in half from just putting them on!!! Best $100 Spent if you ask me! I’d have easily spent that by now on multiple cheap sunglasses! Big advocate. And should they ever break, you can bet your a$$ I’m buying the same pair again!
The cheaper the shades the more likely they are to have worthless lenses. If you wear them outdoors to actually protect your eyes that bears a lot of consideration.
I wear a pair of Serengettis and love them, well worth the 120$ or so paid.
Sunglasses for me are not about style. I’m super picky about the lens
quality, so I have a pair of glass-lensed, polarized, mirrored,
contrast-heightening REVOs. The fact that they look cool is a bonus.
Glad I saw this because I actually recently started investing in expensive sunglasses. Like most, my crutch was that I was scared I was going to lose them or break them etc. I have done this many times before with el cheapos so I had reason to be afraid. Plus I learned how a huge chunk of the eye wear industry is ran by one group. A monopoly pretty much. They own retailers like sunglass hut and lenscrafters and pearl vision and any other store you could think of. They make eye-wear for prada and vercace for example. And if you want to avoid supporting the monopoly, you will just be giving support to the other big player which is the Italian Safilo group. They make glasses for banana republic, saks, fossil, gucci, dior, hugo boss and many more.
But almost a year I invested in a pair by warby parker for just under $100. They worked out well. Had a couple of close calls such as drops, but I learned to where cheapos when I am going to be in a rowdy environment And not to have sunglasses when I am trying on clothes because I might leave them in the fitting room. But since those worked out I gradually graduated to some maiu jims that I bought from a friend. Then recently I invested in some Guccis and Oliver Peoples.
I think someone commented how once you get a pair that is pricey you might naturally start to value them more and will be more careful. This was the case for me. I baby mine.
And as far as quality, I noticed that expensive sunglasses have better lens quality and clarity to do their job. Maybe even better build quality and durability from my experience. I noticed they do not scratch and scuff as easily. Screws are nice and tight. No peeling and flaking and all that. .As far as style I always felt cool in them but surprisingly people would comment more and give more compliments when I wear my good ones.
Ever since I was a lifeguard where a combination of sweat, pool water, and sunscreen led to the perfect storm of my sunglasses risking a 6 foot fall onto unforgiving concrete many times a day, I decided sticking with inexpensive sunglasses was the way to go. I’ve had $20 grocery store aviators that look great hold up for multiple years in between the ones I accidentally crushed or shattered within a week of buying them. If I were wearing prescription sunglasses that I meticulously kept protected in a case, that would be one thing, but with an active lifestyle, inexpensive sunglasses are one less thing to worry about.
Your article missed probably the biggest point in favor of pricier sunglasses: optics. After having worn polarized lenses with anti-reflective coatings, I simply wont settle for less. Your eyes are a precious resource, and any sunglasses priced above $200 that dont feature polarization (or at the very least, anti-reflective coatings) deserve to be laughed off the market. Next time you throw on a pair of crappy fashion gradient lenses and are squinting in the sun, ask yourself what the hell you are doing and step up for a well crafted, timeless pair with quality lenses.