In Review: The Ray Ban 4201 Rubber Aviator

Ray Ban “Alex” 59 mm Aviator – $89.99 ($125)

Note: The pair seen here in this post are the “Mirror Silver” lens option. On sale through Amazon. If you’d prefer a non mirrored gradient, they’ll run you just $72.

These are different. Whereas almost all other sunglasses have a polished frame, be it acetate or metal, these “Alex” aviators from Ray-Ban are as matte as it gets. The frames are nylon and have a slightly grippy rubber feel. Add in the mirrored lenses, and you end up with a pair of sunglasses that have a technical, almost mountaineering look…

Not the pair of sunglasses in question.

So they killed off the flash of the frames, but bump that up a notch with the mirrored lenses. They certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste, but that flip from the norm is at the very least interesting. And some guys will love the look.

Lens shape is more of a true aviator but not overly droopy. Much better looking in person than they appear on Amazon.

The temples are a combination of traditional gloss metal with the rubberized nylon making up the spatula style ear pieces. It’s a small detail, but it helps the sunglasses avoid the all-plastic look. And those temples are trim in diameter. Guessing it’s to help keep the overall weight down?

Size is 59mm, which works best on medium to larger faces. If you’ve got a smaller noggin’, a pair this big with mirrored lenses might make you look like you wandered off from a steam-punk convention.

Comfort is impressive. Maybe it’s because they’re pretty lightweight, but still don’t feel cheap. Or maybe it’s the slight grip on the frames that helps keep them in place. But once you put them on, they’re on. No moving or shifting about.

Available in a few other lens color options, some of which are a bit obnoxious, and any frame color choice you’d like… as long as it’s black. Originally spotted at Nordstrom for the full price of $125. Steep for a pair of sunglasses that while subtle, just isn’t a traditional pair of shades. But for $90 through Amazon, they might make for a good looking, not so normal pair to keep in the car.

Just don’t be surprised if you can never find them in the car, due to wearing them all the time, everywhere, and not only while behind the wheel.