Sunglasses That Last but Aren't Mega $$$

LStingstang on 12/09/2022 - 11:14
Last edited 12/09/2022 - 11:51 by 1 other user

Hey everyone, just wondering what you OzBargainers do for sunglasses.

I'm outdoors a lot in the early morning's late arvos for work. Over the years I have tried everything from chemist cheapies to light prescription glasses (they hurt my eyes more than they helped). I have had some luck with a pair of fishing sunnies or ones from a surf shop for around $40-$70, but they didn't last longer than 3 months.

Before I go looking at $300+ pairs (which I will probably lose or damage) what do you savvy people do?

Edit: I always endup with scratched lenses, the frames themself are fine. Figure more expensive sunnies might be more scratch resistant but am not convinced with will last

Fashion & Apparel Sunglasses

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 12/09/2022 - 11:18

    Fuglies, but they're still only sunglasses. nothing's gonna last if you abuse them

  • zealmax on 12/09/2022 - 11:21

    Do they keep breaking? Are you looking for longevity or comfort?

  • freefall101 on 12/09/2022 - 11:23
    +5

    I take care of my sunglasses, that's what I do.

    Expensive sunglasses are more about design and maybe glass quality, not strength, so if you're breaking them regularly I'd just keep buying cheap ones.

  • oscargamer on 12/09/2022 - 11:25
    +1

    Inverse proportional rule

    The more expensive = the more likely you will damage them
    The cheaper = you will never damage or lose them

  • netjock on 12/09/2022 - 11:36

    Try Rudy Project (about $150) they got impact lenses (think they started in road cycling) and pretty hard to break. If they do, it is snap on replacement (nose bridge is a separate piece). You can also get prescription which is again a snap on addition (or you can just use it with contact lenses).

  • ozbs25 on 12/09/2022 - 11:37

    How do you keep damaging them or losing them? Would some sort of retainer help? I know most people think of those chains that nanna uses but you can get pretty good functional retainers that look pretty decent these days.

    Edit: Reread your post and while it doesn't sound like you lose your glasses, my question still stands…

    • bobbified on 12/09/2022 - 11:48

      How do you keep damaging them

      Well…. perhaps this?

      • ozbs25 on 12/09/2022 - 11:52
        +1

        Should ask Cyclops where he gets his from then.

  • fantombloo on 12/09/2022 - 11:41

    I stopped buying good sunnies and now get the plain black wayfarer copies off ebay - around $7-8 each, usually around 5 at a time, then throw them in the cars, on the kitchen island, anywhere. I have glasses all the time, when they scratch I don't really care, wear them in the water at the beach, etc. Rinse and repeat as required. Haven't bought any in the last few years - having a good run.

    Edit: I just checked ebay, seems they've gone up like everything else, now $12.

  • Stingstang on 12/09/2022 - 11:46

    Sorry should have explained that better, I usually end up with scratched lenses. I have not had the best of luck. The last pair I bumped my head on a bar with the sunnies on the top of my head. Not hard but enough to scratch the crap out of them. Pair before my daughter knocked them off the counter and they scuffed hitting the kitchen tiles.

    Naturally if you just throw them around they will get trashed pretty quickly and I do generally look after them best as I can. I just dont want to go buy a $200 pair to have the same result.

    All the advertisements seem to focus on frame strength, something I have never had a problem with.

    • freefall101 on 12/09/2022 - 11:59

      There's nothing I've heard of, unfortunately. Problem is materials that don't scratch usually crack quite badly and the last thing you want is sharp shards of glass right next to your eyes (I imagine that's why they don't make gorilla glass sunglasses).

      I'd try to make sure you're getting polycarbonate lenses instead of plastic (they're stronger and better, not necessarily much more expensive though). But IMO I'd just treat glasses as disposable in your case and buy the cheapest ones possible. Maybe try cheap online glasses places aimed at prescription just without a prescription and add the anti-scratch coating they always sell as an addon? But more expensive definitely won't mean better for you.

  • Drakesy on 12/09/2022 - 11:47

    kmart

    • Puffy Vulva on 13/09/2022 - 10:57

      Couldn't recommend kmart they really are crap
      Hinges break real easy and the coatings flake off after a while

      • Drakesy on 13/09/2022 - 11:34

        I've had my ones for 3 years now and they're still going strong with no sign of degradation.
        They're polarized and have UV protection.

  • DontShowMeTheMoney on 12/09/2022 - 11:48

    How the hell are you going through so many sunnies so quickly? How are you breaking them? Maybe try some polarised safety glasses from Bunnings

  • kenzstar on 12/09/2022 - 11:48
    +1

    cancer council sunglasses

  • doweyy on 12/09/2022 - 11:49
    +1

    Cancer Council sunnies are the best value I've experienced. Long lasting, great value.

    • kerfuffle on 12/09/2022 - 13:10

      And usually on sale at 50% off

  • nubzy on 12/09/2022 - 11:49

    Persol are the best for me. Had a pair for 5+ years, only very light scratches.

    Had many pairs of Cancer Council, can be bought very cheap at times and are polarised, but lenses scratch/damage way too easily and hinges are weak and floppy. My last two pairs were stuffed within a couple of months.

  • TheOtherLeft on 12/09/2022 - 12:02
    +1

    Due to my fat head I've found tinted polarised safety glasses to fit great and great value for money. They can be found for <$50 at the various safety shops. Plus they are tax deductible for me.

  • Dowhat on 12/09/2022 - 12:59

    Highly recommend Safestyle glasses. They are originally meant as safety glasses because they looks so good, i, and it seems a lot of people, where them as normal sunnies.
    They've got a few different styles, each available on different colours and lenses.
    At most they are 79 bucks i think and the quality is mint

    I have a few different pairs. 2 different colours in one frame polarised for general sunnies, and another set polarised for fishing.

  • EightImmortals on 12/09/2022 - 14:35

    I stopped wearing them 30 years ago, my eyes have never been better.

  • ozwog05 on 12/09/2022 - 14:57

    I've ordered several different pairs of these, and they've held up surprisingly well for the price. If you get 1 year or even 6 months out of a pair, money well spent.
    I don't do many long commutes anymore, so I can't speak much in terms of durability or longevity from being left in the car, but the pair I've used the most often for the past 2 years hasn't lost any screws, been cracked from dropping or otherwise (can't say I've ever accidentally sat on them), and the only reason the previous pair of the same design & colour of 2+ years was replaced was because I dropped them in a cavity behind a stage :/

  • Caped Baldy on 12/09/2022 - 15:28

    I've got a few oakleys and just buy replacement polarized lenses.

    The initial price is BS since Luxottica has a monopoly. But you could get a pair off scumtree or marketplace.

  • Anvariel on 12/09/2022 - 15:54

    I bought some Shady Rays on sale and am pretty happy with them.

  • the Unforgiven on 13/09/2022 - 08:48

    I bought these as my driving glasses & I like them
    https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/zoestore-ts-sunglasses-polarize…

  • Dejaar on 13/09/2022 - 08:49

    Cancer Council..affordable and good qual lenses.

  • Chandler on 13/09/2022 - 13:26

    Tinted safety glasses: <$10 at your local work wear shop.

    I'm someone who occasionally loses or sits on his glasses. With these, I don't care if I do (apart from the inconvenience of having to replace them).

  • cupcake on 13/09/2022 - 14:59

    Have you tried Oakley sunglasses?
    You should invest in a man bag and perhaps even a key holder. That way, you have somewhere to put your sunglasses when you are not wearing it. Buy a case for your sunnies?
    I use a key holder so my keys don't scratch my sunnies, my purse or my phone when it's in my handbag.

    https://au.louisvuitton.com/eng-au/products/6-key-holder-mon…

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