are expensive sunglasses worth it?

[Blackness03]

Oakleys are some tough ass sunglasses. I don't know what they are made out of but if you sit on them etc, they just break apart and you pop them back together. I just bought a brand new pair at the Oakley store for $50 on clearance.

They are the only sunglasses I can keep. Cheap ones just don't last for me

 

[firebird1999us]

Maui Jim Kahunas are awesome! I've had mine for three years... also have some Georgia red Maui Jim Lighthouse glasses and my wife has a pair of Stingrays. All excellent glasses that I'd highly recommend!

 

[NinjaBum]

Doesn't matter if you buy Oakley or Ray Ban or anything in Sunglass Hut. They are all made by the same company. Years ago you could buy a pair of Ray Bans for 10 bucks at a gas station. Now they are triple digits just cause a different company bought them. It's all a racket controlled by one company with just about every expensive name brand.

 

[mc01svt]

never paid more than 10-30 bucks for sun glasses and never will. But thats just me....

 

[ImThatGuy]

I prefer the more expensive sunglasses. I have owned several pairs of oakleys, and my everyday glasses are some gascans. Granted they do have some scratched but they have been through a lot with me.

 

[Nanner]

Maui Jims - or Costas

The lens makes all the difference.

 

[Grabber]

I pretty much only buy Oakley's as I love the fit/finish and design. Not to mention the quality.

Older pairs I have I'v dropped, sat on, stepped on and they haven't broken yet. The lenses are pretty tough, but, do show wear over time.

Right now I've got 2 Pairs of Monster Dogs, 1 Pair of Minutes and 1 Pair of Custom Fives Squared.

Polarized is the way to go for sure.

 

[Triscrum]

I'm on the expensive sunglasses wagon. I've had many pairs of Oakleys and they hold up great. I'm rough on sunglasses and they have lasted well. I would also like to mention smith optics. I've had a few pairs and they held up very well. And they have a lifetime warranty.

 

[ViciousJay]

I always bought cheap ones until i sucked it up and got some armani's and I havent been happier. Worth every penny

 

[HandBanana]

Oakleys are shit. It's all marketing. I used to sell sunglasses and worked for a manufacturer years ago. Revo and Maui are where its at. It is really about personal preference. If you like Costas, try some Natives as well. They're similar and have a lifetime warranty.

 

[Iamchris]

I tend to shop deals from good companies like Oakley, WileyX, ect... I figure the company isn't making garbage so if I can find some on clearance, or just well priced... I pick them up. Better product at a compromising price... good enough for me.

 

[Rios302]

I had two pairs of Oakley's and I lost or someone borrow them from me forever. Ever since I just buy $25 to $35 dollar ones from skateboarding stores. i find those glasses well made and good looking and they last me quite a bit. I would love to buy me another set of quality sun glasses but I am terrible at taking care of them plus every time I loose them it makes me sick to my stomach. Cheap ones don't hurt as much.

 

[Blackness03]

Oakleys are shit. It's all marketing..

I don't know. I left mine on the fender of a tractor with a big ass rake behind it. Sunglasses got caught in the rake and picked them up scattered 50 yds apart across a field. little scratched up but just put them back together and I still wear them. I'm sold on Oakley

 

[jip]

Didnt read the whole thread,so sorry if this was mentioned..you can send you old Costas to them,tell them the lens are bad and hurting your eyes.
They should send you a new pair,cost around $11

 

[blackbolt2003]

Read about this company (Luxottica) and you may change your mind about spending $100's on brand name glasses/sunglasses. Essentially, they manufacture/control 80% of the glasses brands in the world. In some cases, the only difference between a cheap pair and high-end one is the brand name stamped on the side.

 

[Grabber]

I don't know. I left mine on the fender of a tractor with a big ass rake behind it. Sunglasses got caught in the rake and picked them up scattered 50 yds apart across a field. little scratched up but just put them back together and I still wear them. I'm sold on Oakley

I agree.

Oakley was pretty much the first company to make the type of lenses they utilize and everyone jumped on the bandwagon.

I'm sure many other brands have durable glasses. However, try having a 200LB guy sit on a pair of those without them cracking/break. Then drop them lens first into gravel and see if the lenses are still in good shape. Granted, my Oakley Minutes have marks on the lenses after 4 years of heavy use while washing cars, working under cars, dropping them over 50+ times.

 

[BMR Tech]

They are ABSOLUTELY worth it.

Personally, I am a lens snob....and there is no better lens IMO than the Costa 580G pieces.

As a matter of fact, when I go sunglass "shopping" - the sales guys usually even come straight out and say "I see those 580G's around your neck - you won't find a better lens, so just a heads up"

On that note, I did pay $245 for my primary DD Costas....but I am about to send them in for some warranty work. I beat them hard, and I have used them for their warranty before, and it really is a lifetime warranty. Costas definitely aren't a throw away set of shades.

 

[HYBRED]

I love my oakleys. I wouldn't buy anything else.

This...cheap sunglasses give me motion sickness. I've had 3 pairs of Oakleys...one finally broke after 6-7 years, one pair disappeared during 2K this year, and the third is in my truck right now.

 

[MystiChrome Coupe]

Doesn't matter if you buy Oakley or Ray Ban or anything in Sunglass Hut. They are all made by the same company. Years ago you could buy a pair of Ray Bans for 10 bucks at a gas station. Now they are triple digits just cause a different company bought them. It's all a racket controlled by one company with just about every expensive name brand.

You are thinking of the company called luxottica as mentioned above. They do own most of the brand names mentioned in this thread, but not Maui Jim.

I had lasik done early last year so I've been treating myself to quality sunglasses. I have 3 pairs of Maiu's ranging from $200 to $350 and they are worth every penny IMO. Also have a 20 year old pair of oakleys and a pair of ray bans that in in the rotation mix. Looking at getting some carbon fiber mirrored aviators from ray ban next.

 

[Blown 89]

Worth every penny. If you spend a lot of time outside cheap glasses are actually bad for your eyes because they make your pupils dilate to compensate for the dark lenses which allows more elements in that cause long term eye damage.

I spent a pretty penny on Dillon Optics a few years ago, the lenses are damaged from use and they'll refinish them for $30. Beats buying a new pair. Best glasses I've ever used by a country mile.