Good Shades?

[Survivo]

What sunglasses do you use when backpacking and visiting nature in general? Some people go with more expensive models, others buy cheaper ones, because they consider shades an expendable gear.

[Barney]

I don't like expensive models because I break them all the time. I use Chili's and Peepers Optical sunglasses. They are all between $19 and $33. I especially like how they fit. For serious outdoors undertakings I may use a retainer to hold them in place because there are a lot of activities when they may fall off.

[Gunny Webb]

I have worn Vuarnet sunglasses since 1990. I work outside and the eye doc said buy good sunglasses or wave bye to your eyes. Vuarnet has some of the best anti reflective coatings in the world. They are french made while 95% of all American shades are china made. It's the one thing the french are light years ahead on. They are styled like the 80's but they work. I've paid as little as 65 for a pair to over 200. You will only lose one pair or $200 glasses and you will stop.
For the outside larger lenses shield more sun, wear small lenses if you want to look stylish.
Average life span for my glasses is 8 years. I have a dark pair and a lighter pair. I wear one pair at least 320 days a year>
I think you get what you pay for.

[IndianaHiker]

I tend to use the cheaper ones as I do see them as expendable gear. However I do always look at a few things. First I like ones that are polarized, also demand that they block UV rays both A and B. Otherwise they are noting but a piece of tinted plastic.

[Theosus]

I just use "transitions" coatings on my glasses. Love that stuff... Until you walk into a semi dark room and cant see for several minutes.

[DMan]

I buy cheap ones because sooner or later they fall out of a pocket or get scratched. Just as long as they have some UV protection, I'm not too concerned with the brand.

[Marshmallow]

I have a terrible time with my eyes when I'm outside because of all the glare. I am thinking of trying the Vuarnet French glasses, so I appreciate your endorsement of them. I'm also interested in those glasses with holes they make.

[oldsarge]

One of my favorite pairs of glasses were the original wrap around Gargoyles. They were pricey at the time, but they worked best for me. I ended up losing them after several years and never bought an expensive pair of glasses again. Now it's the cheaper stuff for me. Most of the time I don't wear them if I'm in the woods, but will if riding the mountain bike or on an ATV.

[jason]

I try not to spend too much on them, and get them on sale if I can for the better stuff. But in all honesty, I will loose or break the glasses easily. I have a good pair for driving and one for fishing. I will wear my driving ones hiking sometimes. But a lot of times when working outside or camping I bring a cheaper pair.

[briansnat]

I like Ray Ban Outdoorsman aviators. I prefer glass lens because I don't care how good plastic lens are, I find a way to scratch them and Ray Ban aviators are one of the few that have glass lens these days.

I also like the flexible wire frame that hooks around my ears so they don't fall off easily.

The pair I have now I've owned for over 20 years. They are at the point where my sweat has pitted the metal on the frame and I really should replace them.

Living in the northeast with most of my hiking done under a heavy deciduous canopy I rarely use them for hiking and backpacking, but for fishing, skiing, snowshoeing, driving and general outdoor use they are perfect.