Most you would pay for a pair of shades.

S

SouthNarc

Joined
Jun 12, 2001
Messages
205
My fiancee' got me a pair of the Oakley Mars for Christmas which I've been drooling over for years but just couldn't bring myself to buy. I was in a mall the other day and saw a pair of the X metal glasses with a fire iridium lens for over $400. I immediately thought "That's ridiculous", but I'm running around with a pair that cost $275 so WTFO?

My question for all my fellow gear queers is what's the most you would pay for a pair of shades? I know it's all in how bad you want them, but I just wondered what a median would be. I was talking to the guy at the little sunglass kiosk there, and he told me that the average customer was willing to spend about $120. Any feedback?
 
South Narc, I am a fan of the old Ray Ban series like Ambermatics and Chromax series, no longer in production and very rare. For a new/mint piece I would be willing to pay up to 5 or 6 times the price, I already bought out the available stock of one retailer, paying the "penalty" gladly. Guess 400 bucks is in the ballpark. Its sad that these series had to die off.

Regards Bernard
 
I wear prescription glasses so, I may not be the average guy you're looking for. In fact I am pretty picky about my glasses and insist they protect me in addition to looking good and enabling me to see.

I should note that I caught a 6 foot long piece of square tubing with a bolt on the end of it across my face. Without my glasses, I would probably be blind today. I was particular before, now I'm very picky.

I start with good Titanium frames (>$200), usually Marchon for the office, curently Wolverine for the field. Then I add heat tempered lenses that darken with exposure to sunlight. In the office, I want to preserve color clarity so, I go with the grey to black lenses. In the field I have started using the browns to step on the blue spectrum harder. Both sets have an Anti-reflective coating. The office lenses are 2mm thick at their thinnest, field lenses 3mm.

My office lenses are certainly safe to use outdoors but, when I have the chance, I use my field glasses. In addition to being stronger (both frames and lenses), they have side shields which is great when the wind is blowing dust into my eyes from the side (or even head on in a really strong wind). These field glasses also have the little s's engraved in the lenses which means they are certified safety glasses for those OSHA area's where such is required.

So how much for Shades? ~$500 give or take a little.
 
$200 +/- is my upper end. Revo's are some of the best I've found for optical clarity and coatings quality. Oakley stuff I've owned looked cool (A-wires and C-wires) but the optics are a definite step down from Revo (in overall vivid clarity, but particularly in the glare reflected off the inside of lens... e.g. when sun is shining from behind and over your shoulder).

I haven't really studied Oakley's line for years, so they may make a lens with better AR coatings than what I have.
 
$200 is the highest I ahve gone so far. No longer need perscription thanks to laser surgery. I have several $130-$150 pair. Wish I could still get [X]oor. The heat set quartz lens with 4 layers of UV filter and the center polarized filter is very nice. Also like my cool blue Ziess.
 
If you want the best in terms of 100% perfect optics go with Maui Jims. For me, 100% optics are not essential so I go with high quality brands with designs that are functional and appeal to me. Currently I have a pair of Ray Ban Cutters. In the past I have used Oakley Eye Jackets. I think this summer I will be looking for some Oakley Romeos with blue iridium lenses (to match my motorcycle, lol). If I did not use my shades so much I probably would not be willing to spend so much on them ($400 give or take). However, looking at a pool with all that glare, spending a little more on good shades is better than going home with a headache everyday.
 
$20. I tend to lose and scratch sunglasses.

I use glasses most frequently for fishing, so I usually just buy cheap Polarized glasses. I really can't imagine paying over $100 for sunglasses. $400 seems ridiculous. I've handled and tried on the expensive stuff, but really, is there that much difference to you all?

I wonder if some of the appeal is the brand name and the "cool" factor. I'm not out to impress anybody.

If I were to splurge, I'd probably buy a pair of Costa del Mars. They have some nice glasses around $100.
 
The most I've ever paid for a pair of sunglasses was $12 and I wasn't happy about that, but it was an emergency. Usually I try to keep them under $10. The thought of spending as much on a pair of glasses as a custom knife is totally foreign to me. I hope you guys really like those glasses!
 
Think about it though. Most people cannot understand why anyone would be willing to pay as much as we do for blades. It is a thing about owning the best, pride, quality, etc. I guess. But when someone talks to me about how much I spend on certain things I make it out in a way they can understand. For my dad I respond, "how can you spend $3k on a set of irons?" for golf. He has not questioned my purchases in a while,lol.
 
My point (implicit though it was) is that expensive doesn't necessarily mean that you're getting the best, particularly since "the best" is such a subjective term in most cases. I think that anybody who shells out $400 for sunglasses is getting caught up in the winds of conspicuous consumption.

Personally, I don't care how anybody else spends his or her money. If you've got it, and spending it makes you feel better, then that's your business.

The same goes for knives like Sebenzas in my mind. Sure, the details are nice, but I buy knives to use them--not just to carry them or look at them or brag about owning them. I like good knives with quality steel, but my Spydercos, Benchmades, etc. all get the job done without me having to spend a fortune on a single knife.

3k for a set of clubs is ridiculous as well. I paid perhaps $350 for my clubs new, and I can beat 90% of the folks on the course most days. From the tips. I know this from years of going to various courses alone and picking up with any groups that'll have me. It ain't the club so much as it's the person swinging it. Practice (beyond a weekly game) helps.

Knives, sunglasses, golf clubs, you name it. People just get a little too carried away with name brands and image.
 
True that, but if people get enjoyment ouot of it then it is worth it in my mind. Life is really to short to settle when there is something that you really want. I would never spend $3k on irons. I would not even spend $300. However I don't play golf. I like shoes and shades and knives and stuff for my bike. I think it also has something to do witgh staying with something for a long time. My dad started playing with a set of no name clubs that were given to him when he left his first company. But as you grow in a hobby, most tend to "upgrade". I loved knives for a long time. I started on some Coast specials and no name knickoffs. I have upgraded to fairly high quality productions and no doubt will upgrade to a few customs and semi customs in my knife knuttitude. Then there are also those who rely on their gear, Pilots rely on Maui Jims as much as special ops guys may rely on their blade. Although it is not a passion for them, they gladly pay the cost of having the best. I was saying that having the best does not necessarily say anything about the person, but it does allow the person to say something about themself.
 
I've paid up to $130, IIRC (Oakleys).
For some reason sunglasses are one of those things I never seem to lose. Had the same pair of Ray-Bans for about 5-6 years...somehow got stuck up under my power seats, and crushed. Replaced them with a pair of Gargoyles, that I had for ~4 years before they got stolen, and were replaced by a pair of Oakleys. Been wearing the same Oakleys for going on 4 years, now. Thinking of buying new lenses for them...

"Expensive" may not always mean "best", but I'm pretty sure that "cheap" never does:p
 
Paid $300 for a pair of Nikon Aviators which have since been discontinued. If I lose these I'd pay more to replace them, if possible. Next highest is a pair of Neptune Aviators with rose lenses that I paid $150 for.
 
I could never get used to the shape of the Gargyle classics. Just not the right shape and size for my head, I suppose.
 
I agree that cheap generally isn't equated with quality. Granted, my $15 shades aren't as clear as a $100 pair.

But my point is that an off-brand or a cheaper brand often gets the job done just as well. I can hit a golf ball just as far with my $40 knock-off name driver as most folks with their $300 Big Berthas. I cut just as nicely with my Benchmade as folks do with their Sebenzas. And a $100 pair of glasses will do the same job as a $400 pair in my mind.

I still contend that this over-emphasis on style and name brand is a waste of money. Having what most folks think is "the best" does indeed allow you to say something about yourself. But it might not be what you think.

Don't get me wrong. I like quality gear. I buy quality knives, guns, fishing tackle, and tools. And I could see myself buying a nice pair of sunglasses that approach $100. More than likely, they'd be a $130 pair marked down or on sale. That's because I buy with an eye toward getting a good value for my money. I don't just go out and buy the most expensive item I can find. I know a lot of people that do just so they can feel like part of the "in" crowd. However, I don't follow trends or fashions.
 
Most I've spent is $130 for my Oakley M frames because I believe they are the best protection, fit, clarity, etc. for when I shoot.

I NEVER would have spent $275 on the Mars but I'm glad my old lady did!:D

Medusaoblangata.

Thanks for asking about me on The Redoubt, Jason. I've been out with some duty incurred injuries, including a couple of broken fingers, a skull fracture, and some torn connective tissue in my shoulder. I posted in the undercover thread. Razor might be able to e-mail my reply to you.
 
I have 2 pairs of OAkleys a golf m-frame 145.00 and minute polarized 145.00.

I recently lost my Oakley m-frame carbon fiber iridiums(140.00) while hunting , AHHH!!!!! why god why?!!


Still have 2 left ohh well......

Ohh yeah i payed 40% of the cost above , I worked at a golf shop where i got a huge discount.(still can get the discount gonna pick up another pair of carbon fiber iridiums)
 
Dude ~ I paid for a coupla oakley X-metals Romeo, Juliet and XX.. They cost four times as much.. I must be mad.. :p

Sam
 
$400 for shades, dam!
What do they do?
Are they multi shades, do they have a blade?
Can you see through walls with them :)
Your all kidding right, $400??

I just got glasses for my son, age 6.
Glases with magnetic shades and eye exam, total $300

$400 just for shade ROFL

A fool and his money are soon parted, anyone else ever hear this?

JP
 
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