Nike sunglasses and other questions?

Starfish

Starfish

Joined
Jun 14, 2001
Messages
1,256
Hi all,

I'm in the market for a nicer pair of sunglasses than I get at Wally World for $10. I'm looking to spend no more than $100; and I know that means I'm not going to be able to buy the "Sebenzas" of the sunglass world, but hopefully I can buy the "Benchmade" equivalent :)

At any rate, I've been looking at the local sunglass stores to get a feel for what brands/models I like. Two models have presented themselves as ideal choices, but I would like to hear other's opinions.

The first model is the Nike interchange round with polarized lenses. Pluses are a flexible frame, lightweight, 2 sets of polarized lenses (orange and grey, and easily replaceable) - cost is around $90 online.

The second model is the Oakley Minute (blue w/ black iridium lenses). Non-polarized, sturdy frame (less flexible, if at all), a bit heavier. Cost is around $95 online.

The characteristics that I have described are only those that I can directly report. What I can't report is durability, optical clarity (they both seemed fine), optical distortion (again, both seemed fine), etc. Mainly because I only had them on for a minute or so.

Whaddya think?

Thanks for your assistance,

Matthew
 
Matthew,

I have a pair of Oakley Twenty's, which I think is pretty much a larger variation of the Minutes. If not, then they're pretty close from what I remember. The Minutes were too small so I had to go for the Twenty's.

So far they've have held up nicely for the year and a half that I've had them. The 2 plastic pieces that go on the side of your head and on top of your ears (I don't know what they're called :D ) were more flexible than I thought, but the frame that holds the lenses is sturdy. I dropped them lens first onto concrete and now there are 3 small dings right on the lens, but that's just my fault and I didn't expect them lenses to take that kind of abuse anyway. I can see through the lenses just fine without any distortion or anything like that.

Overall, I'm happy with my purchase. If all the other Oakleys are as good as or better than the Twenty's I have, then I don't think you can go wrong with the Minutes.

Hope that helps! Take it easy.

Randy
 
Hey Matthew,
I went through the same search a while back. You might try on a pair of Arnette Ravens. I bought their polarized model and I couldn't be happier. I wear them all day long and they are more comfortable then any others I've had and they have held up well. Clarity is good with no distortion. The polarizing works great for fishing and a bonus if you ride motorcycles is that there are none of the rubber inserts on the earpieces that are so popular today. That means you can slide them on easily with a helmet on, without pulling your hair out. They're fairly cheap too at around 70 bucks.

Later,
Hawk
 
I went the other way. With target shooting, I wanted a good pair of safety glasses. Being blue-eyed, I wanted good UV protection.

I bought a pair of Uvex 2000's (could be called 3000's, it's been so long since I bought them) and paid about eight bucks for them. With a traditonal blue lens, they are 99% UV. Nice thing is that they offer different types of lenses, and replacement is a snap-out thing, no tools.

I bought the yellow, the clear and the mirrored. The mirrored are great on water, and the reflective nature can only help the UV rating. They look like sunglasses, but still protect. No one has ever guessed that they are primarily safety glasees.
 
I've had nothing but food fortune and great glasses with Oakleys.. You look like a d!ck, but they rock. An easily replacable and great pair of optics are the Oakley "Fives." I've stepped on mine and rolled in the mud with hardly a scratch. They are built to come apart under stress which is unlike most other glasses. You just pop the arms back in and there good as new. You should be able to find a retailer who sells them for $60. I'm sellin' my Why 3's on ebay right now to fund another pair of Fives (And an Arc LS :cool: ) Not to mention Willie Nelson wears da 5's! Smith's rock too. Nikes are probably made by seven year olds under a cracking whip. I personally don't recommend supporting that.
 
Being from Colorado, a skier and from where the sun always shines at 8500 feet, I have worn various sunglasses since I was 8. I do not like the plastic lenses in the Oakleys, they also tend to slide down my egg shaped head. The "earpieces" pinch and I have not been satified with two different pairs, both over 100.00 US. I used to really like the Bole cat eye style but they do not make them anymore, amber lenses, practically perfect. I have a pair of Serengettis now and am very happy. A sturdy polymer frame, glass lenses, they are heavier but worht the extra weight. If you prop them on top of your head, you know when they fall off! The lenses are rose colored. Not my prefered color but a good all around color. Not the best in white out conditions but then again they do not tend to wash out natural colors too much either. I always use a croakies head hugger type of lanyard also. They float when swimming. BTW the Serengettis were 30.00 US in a Sunglasses hut in Illinois. The same model would be well over 100.00 in the skiing states. Shop around. My two bits worth. PS my wife swears by the Smith Sliders, they come with three sets of interchangable lenses, grey, amber and rose. Pretty nice but plastic lenses again. I have not ever found that plastic lenses to be less breakable no matter what the mfgrs say. I have had both, glass and plastic lenses shatter when taking a good face-plant fall skiing, neither hurt my eyes. One other pair I could reccomend are the Smith Silvers, glass lense, very light frame and solid, grey/brown lens. Good luck!
 
Thanks all, for the info.

I'm taking a look at the Serengetis now, and a second look at the Oakleys.

Stupid question - I understand well the concept of polarization (hey, I'm a EE after all!), but I'd like to hear from people who have tried polarized glasses. Are they worth it?

Matthew
 
Yes, polarized lenses are definately worth it. I've worn them all my life (growing up in my dad's fly fishing shop - where polarized lenses are used to see the fish in the water). When I got married a few years ago, I gave my wife a pair of polarized glasses to wear on the horneymoon in Jamaica, and she'll now never wear anything but polarized.

For driving, skiing, watersports, etc. where there's glare, polarized lenses are the *only* way to go. Try them, you'll never go back :) Honest.
 
Originally posted by Starfish

The first model is the Nike interchange round with polarized lenses. Pluses are a flexible frame, lightweight, 2 sets of polarized lenses (orange and grey, and easily replaceable) - cost is around $90 online.
Click to expand...

I had a pair of those Nike glasses, and they were great. Very comfortable, it felt like I wasn't wearing them, and I loved the orange lenses for motorcycling at night. Unfortunately, I left them in a jacket pocket and sat on them. The frame snapped. I was pretty upset.
 
I wear Oakley sunglasses exclusively now. I used to wear Vaurnet and Serengeti as well, and liked them just fine, but I'm spoiled by the Oakleys.

I wear a pair of Frogskins. I picked them up at www.reioutlet.com for a song. I scratched the hell out of the lenses, and when I called, they gave me instructions on how to get them replaced. Little bro has a pair, don't know the name. He broke the arm on one side. He called and told them what he had and what he needed. Two days later his part was at his house, for free.

I like the way the Oakleys hug my head. Never had them fall off, no matter what the sport. Try REI Outlet, they may have a bargain.
 
I know you didn't want to spend more than $100.00 but after owning many brands of sunglasses over the years I would rather spend spend $200.00 on these than $50.00 on most others....

Maui Jim = IMHO, the Sebenza of the sunglass world.

--The Raptor--
 
I'm shoping for sunglasses too... mostly looking at Oakleys as stated above.

Take a look at Dragon sunglasses. The word is that the guy who started Dragon sunglasses is an ex Oakley dude/founder. They are really nice if you don't mind looking like RoboJock... They are like the Master of Defense to Microtech.

P.S. I'm still gonna go with the matte black Oakley Fives.
 
I have *one* pair of sunglasses.

Oakley EyeJackets in Cobalt/Red.
Brilliant, stay on, wouldn't be without them.
 
Thanks all, for the help. It looks like I have a little more research to do (especially on the Maui Jims - thanks for heads up!)

Geees, sometimes I wish I could just buy stuff without feeling the need to research every last detail! :)

Thanks again,

Matthew
 
You can't go wrong with Rayban Wayfarers. They're like $50 and you don't look like a space cadet wearing 'em. :)
 
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