View Full Version : cheap aviator sunglasses, worth it?
phaserrifle
24-03-2009, 18:19
after my old pair of sunglasses broke I am now looking for a new pair before the summer.
now after watching a bit too much "top gun" I find myself wanting a pair of the "aviator style".
I found these (http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr385.html) on the site reccomended in this thread (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38944&highlight=surplus+outdoors).
does anyone have any experience with these sunglasses, or simmilar models.
are they worth the money?
or should I go for some from annother source (marks and sparks seem to be doing some nice ones, and Heinnie Haynes seem to have some inexpensive sporty type wrap arounds)
Barn Owl
24-03-2009, 18:29
I keep losing sunglasses.
Bought a pair of Daiwa polaroids that are similar to the aviator style in local tackle shop last month.
£29.99 but good for fishing and driving in the sun.Will do for summer hols too.
Polaroids are great around water,help you find you're knackered phone no probs'.:rolleyes:
So don't know about those you've mentioned but I would make sure polaroid lenses were in your purchase.
phaserrifle
24-03-2009, 18:38
I keep losing sunglasses.
Bought a pair of Daiwa polaroids that are similar to the aviator style in local tackle shop last month.
£29.99 but good for fishing and driving in the sun.Will do for summer hols too.
Polaroids are great around water,help you find you're knackered phone no probs'.:rolleyes:
So don't know about those you've mentioned but I would make sure polaroid lenses were in your purchase.
I'm not too worried about water, these are more for general wear, as if I'm involved in water-based activities I'm likely to be wearing my pescritption glasses, with react-to light lenses, which negate the need for sunglasses. water tends to dis-agree with contacts.
my problem is not just loosing them, but also sitting on them and otherwise breaking them.
although so long as they hold out longer than the pair I once brought from primark (20 mins they lasted) its a considerable plus.
harryhaller
24-03-2009, 18:40
cheap aviator sunglasses
You mean the type that Ryanair pilots use?:)
phaserrifle
24-03-2009, 18:49
You mean the type that Ryanair pilots use?:)
very likely. and easy jet, only their's are in orange, to match the decor :cool:
w00dsmoke
24-03-2009, 19:09
after my old pair of sunglasses broke I am now looking for a new pair before the summer.
now after watching a bit too much "top gun" I find myself wanting a pair of the "aviator style".
I found these (http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr385.html) on the site reccomended in this thread (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38944&highlight=surplus+outdoors).
does anyone have any experience with these sunglasses, or simmilar models.
are they worth the money?
or should I go for some from annother source (marks and sparks seem to be doing some nice ones, and Heinnie Haynes seem to have some inexpensive sporty type wrap arounds)
Allegedly some very dodgy DJ's in the 70's and 80's convicted of even more dodgy offences wore sun glasses like those... so no wonder they are cheap!
You can buy a pair of wraps from ASDA that are bombproof without costing more than a pint or two and won't look half as dodgy as those disco shades pmsl.
:yikes:
Yeah Man Aviators Are Cool!
phaserrifle
24-03-2009, 19:52
Allegedly some very dodgy DJ's in the 70's and 80's convicted of even more dodgy offences wore sun glasses like those... so no wonder they are cheap!
You can buy a pair of wraps from ASDA that are bombproof without costing more than a pint or two and won't look half as dodgy as those disco shades pmsl.
:yikes:
aviators seem to be making a comeback at the moment (far as my very limited fasion sense can tell),
but a link to dodgy 70's and 80's DJs? (never mind thier offences, what about some of thier crimes against music? :p)
hmmmm, might have to have a think about that.
but maveric was cool. and so was goose...........
:confused: I dont know which way to jump, good, or not good?
thanks for the heads up though.
galopede
24-03-2009, 19:56
I had a pair of the Polaroid Aviators when they were fashionable back in the late 60s. I can still remember how cool I felt wearing them on my Bantam. Then they blew off my head and a bus went over them. They were so well made the lenses just popped out and I managed to rebend the frames into shape!
Gareth
I used to have a pair of RayBan Aviators until I saw this!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:
http://www.boston.com/thingstodo/gotoit/georgemichael.jpg
phaserrifle
24-03-2009, 21:53
hmmm. seems that actual info may be a bit thin on the ground. depending on what happens when I go to town tommorow, I may order the aviators, as there are a couple of other bits on that site I need/want to pick up anyway. I'll post a review.
and I'm not too worried about how I end up looking, I allready look fairly odd as it is, so an extra bit of oddness isn't going to hurt :D
Steve27752
24-03-2009, 22:38
It would depend on the quality of the lenses and the amount of UV they block or let in.
phaserrifle
24-03-2009, 23:07
It would depend on the quality of the lenses and the amount of UV they block or let in.
good point, didn't think about UV protection.
they seem to have some kind of CE mark on them, although what that means I don't know. (I just know it's some kind of standard)
ForgeCorvus
24-03-2009, 23:56
If they're glass they'll stop UV, if they're not they might
If they're glass they'll stop UV, if they're not they might
Sorry to sound contrary but quite the opposite is true. Glass is a very poor UV barrier. In fact, glass is laminated with a plastic interlayer to improve its UV protection. 25 years in the glass industry has taught me something. :)
The CE mark is a european declaration of conformity to a required standard. It should mean that the glasses meet safety standards which would include UV blocking. Check this out:
http://www.wholesale-sunglasses.co.uk/2008/06/23/do-you-know-ce/
Martin :)
phaserrifle
25-03-2009, 01:16
Sorry to sound contrary but quite the opposite is true. Glass is a very poor UV barrier. In fact, glass is laminated with a plastic interlayer to improve its UV protection. 25 years in the glass industry has taught me something. :)
The CE mark is a european declaration of conformity to a required standard. It should mean that the glasses meet safety standards which would include UV blocking. Check this out:
http://www.wholesale-sunglasses.co.uk/2008/06/23/do-you-know-ce/
Martin :)
that's good news. in that case I'm just awaiting news on a couple of other un-related products to make my decision.
traderran
25-03-2009, 04:12
Take this from a old pilot Ray Bans all the way.
you could get an old pair of raybans on ebay, they go for 10-30$ usd all the time. the vintage baush & lomb glass is soo nice.
Ray Bans are indeed good, not wearing the aviator style but an other pair served me very well on my trip to Congo some years ago (and still going strong :)).
Quite expensive though...
John Fenna
25-03-2009, 16:29
I rate Aldi specials myself!
:)
I use this type of sunglasses. They are basically a copy of Ray Bann. check out RB's site or go to a RB stockist to learn about the colour tinting of the lenses. The copy RBs should be made of glass which should be "optically correct", and the correct tint for you.The shape or style is designed to block stray light. I have seen some bad copys and some very good ones . There are huge variations. SO, TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. Expect to pay about a fiver for a copy.
Hope this helps
Crowe
phaserrifle
25-03-2009, 17:36
ended up getting a pair from M&S for just over a tenner. thanks for the advice though guy's, it did help me to make a decision.
helixpteron
25-03-2009, 17:53
RayBan Aviator's are the business!
When I wanted to begin helicopter flying lessons, a mate gave me his pair of Aviator's, saying that they'd be more useful to me as they were designed not to interfere with the headset earpiece seals.
He was right!:cool:
ForgeCorvus
26-03-2009, 23:18
Sorry to sound contrary but quite the opposite is true. Glass is a very poor UV barrier. In fact, glass is laminated with a plastic interlayer to improve its UV protection. 25 years in the glass industry has taught me something. :)
Martin :)
I'm surprised, looks like my welding tutor was wrong.......or I'm misremembering something I was taught in 1989
jonathan_jenkins
14-07-2010, 07:26
I keep losing sunglasses.
Bought a pair of Daiwa polaroids that are similar to the aviator style in local tackle shop last month.
£29.99 but good for fishing and driving in the sun.Will do for summer hols too.
Polaroids are great around water,help you find you're knackered phone no probs'.:rolleyes:
So don't know about those you've mentioned but I would make sure polaroid lenses were in your purchase.
I want to purchase ray ban sunglasses. Does the sunglasses cost 29.99EU is good? Which store you find on?
I watch one Ray-Ban Aviator Arista Sunglasses (http://www.topons.com/ray-ban-3025-aviator-arista-sunglasses.html) online that cost 106US$. I have no experience with this store. Anyone can give me the trustful store for purchase?
slammer187
14-07-2010, 07:51
RayBans are bombproof, I have a pair older than myself that are still going strong!
I use American Optical "AO Eyewear" glasses.
http://aoeyewear.com/Default.htm
Great lenses, bespoke service, "military cachét" and relitively cheap if you can buy them from the US.
Happy trails...torc.
If you feel like splashing out, go for Serengeti or Maui Jims.
No, no no! Oakley Flak jacket XLJ all day long... Got two pairs. Best optics by far. And I work in optics so really picky!
I wear Ray Ban Aviators, had them 20 years, they cost £100 then but are cheaper now.
I used to wear Ray Ban aviator style glasses. They were okay back in the eighties. I still have a pair of Ray Bans in fact. The frames on the aviators are a bit of a weak point, they bend out quite easily and because of the design they are a difficult to straighten out again. My wife's Ray Bans frames broke when one of the kids grabbed them off her face. I broke a pair of lenses when I dropped them on the floor. Apart from that the optics are good.
They are no longer made in the US by Bausch and Laumb, they are made in Italy by the Luxottica group. I don't think this will affect the quality but the price has sky rocketed. I bought a pair in Asda during the nineties when they were selling them for £30 a pair.
With regards to the cheap sunglasses at the beginning of the thread and UV protection. I believe that by law all sunglasses, even ones from the pound shop, must offer UV protection. However the minimum rating to be able to get a CE mark isn't as high as the protection offered by higher quality glasses. Also you do tend to get what you pay for and you will find that the optical quality and build quality of cheap glasses is low. If you regularly lose them then cheap might be the way to go but I prefer good quality. I'm looking through them all day and it annoys the hell out of me if they are poor quality and uncomfortable.
The problem with the aviator style of glasses is that you get a lot of stray light at the sides, this causes reflections on the back of the lenses which reduces the clarity of your vision significantly. Some manufacturers make glasses with broad temple arms to combat this problem. However with the newer "wraparound" style of glasses this problem is greatly reduced. Wraparound glasses can fit closer to your face (because they follow the curve of it) and the curved lenses don't allow much light to get in from behind. Well designed ones are also much more comfortable than the traditional style of frame especially on the nose bridge and behind the ears.
If you are looking for a good deal on quality glasses TK Maxx is well worth a look. All the lenses have been fingered in the store so you have to clean them but I've seen some top quality glasses at incredibly low prices in there (and some rubbish too).
If you are looking for a good deal on quality glasses TK Maxx is well worth a look. All the lenses have been fingered in the store so you have to clean them but I've seen some top quality glasses at incredibly low prices in there (and some rubbish too).
I got myself a pair of Carrera polaroids from TK Maxx last summer for £15. There were a few Police & Ray Bans in there too although they were a little more pricey at £25-£50.