Strong, unobstructed sun. Absolute need to look very, very good. Glare everywhere. Heavenly bodies to ogle surreptitiously. No question: You need shades that protect and defend. But there’s more to the story. Maybe you haven’t exactly been pumping iron. Maybe you’re looking a little pasty. No worries: Spiff shades will carry the day, kick-start the chat-up, set the mojo in motion. From either side, the world looks better through great sunglasses.
Here’s what to look for:
- 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. For sure. No compromises. All the shades I review have it.
- A bit of wrap to prevent assaults on your vulnerable flanks. Look for 6-base or 8-base wrap.
- Plastic frame. However the maker slices it—nylon, Grilamid TR 90, zyl, whatever—the beach isn’t the place for spindly metal. The downside: You have to hope the frames nose bridge dances with your own. Nonslip rubber inserts help.
- Broad temples. You get strength and side protection, plus they happen to be in fashion. The poindexter look is very out this summer.
- Visible light transmission (VLT)—something in the 10 to 20 percent range is good. Any lighter and you’ll head home by noon wearing a permasquint.
- Polarization. Not mandatory, but what if you’re trying to watch Kelly Slater or Malia Jones navigate the curl? I’d opt for taming whatever glare gets between you and them.
- Hydrophobic coating. Also known as oleophobic coating. Nice to have: Water, sweat, and Bullfrog run right off your lenses, leaving no trail of tears to stain the view.
- Plastic or glass lenses? Either way, unless you play a lot of beach volleyball or you suck at catching a Frisbee. Then it’s polycarbonate for sure. Just be sure to rinse the grit off before you wipe crusty lenses.
- Gray/green or brown/copper base tint. Either way. My cheat sheet: Gray or green makes you utter a blissful “Ahhh…” Brown/copper elicits a “Wow!”
- Big lenses. Happily, these too are in fashion. Lots of pro.
Not much more to it than that. Now it’s a matter of selection. You can’t miss with any of these top choices for summer 2008.
Kaenon lenses are impeccable in any tint. They’re fashioned from a proprietary plastic called SR 91 that rivals glass for clarity, yet passes impact tests with polycarbonate-style flying colors. These happen to be an oh-so soothing gray that let in 12 percent light. Polarized? Kaenon is all polarized, all the time, a certified hydrophobe, and antireflective. Baton has a frame that begs to be fondled. Clear on the inside, a nifty wood-grain exterior that they call Ocean Reef. See that side logo? It’s screwed into the frame—nice bit of detailing, as are inset nonslip rubber bits where frame meets nose. Baton is beefy yet sleek, an 8-base wrap styled to suit normal-sized faces. You can’t look bad in unisex Baton. Comes with a bomber case and lens-cloth bag. $209. Buy it: Free Shipping at Zappos
See the logo on the temple? Hijinx belongs to Oakley’s Square O collection, the fashion-forward arm of the outfit so associated with sports optics. You still get the best of that world, starting with shatterproof lenses (Plutonite, Oakley’s proprietary polycarbonate kin) that rank with the best in the world for optical acuity. Others might match Oakley from time to time, but Oakley’s lenses are consistently brilliant. They do the QC to make sure that’s so. I went with gray polarized for my black-frame Hijinx. Gray often provides a flat view, but Oakley’s gray pops, reveals brilliant detail, and is restful to the eye; 10 percent light transmission is just right. They’re also hard-coated and hydrophobic. You gotta love that little “Polarized” etching in the corner, which is like “Your Ad Here”—the Big O will etch your own inscription for $20. As I said, cool shades can kick-start conversation. The swarthy frame is stylishly large and indestructo. $160. Buy it: Free Shipping at Zappos
The large, very masculine Embargo was issued to me in the leopardlike Havana frame with a polarized brown lens (14 percent VLT), and I wouldn’t have it any other way. (Though you’ve got lots of frame and lens options.) The 8-base wrapped frame is superthick at the corners of your eyes for max pro against sidelighting. Smith works wonders with lenses. These issue the expected “Wow,” but with a small side order of “Ahh.” Clarity is excellent—Smith tapers its lenses for impeccable resolution. Every detail at the beach will pop, even as the sun sinks slowly in whatever direction it’s going. $119. Buy it: framesdirect.com.
Wiley, you rascal! You’re so well known for extreme-conditions sunglasses (war zones, NASCAR, bass fishing). Now you’ve gone stylish on us, with no sacrifice in quality. Nice broad temples have tons of attitudinous wrap and a narrowish cut that suits every sex I can think of. The lenses, smoke or copper, are impactproof polycarbonate—that’s Wiley X’s deal—and swallow 80 percent of visible light. Optics? Quite decent. Nonpolarized, but look at that price. Also give Wiley X credit for the extras: rigid case, lens cloth, and lanyard. $100. Buy it: Free Shipping at Zappos
.
