Maui Jim Kapena: Bronze God

When it comes to fine sunglass lenses, glass is the gold standard. Glass imparts a crispness of vision that other materials can only dream of. Covet the Maui Jim Kapena with the same reverence and self-satisfaction as you would a Rolex watch—but happily, Kapena’s craftsmanship and cachet come at a fraction of the price. Kapena is a bargain for what you get: vision that improves on reality. I’ve been wearing it in MJ’s polarized, high-contrast bronze tint with 12% visible light transmission, and I love what I see. Astounding detail. Brilliant contrast. A way of resolving chaos into clarity, such as the day I drove into a thunderstorm while a brilliant late sun was stabbing my eyes and creating crazy road glare. None of that was a match for Kapena, which set everything right, eliminated the glare, made sense of the road, the traffic, and the setting sun. Bronze’s high contrast is a great advantage in those situations when technically, there isn’t much light, but what light there is wreaking visual mischief. And, of course, when the sun is at full mast as well. I also dig Kapena’s updated aviator flair, its spring-loaded nickel/silver hinges, and its adjustable nosepieces. Caveat: Although Maui Jim uses super-thin glass, Kapena is heavier than an equivalent polycarbonate model (not that anything is quite its equal), and can take a toll on a sensitive nose. And, of course, glass can shatter; don’t wear Kapena in any circumstance that could entail impact to your face. Frames Direct has a great selection of Maui Jims and offers a free protective hard case and microfiber cloth with every pair.