Sunglasses Recommendations?

M

MCA_10

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Looking to invest in a quality pair of men‘s sunglasses. Any recommendations? Was looking on GovX and they have a lot on discount but not sure if they are good. Thanks in advance!
 
American Optical (AO)
There is no substitute, in my opinion. I have had the same pair since 1980 and they are still going strong.
 
Are you looking for just casual sunglasses, or something for Field use (like ballistic sunglasses)? I have only worn Oakley's my whole life and I wouldn't wear any other type of sunglasses. The ability to get them at lower cost through Oakley Standard Issue is also a nice benefit. But there are obviously other types of very good sunglasses.
 
Randolph Engineering. It’s what I wear and I don’t mess with my eyes.
 
Can't go wrong with Ray Bans. No kidding aside I have worn them for fifty years and still like them.
 

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I have an ancient pair of classic Serengeti Drivers I bought at an overseas base exchange in the 20th c. Still love those things. So classic I can still order replacement lenses for them. That was a splurge buy to go with my first-ever car buy, a Triumph TR-7, my Ensignmobile. Now I have a RetOl’Captain mobile, the latest of various stick car variations since the TR-7, and the Drivers are just as comfortable and road-friendly as ever.

The key is to buy quality, don’t stint on features that make sense, ensure they meet your Service regs if you plan them to be your uni shades, be sure they are comfortable but also won’t fall off (which outweigh the cool factor after a long day of wearing them), shop the military exchanges online as soon as you can use them (find the model you like at a regular retail store to try on), check the big base exchanges, and glad you know about registering at Govx, an e-commerce site for military. Govx checks your identity against DMDS to verify.
 
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Wife loves Serengeti and I also have a pair for backup. They would be my second choice but a little dark.
 
Tried the MGB GT in 72 when I got out loved it but my long legs hated it. TR was a great car. Who now can use a clutch and a manual shift? Love the hijack video where the moron gets in and finds out it is a manual. But he might have some nice shades. I don't remember the movie where the guy was on a hill in San Francisco in a manual transmission car at a red light and it turned green and after a few tries he just abandoned the car.
 
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AF6872 said:
Tried the MGB GT in 72 when I got out loved it but my long legs hated it. TR was a great car. Who now can use a clutch and a manual shift? Love the hijack video where the moron gets in and finds out it is a manual. But he might have some nice shades. I don't remember the movie where the guy was on a hill in San Francisco in a manual transmission car at a red light and it turned green and after a few tries he just abandoned the car.
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I hope the OP forgives me for appreciating this with a laugh as I take this little detour with you. I took the current stick mobile to the dealership for a service, and when I returned in my loaner car to get it, the young valet admitted to me he couldn’t drive it back to the owner’s lounge bay, and could I please follow him to retrieve it. 🤣 The service manager was aghast to see a customer back in the service bays, probably because of liability, and he hustled over and drove us both back to the service desk bay. I told him to not be too hard on the young man, as there was nothing there he could practice on, or else it was a model they wouldn’t let him near.
 
Capt MJ said:
I hope the OP forgives me for appreciating this with a laugh as I take this little detour with you. I took the current stick mobile to the dealership for a service, and when I returned in my loaner car to get it, the young valet admitted to me he couldn’t drive it back to the owner’s lounge bay, and could I please follow him to retrieve it. 🤣 The service manager was aghast to see a customer back in the service bays, probably because of liability, and he hustled over and drove us both back to the service desk bay. I told him to not be too hard on the young man, as there was nothing there he could practice on, or else it was a model they wouldn’t let him near.
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That's hysterical. We taught both DS and DD to drive manual transmissions. Oddly, they both chose manuals for their daily drivers. DD's first automobile purchase (sans the $ help of Mom and Dad) was a 2015 50th anniversary edition of the Ford Mustang. 6-speed manual. Still drives it daily.
DS and his dad hunted and searched high and low and finally found a 1965 Mustang in pieces with milk crates of parts in the trunk. It's a project in the works but starts and drives for him when he is home (also a manual).

Sorry to contribute to the high jack.

DS splurged with his held pay for Ray Ban Aviators his plebe year. He has kept them and wears them daily. Unlike every cheap pair I ever bought him that he lost or damaged. Go figure.
 
I wore Ray-Bans for most of my flying career. One day I discovered (okay, in fairness the other pilot in the house aka CinCHouse) Maui Jim's. With polarization and anti-glare front and back...

Since then...I have a pair of each.

Can't be beaten.
 
Get a set of these S9 shades. They are good conversation starters. People might wonder where you served. It will also show an independent streak and that you’re no slave to fashion. I use them for recreation and when I misplace my other sun glasses. They are almost indestructible. You won't feel bad if you sit on them or even loose them. They can be purchased online. I loved wearing them while driving my manual transmission Peugeot on the sun drenched Amalfi coast. Molto bello.

S9 glasses.jpg
 
WT Door said:
Get a set of these S9 shades. They are good conversation starters. People might wonder where you served. It will also show an independent streak and that you’re no slave to fashion. I use them for recreation and when I misplace my other sun glasses. They are almost indestructible. You won't feel bad if you sit on them or even loose them. They can be purchased online. I loved wearing them while driving my manual transmission Peugeot on the sun drenched Amalfi coast. Molto bello.

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Yes, but did you ever pass a bus on that Amalfitana road?! The Serengetis, the TR-7 and I did. Pazzo!

I like the S-9s.
 
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A little more of a plug for Randolph.
US made (Massachusetts).
They will custom make for prescription or, for those of us more “distinguished”, progressive readers.
20% military discount.
Polarized and non polarized (I need non polarized for work).
They look good. “First rule, got to be cool.”
 
Reference manual transmission.
I taught both of my kids to drive manual transmission cars. It served them well. They both could charge a premium to move Firstie cars with standard transmissions on football game weekends. Also, the standard transmission was a “can I borrow your car” deterrent. No one could drive it.
When DD sold her Jeep Wrangler with a manual (they are no longer “standard” and have to be special ordered), it got a great deal of attention and sold for quite a bit.
 
Capt MJ said:
Yes, but did you ever pass a bus on that Amalfitana road?! The Serengetis, the TR-7 and I did. Pazzo!

I like the S-9s.
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You were pazzo because you were young. We sponsored an F-14 pilot and family upon checking into Napoli. I told him that driving in Naples would be as close as it got to flying. He found out fast. I never tried to pass any bus on the Costa Amalfitana. My wheels couldn’t accelerate. Too many stretches of road with no guard rails. I do remember having to back up a few times near Positano so that a big tourist bus could get around a corner. That took a while because of all the other cars behind me. I loved driving in Italy with a stick.
 
Lots of high quality sunglasses out there and many of the brands are mentioned here. Best to try before you buy online. I think the biggest decisions are Polarized (big yes for me) or non-P and Glass lenses vs any other material.

On my occasional trips to the UK it's fun to drive stick from the right seat, shifting with left hand. Makes the drive from Heathrow more interesting. Ciao!
 
WT Door said:
Get a set of these S9 shades. They are good conversation starters. People might wonder where you served. It will also show an independent streak and that you’re no slave to fashion. I use them for recreation and when I misplace my other sun glasses. They are almost indestructible. You won't feel bad if you sit on them or even loose them. They can be purchased online. I loved wearing them while driving my manual transmission Peugeot on the sun drenched Amalfi coast. Molto bello.

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I had to look up S9s

taskandpurpose.com

A Brief History Of The Military’s Unsightly ‘Birth Control Glasses’

Anyone who served in the U.S. armed forces in the last half-century or so is likely familiar with the standard-issue 'Birth Control Glasses.'
taskandpurpose.com taskandpurpose.com
 
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