Problem with sunglasses
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: LKBU
Problem with sunglasses
Ladies and gentlemen, I have to admit a predicament with sunglasses. I am a serial sunglass killer. Not that I buy the €€€ models of the <insert your favourite brand>, I simply pay attention to every supermarket (or fleamarket) rack of sunglasses, and once in a while I find a fairly decent pair going for a song, but they don't last long. In recent months, I remember sitting down on two pairs, crashing one pair in the aeroplane seat mechanism, breaking one pair in half when trying to readjust the frame, etc. Nothing bad ever happens to the glass, it's the frame that always suffers. Is anyone aware of any super-heavy-duty frames on the market that have thin cable temples (necessarily thin so as not to cause headaches with the headset), roughly Rayban-like in design, and made of shape-memory alloy, so they'd recover their shape when heated?
Last edited by Ultranomad; 23rd June 2012 at 01:57.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 62
From: HKG
How many times have you run over your sunglasses though?
I agree with the guy saying buy some expensive ones. I used to wreck glasses also, with me was the lenses, always got scratched really quickly. Bought some £150+ ones and they lasted years in pristine condition.
I agree with the guy saying buy some expensive ones. I used to wreck glasses also, with me was the lenses, always got scratched really quickly. Bought some £150+ ones and they lasted years in pristine condition.
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Faversham, Kent
For flying, I have found those supplied by Grett Optik to be ideal: Sunglass for long vision and clear reading glass when you need them when looking down at your charts etc in a darkened cockpit.
Because they are such good value, it doesn't matter if you damage them occassionally!
Unfortunately, I believe that the firm is soon to go out of business: I hope that some entrepreneur will fill the gap.
Because they are such good value, it doesn't matter if you damage them occassionally!
Unfortunately, I believe that the firm is soon to go out of business: I hope that some entrepreneur will fill the gap.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 59
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From: UK
It is a shame if Grett Optik are going out of business as I have found their bifocal reading glasses just right for summer flying. A good price too.
However, there is an alternative if you have a Clas Ohlsen store near you. They sell for £8.49 I believe
Andy
However, there is an alternative if you have a Clas Ohlsen store near you. They sell for £8.49 I believe
Andy
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 728
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From: Cape Town / UK / Europe
My solution after losing many expensive pairs of sunglasses over the years was to buy two pairs of relatively cheap but serviceable ones. Needless to say, I have never lost them, although I have temporarily mislaid them but they have always turned up like the proverbial bad penny. The only other pair I managed to keep for a few years were a gift from someone whose friendship I valued greatly at the time, and thus they had sentimental value so I rarely wore them!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 201
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From: Northampton Sywell
Have you thought about Pitts Sunglasses?
JAR & FAA PILOT MEDICALS LONDON
Designed by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon and AME, who is a medical adviser in ophthalmology to the Civil Aviation Authority. Dr John Pitts. So they do the job right!
and at a decent price tag 
Cannot speak highly of the glasses having used a pair on diabetes polar flight last april. Diabetes Polar Flight, flying and diabetes research
:-)
JAR & FAA PILOT MEDICALS LONDON
Designed by a consultant ophthalmic surgeon and AME, who is a medical adviser in ophthalmology to the Civil Aviation Authority. Dr John Pitts. So they do the job right!
and at a decent price tag Cannot speak highly of the glasses having used a pair on diabetes polar flight last april. Diabetes Polar Flight, flying and diabetes research
:-)
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,966
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From: Norfolk
Vision In Aviation - Dr John Pitts
My team just love our Pitts sunglasses - by way the best I've ever worn.
See our unbiased write up and pics Our Partners
I'm contemplating a second pair to keep in the motor-car!
Stik
See our unbiased write up and pics Our Partners
I'm contemplating a second pair to keep in the motor-car!
Stik
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Launton
wiley
I am also a sunglass serial killer! I switched to Wiley-x and have never looked back, almost indestructable and can take a huge amount of mishandling...and you can switch out the lenses if needed too.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 437
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From: LKBU
PROBLEM SOLVED
Just received
glasses for my birthday:
They are very sturdy (a much thicker frame than e.g. a similar model by Ray-Ban), have cable temples (so, they don't interfere with the headset), don't distort colours, and are very reasonably priced. I think I found what I was looking for.
They are very sturdy (a much thicker frame than e.g. a similar model by Ray-Ban), have cable temples (so, they don't interfere with the headset), don't distort colours, and are very reasonably priced. I think I found what I was looking for.
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 549
Likes: 2
From: The frozen north....
My team just love our Pitts sunglasses - by way the best I've ever worn.
See our unbiased write up and pics Our Partners
I'm contemplating a second pair to keep in the motor-car!
Stik
See our unbiased write up and pics Our Partners
I'm contemplating a second pair to keep in the motor-car!
Stik
Life's too short for ironing
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,146
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From: Scotland, & Maryland, USA
Buy the ugliest pair you can find, that do the job, and I bet you won't loose them. I have a pair I bought as a joke in Arkansas about 3 years ago, and they are the only pair I haven't lost.
Last edited by fernytickles; 17th July 2012 at 13:40.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 181
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From: UK
Look at www.bigatmo.com great glasses 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,966
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From: Norfolk
Ultranomad - happy birthday. Had you lived closer I would have lent you mine for a week - your new ones look great but do look rather heavy. When I pull 6"g" mine only weigh 90 grams!
But Stik that means at 1g - they are a mere 15grams?
Yes - I've actually forgotten I've had them on - they are so unobtrusive!
Good luck UA - well worth it. Price is not as important as value in my opinion!
But Stik that means at 1g - they are a mere 15grams?
Yes - I've actually forgotten I've had them on - they are so unobtrusive!
Good luck UA - well worth it. Price is not as important as value in my opinion!
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 549
Likes: 2
From: The frozen north....
Never have a problem paying a premium for a trully good product Stik!
I see you'll be displaying at my local Airshow in Sept, look forward to seeing you in action. May be there on the Static lineup myself.....
I see you'll be displaying at my local Airshow in Sept, look forward to seeing you in action. May be there on the Static lineup myself.....
Last edited by Unusual Attitude; 18th July 2012 at 08:17.
Joined: Jan 2003
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 1,361
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From: Near the bottom
Lots of threads on PPRuNe re sunglasses. Caution buying the cheapies though - those that don't have a genuine UV filter can be very damaging as they dilate the pupils, which allows in even more harmful UV rays.. 