Best alternative to Ray Bans

[captjim]

I'm look ing for a good quality alternative to Ray Ban's. Do you guys have any experience on the best one's to by that won't break the bank?

 

[El Cid Av8or]

I can't guarantee that they won't break the bank but I love Serengetis

 

[cessna_driver2]

I can't guarantee that they won't break the bank but I love Serengetis

I second that. I have a pair now and they are great. They are not polarized, but are photocromatic.

 

[rumpletumbler]

Try the Randolph Engineering glasses from Sporty's. I like them and they are relatively cheap.

RT

 

[501261]

Maui Jim's are hands down the best sunglasses, but you said you wanted something that won't break the bank.

I've got a pair of Serengeti’s that I use on the boat or other places I might lose them. Serengeti's used to be my favorite lens, until I found the MJ's, and you can find Serengeti’s at Price Club or EBay for around $40, might not be there most stylish pair but the lens is still great.

 

[stingray]

Serengeti is the best, I've tried many others they are not as
good, plus polarized glasses just won't work in a lot of "todays cockpits"

"Never leave home with out your Serengetis"

 

[Gandolf]

Does anyone know if Serengeti still makes clip-on lenses for those of us who still wear presccription glasses? I have one pair left and I guard them with my life!

 

[VFR on Top]

I'll second 501261 on the Maui Jims. I have a pair of MJ Diamond Heads, best shades I've ever owned--even better than my Serengeti Harikanus.

 

[bobbysamd]

BluBlockers

Something like $15 at Walgreen's. They really do cut the haze. Great for driving and for high-glare situations, such as snow.

 

[asolo]

Very Good Deals

Check this website out:

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/CategoryDisplay?cgrfnbr=24504&cgmenbr=226


they have bolle, a few serengetti and nikon and a few others for a bunch off....they are brand new and are a reputable co. I actually bought 2 pairs, a pair of polarized nikons for flying (grey) and a pair of serengettis for driving.. $300 bucks worth of glasses for $85 w/ shipping. Blue Blockers are good too though for those on a budget or those who lose/break glasses often!

Blue Skies!

 

[sabreliner]

Be careful to not get polarized glasses!! They may work in your bug smasher, but in anything a little bigger, the instrument faces tend to be polarized to cut down on instrument face glare. Your glasses could prevent you from seeing what is on your gauges or screens.

That being said, I like my RayBans or Serengeti glasses. Since pilots tend to wear their glasses so much, I believe you should invest the money and get a good pair.

Also, I bought my RayBans at a Lens Crafters. They were the same price that I had seen else where, but the sales person sat me down and fitted the glasses to my head. Makes a big difference in how they fit, especially under headsets.

 

[captjim]

asolo, thanks for that website, I just bought a pair of Varnets.

 

[Orvilleflyer]

www.scheyden.com

Check out Scheyden, a new line of sun glasses out, by pilots for pilots.

 

[sydeseet]

I have used www.parkavenuesunglasses.com in the past to buy 2 pair of Ray-Bans. Good service and great prices - think I paid something like $60 less than Sunglass Hut wanted, big surprise. I use RB Predator Metal Wrap's, love 'em. Someday I'll be able to afford some Maui Jim's but that G5 type rating is still a few years away!!!!

 

[JetPilot500]

I agree, Maui Jim's are the best. I have a pair and love them. They worked fine in my old "rope-start" Citation 500.

Some airplanes with electrically heated windows you can't see out so good. The DC-9 for example, looking out the cockpit windows you would see swirls of rainbows.

Advance cockpits like the G-IV and Falcon 50EX (EFIS), some of the screens are also distorted. If you turn your head, some of the screens go black! Strange.

As far as Blue Blockers go...I don't recommend them. They might be fine in a Cessna, but they really distort the colors in the cockpit. Even in basic cockpits the instrument markings look a little weird. I suppose you could get used to them, but I don't like them. In advance cockpits, everything is color coded, so its not good to have distorted colors.

So now I have my Maui Jim Kahuna's for the car, and my Serengeti's in my flight bag.


JetPilot500

 

[501261]

Serengeti is the best, I've tried many others they are not as
good, plus polarized glasses just won't work in a lot of "todays cockpits"

See you learn something everyday! I had no idea that it was polarization that caused the screens to go "black"; I just assumed that every pair of sunglasses did that. For the record it's no problem to see the screen in front of you with polarized glasses (like my Maui Jim's), but if you try to look at the copilots MFD it looks black.

I guess I'm going start using the Serengeti’s again.

 

[mangmntsuks]

Lens Crafters offers 30% discount with AAA membership. Sunglass Hut offers 20%. You have to ask for it though. They dont advertise it.