Most men will have a pair of sunglasses for those hot summer months to protect themselves from the harsh glare of the sun and particles that are harmful to the eyes. However, sunglasses can also be worn at other times other than during summer because they are a great fashion accessory. Available in various styles and for various purposes, every buyer would find a pair to suit his needs whether buying for fashion or their practicality. Outlined below are the various styles, lenses, and frames of sunglasses for men that you should know about before shopping for a pair.
The Style
New styles are frequently introduced in the market. Aviator, sports and driving sunglasses are some of the common styles available.
Aviator Sunglasses
Aviator sunglasses are available in various designs. They were very popular sometime back before World-War II especially with pilots, thanks to their wide frames which were useful when it came to shading the eyes from the sun’s glare. They then became popular with everyone, even non-pilots because they helped achieve a certain fashion look. They are still popular to-date.
Sport Sunglasses
They come in various designs, but they are all practical when it comes to wearing them during intense physical activity. You can find various sports sunglasses meant for different water sports such as rafting, kayaking, water polo and so on. There are also others meant for parachuting, rock-climbing and other intense sporting actions that require eye protection.
Driving Sunglasses
These are for eye-protection during long hours of driving on the road. They mainly protect the driver from the glare and reflection of light which is harmful to the eye. For adequate protection, driving glasses are normally made from high-contrast lenses that increase the sharpness of an image and minimize the harmful glare.
The Frames
The frames are made from mainly two materials which are plastic and metal. The price, durability, and appeal of a sunglass are normally dependent on the material used as the frames.
Plastic Frames
Plastic frames are lightweight, durable and very affordable. So they are able to withstand rough handling. However, they can become affected by bending during hot temperatures which can make the wearer feel uncomfortable. A better option than plastic-framed sunglasses is nylon-framed sunglasses. The nylon frame variety costs more but is more reliable and stronger compared to plastic.
Metal Frames
They are the strongest and commonly used in many sunglasses of the designer kind. They conduct heat during high temperatures but will rarely bend. However, they are prone to breakage when bent or twisted. These frames simply look great as a part of sunglasses.
The Lenses
These are what make sunglasses to be called sunglasses. They are available in various colors that offer different practical purposes. There are plastic, glass and polycarbonate lenses.
Plastic or Glass
The plastic ones are normally common and inexpensive but they are still able to offer the same kind of eye protection just like glass. However, for better clarity, glass is the best option but it will require a lot of care because it can shatter when dropped.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate lenses are more costly, but they are strong and can resist breaking in case they are dropped. They are less prone to scratches compared to plastic and glass but one drawback is that they offer lesser clarity than glass lenses. However, if you want glasses that will last for a long time, then glasses with polycarbonate lenses are the best choice.
Color
Most sunglasses normally have black lenses which are practical when it comes to cutting light and they also don’t distort colors, unlike other colored lenses, however, when it comes to black or grey colors one cannot properly tell when wearing black sunglasses.