Non polarized sunglasses for heads up display

[T.R.S.]

Originally Posted by KennyP

My advice on sunglasses:

Ignore everything that comes from Luxottica or Safilo. These 2 make most of the household /designer brands:


**Luxottica (EssilorLuxottica) – Sunglass Brands**

**Proprietary brands:**

* Ray-Ban
* Oakley
* Persol
* Oliver Peoples
* Vogue Eyewear
* Arnette
* Alain Mikli
* Costa del Mar

**Licensed brands:**

* Giorgio Armani
* Brunello Cucinelli
* Burberry
* Chanel
* Coach
* Diesel
* Dolce & Gabbana
* Ferrari
* Jimmy Choo
* Michael Kors
* Moncler
* Prada
* Ralph Lauren
* Swarovski
* Tiffany & Co.
* Tory Burch
* Versace

---

**Safilo Group – Sunglass Brands**

**Proprietary brands:**

* Carrera
* Polaroid Eyewear
* Smith Optics
* Blenders Eyewear
* Privé Revaux
* Seventh Street

**Licensed brands:**

* Banana Republic
* Boss
* Carolina Herrera
* David Beckham
* Victoria Beckham
* Dsquared2
* Fossil
* Havaianas
* Hugo
* Isabel Marant
* Jimmy Choo
* Kate Spade
* Levi’s
* Liz Claiborne
* Juicy Couture
* Missoni
* Marc Jacobs
* Moschino
* Pierre Cardin
* Ports Eyewear
* Rag & Bone
* Rebecca Minkoff
* Tommy Hilfiger
* Tommy Jeans
* Under Armour


To get really good sunglasses with great build quality and lenses that are top notch... look at smaller independent makers, microbrands.

AFAIK Maui Jim, Randolph Engineering are great... Serengeti is also good, though that also has been acquired bunch of times...

I personally own Randolph Engineering Sportsman glasses... Second set... First ones had a bad accident and got run over by a car..

Randolph: Proper clear glass lenses,no plastic crap... polarized, antireflective , hydrophobic coatings on lenses, sturdy frame with with real 24K gold coating... They are a joy to look through. Quality is top notch. Can get polarized or without... they also offer prescription lenses. Only thing is... if you dont like aviator style glasses and prefer something crazier designwise then they may seem to you maybe bit too ordinary or boring. Randolph is also often used in many tv series and movies... So if you see aviator glasses in some Netflix show, great chances are they are Randolph...

Yeah, sometime between ordering my first BMW and its delivery I learned I really wasn't BMW material. Oh well, at least I won't have a shit fit if I leave my sunglasses on the side of the road somewhere.

[No one]

Originally Posted by jmg

The reality is, the clearer you see the HUD, the less effective the polarization of the lens is.

Exactly! Cheap things are (usually) of cheap quality. Although it's known that Ray-Ban, for instance, cost (at least) 10 times more to buy than they cost to make.

Originally Posted by jmg

That being said, some blockage of glare is better than none, and perhaps the cheaper, less effective lenses might be the way to go for HUDs!

Less effective lenses are unlikely the way to go anywhere you'll want to be. It's rather a matter of appropriate choice: polarized sunglasses have side effects that can be unwelcome. When looking at sea water I see amazing reflections of blue (that makes me wonder if they are blue because of my blue/grey lenses or not ). I can also see what cars have heat reduction (or whatever it's called - UV protection?) glass (not shitty tinting but some manufacturer's technology). I've just read polarized lenses can prevent you from seeing ice on the road. When driving I never noticed any really annoying glare, I just use my non-polarized sunglasses to reduce the blinding effect from the sunlight itself.

Originally Posted by KennyP

Proper clear glass lenses,no plastic crap...

Glass must be heavier and more dangerous in case of breaking than plastic.

Originally Posted by KennyP

And brown lenses are the best!But thats my personal opinion...

May be not for noticing brown substance on the road.

[tomislav177]

I have prescription glasses and the clip-on extension that comes with them and I can see everything fine.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by KennyP

To get really good sunglasses with great build quality and lenses that are top notch... look at smaller independent makers, microbrands.

AFAIK Maui Jim, Randolph Engineering are great... Serengeti is also good, though that also has been acquired bunch of times...

I totally agree with you about purchasing from these three manufacturers. However if you want a non polarized sunglass that immediately eliminates Maui Jim as they only produce polarized lenses.

Randolph definitely makes a premium non polarized lens as does Serengeti who is currently owned by Bollé Brands.

People don't realize how good Serengeti's Drivers are, they have mineral lenses which are made with top quality borosilicate optical glass, from Corning.

The issue with Serengeti is that very few retail stores carry their line in the US. When it comes to buying sunglasses, I am old fashioned as I like to try them on and look in a mirror to see how they appear on my face. I don't want to go through the hassle of ordering them online and having to deal with return policies from merchants. I made a day trip and drove 110 miles to a Airport Pilots shop in Naples, Florida to find a really nice selection to choose from as I couldn't find any stores near me that carried the line. While in Naples, I ate lunch and then drove back across Alligator Alley back home.

Originally Posted by KennyP

And brown lenses are the best!But thats my personal opinion...

Agreed, a brown lens is ideal for driving into the sun. Some manufacturers may refer to this shade as an amber color.

My brown non polarized "Drivers" Serengeti' lenses have several features incorporated in their lenses.

In addition to being made with their mineral glass, my pair has a brown gradient finish which gives me perfect vision both inside and outside of the car. There is an anti-reflective coating which cuts down on reflective glare, nothing is washed out or dull and what I view is defined and vibrant. They are also photochromic and will darken in bright sunlight which really comes in handy when I have the top down in my Z4. 😎

They aren't cheap but at the end of the day you are definitely getting top quality which is what you have paid for!

Edited to add that if you want polarized lenses, Serengeti also has an excellent selection of frame styles and lens colors.

[unluky]

I ordered my RX Oakley Prizm glasses specifically without polarized lens for this very reason. LOL

[Needsdecaf]

I had Maui Jim's and no issues with the polarization. I switched to prescription glasses by Zeiss and also no issues with polarization.

Tinting the windshield 70% helped. And the brightness is all the way up. Yes it's a tad dark but it's 100% visible. And even with regular glasses at night, it's not too bright.

[dosmildos]

I use prescription sunglasses. I buy from ray ban or eddie bauer when they are on sale. At times I have bought three pairs at a time. After an eye exam I hand the shop a new pair and the new prescription and request the darkest non polarized tinted lenses. That works for me. I can see my HUD just fine. I keep a clear pair for night driving.

[Livetodrive]

I use Serengeti Drivers with gradient lenses for driving. They are not polarized, which is a must for HUD and instrument panel. The gradient has very little darkening at the bottom, which allows a nice view of the gps display. They are also photochromic, so they will darken in bright sunlight.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Livetodrive

I use Serengeti Drivers with gradient lenses for driving. They are not polarized, which is a must for HUD and instrument panel. The gradient has very little darkening at the bottom, which allows a nice view of the gps display. They are also photochromic, so they will darken in bright sunlight.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!!! 👍