Sunglasses are one of those things that are nearly impossible to find without a 2000% markup. I'm too lazy to do the research. Tell me your nerd secrets.

squidward-chill

  • Barx [none/use name]
    ·
    23 days ago

    I should really get better ones, myself. I'll tell you what I think I should do and maybe that will be good advice?

    Like others have mentioned, you should get polarized sunglasses. Also UV blocking. The polarization will help with the UV itself and will perform better, allowing you to, e.g., see through the surface of bodies of water much better (rivers, lakes, oceans). The UV blocking is essential for making it so that you don't basically sunburn your eyes.

    It's pretty easy to test polarization yourself if you have two pairs. The polarization should be horizontal (linear) so if you overlap the lenses at a 90 degree angle it should turn more or less black, blocking a ton of light.

    It is not as easy to test for UV blocking. You would need a UV detecting device and a UV emitter. So I would probably rely on online testing experience for this. I would, specifically, focus in Chinese-made stuff available on AliExpress that has been tested by various YouTube nerds and probably reviewed by a sunglasses - obsessed niche consumer forum or subreddit and figure out what is cheapest while passing those tests. Most likely it will be a knockoff of some popular brand's design but luckily 50 people will have purchased UV emitters/detectors, tested exactly those glasses, and reported how you can buy them for $20 or whatever.

    • keepcarrot [she/her]
      ·
      22 days ago

      If you have a UV lamp and UV paint, you could use them to test. If you're the sort of person who has both those things

      • Barx [none/use name]
        ·
        22 days ago

        That might work! I think testers usually try to distinguish the UV-A and UV-B spectra but maybe the paint would be good enough.

        • keepcarrot [she/her]
          ·
          22 days ago

          I wonder if different paint colours respond differently. I only mentioned it because I have some for warhammer.

    • mctoasterson@reddthat.com
      ·
      23 days ago

      Polarization is a preference thing but once I got a good pair of RX sunglasses with good anti reflective properties and polarization I can't drive (or stand to be outside in summer) without them.