by: Costa Del Mar Ballast
MSRP: $159 (BUY NOW)
Frame: TR90 Nylon, integral hinge, rimless
Lens: 580P, 100% UV light blockage, 100% Polarization, Impact and Scratch Resistant, Costa C-WALL Coating
Weight: 16 grams
I grew up terrified of expensive sunglasses. I was sure that there was no way I could keep track of something so small and fragile, for a long enough time, that would actually warrant me purchasing them. This kept my eyes dressed in cheep plastic crap for far too long. Eventually I realized that this pair of eyeballs I have, are all I got. Spending so much time exploring in the sun made me realize that it’s just not worth it to not invest in the proper tool for the job.
There are a plethora of options for techy sunglasses out there that boast nuances that are vying to win your hard earned cash. Sorting through which of these options get the blue ribbon, all comes down to what job you need done. Costa Del Mar offers unique styles, each with their highly developed lenses built by hand to please the flashy, and the discrete alike. Their website is a quality guide to help you select the perfect pair for you. I was particularly pleased with their lens technology page. Clicking through the tabs will inform you which lenses help your viewing abilities for various activities.
The Ballast’s 580 Plastic lens offers excellent clarity with its patented technology which blocks blue and yellow light. The 580P also comes with Costa Del Mar’s C-WALL coating, which repels oils, water, dust and scratches. The plastic is also more lightweight than glass, giving you the feeling of wearing virtually nothing. The Amber color gives you the brightest field of vision, proving to be an excellent lens for water activities, especially for spotting fish.
I will admit that the frameless lenses have been something to get used to. At first my eyes would repeatedly draw into the nose and earpieces, as they are the only aspects of the frame that remain. After about two weeks of consistent use, my eyes gave way to the cleaner view, now appreciating that my field of vision was no longer “blocked in.”
I have been known to get headaches when wearing sunglasses for long periods of time. So far I have yet to have a headache while sporting the Ballast sunglasses, even after an 8-hour period. The super flexible earpieces are a huge part of that. The end curvature, and small textured grab on the tip, wrap perfectly around my head without falling off while being active. The only activity I have done where the lightweight nature of the sunglasses has been a negative was running. They stayed on, however they bounced around quite a bit.
Pros: Lightweight, flexible, clarity of vision, durability
Cons: Non adjustable bridge
Overall I say these sunglasses are an excellent buy.
(Disclaimer: This product was supplied to Exploring Elements for review consideration. At the time of this review Exploring Elements & Sarah Blessington have no affiliation with Costa Del Mar Sunglasses and received no compensation for this review.)
