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I take eye protection seriously. My blue eyes are ultra-sensitive to sunlight, especially when we travel to tropical destinations. As with most things, I’m always on the lookout for the very best gear. I can confidently say, after owning sunglasses from most of the top manufacturers, I’ve discovered a less-known brand that blows them away! Read on to find out who makes the BEST sunglasses for travel…
As I mentioned, I’ve owned and tested sunglasses from top brands like RayBan, Maui Jim, Costa del Mar, and Oakley. I was even a lifeguard for six years, so I’ve spent plenty of time in direct sunlight. No pair of sunglasses I’ve ever owned is as complete as The Hook by William Painter.
I’ve worn these sunglasses literally all the way around the world, and I am 100% confident they are the BEST sunglasses for travel. Let me tell you why…
Lenses
For me, everything starts with the lenses. You could have an absolutely beautiful, well-built pair of shades… but if the lenses don’t offer superior eye protection, I’m not interested.
The lenses on the Hook sunglasses are made from lightweight nylon, not glass like many others. This keeps the lenses feather-light and makes them almost completely scratch resistant (more on this later). I’ve also noticed that, despite a smooth metal frame, the glasses never slide down my nose. According to the product description, the lightweight lenses shift the center of gravity back, preventing the dreaded nose slide… science, right?!
William Painter uses polarized lenses for the Hook sunglasses. Polarization cuts glare significantly, allowing me to fully enjoy the crystal-clear water in the Maldives, Santorini, Cuba, etc. Finally, the lenses offer 100% UVA/UVB ray protection. Protect… Your… Eyes!
Durability
This is where the Hook by William Painter REALLY shines! Plenty of sunglasses have excellent lenses – I LOVE the lenses on my old Maui Jims. However, every brand I’ve tested suffered from a lack of durability. I’ve honestly broken more pairs of expensive sunglasses than most people will ever own! It’s not that I’m careless (maybe I am), but I hate that most $250 sunglasses break so easily.
Enter, the Hook. These babies are made from aerospace grade TITANIUM. Yep, titanium… none of that plastic polymer crap that bends/snaps under the slightest strain. The lenses, as I mentioned above, are made from scratch resistant nylon.
I’ve had my pair of Hooks for over a year, and they’ve accompanied me to 16 countries so far! I literally just toss them into my bag or pocket… without a case. The titanium frame never bends at all. I’ve also dropped them lens-down on pavement and volcanic rock, and the lenses have zero scratches! Seriously, try that with your current pair of sunglasses. I once looked at my RayBan Wayfarers wrong, and the lenses scratched… :-\ The Hooks do come with a hard protective case, but you won’t need it.
Style
The Hook sunglasses have a classic, wayfarer style. This style has been around for decades, so I doubt it’s going out anytime soon. William Painter offers two color variations – Black lenses or Blue lenses. I own the black pair, and I find that they go well with pretty much anything I’m wearing.
Size-wise, these frames are the ideal size for most average faces. The lenses are 50mm wide, which is a happy-medium size. As I’ll mention later, William Painter offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you happen to dislike the fit, just send ’em back.
Bottle Opener
I’ll admit, I thought this was a bit gimmicky. Some of William Painter’s promo videos for the Hook show people opening bottle after bottle with their sunglasses. I’ve owned sandals and belts with bottle openers, and I used them basically never. However, I’ve actually been surprised how often the bottle opener has come in handy.
Scenario 1 – Brunch in Cuba with painfully slow service. I was able to reach into the bottle cooler behind me and pop open a couple beers. I just told the waitress and she added them to our tab later.
Scenario 2 – Resort in Mexico. Grab a few bottles for the beach. Nobody wants to run to the bar for a bottle opener. Boom, sunglasses to the rescue.
Scenario 3 – Downtown Savannah, GA. I LOVE Coke in a glass bottle, so I picked one up from a local candy shop. Popped it open with my sunglasses!
Plenty of opportunities pop up in daily life as well. Sunny day on the back porch, craft beer bottle share, cracking a six-pack on the golf course, or popping the first beer at a tailgate. The bottle opener is always on hand!
100% Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee
William Painter backs up the Hook sunglasses with a 100% lifetime satisfaction guarantee. Their website states: If for any reason you feel our sunglasses are not the best you’ve ever experienced, then we will pay for your return shipping and give you your money back. And if our shades are ever stolen or lost, contact us and get a discount to replace them.
Lifetime Manufacturer’s Warranty
You also get a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. This shows me that they really believe in the durability that I’ve experienced. Again, from their website: You will receive a free brand new replacement pair with no time limit restrictions, but you must return your damaged item at your own shipping costs)
- Screws fall out
- Hinges break
- Breaking under the pressure of your badass life.
- Paint Chipping
- Lenses are warrantied if the following conditions occur
- Breaking, popping out, or bubbling
- Lenses scratching in first 30 days
I have trouble imagining that any of this will happen, but it’s nice to know that I can get a replacement if I find a way to break my pair of Hooks.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell, I believe the Hooks from William Painter are the BEST sunglasses for travel. They feature top-quality, scratch-resistant, polarized nylon lenses in a durable titanium frame. The classic styling ensures you will look good… well, forever, since the warranty guarantees a new pair if you ever figure out how to break them! Not completely satisfied? Just send them back for a full refund.
The last thing I’ll mention is the price – $165. This is significantly cheaper than the average price for the other brands I’ve mentioned, which is around $200-$250. Grab your pair of Hooks today!
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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
