Most Helpful Customer Reviews62 of 63 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic, But a Note on Fit:, June 30, 2008 If your considering buying the Wayfarer by Ray-Ban, you already know it as a cultural staple, worn by everyone from Dylan to The Blues Brothers. But, as cool as the shades are, be careful when it comes to fit. The "New" Wayfarer is substantially smaller then the old style, as well as being a tad more modern, not dominating the face as the old kind do.
The "New" style also comes in two sizes, 52mm and 55mm. I received the 52 only to find them to be a bit too small (I am an average size male), once I returned them for the 55 I was more then satisfied. So in conclusion I would recommend the new style Wayfarer to those wanting the signature look of the style, but with perhaps a bit less obtrusive frame. 55mm is average size, while 52mm would be for females or even some children.
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Cool, but not entirely convinced, February 2, 2009 I bought these for the style. There's no sense in lying. Yes, I did want something with a little more eye coverage than the relatively small sunglasses I had before (and still use for driving) but the main reason is because Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, the Blues Brothers, etc. have been looking cool in these forever.
Now, I have no problem with that aspect. They look cool. They fit that purpose great, and get a good rating for that. In addition, they are made well, very nice quality. The frames are plastic and surely not as durable as a quality metal frame that allows flex, but it is a very nice quality plastic far removed from the cheap sunglass quality you expect on cheaper glasses. And as I said, you buy these for the style, not necessarily the durability. But I think they will hold up pretty well regardless.
However, I have some issues with them. First, though it's hard to find any reliable information about the technical details - there is absolutely none on Ray-Ban's official website - I was under the impression that the G-15 lenses were supposed to provide neutral color. It should have been obvious to me by the fact that they're referred to as grey-green, I guess, but they do put a distinct green cast over everything. They are not color neutral.
Secondly, it says Ray-Ban on the exterior of the glasses in THREE places, with an additional little Rb initial etched in on one of the lenses. To me, this is not stylish, and I think it is a new addition. I've seen hundreds of videos and photos of famous people wearing these, including close-ups, and never is the branding so noticeable. These are recognizable because of the style, and the quality of construction. It's utterly ridiculous to plaster it with branding! Of course, now rip-offs have suddenly become extremely popular, including a version sold at Target, so some I guess may desire the branding, to ensure to others that theirs are genuine. But come on, if you're paying for and wearing these, does that really matter to you?
Finally, do be careful about choosing polarized or non-polarized lenses. If you plan to use these for driving, you really should get polarized ones. I purchased the one offered here as a replacement for my driving glasses (extremely necessary in Southern California) as well as to wear outside in general, including while out taking photographs.
The problem with polarized glasses and photography is that the glass in camera viewfinders has coatings that interact with the polarizer and make it impossible to use. Also, it changes your perspective on what you see vs. what the camera sees, and if you use a polarizing filter on your lens to match, then you won't be able to see anything at all through the viewfinder because the polarizers combine. So the best solution is to just not wear sunglasses.
I want to wear sunglasses to protect my eyes in the bright sun, even when I'm taking photographs, so I chose non-polarized lenses. They work fine for that (other than not being color neutral...) but unfortunately, now they're nearly useless for driving! This is my problem, not taking anything off the rating because of this - just frustrating.
The seller I purchased it from had the best price by far. However, I recommend going to a mall first to try them on, both to judge the style (to choose between the original and new wayfarer) and the size. One of the stores that's in most malls, Sunglass Hut maybe, is owned by Luxottica, who also own Ray-Ban, and should have most styles in there for you to try.
Final note - the standard Ray-Ban included accessories, the cleaning cloth and case, are very nice. I always liked their sunglasses cases - my dad, a pilot, always had his aviators and the case his car and getting my own Ray-Ban case brought back memories for me :)
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic look and great fit, December 27, 2007 This is one thing I have in common with Jack Nicholson ... a love for the way the Ray-Ban Wayfarer's look and fit. I first found an old used pair of Wayfarers at a garage sale for 25 cents back in the late 70's. They fit so well and the price was right. I loved them. Later I learned that John F. Kennedy, Bob Dylan (on his first tour in England), and Jack Nicholson wore this model.
I lost them in the 90's and couldn't find a current model that were quite the same. It seemed all the models at that time were bigger and rounder, so I didn't replace them. Then the "New Wayfarer" model came out and although they call it new, it reminds me of the old pair I had ... size, look, fit. So I bought a pair and am love'n them again. I use them for sailing, driving, hiking, rafting, travel, etc.
These sunglasses actually block the wind better than some biking sunglasses I bought. I also prefer the non-polarized green lens to the polarized lens that came in those same biking sunglasses. When I ride into the shadows, the polarized lens blocked out too much light and it was hard to see the pavement. The green lens let's in more light allowing me to see better in shadows, yet without being too bright in sunny spots.
The 55mm New Wayfarer in classic tortoise (color 902) with the green lens is my cup of tea, although Dylan wore the black color. They stay on so well I don't need a strap to keep them on during vigorous movement. And your eyelashes don't hit the lenses when you blink.
Great gear!
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