Sunglasses for Driving

Many people wear sunglasses when driving. I used to say things like “Sunglasses don’t suit me, so I don’t need them” or “I’m afraid people will think I’m showing off”, but seeing a surprisingly high number of female drivers around the neighborhood wearing sunglasses, I ended up sneaking some on myself (laughs).

While wearing sunglasses, I often think “It’s easier to drive,” but sometimes I find it a bit hard to see when driving through tunnels or facing the setting sun.

One day, my husband said, “Unlike cars with roofs, sunglasses for open-top cars need to block light coming from above.” I’d never thought about that before, but it makes sense once you say it. So, I asked my husband, who owns two convertibles (a Porsche Boxster GTS and a Mercedes-Benz SL500 (R129)), about the sunglasses he uses.

Open-Top Cars and Light Streaming from Above

When driving an open-top car facing the sun, light comes not only from the front but also from above, so “blocking light that sneaks in through the gap between the sunglasses and your eyes is a key point.” Wearing typical sunglasses that only block light from the front leaves your pupils dilated, allowing light from above to enter, which actually makes it more glaring and harder to see.

In fact, he sometimes thinks, “Wouldn’t it be easier to see without sunglasses?”

He has tried several sunglasses over time, often saying, “This isn’t quite right,” or “It’s still hard to see,” but he recently found two pairs that are just perfect. Today, I want to introduce two types of sunglasses: one for when he wears glasses and one for when he doesn’t.

① Oakley Pitbull

First, the best sunglasses for when you’re not wearing glasses are the Oakley Pitbull (Asian Fit).

Oakley sunglasses gained popularity after appearing in the opening scene of Mission: Impossible II, worn by the protagonist Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) during a rock climbing scene.

*Image source: http://floodmagazine.com/52157/all-the-ugly-sunglasses-in-mission-impossible-2-ranked/

The model Tom Cruise wore is now a premium item due to its popularity… and honestly, Tom Cruise looks amazing in those sunglasses! My husband also saw the movie back then and thought, “Someday, I want to buy those sunglasses.” When he searched for a similar design, he found the Oakley Pitbull (Asian Fit).

This Asian Fit model is designed to fit the flatter facial features common among Asians. I tried them on myself and was surprised at how snugly they fit my face. (Regular sunglasses usually slip because my nose bridge isn’t high enough.) The great points of these sunglasses are:

・Excellent fit, so they don’t slip off easily
・Thin but blocks light from the sides and above
・Comfortable for long wear without pain around temples or ears
・Polarized lenses offer natural, clear vision and make it easy to see navigation or smartphone screens while wearing them
・Minimal internal reflections

Also, because they are polarized, when overtaking what looks like an unmarked police car on the highway, you can clearly see inside the vehicle without reflections on the glass. However, the lenses have a slight brown tint.

This Oakley Pitbull has been discontinued, so only existing stock remains. A word of caution when buying: there are many fakes on Amazon (not genuine), and there are both Asian Fit and Western models, so be careful not to mix them up. The price is about 20,000 yen.

② Coleman

Next, for those who wear glasses while driving, Coleman sunglasses are the best choice. (They also have non-over-glasses models.)

They block light from above and the sides well and fit comfortably over glasses without feeling awkward. The benefits of these sunglasses include:

・Polarized lenses reduce glare and provide sharp, clear vision
・Minimal gaps between face and sunglasses prevent unwanted light from entering
・Natural color rendering despite being dark; blue skies look truly blue
・No reflections of skin inside the lenses
・Best of all, very affordable (around 1,700 yen on Amazon)

One of the joys of driving an open-top car is enjoying the scenery, so lenses that are overly tinted brown or yellow can spoil the beauty of sunsets and sunrises. In that respect, Coleman’s lenses are naturally colored and dark enough to enjoy the view comfortably.

If there’s a downside, it’s that wearing sunglasses over glasses means double layers on your ears, which can get quite painful after long periods. For long-distance tours, he takes them off occasionally and then puts them back on. However, he says this depends on the person.

Everyday Use

My husband owns three pairs of Coleman sunglasses and keeps them in the cars he uses frequently. (They’re reasonably priced at about 1,700 yen each.) He also has one pair of Oakley sunglasses at home, which he takes along on tours and drives. By the way, he said, “I prefer the Oakleys because they feel better to wear.”

It’s surprising how much variety there is even just in sunglasses. As for me, I’m not picky, so for now, a 1,000-yen pair from Uniqlo is enough (laughs).