Randolph vs. RayBan

On Aviators: Ray Ban vs. Randolph Engineering

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Okay, so there aren't too many things a man can do to accessorize. Wearing stylish sunglasses is one of those things. Now, for years I was one who didn't care about the style aspect. Sunglasses were functional first and foremost and style came second. A couple years ago that changed, and like many things my tastes evolved.

I got into aviators late. I actually never tried a pair on until relatively recently, convinced that the square-framed navigator style suited me better. I was afraid the traditional teardrop aviator style would swallow up my face like my pair of hybrid-aviator Serengetis did. But I wore them because they had phenomenal eye coverage and head wrap. And really, too many men wear sunglasses that are too large for their faces anyway, moreso with aviators. It probably has something to do with "to look more macho, go large and in charge" thing, or it may have to do with many aviators being available only in larger sized lenses, because traditionally they were functional above everything else. Pilots needed eye coverage, ergo huge lenses. In any case, the large frames were a reason I didn't wear them for a long time.

Okay, long story short, I saw a movie. The star had a very particular pair of square Aviators. They were awesome and I wanted them. In the course of my searching for the exact model (which were Polo Purple label something), I was turned onto Randolph Eyewear.  I researched that, not knowing at the time that Randolph was in vogue because of Mad Men. Now I don't watch Mad Men and I could care less what Don Draper is wearing, I just got the glasses. I liked the fact that they were military spec, made in the US, and the fit was tremendous. The problem was....I got curious about the more famous-shaped Aviators because of them. Traditional teardrop-shaped ones. So with the Top Gun soundtrack playing in the background, I'm going to compare two of them here.

First up...Ray Ban. I always avoided them because they were huge and I have a small face, but as it turns out, the 55mm lens size isn't too bad on me. The aviator shape makes the lenses seem not so big side to side. When I was researching, people either lauded Ray Ban or spit fire at it. Condemnations of "They suck now," or "They're made in China," or "They aren't what they were since Luxottica bought them!" were mixed with praises of "They're great" and "The lenses are awesome." And I saw at least one Youtube video comparing new Raybans with ones from 1995 and the guy preferred the new ones. So...whatever. Here's what I think. And this is an honest assessment since I wasn't expecting them to compare with the Randolphs at all.

First, since Luxottica owns 75% of the eyewear industry anyway, if Ray Bans suck, then I guess so do the vast majority of glasses on the market...and that's not true. And I've owned 2 pairs of Luxottica glasses that have been just fine. So I don't get the hate here. The construction on them seems fine and solid, though the temples are a little thin for my taste, but from what I gather they were designed to be "wire" thin anyway. Ray Bans are made in China.  Mine are. Overall the glasses do feel cheap. On my face, the 55mm lenses are just a tad large but not overly so.

So, with the classic out of the way, it's time for Randolph Eyewear. These days, hold the majority of the contracts with the military and NASA. I already have their classic square Aviator and I wanted to go with American Optical for the traditional teardrop one, but only Randolph had it in a smaller 52mm size, with the AO starting at 58...way too big for me. And the Randolph was shaped differently.

The Randolph Concorde has a slightly softer take on the classic lens shape. The slant isn't as severe as on the Ray Ban. This aids in the overall look in my opinion. The frame also "curves" more, fitting the front of the face. The frame is thick and solid. It feels sturdy and high quality. The fit is snug and secure. It loses points in the nose bridge area though because it's tough to adjust. The sturdier frame means you really have to put some elbow grease into bending the metal stalks for the nosepads to ensure a perfect fit, because it ships with a stupidly narrow configuration that any grown man would find uncomfortable. With some effort, you can get it perfect, though. In all other areas I am impressed with it. The finish is bright chrome (I would've killed for it in matte chrome like the square Aviator), and like the Ray Ban, has a green G-15 lens that's better than Ray Ban.  And the frame and lenses and assembly are done in the USA...so that's a plus, though the nosepads are imported.

I got the Randolph first and I have to say that the smaller frame LOOKS better on my face in terms of proportion.  Randolph skips the 55 size in the Concorde model...the next size up is 57. In terms of frame, the Randolph feels more solid, mostly because of the Ray Ban's wire-thin temples. And I don't know what the Ray Ban is made of, but Randolph makes a big deal about its 18% nickel/steel alloy being less likely to corrode and break. Ordinarily I would think that's marketing spiel but I've had glasses frames snap on me after a couple of years, so maybe that's something to keep in mind as an advantage. Randolph ships with a little screwdriver and extra screws and nosepads, a bigger cloth, and hands down the plusher case; the Ray Ban's case seems oddly hard.

Neither pair has hinges on the temples, which is something that I'm continually surprised about in sunglasses (though Serengeti has them). At this price point, ALL glasses should have hinged temples or at least the option for them. It eliminates the frustration of having to find the perfect width, since distributors or even manufacturers give false numbers. Luckily for me, the Ray Ban and Randolph both fit me like a glove and I couldn't be happier. The Randolph just feels a bit more solid and naturally hugs my face.

In terms of price they are about equal. Randolph is more expensive if you order direct or at some dealers, but there are places that sell the Concorde for as low as $109. The Ray Ban of course goes for around ~$100 or a bit lower. Is it worth paying more for the Concorde? If price is an issue, go to:  www.randolpheyewear.com . If you have an average to large head, the size will be fine. If you need a smaller size, I can recommend the Concorde or Crew Cheif. Honestly I do think Ray Ban deserves the sneering it gets. 

So I hope this helps for some guys who are curious about different Aviators. Yes they're everywhere, but they're timeless and they look good (just get a pair that fits your face!). I should've worn them years ago. Now I always will. 

Product Review - Falcon - Randolph Eyewear

If you are in the market for a great pair of shooting glasses, look no further than the Ranger Falcons by Randolph Eyewear.  I recently tested them out at the range, shooting trap in the bright sun and .22s under a shady wooden structure.

I’ll speak to their comfort and effectiveness in a moment, but first a little bit about the product and the company behind it.

Founded in 1972, Randolph Engineering exemplifies the American Dream – two Polish immigrants start a small tool and die company in Randolph, Massachusetts, and become one of the leading optical companies in this field in the country.

Randolph Engineering began manufacturing aviator sunglasses for the US Air Force in the late 1970s and won the government bid to become the prime contractor in 1982.

Learning about the quality of its sunglasses through the military, civilians demanded commercial sunglasses and Randolph Eyewear was happy to oblige.

The Ranger Falcon Kit, which I tested out last week, is named after the F-16 Fighting Falcon, an American fighter jet known for the cockpit’s exceptional field of view.  Not coincidentally, the Falcon’s shield design offers shooters an equally exceptional view.

Features include unobstructed field of view, interchangeable NexPC shield lenses, and interchangeable nose pads. The kit also includes a semi-rigid nylon carrying case, cleaning cloth, maintenance kit, and micro-fiber carrying pouch.

I am thrilled that the Ranger Falcon Kit includes three interchangeable shield lenses:

• HD (an orange lens) offers crisp vision by filtering out blue light to increase contrast. This is the best choice for medium light conditions and is what I used under the shelter while shooting the .22 rifle.
• Dark Purple is a great lens for bright conditions.  It provides a fantastic contrast of orange targets against blue sky.  Also great for reducing glare and for use in snow.  I used this lens while shooting trap in the sun.
• Medium Yellow highlights orange clay targets and works well in low light or overcast conditions.

I found the Ranger Falcons to be completely comfortable.  They are lightweight, the nose pads hit at the right place, and the unobstructed field of view is exceptional.  Beyond mere comfort, the clarity of the lenses was amazing.  The clay targets popped against the blue sky like never before and looking downrange at paper targets was no strain at all.

I really cannot say enough about how natural and easy the Ranger Falcon shooting glasses were to use.  They just felt right.  In no way were they a distraction.  I did not spend one moment thinking about them, which is important when shooting.  In addition, I loved the options in the lenses.  The fact that all three were readily available in one case made changing the lenses due to shooting conditions that much easier.

Today, Randolph remains dedicated to producing the highest quality of sunglasses and takes pride in its choices to sustain the American workforce and economy by creating American jobs and sourcing Made in USA items whenever feasible.

Check out the Ranger Falcon Kit and other lines of glasses by Randolph at:  www.randolpheyewear.com

The Ranger Falcon Kit does not pop up under the Collections/Ranger Shooting tab.  Make sure you type Ranger Shooting Kit in their search area.  Randolph is currently offering free shipping on orders over $100 via FedEx Ground.

Real Reviews by Real People - Randolph Eyewear is a Quality Product

To see the entire collection of Randolph's and receive your new customer 10% discount, please go to:  

www.randolpheyewear.com

Randolph Eyewear:  Review by customer:

General review

First, let me give a general review. These are my first Randolph Eyewear sunglasses, and I own two aviators besides these. Quality wise, Randolph’s feel much sturdier and better built. The frame is less flimsy and while the metal is flexible, there is a sturdiness to it that inspires more confidence. Relatedly, the glasses feel more secure when I put them on. All in all, my impression is that these are just better built. 

They also have better warranty coverage. Randolph has the same one-year warranty as their competitors, but in addition, all solder joints are guaranteed for life. Individual replacement parts are also available for order through the company. In general, I get the sense that these really are the kind of sunglasses that could last you a lifetime. Unless, of course, they get stolen. In which case it should last the thief his or her lifetime. 

I also really like how Randolph is the prime contractor to the US Dept. of Defense for military-style aviators. In other words, these are the aviators worn by US military pilots and NASA astronauts. I’m not too shy to say that makes me feel kind of awesome when I put them on. Besides the fantasy element, the military contract also gives me a bit more faith in the quality of their lenses, which I’ll talk more about in a bit. 

Specifics

Randolph’s sunglasses are all made-to-order. I choose two, the Aviator in matte chrome, skull temples, and gray glass lenses, and the Concorde in bright chrome, skull temples, and AGX lenses. 

On first impressions, I favored the Aviator over the Concorde. In hindsight, I think this is because they were a bit more unique than my other teardrop aviators. After wearing both for a bit, I think I look better in the teardrop models. They have a stronger vertical shape that helps balance out my rounder shaped head. 

Additionally, I favor the bright chrome over matte chrome. If you’re going to wear awesome sunglasses, you might as well go whole hog. I also like the skull temples, but can see bayonets working well if you wear motorcycle helmets or something. Those are the style of temples pilots use, after all.

Lastly, there are the lenses. Gray will give you true color reception and are excellent for general use. Gray flash mirror is the same but has a mirror coating for a bit of style. In hindsight, I think I should have gotten those. AGX has a slight green tint that helps bring things into sharper contrast. It’s easier on the eyes during very bright days. Polarized gray is for even brighter days and environments with high glare. I can imagine these being ideal if you often go boating or skiing. Lastly, tan is for overcast or hazy environments. It has the advantage of giving a bit sharper contrast, much like the AGX lenses. 

I choose gray and AGX lenses and they’ve been working wonderfully. This is where the military contract really means something, in my opinion. 

Conclusion:

Randolphs cost about $115, depending on which model you get, and I think they’re worth the money. Their construction and warranty is better than their competitors, and I like that they have to meet more serious performance tests through the US Dept. of Defense. 

The company has also has a really awesome collaboration with Michael Bastian, the winner of this year’s prestigious CFDA award for Menswear Designer of the Year. Bastian has been wearing Randolph Eyewear’s Intruder glasses since college, and putting them on his fashion show models since 2006, so the collaboration has been very natural. The special line has 15 artfully designed models. Some of these are built from Randolph’s current made-to-order options, and have been designed to reflect a “signature series.” The other models takes Randolph’s popular Aviator and Intruder models and makes them in white, yellow, red, black, or (my favorite) navy. I think they’re nice mix of fun and tradition, in a reserved way that still makes the frames very wearable. 

To see the entire collection of Randolph's and receive your new customer 10% discount, please go to:  

www.randolpheyewear.com