Eyephorics
I used to wear contact lenses all the time, largely because they made playing sports easier. Then I bought a pair of Eyephorics. Zowee. At 2.5 grams, these glasses are ultra light and ultra, ultra comfortable. I often lay down to go to sleep totally unaware they are on my face. I chose earpieces that hook behind my ears. They don't slip, even when my face gets sweaty when I run and play tennis. Aside from different earpieces, you can get any shape lens and any color nose piece/ear bar. Mine are seafoam green, which sounds weird but they look normal. I got mine at a local high-end eyewear store. The glasses are costly, but they are also super durable. I am very rough on my glasses. This pair has taken some serious abuse in the past 18 months , but always manages to bounce back. I will never buy any other kind. If you wear contacts or glasses, these glasses will make you swoon.
-- Anne Schuster
Eyephorics
$270
(depending on lens/Rx/color, etc.)
Available from SF Optics - San Francisco
Grand Central Eyewear - New York
Eye Spy Optical - Chicago
QOptical - Boston
Also available for $180 via Optical Needs on eBay
Manufactured by Swissflex
Favorite (15)
Scott
Also, Shilouette frames are awesome for non-sports use, very lightweight and indestructible, even the plastic frames. I've got a pair of the titanium alloy frames and they've not failed me yet. My wife's flexible plastic frames have endured a lot of abuse and have kept their shape just fine.
kkonstan
For anyone that might be interested in these, I would also suggest that they also take a look at this significantly cheaper rimless hingeless glasses:
http://www.optical4less.com/hingeless-eyeglasses/HL007/
I have a pair for 6 months now with brown transition lenses and I absolutely love them! Not much that can go wrong with them since they're hingeless and flexible, and for $50 much better value for money.
Kyle Tanner
It just so happens that I am looking for glasses. Of course today's Cool Tool would be eyeglasses. Thanks to Anne for the CT and konstan for the additional info.
Derek Fannin
I love the eyephorics frames and weight, i opted for the thinnest lens possible and was supper happy with the performance of these glasses they even passed my two year old son test! But unfortunately they did not pass the six month old daughter test, they broke right at the hinge the other day and no hopes of being fixed according to my eye glass shop. Good thing though for a pair of 700$ glasses is that the lenses can be re used and they can give me a new frame, now just need to decide on a color.
OnlineShoppingChick.com
These are very cool. This is the first time I've seen them. As hard as I am on my poor glasses, I think they were made just for me.
Mark
Anyone know of anywhere you can see the range and order? The stores linked to don't really show off the glasses and the main Swissflex site isn't that helpful either. I'm based in the UK and the few opticians I checked with in town hadn't heard of them. Anyone got any more details? Cheers.
Ian Evans
I must always mention that folks who plan to buy glasses (especially online) read through Matt Haughey's (of MetaFilter fame) excellent advice posted here: http://www.43folders.com/2007/11/29/adventures-40-eyeglasses
Eyeglasses (very good ones) can be had for considerably cheaper than the many hundreds of dollars that we used to consider necessary.