Ombraz armless sunglasses offer a range of benefits. Using an adjustable strap, their sunglasses are comfortable, less likely to break, and always secure.
Ombraz Sunglasses General Info
Ombraz launched in 2018 and has several models ranging from polarized to blue-light blockers, but all share the same armless design. They come with built-in nylon cordage that replaces the standard arms other glasses sport. The cord is easy to adjust to fit your head just right, evenly distributing pressure. I found them great for mountain biking, flyfishing, backcountry skiing, and backpacking.
Ombraz Dolomite Specs
- Price: $140
- 100% Recycled Japanese Nylon Strap that is abrasion resistant
- German engineered Zeiss lenses
- The frame features built-in side visors for maximum sun protection
- No screws or hinges that could easily brake
- 3mm-thick neoprene case with a built-in microfiber cloth
- Armless design means easy flat storage
- 20 trees planted for each pair
Things I Like
Comfort - The buttery soft adjustable strap evenly distributes pressure around the head, making for a headache-free experience. If you’re like me and you wear a hat every time you wear sunglasses, then you’re familiar with the discomfort of the sunglasses’ arms under your hat. The strap on the Ombraz is so thin that even with a hat on, they stay highly comfortable.
Durability - Because there are no arms, there is nothing to break when they are accidentally sat upon. So go ahead, toss 'em in your passenger seat all you want... just kidding, still at least try to keep them safe! Also, so far, the lenses have remained scratch-free during the past five months of testing.
Secure - No fear of water or going too fast in these. The built-in strap is easy to tighten, and it stayed tight during every activity I tried. When it's time to take them off, they can rest around your neck and be adjusted shorter to stay out of the way.
Great Sun Protection - The frame sports built-in side visors to increase coverage, making these sunglasses great for exposed trips on the snow or in the desert. In comparison, they don't cover everything on the sides like traditional glacier glasses; it's a great compromise between style and protection. The lenses themselves are large, giving a wide field of view and a crisp image even in bright sunlight.
Flat Storage - No arms means they can lay completely flat. This opens up the possibilities for storage, so that when it is time to put them away, there will be less hesitation on which pocket to throw them in. Any pocket that a phone can fit in can fit these shades.
The Case - While the glasses themselves cannot float, the 3mm-thick neoprene case will float with the glasses stored inside. The case is much thicker than your average silky bag, making me feel much more confident when storing them inside my pack, and fear less if they were to drop on the floor. It comes with a generous microfiber cloth that cleans the lenses effortlessly. I don't know if it's the quality of the lenses or the cloth, but these glasses are very easy to wipe clean.
Things to Note
Learning Curve - These aren't your regular sunglasses, so it takes some getting used to putting them on and off. You have to use two hands to tighten or loosen them, making it inconvenient for running errands where your hands are full as you’re going in and out of sunlight. Also, if your hair is down, you'll have to take the glasses off to put your hair in a bun because the cord now needs to go under the bun. When going inside, it isn't a simple one-handed job to put them up on your hat/ head, but instead you can get used to pulling them down and letting them rest around your neck.
Easy to Over Tighten - When first using, I often had them too tight around the head, which causes them to tilt and shift when active. Try to only cinch them enough to get the slack out. My advice: if they are tilting, try pulling the frame forward and gently loosening the glasses until they rest comfortably on the nose.
Verdict
If you spend long hours in the sun and enjoy sports that have you buying cheap sunglasses, so that you don't get upset when they eventually get lost, then give these a try. They are the most functional sunglasses I have worn due to the comfort and secure fit they offer. I liked them so much I’m planning to use them as my sunglasses for the Continental Divide Trail this summer. Now that's some high praise.
1 comment
Ben
You didn’t mention what frame size you went with.