Editor’s Picks: Flying Eyes Sunglasses

Partnering Sun Protection With Perfect Comfort

By KIMBERLY LOUSHIN Photo Courtesy FLYING EYES

Sometimes I feel like I’m Goldilocks when it comes to sunglasses. I’ve lost track of the number of pairs I’ve sent to their grave because they weren’t durable enough for the hard knocks of barn life, and then there are the others that end up unworn or discarded because they’re not comfortable enough for daily wear.

My eye doctor is always reminding me that it’s equally important to protect my skin and eyes from the sun, so I’ve starting wearing sunglasses while riding. However, finding sunglasses that are comfortable under a helmet starts the Goldilocks complex all over again.

Enter Flying Eyes.

Since they were originally designed for use under aviation headsets, Flying Eyes sunglasses are primed for an easy transition to the equestrian world. The frames and temples are made of Resilamide, a polymer primarily used in the aerospace industry, making the glasses incredibly lightweight. The material is also durable, which makes the glasses far less likely than plastic to bust or shatter when dropped on concrete.

Thanks to the quality materials used, the earpiece is a mere 1 millimeter thick, which reduces pressure when worn under a helmet. It did take some fiddling when I wore the sunglasses with a hairnet, but once I made sure the temple was entirely under the hairnet, rather than caught in one of the holes, it alleviated any pressure.

My sunglasses live a rough life as they’re often shoved into a pocket for storage following a ride, but the Flying Eyes glasses have a flexible frame, so they retain their shape regardless of how poorly they’re treated. As a bonus, they’re also toddler proof! Though watching said toddler bend the sunglasses made me nervous, they suffered no damage.

The lenses are polycarbonate, which makes them shatter resistant—another plus considering the rough and tumble life my sunglasses live around horses. A quick wipe to remove the dirt, and they’re good to go—no scratches or busted lenses.

At UV400, the lenses are ideal for preventing exposure to UVA and UVB rays—and eliminating lectures from the eye doctor.

Because the sunglasses were designed for use in an airplane cockpit, the lenses have a lighter tint than many sunglasses, something I liked. The glasses are dark enough to reduce glare on the brightest days, but on days when the clouds are moving a lot, your vision never seems suddenly too dark. And it means you can still read your phone without difficulty.

One of my biggest complaints about sunglasses when riding is that they slowly creep down my face, so I’m always shoving them back up while on course. The Flying Eyes sunglasses have an adjustable nosepiece with soft pads, so they stay exactly where I put them— even remaining in place after a long cross-country school.

Flying Eyes offers eight styles, ranging from more fashionable titanium to sportier frames that hug your face. Each style is available with a variety of frame options and lens colors. The standard lenses aren’t polarized, but that option is available for an increased price. Prescription, bifocal or gradient tint lenses can also be put into any of the frames.

Each pair comes with a case and a microfiber bag that doubles as a cleaning cloth. Flying Eyes can be purchased online at flyingeyesoptics.com and run from $149 to $299.

Editor’s Note: Flying Eyes provided a pair of sunglasses to Untacked for unbiased testing and review free of charge. After testing, the product was donated to a charity.