Issue 140: Sept/Oct 2021
I have a small head. However, to borrow an adage, I always believed that meant that good things were kept inside its small package. Unfortunately, my small head has meant that I’ve struggled to find sunglasses that stayed in place and that fit in a way that allows me to wear a hat and sunglasses at the same time. My family and I are currently sailing full-time under the beating sun of the Sea of Cortez, and I’m too often left with the impossible choice: hat or sunglasses.
Then, I was given the opportunity to try a pair of Rheos Bahia sunglasses. These sunglasses wrap comfortably around the narrow space between my temples and provide a clear, polarized view of the world. And they fit under my silly sun hat! There are no gaps for dry breezes or distracting light to sneak through. I don’t need a tether to keep them in place when looking down or turning my head quickly. The polarized lenses are scratch-resistant and come with a “saltwater guarantee.”
A note about polarized lenses: they’re a must for a sailor. On watch today, I slid the Rheos sunglasses up and down my nose, to evaluate the difference with and without them. Without them, the water looks the same color everywhere, and at times blends from sea to land to sky. When I slide the lenses back up into place, I can easily discern differing colors over different depths—a major navigational and safety advantage.
I didn’t pay for these sample sunglasses, but given that I share this boat with two destructive small humans and one larger clumsy human, I know it’s a matter of time before this already beloved pair winds up stepped on, sat upon, or accidentally kicked off the boat entirely—although, since they float, my chances of recovering them if they do wind up in the drink are pretty good. The price point is reasonable, especially compared to sunglasses I’ve owned in the past, so I’ll be buying backups.
I, my narrow head, and my hat are happy.
More information: rheosgear.com
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
