Wood Sunglasses: Considerations

For one reason or another, you came to the conclusion that you should buy a pair of wood sunglasses. This could have been due to a strong fashion sense, prophetic dream or from suffering from Dendrophilia. Whatever your reason, we are glad you are here and that you want to immerse your face in wood. Here are things to consider before you throw down those 16 digits on the checkout page.

Bamboo Sunglasses or Hardwood?

Bamboo, technically is not a wood, it is a grass but hey, close enough. Bamboo is more sustainable than regular woods as it grows so quickly and offers a unique grain and a strong structure. It is more prone to splitting than some of the other hard woods we offer, but still quite durable.

Now, "hard woods". These are more expensive than the Bamboo varieties as they are harder to obtain and grow more slowly. We offer four types: Duwood, Ebony, Zebrawood and Red Rosewood. All 4 are about on the same level in terms of ruggedness and can stand most things you throw at them. Not literally though, please do not throw things at your new pair.

Which Grain or Stain?

This is an important question as these vary greatly. We have 4 grains from above, plus two stains for our Bamboo pairs. Get in and look closely at at our products and checkout the grains. On one end of the spectrum, you have Ebony which looks almost like a regular pair of sunglasses until you get close. You make subtle statement with a pair like that. On the other side, you have Red Rosewood that gets attention.

In a split second you see a brilliant wood and immediately recognize it as wood grain. We regularly get reports of our customers drawing attention with their new Makas and getting questions from strangers. We also have another awesome grain called Duwood which is like nothing else out there. The Bamboo finishes are also awesome and unique and Zebrawood is exactly what it sounds like. It is layered with dark and light making it one of the coolest types of wood to work with out there.

Which Features are Important with Wood Sunglasses?

Look. These aren't gas station sunglasses. If you are spending the money, get the best! That is why we suggest getting all of the following:

- Polarized Scratch Resistant Lenses

Too many times, companies nickle and dime you, there are other companies out there right now, that will charge you a $30 upgrade fee for polarized lenses. That is a joke for sure. Don't fall for it. If a company is offering a polarized "upgrade" on wood sunglasses walk away and pretend you were never there. We did a blog post on polarized lenses a while back too.

- Spring Hinges

This is crucial for a comfortable fit with your wood sunglasses. Without, your woodies will slip and slide all over as they are too loose or worse crack because your face is a bit too wide.

- A Snug Home for your Wood

Wood sunglasses are an investment that can be passed down from generation to generation until they come up with a massive metal disc that blocks out the sun for us, at which point sunglasses will become as obsolete. But until that time, they will need to stay protected. All of our sunglasses come with a nice bamboo case that features slide top magnetic lid to keep your shades safe. A cardboard box is not good enough. So don't settle for less.

Warranty or Guarantee on Your Wood Sunglasses?

In short, you want both. What happens if your sunglasses just don't fit your face? What if people tell you that you look like the latest North Korean Dictator in sunglasses? You need to buy from a company that is going to accommodate you if you need to return a pair. After all, you are buying wood sunglasses on the internet. That is why we offer a 30 day money back guarantee on all purchases. That way, you don't need to worry about a thing.

Now, what if, there is some guy making wood sunglasses in his basement and that his pieces of art fall apart faster than your Comcast internet connection. You need to have the peace of mind in knowing that if there is a defect that you aren't going to be stuck with it. We offer a 6 month repair or replace warranty. We know our stuff is built to last, so we are willing to stand behind what we have. If an arm falls off your pair... You're covered. If the wood cracks... You're covered. If you sit on them... tough luck... don't sit on your wood sunglasses. We might consider a sympathy discount on your next purchase though so contact us if it happens.

That pretty well sums up what to consider when buying your next pair from Maka. Now, you are an educated and prepared wood sunglasses connoisseur. Now go... and buy the right pair for you. Or, you can always make your own.