Lots of us carry and wear glasses on a daily basis to help us with just about everything we do: working, reading, driving, and so much more. So it’s not hard to see why it’s important to find a pair that meet your personal needs. It might come as a surprise, but the same features you’d look for in any other type of EDC gear apply to your daily specs too. In this guide, we’ll narrow in on the most EDC-focused factors to consider to help you buy prescription glasses online that’ll last long and look great without breaking the bank.
The Best EDC Glasses Are…
Durable: If you’ve ever worn glasses, you already know how amazingly easy it is for them to just mysteriously disappear once you take them off. And if you’re less lucky, you might be familiar with that stomach-sinking CRUNCH sound when you finally do find your glasses — under your shoe. Short of that, they can still easily get bent, scratched, and abused unless you carry them in a case all day. Wouldn’t you rather wear them instead? It’s crucial to keep them in top-condition. It’d be annoying to always be looking through scratched lenses with the frames falling off your face.
Lightweight: A common EDC practice is to slim things down, focus on only the essentials, and shed extra weight. You can do the same with your specs. A lighter pair of glasses is easier to carry and more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
FlexLife Troy Gunmetal ($109)
For example, these flexible gunmetal frames offer both durability and light weight. You won’t have to worry about the frames snapping as much if you accidentally sit on them or knock them around in your bag thanks to the strong, flexible titanium material it uses. ($109)
Comfortable: EDCers take ergonomics seriously in their essentials, and most of them only end up in their hands. You’ll have glasses on your face for hours at a time. And unless you’ve got the right pair, that can get fatiguing if not downright painful. Keep comfort in mind to let you wear and use your glasses for longer. Why put up with soreness or resorting to taking your glasses off and taking a break when you don’t have to?
Secure: A secure, yet comfortable fit is important as well. The frames should be slightly wider than your face so the arms can be in their proper position. The arms need to be long enough so that they comfortably fit slightly around the ears to ensure they don’t fall off. The bridge of the glasses should rest firmly on the bridge of your nose, but not to the point where you feel like they’re squeezing. All of these aspects of fit keep the glasses where they should be — on your face. This is hugely important, especially if you’ve got a more active lifestyle or work that requires you to look around and turn your head often. Few things are more annoying than having to adjust frames every five seconds due to poor fit.
Academy Black ($84)
For a comfortable fit, check this pair out. Although they may look a bit bulkier than you’d think, a nicely fitting pair of acetate framed glasses will be a pleasure to wear. The thicker arms are comfortable and the integrated nose pads won’t dig into your face either. Larger lenses mean you’re covered on peripheral vision too. The timeless look of these frames adds a bit of old school cool as well. ($84)
Affordable: You can find a pair that balances durability, weight, comfort, and fit, but it won’t be of much help if it’s got a prohibitive price tag (and that’s often the case). Because glasses are one of those things that are so easy to lose, it also helps to have an affordable pair so you at least know you’re not out a ton of money if they’re gone for good.
Muse Fox Trot ($89)
The Muse Fox Trot is a modern, yet refined pair of glasses that balance all of the key features that make for a good pair of EDC glasses. They’re constructed from metal for increased durability and have a slimline frame for a comfortable weight. ($89)
Where to Buy Glasses Online
The example glasses we’ve shown here are from GlassesUSA.com. They offer plenty of frames with the right features to get the job done, and they actually come in at or below the $100 price point, lenses included. You can pick from luxury designer brands and popular crowd favorites like Ray-Ban and Oakley as well.
Buying glasses online might seem like a pain, but GlassesUSA.com have a few features and services that make it easy. They’ve got a tool that makes recommendations for glasses that look and fit you the best based on the shape of your face. There’s free shipping, a 365 day warranty, and free returns just in case things don’t work out 100%.
Now that you know what to look for, you can find a new pair of glasses worthy of your EDC setup. One last thing — GlassesUSA.com offers 50% off all frames with basic prescription lenses if you use the coupon code WELCOME50 (some exclusions apply). That’ll leave some cash in your pocket to get that new flashlight or key organizer you’ve been eyeing.
