Glasses with clip on sunglasses are like the chameleons of eyewear. You could be rockin’ green-tinted shades with your beachwear ensemble one day. The next day, it’s a pair of deep purple shades to go with your favorite dusty lavender cardigan.
These babies are sleek and adaptable. They offer style and convenience like no other eyewear can. Intrigued? Let’s see what these extra lenses have to offer.
Types of Glasses With Clip On Sunglasses
Eyeglasses with clip on sunglasses function like two or more pairs of glasses in one. The base frame has clear lenses, with or without a prescription. Magnets, hinges, clips, or screws let you attach an outer frame with tinted lenses to the front of your glasses.
Typically, these eyeglasses come in three types:
Standard Clip-Ons
This is typically the most affordable type of glasses with clip on sunglasses. The clip on piece is attached using hooks or small clips.
Flip-up Clip-Ons
With these glasses, just flip up the clip-on sunglasses when you don’t need them. The clip-on is typically attached on the frame, bridge, or hinges with screws.
Magnetic Clip-Ons
These are some of the cleanest, most modern, and convenient clip-ons available. Magnets are used to attach the sunglasses to the frames. The result looks more sleek than standard and flip-up clip-ons with shades.
Just wait for the click, and you’re good to go!
Bestselling Glasses With Clip On Sunglasses
Garett Leight HAMPTON Clip-On
Garett Leight HAMPTON CLIP-ON glasses embody easy and affordable elegance with their earthy tortoiseshell frames and distinct clip on shades. You can wear these standard clip-on sunglasses while spotting the Big Five on an African safari, relaxing on a tropical beach, or simply taking a stroll around the city.
These come in poly/plastic durable lenses, as well as Dark Tortoise, Pink Blush, and Whiskey Tortoise frame colors.
Garett Leight LANGLEY Clip-On
When I think of flip-up glasses, Garett Leight LANGLEY CLIP-ON glasses come to mind. The metallic clip-ons have hinged flip-up frames. The base frames come in color combinations of Silver/H20, Gold/Emerald, and Antique Gold/Bordeaux. These retro-style magnetic eyeglass frames evoke the carefree attitudes of the 1980s.
BMW BW5085-H With Clip-On
BMW BW5085-H glasses feature sleek and modern magnetic clip-ons, ideal for discerning men and women who seek the same form and function in their eyewear as they enjoy in their cars.
For added brand recognition, the company’s logo appears on each arm of the base frame, which comes in Shiny Black, Shiny Pale Gold, and Shiny Blue hues. Opt for prescription lenses if needed.
Flexon 610 Eyeglasses with the Clip-On Add-On
The Flexon 610 Clip-on is an optional add-on when purchasing Flexon 610 glasses. The frames are full-rim, rectangular, gunmetal men’s frames.
The hinged clip-on is steel with grey-tinted lenses and attaches to the frame using a patented hidden spring clamp mechanism built into an alloy metal bridge. Together, they’re a cool combo you can mix and match with any everyday outfit.
Tom Ford FT6068-B With Clip On
The Tom Ford FT6068-B Clip-Ons are a bit more on the expensive side compared to the previous options, but hey, they do give you a great bang for your buck. These sunglasses have a Shiny Black frame variant with brown lenses. However, the Dark Havana frame and green lens combo is a good choice if you want something that’s a little out there.
These bold sunglasses would be the perfect accessory for a simple white T-shirt and jeans combo. They have a square shape, and they’re great for anyone who’s looking for a preppy touch.
Max Mara MM5212 With Clip On
This one’s for the coffee lovers! The Max Mara MM5212 Clip On features a beautiful monochromatic color combo with different shades of brown. They’re a good choice for busy women who still want something chic. But if you’re looking for something with a bit more color, then this frame comes in a Dark Havana pattern, too.
The lens can be adjusted according to your prescription (pick distance, reading, or progressive). Or, you could simply opt to get non-prescription ones (either display lenses, non-corrective lenses, or blue light lenses; your choice).
Garett Leight WILSON CLIP-ON
Another Garrett Leight in our stack! This Wilson Clip-On comes in four colorways: Gold/Brown, Silver, Bronze, Auburn Gradient, and Gold/Emerald. They’re a great accessory for men and women alike.
This design is more on the classy, retro, and old-money side. The glasses pair well with neutral outfits and straight silhouettes (in contrast to the circular frame). Grab a pair of these for when you’re out for a sunny brunch with friends! Just brace yourself for the swarm of compliments.
Tom Ford FT5970-B With Clip On
You can never really go wrong with Tom Ford. If the Dark Havana frames of the FT6068-B weren’t convincing you enough, then how about considering the Tom Ford FT5970-B?
There are other options available, but my favorite is this combo of shiny black frames and smoky lenses. It’ll instantly pull together any outfit you pull out of your closet. This one’s perfect for men who want to have a Clark Kent moment.
Garett Leight KINNEY CLIP-ON
Garett Leight really knows their clip-ons. This Kinney model of theirs features rose gold frames and dusty mirror lenses. It’s fitting for any man or woman looking to make a statement, all while being classy.
The Kinney is also available in a gold-and-green combo that never really goes out of style. So you can’t go wrong with any of the selection, honestly! I like how they don’t look like your typical clip-on glasses as well, given the color combo and frame style.
Garett Leight WILLIAM CLIP-ON
I promise I’ll stop rambling about Garrett Leight’s clip-on sunglasses (maybe), but hear me out for the final time with this one: the William Clip-on. I love me some green lenses, but I appreciate it even more when the design is executed as well as this one.
It comes in an antique gold frame that matches the lenses’ hue perfectly, a great touch for when you’re out on a cruise or simply hanging out by the water. I love how the frame gives off a “bug” impression as well, which doesn’t really come off silly. It’s just chic!
Why Choose Clip-Ons Over Other Practical Alternatives?
While searching for my perfect sunglasses and eyewear combo, I’ve tried it all: photochromic lenses, contact lenses and sunglasses, prescription sunglasses (as a separate pair); you name it. But honestly, nothing beats the practicality of clip-ons.
Each alternative does have its place, but clip-ons cater to specific problems that these other options create.
Clip-Ons vs. Photochromic Lenses
Photochromic lenses are transition lenses that darken automatically in sunlight. Sounds good, but the lenses’ tint intensity varies greatly depending on the UV exposure. When I’m driving in a car with UV-blocking windshields, the lenses don’t “transition” much to darker lenses, so the road ahead stays bright and blinding.
The speed of transition can also be slow sometimes. You may have to deal with two to three minutes of dark vision when going indoors because the lenses take a while to clear up. The tint sometimes also fails to get as dark as dedicated sunglasses, so I still squint in the harsh midday sun.
Clip-Ons vs. Contact Lenses
Contact lenses can require more maintenance than glasses. You need to worry about cleaning solutions, proper storage, and careful insertion and removal. Contacts can also sometimes cause dry eyes, especially during long workdays.
The daily routine of having contact lenses can immediately become too much. Just imagine forgetting your contact case during an overnight trip!
Clip-Ons vs. Prescription Sunglasses
While prescription sunglasses work well, it can sometimes be tricky to constantly switch frames around. You’ll have to remember to bring your prescription sunglasses with you when you’re out and about, and carrying two sets of eyewear can get bulky. With clip-ons, you don’t have to worry about this.
Clip-ons win on three fronts: immediate adaptability, minimal carry burden, and lower cost. You adapt to changing light conditions faster than photochromic lenses can react. You carry less than the two-frame system requires. You spend less than buying multiple prescription pairs.
You attach the sunglasses when needed and remove them when not. Easy-peazy!
Exploring the Pros and Cons
As cool as these clip-on shades are, they come with advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before purchasing a pair.
Pros
- Convenience: Enjoy different colored shades with one pair of clip-on frames.
- Versatility: Choose from clip-on lenses with various functions, including UV protection, blue light protection, or tinted lenses for added style.
- Portability: Want to change up your eyewear in the middle of the day? No problem! Clip-ons are easy to carry and easily fit in bag pockets and purses.
Cons
- Risk of damage: Be cautious when transporting your clip-ons without a proper padded case. Likewise, there is a risk of scratching the base lenses of your frames if you don’t handle your clip-ons properly.
- Fit and security: When attaching your clip to your glasses, ensure they fit securely and remain in place. The clip may fall off if it is misaligned or not securely attached.
- Longevity: Clip-on magnets and hinges can degrade over time.
It may be worth noting that these glasses are not suitable for everyone. You need a good amount of confidence and a dash of playfulness to pull these off!
The Question of Cost
Even though glasses with clip-on sunglasses typically come with more expensive price tags, choosing them over their traditional counterparts is an investment in convenience and versatility. So yes, you could say that these frames and add-ons are cost-effective.
Final Considerations
These frames are impressive innovations in eyewear design, allowing you to enjoy multiple sunglass tints and styles with just one pair of glasses. If you’re into making creative fashion statements, this is something you’ll love to play with.
Of course, as with any eyewear investment, the risk of damage is always a consideration. Proper care and handling are a must.
Ultimately, whether or not this multifunctional eyewear is a good option depends on you and your lifestyle. Do you spend a lot of time transitioning between indoors and outdoors, and prioritize flexibility, convenience, and affordability? Then yes, glasses with clip-on sunglasses are worth it!
TL;DR
- Glasses with clip-on sunglasses combine clear lenses and sun protection in one frame, offering quick adaptability and style flexibility.
- The three main types are standard clip-ons, flip-up clip-ons, and magnetic clip-ons. Magnetic styles are the most sleek and convenient.
- Clip-ons let you switch lens colors and functions without carrying multiple pairs of glasses.
- Popular models from brands like Garett Leight, Tom Ford, BMW, Flexon, and Max Mara balance fashion, comfort, and practicality.
- Clip-ons outperform photochromic lenses for driving and bright sunlight since they darken instantly and more effectively.
- They are easier to manage than contact lenses and less bulky than owning a separate pair of prescription sunglasses.
- Downsides include potential scratching, fit issues, and wear on magnets or hinges over time.
- Clip-ons work best for people who move frequently between indoor and outdoor spaces.
- While not the cheapest option upfront, they are cost-effective for anyone who values versatility and convenience.
