Maui Jim and Oakley, you might have some real competition in the shape of Kaenon sunglasses.
The brand isn’t exactly a new kid on the block, but it is going from strength to strength with innovative polarized lenses and lightweight frames. These frames are made for the active outdoor lifestyle.
But do they live up to the hype? I scoured Reddit and did an online deep dive to find out for you.
In 2001, brothers Steve and Darren Rosenberg were sailing through the Polynesian islands, which prompted them to think about the shortcomings of their sunglasses. Being sporty Californians, they took it upon themselves to create a brand of sunglasses they thought would enhance vision and clarity while on the water.
They named the brand Kaenon, which is derived from a Polynesian word that means ‘free.’ The name reflects the brand’s core inspiration: the freedom of being on the water.
Polarized Lenses Technology
Kaenon sunglasses are designed with water in mind. The brothers tasked themselves with creating sunglasses tech that would reduce glare from the water and help provide crystal clear sight. This is perfect for activities like sailing, when you’re in motion.
How Does the Brand Compare to Its More Famous Rivals?
According to Redditors, Kaenon sunglasses generally live up to the hype and perform well. The lenses provide clarity, and the frames are lightweight.
One Redditor commented that he loves his Kaenon sunglasses even though he has owned more famous brands, including Oakley. The Redditor writes:
“I’ve had most of them. Kaenon and Maui take it for me when it comes to lenses. I have a pair Kaenon at least 15 years old, and they’re my everyday wear. So for durability absolutely Kaenon. Oakley are overrated and always have lens problems for me. Though they haven’t been oakley for years, just another conglomerate purchase riding on the name like many others. Never tried Randolph or serengeti.”
Others say that while Kaenon sunglasses are comfortable, some models are not adjustable or feel too narrow, so it’s important to select the right size.
One Redditor says:
“I love my Kaenons’ lenses but they are not adjustable AT ALL and they run very small.”
On another thread of Maui Jim vs. Kaenon, the verdict is more split. Some buyers prefer Maui Jim because of the lens quality and the wide variety of options.
“In terms of color rendering, MJ Bronze is a yellower brown and Kaenon Brown is a redder, oranger brown. Your eyes will adjust much faster to the MJ and Kaenon will need a minute for your eyes to adjust. With MJ, the blues will be a bit more natural vs the Kaenon, which will have redder blues. MJ will make everything warmer and more saturated than their grey lens, but the Kaenon feels much more saturated. In my opinion both are dark enough, but Kaenon feels darker.
I haven’t found another brown lens that’s similar to MJ but the Kaenon is similar to Smith Chromopop Brown, Persol Brown, and Randolph Tan. Not exactly the same as them, but you’ll get an idea of the difference between one of those and MJ if you can get your hands on one of them.
Personally I prefer the MJ and wear it often, occasionally wearing the Kaenon. But I know lots of people who are the opposite.”
After looking through these threads, it’s clear that the veterans Maui Jim and Oakley have many fans, and they offer quality sunglasses for active lifestyles. However, Kaenon’s polarized lenses are proving to be on par with some competitors’ offerings. It may be down to personal choice in fit, feel, and lens color.
Where Are Kaenon Sunglasses Manufactured?
Kaenon is an American brand inspired by the sunny California beach lifestyle, but the brand creates its products in Italy and uses Japanese optics for its lenses. They claim the combination makes their polarized sunglasses “clearly better.”
It makes sense that their shades are made in Italy, as it’s historically been a hub for eyewear manufacturing. There are generations of artisans who work within specialized factories that have been making glasses for, in some cases, hundreds of years.
While the brand doesn’t specify which factory it uses on its website, it claims that there’s a level of artisan craft involved, making them premium sunglasses.
Are Kaenon Sunglasses Stylish?
Man Wearing Black Kaenon Sunglasses
There are some sunglasses that are designed to make a style statement and draw attention, such as Gucci and Prada frames, which are primarily fashion sunglasses.
Kaenon, on the other hand, is more focused on performance in adverse conditions, such as while sailing. So yes, they still look good, but no, they’re not specifically made to be the most stylish sunglasses around.
Most styles come in a variation of square, rectangular, and aviator shapes. There is a range of frames and lens colors to pick from.
One of the popular styles is the Del Rey Sunglasses. These sunglasses come in three color options, including tortoiseshell. The tortoiseshell frames and ultra-brown lenses give off California cool vibes.
Kaenon Del Rey Polarized Sunglasses
The Burnet Polarized Sunglasses, on the other hand, are a little more adventurous with their blue lenses and multi-tonal frames.
Kaenon Burnet Polarized Sunglasses
As you can see, the brand offers a range that suits different tastes. Are the styles as diverse as, say, Oakley? Maybe not, but they seem to be sticking to shapes and styles that perform well for the target audience.
How much do they cost?
If you want a pair of Kaenon sunglasses, they’ll cost between $175 and $199 on average. They’re premium-priced, but they won’t break the bank compared to some designer sunglasses.
They’re similarly priced to other sportswear-focused eyewear brands, which makes them worth it if you’re always on the water.
Does Kaenon Just Make Glasses For Water Activities?
All Kaenon sunglasses are polarized. Although the website features different sections for golfing, fishing, hiking, and even baseball, among others, there aren’t specific glasses for each activity. Rather, some sunglasses are featured across sections.
The tricky thing is that, for some sports and activities, such as hiking, polarized lenses aren’t recommended because they can obscure depth perception. The reason polarized lenses make sense on the water is that they reduce the glare. But when you’re in dark, complex places, like forests, there isn’t any glare.
Kaenon does offer some lens tints that they say work well for activities like hiking and mountain biking. For example, their yellow and copper tints work well in low-light environments.
If you’d like non-polarized sunglasses, you’ll probably want to look at other brands, like Oakley. Oakley offers popular models like the EV Radar Path, which feature non-polarized lenses and provide peripheral coverage thanks to their wraparound shape. The shape and lenses make them ideal for activities like golf and cycling, where depth perception is essential (you need to see where the hole is)!
Oakley RADAR EV PATH OO9208 Sunglasses
Overall, though, Kaenon sunglasses are a good choice for those looking for sunglasses for the water. Their polarized lenses are designed to cut through harsh light, making it easier to see clearly while you’re sailing or at the beach.
TL;DR
Thinking about getting yourself a pair of Kaenon sunglasses? They claim to be “clearly better,” but how do they stack up against the competition?
The brand was founded in 2001 by a pair of sailing brothers navigating the waters of Polynesia.
They wanted to create sunglasses with superior clarity and glare reduction for life on the water.
The sunglasses use proprietary polarized lenses, SR-91® and SR-91 ULTRA™. They are crafted in Italy with Japanese lens technology.
According to customers, Kaenon sunglasses do hold their own against bigger players, including Oakley and Maui Jim.
Kaenon sunglasses are fairly priced. However, brands like Oakley may offer a broader range of shades (that are non-polarized) for some activities, such as golf and hiking. Kaenon specializes in polarized sunglasses for beach life.
My expertise is in fashion, lifestyle, and all things eyewear, which comes from my bachelor's in fashion marketing from the University for the Creative Arts and some humbling experience backstage at New York Fashion Week. Now, I've swapped the shows and studios for writing about the latest trends and how to choose the best eyewear. I’m from the U.K., and I’ve lived all over the world. I’m currently based in London, where I spend my time following the latest fashion and eyewear trends closely. I’ve previously worked for the Eli Z Group and Memocorp Australia.
