Maui Jim Ho'okipa Sunglasses

This is by far the best selling Maui Jim model that star sunglasses sell, Maui Jim Ho-okipa polarised sunglasses are a classic shape with superb proportions that suit a whole range of face shapes and sizes. As the main model in the rimless nylon collection, the Hookipa tick all the boxes for an excellent first buy model from Maui Jim as the design looks superb with a smart suit or casual accessory when sitting outside a bar or pub.

As with most of the nylon collection this model comes in the standard three colours, the neutral grey, bronze and Maui rose lens tints and are complimented with the rubber compound on the nose and ear sockets that grip your face during the most vigorous of activity. This rubber compound actually increases grip when condition are hot and wet so they are perfect for joggers or activities that make you seat and overheat.

The frame is made from nylon and is strong, lightweight and an excellent material for making sunglasses as it can be bent and will re-shape to the original form easily. The weight means the eyewear are great for wearing during long spells and will not pull around the ears as the ear stems are straight and do not hook behind the ear.

This is quite simply an excellent sunglass for anyone looking for a lifestyle pair of shades. The polarised lens is simply brilliant and the shape is classic and looks great on the beach as an accessory to swimwear yet slip on your evening attire and the Maui Jim Ho-okipa sunglasses will look classy and stylish. We can not recommend these sunglasses high enough.

16.05.2012 HOW TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT SUNGLASSES FOR YOU, FEATURED PRODUCT MAUI JIM HOOKIPA

With over 10 years experience of retailing sunglasses, many exhibitions and countless fittings at the store in Royal Tunbridge Wells our expert, David Smith, will explain how to identify the right sunglasses for you. This process is relatively simple but very intimate and you really need to be honest with your intentions as a branded pair of sunglasses nowadays can cost anything between 50 and 300 pounds and with disposable income being tighter than ever, fewer and fewer people are buying more than one pair a year.

First things first, why do you want sunglasses? This might seems a basic question but are you looking for an all-rounder from a pair of sunglasses or for a specific reason such as a sporting pair, golf for example, once this is understood we can move forward.

Assuming that you are looking for an all-round pair of sunglasses for use in the car and a general lifestyle pair then I would recommend something mid/upper price range that is designed as a lifestyle piece and not too edgy in terms of current fashion. There is nothing worse than buying sunglasses that looked great in the store with a bunch of friends telling you that you look like a movie star only to find that you feel really uncomfortable and conscious wearing them when you are on your own in public. This is why I recommend a 'safe' purchase, sticking to classic colours such as blacks and greys, brown and tortoiseshell colours and keeping the shape of the sunglasses as unobtrusive as possible. If you have a round face, try square glasses, a rectangular face requires wide sunglasses with round edges and those of you with an oval face (such as David Beckham) are the lucky ones, you can wear aviators and any shape as long as the basics rules are not broken. Identify a brand that you aspire to, for men Prada Sport or Boss are excellent choices as they are well made, classy and will look great whilst wearing a suit or casual sat outside a bar, women should look for brands that make them feel special, choosing a colour that suits your hair and skin tones. Tom Ford, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana have lovely coloured frames that are soft in colour and not too harsh when wearing your hair up.

Speaking of basic rules, when buying sunglasses it is important to fit the frame correctly, the top bar of the sunglasses must not cover your eye-brows totally, if they do then the sunglasses are too large. It is also important to try and choose sunglasses that do not sit on your cheeks as these can cause rubbing and mark your skin overtime. Stick to these basics and you will not go far wrong, now read on and ill explain how to identify the correct pair when looking for a specific pair for sports.

Sport sunglasses are a more technical proposal and much more in depth, it really is about narrowing down your sporting requirements to match the correct frame and lens. An example would be sunglasses for golf, and I will use the Maui Jim Ho-okipa R407-10 as an example as these are excellent sunglasses for active sports and a great all-rounder. First identify the main colour that will be viewed through the lens, in golf this would be green for the grass on the greens and fairways, second identify the typical light conditions, bright sunlight or overcast and lots of reflective light must also be a consideration. Finally the level of movement, duration you could be wearing the sunglasses for and the conditions, for this third point by movement I mean how much head movement, fast moves, jumping etc that may cause the sunglasses to become dislodged. The duration is how long you will wear the sunglasses for given that they may have to remain untouched until the sporting activity has ended, and by conditions I refer to being near salt water, dusty environments or anything that would cause the sunglasses to come exposed. In our example of golf, a lynx course is typically by the sea so salt water in the air will be more corrosive than normal rain or morning mist, a duration could be up to four hours for an 18 hole course and movement is low impact but the head is facing down when swinging the club so grip and fit are issues to consider.

In summary for our chosen sport example of golf, we know that we need sunglasses that can be worn for up to four hours non-stop so they need to be lightweight and comfortable. We know that the primary colour is green, that light conditions will vary from bright, direct sunlight to overcast during a single session and that wet grass could be highly reflective. Movement is low impact but the sunglasses need to fit well as the head will be facing down often and the sunglasses will be exposed to salt water spray, rain and possibly the odd stray ball that might strike the lens.

Now we look at the chosen eyewear, the model Maui Jim Hookipa R407-10 that have a brown frame and Maui Rose lens tint. For comfort the frame and lens are lightweight, polycarbonate lenses have excellent impact resistance (for that stray ball) and combined they have virtually no weight yet strong enough for daily use. The Maui Rose lens is a polarised lens so reflective glare is filtered (only a polarised lens can filter reflective glare) and squinting will be reduced. The Maui Rose tint is for use in all light conditions and has a high contrast level which means one can track the ball through a tree line into a bright sky without losing the ball in mid flight. The lens lifts light so greens and colours are bright so the wearer can see the undulations and rolls in the fairway and greens in detail and the lens has a corrosive protection against salt water and oils to prevent damage and scratches. Furthermore, the sunglasses are rimless so your vision is not impaired, truly an ideal pair of shades that are perfect for golf and look great too.