As a neurospicy particular person, with a smaller face, I put on sun shades all 12 months spherical, even on cloudy days. Gill’s reasonably priced polarized sun shades permit me to have sun shades in each bag. However you higher get trawling the web now in order for you any of those.
For over 15 years now I’ve carried a pair of Gill sun shades in my equipment bag wherever I occur to be crusing on the planet.
They’re not all the identical thoughts you, I’ve a number of totally different fashions of Gill sun shades or variants, however they match my smallish face very well and wrap round to dam out wind and vibrant gentle.
As a neurospicy individual I put on sun shades all 12 months spherical, even on cloudy days. I reside by the water, I drive plenty of miles and I sail rather a lot too. I’ve a pair within the automotive, a pair in my bag, a pair on my desk at work, three pairs on my boat in Azores, a pair on my boat in Southampton. You may think about maintaining monitor of sun shades is a job in itself. However these Gill polarized sun shades simply carry on going. And it’s simple to only go surfing and purchase one other pair if wanted. Or I ought to say, it WAS simple.
Annually there’s a number of new fashions, however there’s some ever inexperienced fashions too and these are what I attempt to purchase into. So I do know I can simply get the identical once more, and once more.

I’ve a slender face and discovering glasses to suit that DON’T make me appear like Brains from Thunderbirds is difficult.
The frames are so gentle you may neglect you’re sporting something in any respect. There’s some gentle foam padding alongside every arm, this makes them each snug they usually float if dropped overboard. I’m unsure the way you’d get them again although if you happen to’re shifting at pace. Including a neck float or lanyard to them could be wise if you happen to’re apt for dropping issues overboard.
Polarized to Cat 3
The present lenses are polarized to cat 3. This makes recognizing wind shifts on the water simpler and simpler to identify different issues happening below the water.
I don’t put on any non-polarized sun shades. Among the older fashions of Gill sun shades have been cat 2, however I feel they’ve all moved on to cat3 now. Ideally verify for this on the arm, it’s printed on there so that you can verify and confirm what you’re getting. Search for the CE mark.
The sun shades mannequin identify can also be printed on the opposite arm so you may merely co on-line and order one other pair.
I used to be on the lookout for an image of me NOT sporting sun shades for a profile pic on social and realised that I’m a strolling speaking Gill Sun shades advert. Full disclosure, I purchased each pair of sun shades myself and have by no means been gifted any sun shades that I at the moment put on.
I mainly reside in them. They’ve seen a number of solar rises and solar units over time.
Early morning coastal rowing, with a low solar, no downside. This mannequin is the Corona. At the moment nonetheless out there at an excellent few stockists, however discontinued by Gill.
A vibrant early spring day shifting a ship, no downside. That is the Glare mannequin. At the moment out there solely in black from restricted stockists.
Skippering a clients boat within the British summer season, no downside. Corona Mannequin.
Driving a rib in a busy transport space, no downside. These Corona wrap arounds assist to cease my eyes watering when clipping alongside at 20kts.
I’ve had this pair of two tone Glare for 13 years now they usually’re a bit drained, however I fairly just like the scruffy look. Although I want I may discover a number of extra pairs to maintain in my cabinet for later.
My greatest mistake was shopping for a black pair one 12 months. They lasted about 3 weeks earlier than I misplaced them someplace round Charlestown in Cornwall, between jobs I put them down after which couldn’t discover them once more.
The lesson discovered is that black sun shades are usually arduous to seek out, so I persist with the brighter or lighter colored ones. I would look a bit daft in them, however that’s higher than dropping them.
Anyway, why am I writing all of this about my Gill Sun shades?
Effectively, it appears, very similar to an enormous part of the marine trade that ladies (and smaller confronted folks within the case) are dropping out as budgets are squeezed and product strains are dropped.
Trying on the Gill web site, they not make any sun shades that wrap round a smaller face. However are following with the style for flat sun shades that aren’t pretty much as good at stopping gentle leakage on the water.
Are you able to think about, you’ve purchased the identical comfortable dependable modestly priced comfortable becoming underpants/ boxers out of your favorite store for years and years, after which in the future they are saying, oh, we’re stopping that now. everyone seems to be sporting these additional massive dishevelled Y fronts. You’d be a bit miffed. And that’s what I’m. Miffed.
The present lineup:
So it seems like my 15 12 months love affair with this model could be coming to an finish subsequent time I want to seek out one other pair of wrap round sun shades. There’s a number of stockists on the market with some older inventory. Possibly I can eek it out lengthy sufficient for these previous ever inexperienced strains to return again into trend?
This season could be your final likelihood to get these from retailers promoting off older inventory. For non-Gill wearers, I do have a nifty patrons information to polarized sun shades: Finest crusing sun shades, 8 sensible choices