Maui Jim Breakwall 422-02 Sunglasses

I discovered these EXcellent sunglasses by accident in 2008. I suffered an eye injury (a papercut to my eye) while at work. During this ordeal my eye doctor suggested I wear sunglasses that would shield the injury site. My doctor recommended Maui Jim for the great quality of vision with these lenses. Since workers comp covered the sunglasses at the time which needed to be prescription, I didn't get a choice in the style. I have to say I was shocked at the price. But once I put them on, I didn't want to take them off!!! The crispness and clarity I got immediately was totally worth every penny!! I grew up in Phoenix AZ, and I never really took seriously the need for sunglasses. Fast forward 10 years after injury, I will now live with the injury for the rest of my ... MoreI discovered these EXcellent sunglasses by accident in 2008. I suffered an eye injury (a papercut to my eye) while at work. During this ordeal my eye doctor suggested I wear sunglasses that would shield the injury site. My doctor recommended Maui Jim for the great quality of vision with these lenses. Since workers comp covered the sunglasses at the time which needed to be prescription, I didn't get a choice in the style. I have to say I was shocked at the price. But once I put them on, I didn't want to take them off!!! The crispness and clarity I got immediately was totally worth every penny!! I grew up in Phoenix AZ, and I never really took seriously the need for sunglasses. Fast forward 10 years after injury, I will now live with the injury for the rest of my life. Now, I can't afford to take for granted my vision. I need to win the lotto so that I can have a variety of Maui Jim prescription sunglasses. It's a good thing I've been saving up because it's time for a new prescription.Nowww, my issue, is what to do with the two since they are prescription? Any suggestions?? If money isn't an issue, I highly recommend Maui Jim sunglasses as a gift option

Absolutely fav hiking glasses

I’ve owned probably 4 pairs of Breakwalls. I absolutely love them. My eyes like the amber lens, as I don’t have to take them off in the shade, unlike the gray lens. They do not scratch easy (looking at you Oakley). I think they are unisex and work well on my small lady face. They weigh nothing and stay on my face. They don’t stay on a hat very well while crossing alpine streams. So, here I am again purchasing another pair. Great for hiking and water sports.

Great design, but won’t sit “level” on face

Really love these..I’m on my third pair due to losing them over the last 8 years. So why the 3 stars? My 3rd pair doesn’t seem to sit level on my face. I am constantly adjusting them. Not sure if there is an alignment issue with the glasses or something warped, but definitely a problem with my latest pair. Hopefully you’ll have better luck.

Lens Quality Not to Expected Standards

Simply put, the lenses did not live up to the technical claims on that section of the website. Bought a pair of Breakwalls with readers, which is the only way to get the HCL Bronze in the Maui Brilliant lenses. I'm a commercial photographer, and have extensive experience with lenses; this lens material creates the visual effect of a camera lens that's just not quite in focus. The reader portion of the lens is also slightly high for my field of vision, and the top edge of the magnifier creates a bit of additional distortion for a couple of millimeters above the top edge that adds to the problem. Also, the nosepieces are not consumer-adjustable: a little lowering of the frame might help that issue, but it won't improve the overall clarity of the lenses. I compared ... MoreSimply put, the lenses did not live up to the technical claims on that section of the website. Bought a pair of Breakwalls with readers, which is the only way to get the HCL Bronze in the Maui Brilliant lenses. I'm a commercial photographer, and have extensive experience with lenses; this lens material creates the visual effect of a camera lens that's just not quite in focus. The reader portion of the lens is also slightly high for my field of vision, and the top edge of the magnifier creates a bit of additional distortion for a couple of millimeters above the top edge that adds to the problem. Also, the nosepieces are not consumer-adjustable: a little lowering of the frame might help that issue, but it won't improve the overall clarity of the lenses. I compared them with a pair of MJ glasses that have the MauiPure lenses in HCL Bronze, and the level of visual clarity is identical. I of course did not expect prescription-quality optics, but I sure expected better this.

Light Weight Durable Quality Sunglasses

I bought my first pair of Maui Jim Breakwall sunglasses a few years ago. I liked them so much that I bought two more pair so that I had a pair in each of my vehicles and a pair for my driving job. This way I am never without my Maui Jim’s. They are super light weight with crystal clear optics and with the polarized lenses colors are crisp and brilliant. So far each pair is scratch free and pretty durable. I did have one temple piece break off at the hinge but the Maui Jim repair was easy, fast and cost effective instead of buying new again. The turn around for the repair from the time I mailed them to the repair center until I received them back was just under a week which I thought was excellent service. If for some reason I should ever need another pair of ... MoreI bought my first pair of Maui Jim Breakwall sunglasses a few years ago. I liked them so much that I bought two more pair so that I had a pair in each of my vehicles and a pair for my driving job. This way I am never without my Maui Jim’s. They are super light weight with crystal clear optics and with the polarized lenses colors are crisp and brilliant. So far each pair is scratch free and pretty durable. I did have one temple piece break off at the hinge but the Maui Jim repair was easy, fast and cost effective instead of buying new again. The turn around for the repair from the time I mailed them to the repair center until I received them back was just under a week which I thought was excellent service. If for some reason I should ever need another pair of sunglasses I will definitely be looking to purchase Maui Jim sunglasses again. I’m rating only 4 stars because I did have the one temple piece that snapped off, otherwise these have been excellent.

Quality that survived TSA!!

I've had these glassed for years and love them. These are the only pair I wear, and I basically live in them. I was at the airport in Atlanta and when going through TSA I was asked to remove them from my head. I quickly tossed them in the gray plastic bin with my other belongings and proceeded through the metal detector. Apparently the glasses did not stay in the plastic bin through x-ray, and I found them under the x-ray conveyor belt broken in pieces. I was late already and scooped them up very disappointed. Surprisingly my travel companion snapped them back together and I have been wearing them ever since. The edge of the lenses took on a little damage, but not enough to interfere with wearing them. I am returning them for repair now as the nose piece of the ... MoreI've had these glassed for years and love them. These are the only pair I wear, and I basically live in them. I was at the airport in Atlanta and when going through TSA I was asked to remove them from my head. I quickly tossed them in the gray plastic bin with my other belongings and proceeded through the metal detector. Apparently the glasses did not stay in the plastic bin through x-ray, and I found them under the x-ray conveyor belt broken in pieces. I was late already and scooped them up very disappointed. Surprisingly my travel companion snapped them back together and I have been wearing them ever since. The edge of the lenses took on a little damage, but not enough to interfere with wearing them. I am returning them for repair now as the nose piece of the frame broke after someone sat on them, but I can't wait to get them back and have several more years with them. These are literally my favorite sunglasses ever, I would recommend them to anyone. Thanks Maui Jim for all the great products and customer service!

Rootbeer - Lenses not dark enough

I bought the Rootbeer model with the brown frames a couple of months ago. The salesman said the lens was brown. It's actually brownish-green, and not very dark, which is not what I wanted. Sadly, I returned them because the soothing feeling I get from dark brown lenses just wasn't there. They looked good and were extremely lightweight, but my eyes didn't feel as protected as I'd like. I hope Maui Jim makes more sunglasses with true brown lenses. They are the best blue blockers, warm up harsh whites and let you see the world with higher contract, which is great for driving. Sadly, Maui Jim makes most lenses gray/black and green. Too many of their "brown" lenses aren't really that.

Stay put and light weight

I usually wear the Lighthouse but I buy Breakwall for my husband. I love the rimless designs and minimalist look. Not a big plastic sunglasses girl and my husband likes minimalist things as well. His disappeared one day and I replaced them and added a pair in the green HT lenses. My husband has sensitive blue eyes and I wanted him to have a pair of HTs for overcast days and golf (his new hobby).I was skeptical at first, but you really don't notice the green tint after a few minutes and the contrast really is nice and I can see indoors. I tried on his glasses and they look great on different faces due to the neutral design. I also have a medium to small head and my husband is medium and the frame is the right size. Also, the narrow nose bridge works great as most ... MoreI usually wear the Lighthouse but I buy Breakwall for my husband. I love the rimless designs and minimalist look. Not a big plastic sunglasses girl and my husband likes minimalist things as well. His disappeared one day and I replaced them and added a pair in the green HT lenses. My husband has sensitive blue eyes and I wanted him to have a pair of HTs for overcast days and golf (his new hobby).I was skeptical at first, but you really don't notice the green tint after a few minutes and the contrast really is nice and I can see indoors. I tried on his glasses and they look great on different faces due to the neutral design. I also have a medium to small head and my husband is medium and the frame is the right size. Also, the narrow nose bridge works great as most sunglasses don't sit right on my skinny nose. The nose pads sit on little flexible arms that give so they work for a size range.

The ‘New’ HCL Bronze is not the amazing lens it used to be.

My most recent pair of Breakwalls (this is my 3rd) are disappointing. I have always chosen the HCL Bronze lens for the incredible optics. Not so this time - the lens has been changed. Gone is the amazing contrast which made the lenses so clear and defined. I called Maui Jim and they confirmed they changed the lens. It is now a basic yellow lens (my words) compared to the amazing lens that it was. The only thing they offered was to send them back and they would issue a credit. NOT EVEN A RECOMMENDATION for a better lens, or any other help finding a lens comparable to the original lens. Very disappointing....

Very Good Sunglasses

I have had two Breakwalls for 10+ years. I'd rate them 4.5 stars if that was an option. My main outdoor pair is the Neutral Grey lens used for everything outdoors. The other color lens was the old bronze (which has been replaced by the HCL Bronze) and used almost exclusively for driving. That lens offered higher contrast to the new lens and served it's purpose very well.I always had some concern about the fragile Breakwall nose piece and I amazed myself that I was able to keep them whole for that long a period of time. The inevitable happened when I sat on the bronze pair while getting in the car. I sent them to MJ for repair (at my cost) and MJ quickly returned to me a new pair without charging the extra cost for new. Obviously they felt it cheaper to replace vs. ... MoreI have had two Breakwalls for 10+ years. I'd rate them 4.5 stars if that was an option. My main outdoor pair is the Neutral Grey lens used for everything outdoors. The other color lens was the old bronze (which has been replaced by the HCL Bronze) and used almost exclusively for driving. That lens offered higher contrast to the new lens and served it's purpose very well.I always had some concern about the fragile Breakwall nose piece and I amazed myself that I was able to keep them whole for that long a period of time. The inevitable happened when I sat on the bronze pair while getting in the car. I sent them to MJ for repair (at my cost) and MJ quickly returned to me a new pair without charging the extra cost for new. Obviously they felt it cheaper to replace vs. repair and that decision was much appreciated by me. That pair lasted about 6 months until lost them due to a dumb decision. They were temporarily stored on top of my head and they must have just slipped off without my noticing (a disadvantage of their light weight?).I just purchased a new pair, but this time I went with the Ho'okipa model. The new bronze lens, also on the Breakwall, serves me just as well for driving as the previous bronze shade. The only reason for "moving up" to the Ho'okipa was the slightly sturdier frame, and according to other reviewers less susceptible to bridge breaking ...well worth the additional $20 IMO. Another benefit of the Ho'olopa is that the top of the lens no longer touches my eyebrow and keeps them much cleaner (especially from suntan lotion).I'd give the Breakwall a 5 star in all regards except for the benefits of the Ho'okipa. I'm left to wonder how much MJ would charge for 'stupidity' insurance for people who lose them like me?