ENDORSE: Randolph Engineering Sunglasses

I've had my Randolph Engineering sunglasses for the past 14 months and they are the best sunglasses I have ever owned. I'd been looking for an updated pair of aviators and these intitially caught my eye when Michael Bastian recommended them in his "10 essentials" interview for the style section of GQ. Since then they have made quite the rounds on men's fashion and lifestyle blogs, and most recently, landed an online partnership with J.Crew. Looks like that partnership ended and unfortunately J.Crew is back with Ray-Ban (they break).

So what is so great about these shades? To start, they are reasonably priced, starting at just $99. Next, they are fully customizable - something everyone appreciates. You can change the frame color, lense color, and temple (bayonet, skull, or cable). Furthermore, they have an amazing return policy and warranty - any broken solder joints are covered for life. Go online and check them out here. If all that wasn't enough, they send you an equipment maintenance kit with each pair, complete with extra screws, nose pieces, and an optical screwdriver. Also included is a lens cloth and carrying case. Best of all, they are made right here in the U.S.A. in Randolph, MA.

Pictured above is their flagship style, the RE Aviator, with skull temples. This style was originally built for the U.S. Military 30 years ago and is also given to NASA astronauts. RE are standard issue for the U.S. Air Force and also to the RNZAF (Royal New Zeland Air Force). If its good enough for them... For the record, I own the Intruder model with gold frames, bayonet temples, and grey polycarbonate lenses. Please don't copy me.