I was looking for reading glasses that were genuinely portable. Since I don't wear glasses constantly, I only need them occasionally—for reading menus or checking small print on my phone.
Whenever I searched for "reader sunglasses near me" or folding glasses, I'd go for the cheapest option. And every single time, I ended up regretting it. Cheap glasses just don't last.
It dawned on me that I was spending $20 every month or two to replace broken pairs. That added up to over $100 a year on subpar products. So I decided to prioritize quality over the lowest price. Here’s what I learned along the way:
My first pair cost $20 and lasted only three weeks. These are the kind you find at a drugstore checkout or on the first page of search results.
They claim to be slim and portable, but they achieve this by using fragile materials. The frames are either plastic or made from thin, weak metal.
Review Summary (1-2 Stars): They work fine until they break—and they always break.
Verdict: Steer clear of anything under $25. You're just throwing money away on disposable products. If a deal on "reader sunglasses near me" seems too good to be true, it probably is.
I moved up to $40 glasses, and they were... okay. I assumed doubling the price would fix everything, but it only solved some issues.