Randolph Sunglasses Review: From Fighter Jets to Fashion-Forward

I live in Dubai—not exactly known for its cloudy weather. And before that? Singapore. So, protecting my eyes from bright sunshine and strong UV has been an imperative for years. 

Regardless of your optics on sunglasses, if there is one brand that high-fashion eyes can see eye to eye with sunglass purists, it’s this one.

Randolph, born in its synonymous hometown in Massachusetts, caught my eye a few years ago. In short, I’ve never looked back. 

A capsule wardrobe essential guarding the retinas of A-listers from Tom Cruise to Emma Stone, Randolph sunglasses are a sunny-day essential in the celebrity universe—and they sure deserve that top spot.

This visionary (pun intended) brand is much more than meets the eye, too. Far beyond a Hollywood mainstay, family-owned and operated Randolph is a heritage eyewear brand that’s been trusted by the US Military since 1978. That’s nearly four decades of elite eye protection, blocking UV for everyone from army pilots to actors to astronauts. So yeah, these shades have a (literal) cosmic reach.

Let it be known: I’ve been a Randolph loyalist for years. From riding buggies in the desert to poolside reading, Randolph has proved itself up there with the best sunglasses for women and for men that my husband and I have owned—and we’ve tried a lot of shades over the years.

In this eye-opening Randolph review, you’ll see why this sunglass brand is not going unnoticed. I’m going to spotlight a trio of my absolute favorites (the Elinor Fusion, the Concorde, and the Aviator) so you can decide for yourself whether or not the military-approved brand merits a place in your armory of accessories.

Randolph sunglasses review: Alluring, American-made, army-approved

Unpacking

Presented in a sleek black magnetic box with an elegant reflective “R”, I get the feeling the best is yet to come.

Upon opening, I am greeted with a gold-foil message “Welcome to extraordinary”; it reads like a sultry whisper in my ear. Now, for the ultimate unveiling:

The Military Aviators—worn by countless U.S military pilots over the decades—come in a beautifully embossed military-issue case. Even if you’re not taking to the skies in the Air Force, everyone will appreciate the quality of the casing. 

It also includes a custom Randolph dog tag keychain and a military-inspired cleaning cloth to keep those lenses smear-free. Oh, and did I mention that the real-deal military casing has only been available to civilians since 2021 upon Randolph’s release?

Other styles come in a chic black clamshell-style hardcase, crafted from vegan leather and embossed with a Randolph logo and a sumptuous soft inner lining. It’s satisfyingly solid, meaning I can pack it in my bag without fear of squishing. And when I need a soft case, Randolph has me covered too—the microfiber cleaning cloth moonlights as a case.

I also got the cutest surprise: a little card handwritten with my sunglasses craftsman’s name.

Excuse me while I swoon.

Aesthetic & design: From military musts to forever fashion favorites

Of course, the Authentic Aviator style will forever remain the brand’s signature, but Randolph has branched out into more up-to-the-minute shapes (teardrop, square, and round sunglasses are all available.)

The Elinors offer plenty of style and coverage. They are inspired by the iconic ‘Jackie O’ shades—I knew I’d seen them somewhere before. I love how the oversized square silhouette is toned down with softened edges.

The Concordes, aptly named to celebrate the WWII pilots by which they’re inspired, feature a super-vogue teardrop shape alongside strong sun protection. High-style + high functionality = a perfect match. The Concorde model is the non-identical twin of Ray-Ban’s classic aviators, gifting us that coveted Depp-esque cool. 

With a slightly squarer lens, the Randolph Aviators breathe fresh life into an established classic.

Randolph’s military-grade sunnies are built to withstand the everyday rigors of life

Covetable style aside, Randolph deserves a medal for exemplary durability.

The quality of Randolph sunglasses is no less than extraordinary in my opinion. After all, they have military roots—and the U.S military is hardly known for cutting corners when it comes to precision.

Built to guard sharp-eyed soldiers from blazing sunshine, protecting civilian irises is a walk in the park to Randolph. So, you can trust that when the UV’s soaring high, your eyes will be safe, sound—and stylish. 

Thanks to jewelry metals—we’re talking 23k gold double-baked for durability—it’s no surprise Randolphs hold their own against day-to-day toil. And, if anything goes awry, you’ll get a lifetime warranty with the solder joints. When you want to whip them on (or off) in an elegant flash, precision-machined hinges offer a butter-smooth opening and closing.

No clunk, all flair. 

Lens materials and optics quality

Optically speaking, glass eclipses polycarbonate lenses when it comes to clarity, true color, and image—hence its prevalence in vision-centric kits like microscopes, telescopes, binoculars, and cameras.

When it comes to lenses, the Aviator and Concordes boast SkyTec™ Glass (Mineral Glass Lenses). As innovative as it sounds, this crystal-clear glass is individually ground and polished to match the exact standards of a camera lens. 

With clear, absolute vision at my disposal—and apex scratch resistance—I appreciate the beauty of a sun-soaked day more than ever.

A word of warning: while this glass is resilient and almost immune to scratching, it’s real glass so it will shatter on hard impact. So I would not recommend it for intense sports activities. My trusty Aviators’ lenses broke after they collided a little too aggressively with a hard marble floor. It was entirely my fault for dropping them, though, and Randoplh graciously replaced the pair without asking any questions.

On the other hand, the Elinors are made with SkyForce™ Nylon, an advanced lens material that’s 40% lighter than glass lenses. A perfect fusion of lightweight comfort and unbeatable optics, I rock these all day long without a flicker of discomfort. Crucially, my Elinors are hard-hitters when it comes to impact—I can’t count how often I’ve dropped them onto concrete pavement, where they’ve miraculously emerged unscathed.

Lens colors: Randolphs come in pretty much every customization under the sun 

Each pair is customizable, so you can pick the color that takes your fancy. From American Tan to Blue Hydro, there’s a tint for every taste.

Bear in mind that not all colors are polarized. I recommend opting for polarized lenses so your eye health uplifts as much as your style. Polarized sunglasses provide extra clarity and reduce glare of bright reflective objects (everything from your car windscreen to the shimmery reflection of the ocean). I wore them poolside all day at all my sunny escapes, and the glare from that turquoise water didn’t bother me in the slightest. 

Frame materials & colors

The lens choice might affect the shades’ longevity. However, the frames are near- indestructible. 

Despite their jewelry-like metal frames, these sunglasses are far from precious. They feel sturdy and solid. Whether you lean towards the 22k Rose Gold, 23k Gold, 23k White Hold, Bright Chrome, Gun Metal, Matte Black, or Matte Chrome, it’ll offer the strength and flexibility to rival a seasoned gymnast. Being highly corrosion-resistant, they stay rust-free, too.

Where are Randolph sunglasses made?

Randolph sunglasses are handcrafted in Massachusetts, U.S.A., in no fewer than 200 fastidious steps. Despite their robust make-up, they still offer a flexibility that evokes a confident feel—perfect for all-day wear.

Speaking of everyday wear, my own Randolphs are still going strong four years on. And full disclosure: I’m a busy person, so sunglass-TLC is often low on my agenda. In fact, my Elinors have crash-landed on the sidewalk more times than I care to admit, and many a time they’ve been shoved in my handbag sans case. Oops. But evidently, Randolphs can handle tough-as-nails military exercises, so my mild abuse doesn’t faze them one bit.

Functionality: You don’t need an army of sunglasses, only military-spec Randolphs. 

I used my Randolphs while driving, walking and lounging in sunny conditions and were impressed with the level of protection.

I love that all lenses come with 100% UVA and UVB protection (both are key, BTW) to keep my sensitive eyes safe from harsh rays. Not to mention, the high-performance lens coatings serve up enhanced vision and sight clarity. Meaning: I can appreciate every detail of my surroundings behind those slick shades.

Fit & comfort

There’s a fine balance between a snug fit and too tight, and Randolph gets it spot-on every time. If I’m rocking them all day, I sometimes forget I’m wearing them at all (bar the compliments and envious side-eyes). That said, they’re a little heavier than my Ray-Bans, but I haven’t experienced any pesky digging-in to my nose or weighed-down feel.

I love the customization options when it comes to frame size, too. All too often, I’ve found the perfect style, only to see them dwarf my natural face or look ridiculously teeny. At Randolph, you can pick from small, regular, large, and extra-large frames.

It’s great that Randolph offers different styles of temples too. Randolph’s signature style is the bayonet temple, which is not as scary as it sounds—promise. (I wasn’t so sure myself but after trying it out, I am sold). They’re uncurled and feature minimized pressure points, originally designed so military personnel could wear them with their helmets and headphones on, too. A brilliant choice for those who wear headsets for work (or play), Bayonet temples equal a clean look, comfortable style, and effortless on-and-off.

That said, I do prefer the classic skull temple arms on my Elinors for my day-to-day. They’re spring with dual-action hinges. In layman’s terms, this means they maintain the perfect compression level against my head, keeping them snug, secure, and in place. 

Care & maintenance

These sunglasses are an investment (more on that below), but Randolph does a pretty sweet job of covering our back should any repairs be necessary. The Service Workshop, based in the Massachusetts HQ, will carefully replace, repair, and renew any element of our beloved sunglasses not covered by the lifetime warranty.

They’ll send back your glasses good-as-new, plus they’ll throw in a complimentary hand-polish so your shades look as fresh as the day you bought them.

However, you can avoid the Service Workshop by using a premium microfibers cloth for the lenses—rought fibers like cotton or linen are Public Enemy No. 1, here. And of course, when they’re not on your head, they should be in a case or pouch. 

Randolph sunglasses price

Ah, the sticky subject of price. I’ll level with you: they’re a bit pricier than Ray-Bans. However, those extra dollars pay for elite quality in style, frames, and optics, in addition to the pedigree and hard-earned reputation wrought throughout the decades. And for having tried many (overpriced) designer sunglasses (oftentimes with style > quality and protection), I find Randolph to be very good value. 

I must shed light on a hard truth, too: most of the household-name sunglasses—Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Persol—are owned (or licensed in the case of brands like Chanel, Prada, Ralph Lauren) by Italian-French conglomerate, EssilorLuxottica. On the other hand, Randolph is an independent, family-owned business who puts craft and care into every pair. Their backstory is a worthy one, and they’ve earned their stripes over decades.

My final thoughts

I am thoroughly impressed by Randolph. Their origins, philosophy, and commitment to unwavering quality are evident in every pair of sunglasses—and, as I said, I own a fair few pairs. What’s more, they offer an opportunity to choose independent makers over monopolies, craftsmanship over cookie-cutter.

Where to buy Randolph sunglasses?

You can browse, customize, and purchase your own Randolphs over on their website.

The alternatives

American Optical craft sunglasses that have literally skyrocketed to the moon—and in popularity. Worn by the entire Apollo 11 crew, these sunglasses go above and beyond in style and stratosphere. But don’t worry—they are beautiful on Earth, too: De Niro famously wore them in Taxi Driver—no space travel involved.
Ray-Ban (The O.G. Aviators) can’t be brushed aside, either. If you’re answering your inner-icon call, you simply can’t go wrong. Revered as some of the world’s best sunglasses, they offer excellent quality, carry the pop-culture credit, and are slightly more affordable than Randolph.