Even though I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest I still need to wear sunglasses fairly often. As such I am very sensitive to finding a good pair. The last few sunglasses I have owned have all been Rayban sunglasses and before that Persol.

While I highly recommend the [Persols](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_1?rh=n%3A1036592%2Cn%3A%211036682%2Cn%3A1040658%2Cp_4%3APersol%2Cn%3A2474937011&bbn=1040658&ie=UTF8&qid=1344970174) — they were simply out of my budget this go around. So I went with some from American Optics, which claim they make the “[original](http://www.aoeyewear.com/index.html)” government issued fighter pilot sunglasses. Let’s face it, Top Gun influences boys that grew up around the time I did.

I went with the 57mm and the Silver model, and I really like these sunglasses.

What I like most about them is that they are solidly made — I truly feel like they might even survive being sat on (if left on the car seat). [Be sure to check out AO’s handy guide for choosing the right size for your face](http://www.aoeyewear.com/documents/templeslenses.html), and then [go get a pair](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000XXV7Q0/ref=nosim&tag=brooksreview-20) if they are your style. They are inexpensive and well made.