How Many Pairs Of Sunglasses Do You Really Need?

Imagine heading west as you drive home from work on a sunny, summer day. You reach into the glove box at the next traffic light only to discover your sunglasses are not where you thought they were. Then you remember that you left them on the kitchen counter. You wore them out in the yard the previous evening, and you forgot to put them back in your car.

Do you need a second pair of sunglasses so this problem doesn’t rear its ugly head again? Buying a second pair probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. But, how many pairs of sunglasses do you really need?

There are people who buy sunglasses solely as a fashion accessory. They may own dozens of pairs, or even hundreds if they have enough outfits to match them to. Heck, rocker Elton John is rumored to own as many as 2,000 pairs of sunglasses. That would be far too many for most of us.

Olympic Eyewear, a Utah company that designs and distributes designer sunglasses, explains that the average consumer purchases at least one pair of sunglasses every year. For most people, that single pair is a replacement for another pair. Most of us do not collect sunglasses the way Elton John does. Still, there are legitimate reasons for owning more than one pair.

Keeping a Pair in the Car

You may be the kind of person who keeps a pair of sunglasses in the car at all times. Those glasses never leave the car either. That way, you will always have a pair when you are driving. You keep a separate pair in your pocket or bag to wear after you’re parked and on your way.

Keeping a pair in the car exclusively for driving is a legitimate reason to have a second pair of sunglasses. If your family owns two cars or more, having a separate pair in each car is also legit. Do not be afraid to buy a couple of extra pairs to keep your cars stocked.

A Pair for Normal Use

Buying a pair of sunglasses for normal, everyday use is a given. We all do it. Even those of us who only own a single pair put our sunglasses through the ringer every day. We wear them at work and play. So if you’re counting, that puts us at two pairs – one pair to keep in the car and another for normal use. Are there any other circumstances we should consider?

A Pair for Special Events

Owning another pair for special events may be justifiable depending on your lifestyle. For example, if you live in a warm weather state like Florida or California, you might spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying both recreational activities and work- or business-related events. You might want an extra pair of sunglasses for use at outdoor weddings, corporate gatherings, etc.

A Pair for Sports Activities

Finally, most of us could see the need to have a separate pair of sunglasses for sports activities. After all, sports can be destructive to even the most well-built pair of shades. You wouldn’t want to risk one of your other pairs when you’re playing a pickup game of basketball with friends.

Our total comes to four pairs of sunglasses. You could get away with three if you are not into sports or you don’t frequently need sunglasses for special events. Nix both special events and sports and you could get away with just two pairs. And if you don’t drive, one would do the trick.

So, how many pairs of sunglasses do you really need?