Sunski Sunglasses Review

About Sunski

Sunski is a sustainable sunglasses company based in the US. Focusing on performance, fit, style, and value, the brand has designed a range of polarized sunglasses in various styles and shade options. 

While the brand isn’t yet giving Ray-Ban a run for its money in the name-recognition department, this Sunski sunglasses review has found that the word is undoubtedly getting out there. Sunski sunglasses have been recommended by major outlets like BuzzFeed, Esquire, Wired, and Outside, and the company has an Instagram following of over 89K.

Everyone loves an underdog success story, but this Sunski sunglasses review promises that we’ll remove our rose-colored spectacles to provide an honest, in-depth look at the brand and its products. We will also explore customer ratings, promotions and discounts, and more in order to let you know if these sunglasses are really worth it.

Overview of Sunski

Sunski was founded in San Francisco in 2012 by Tom Stewart and Michael Charley, university friends whose first business venture—an attempt at a next-generation salsa bowl—had gone belly up. When a buyer from a local surf shop expressed an interest in the vintage shades that Tom had picked up on a surfing trip to Australia, the buddies had their lightbulb moment. 

After a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than 15 times the amount of its original goal, Sunski got up and running. Within two years, the company was selling 50K pairs of sunglasses a year, and began expanding its product line. For example, the Sunski Blue Light glasses collection uses blue light-blocking clear frames in the brand’s signature frame designs.

Sunski is committed to having a positive impact on the environment. The company is part of 1% for the Planet, whose members pledge to donate at least 1% of their profits to environmental causes. To date, Sunski has donated $150K to environmental non-profits.

The brand also adheres to sustainable practices in the manufacture of its sunglasses. Sunski employs plasticless packaging, recycled frames and a lifetime warranty on its sunglasses, and a carbon-neutral production process. 

Let’s get this Sunski sunglasses review started with a list of the brand’s pros and cons. 

Pros

• Environmentally conscious brand that uses sustainable materials and practices
• 1% of profits go to environmental causes
• Offers a discount code that also helps charities
• Fashion-forward styles
• Lifetime warranty
• Virtual try-on feature on brand website
• Flexible return/exchange policy
• Free US shipping on orders of $75 and over

Cons

• No express shipping
• Brand does not offer prescription lenses

Unlike the big optical brands that slap their logos on generic products, Sunski creates its own unique designs in-house at its San Francisco studio, proving that style and sustainability can go hand in hand. This Sunski sunglasses review will now take a long hard look at some of the brand’s bestselling styles.

Sunski Sunglasses Review

Sunglasses are essential to help protect your eyes and block out the UV rays. And if you can find a pair with the perfect balance of proper lens color, comfortable frames, and long-term durability, you won’t have to waste money replacing them year after year.

Whether you’re walking your dog or lounging on the beach, Sunski sunglasses will block those rays in style, and their lifetime warranty means that they’re built to last. This Sunski sunglasses review will now go over the brand’s top-selling sunnies. 

Sunski Dipsea Review 

The Dipsea sunglasses sport a round lens and a standard wrap style that allows for optimal optical comfort. They also come in a dazzling range of frame and lens colors to suit your unique personality. Choose from one of the seven options below:

1. Tortoise Amber
2. Champagne Brown
3. Tortoise Ocean
4. Black Slate
5. Tortoise Aqua
6. Tortoise Emerald
7. Frosted Sky

You can get yourself a pair of Dipsea for $44.

Sunski Topeka Review 

Try on the Topeka sunglasses with the Sunski virtual try-on feature to see how these frames fit your face. The squarish lenses rest in small/medium frames with a performance wrap style. Available in three colors (Tortoise Forest, Crimson Amber, and Tortoise Amber), these Sunski sunglasses are all about warm tones. 

The lightweight recycled frames make these great for everyday activities, and the full-eye lens coverage shuts the door on UV rays. The Topeka sunglasses are $51.

Sunski Makani Review 

With its cat’s eye-shaped polarized lenses and variety of transparent to semi-transparent frames, the Makani is a popular style amongst Sunski customers. Use the virtual try-on feature and scope out how you look in the four summery tones of Honey Ocean, Sienna Terra Fade, Blonde Tortoise Aqua, and Tortoise Purple. 

These Sunski specs give you medium eye coverage and are FDA impact-tested. Get the Makani for $58.

Sunski Avila Review 

Like all Sunski frames, the half-frames on the Avila sunglasses are made of recycled materials that create the brand’s signature lightweight feel. These fashion-forward specs are not only stylish, but also comfortable. And just like the rest of Sunski products, these glasses have 100% UVA, UVB, and UV400 protection. 

Whether you want to go severe with Black Slate or playful with the translucent Mint Forest, the Avila will have a lens-and-frame combo that works for you. Get them now for $51 (regular $68).

Sunski Vacanza Review 

Vacanza means “holiday” in Italian, and these stylish sunnies of the same name could have come straight from the beaches of the Amalfi Coast. Whether you’re hitting the hot town during summer in the city or simply lounging in your backyard, the Vacanza gives you panache and comfort all in one. 

There’s only two color options for this one, so pick your poison of either transparent Champagne Ocean or matte Tortoise Forest. The Vacanza are $89.

Sunski Yuba Review 

Lightweight yet sturdy, the Yuba have the all-day comfort you want in your sunglasses. They come in a variety of pleasing colors that are perfect for any outfit—we’re particularly digging the statement-piece  Clear Forest design, but you also have your choice of Stone Terra Fade, Tortoise Ocean, Caramel Ocean, and Tortoise Amber.

Pick the earthy tone that suits you best and nab yourself the Yuba for $58.

Sunski Headland Review 

The wayfarer-style frames of the Headland sunglasses are always in style, which is probably why these are one of the most popular shades that Sunski sells. The universally flattering shape makes these sunglasses super-versatile for any age or gender.

You’ve only got three color options for this one, so choose wisely between Grey Black, Grey Blue, and Grey Lime. Get Sunski’s take on this classic style for $58.

Sunski Treeline Review

The sleek and chic Treeline sunglasses already look super-cool, but the magnetic and removable sun shields really take it over the top. Specially made for high-glare days, these shades provide maximum eye coverage. 

In line with Sunski’s other products, the Treeline provide the comfort you need for those all-day excursions, and the non-slip nose pad will keep them on your face whether you’re hiking or scurrying up a rock face. Given the additional features on these glasses, it’s understandable that they’re at a higher price point of $89.

Sunski Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

Are Sunski sunglasses good? This Sunski sunglasses review sought to answer that pressing question by looking up customer reviews on the brand website, as well as at Amazon and Reddit.

On store.sunski.com, the Dipsea score 4.5/5 stars from 1,020 reviews. One customer raved about the shades’ versatility and comfort, as well as giving a shout-out to the brand’s excellent customer service:

“Love, Love,Love my Sunski’s! This is my third pair. I use them for all types of adventures. hiking, fly fishing and everyday use. I have different styles for different activities. They are light weight, stay in place and super comfortable. Customer service, when needed, is always fabulous.”

Likewise, the Treeline snag a 4.5/5-star rating from their 340 reviews. A user whose job forces them to deal with highly variable light conditions swore by these as an essential safety aid:

“I’m a Ups driver and I have a mountain route which includes a ski area. Lots of sun mixed with lots of snow. My treeline glasses are the answer to all of it, including the wind-whipped dust and dirt and the blinding effect of sun with fresh snow….Glad you make ‘em, glad they are affordable and glad I have my eyes back.”

The good news continues over at Amazon, where the Headland get 4.6/5 stars based on 101 global ratings. Five-star reviewers have great things to say about the durability of the glasses as well as the company’s endless replacement program, as per the comment below:

“The all black is the most durable and best value sunglasses I’ve ever had. I’m on my third pair, I lost the first pair and ran over the second pair. For the price, these sunglasses are amazing and the screens are incredibly scratch resistant. The metal hinges have always held up. I highly recommend.”

Not everyone has such a high opinion of the shades’ sturdiness, though. This Sunski sunglasses review did find more than a few comments complaining that the lenses scratched easily and saying that Sunski products felt cheap in comparison to other designer glasses. 

At Reddit, one such commenter said, “I’ve been disappointed with Sunski quality. The polarized lenses scratch very easily. Then, once you polish them, the lenses become cloudy and difficult to see through because the spray-on polarization keeps scraping off…. Almost every pair of $20 shades I bought lasted longer, though the fit was quite nice.”

While this may seem somewhat concerning, the Sunski warranty pretty much makes the potential scratchability of the lenses a moot point. As another Reddit poster noted, “I’ve had a pair of headlands for years now. Decent quality, decent lenses. They scratch a bit easily but are 100% guaranteed- I’ve had them replace my lenses three times now.” 

As the comment above shows, Sunski’s commitment to customer service effectively cancels out any fragility issues with the products. Unless you’re smashing your shades with a ball peen hammer, the company will keep sending you replacements for life as needed.

Is Sunski Worth It?

Sunglasses range from dollar-store to designer, but this Sunski sunglasses review thinks it’s important to invest in a pair that delivers sufficient quality to match the price point. In this regard, Sunski sunglasses are a great mid-tier option: they’re more stylish and sturdy than a $20 pair, but not nearly as pricey as a designer option.

On top of that, the lifetime warranty means that a single purchase will keep you in shades until you become a shade yourself. And the really great thing is that Sunski can keep to that commitment without contributing to consumer waste, thanks to their environmentally sustainable materials and production processes.

While this Sunski sunglasses review does believe that the brand is worth it, we should note that, style-wise, these shades may not be for everyone. If you prefer dark and heavy frames, the brand’s lightweight materials may not be for you. Additionally, Sunski glasses have a very California-surfer vibe to them, which may not suit your style. 

Of course, you can always make that judgment yourself by using the virtual try-on feature on the brand’s website before committing to a purchase. So those small caveats aside, we have no hesitation in telling you that these sunnies are worth your time.

Sunski Promotions & Discounts 

Sunski features a sale section on their website called the Full Send Special, which offers select styles at discounts up to 40% off.

The brand also has a promo code that offers 10% off your order, with a twist: 5% of those savings go to you, while the other half is donated to a non-profit environmental organization. You can find the Sunski discount code here.

This Sunski sunglasses review found that the brand also offers a student discount of 20% off your entire order with Student Beans. 

Where To Buy Sunski

If you’re interested in a pair of Sunski shades, you can purchase them directly through their online store at store.sunski.com. Here are some alternative retailers that sell Sunski sunglasses:

• Nordstrom
• Amazon
• Evo
• MEC

FAQ

Where are Sunski Sunglasses made?

Sunski sunglasses are made in Wenzhou, China. The Sunski team has thoroughly assessed the factories their sunnies are made in and visits them regularly.

How do you change a Sunski lense? 

If you want to change your Sunski lenses, you’ll have to purchase a lens kit. The Sunski Madronas, Originals, and Headlands have interchangeable lenses called “The Classics.” Not all of the Sunski lens kits are interchangeable. For example, if you have the Sunski Olema sunglasses, you can only use the Olema lens kit.

What is Sunski’s Shipping Policy?

The Sunski free shipping offer applies to all orders of $75 and up. The Sunski shipping cost for international orders varies depending on the size of your order and where you’re located. Luckily, all duties and taxes are included in the shipping fee, so you don’t have to worry about additional costs.

Here are some further things to note about the brand’s shipping:

• Sunski doesn’t offer express shipping
• If you’re ordering from Japan, you’ll need to use the website of the brand’s Japanese partner 
• No shipping available to Greece, Singapore, or India

What is Sunski’s Return Policy?

If you’ve discovered that the sunglasses you’ve purchased aren’t the ones for you, you can return or exchange them within 30 days of purchase, as long as they haven’t been used. Make sure to keep the sunglasses in their original packaging.

Keep in mind that the following items are not accepted for return:

• Final sale items
• Lens kits
• Hard cases

It’s also worth mentioning that Sunski has a one-time exchange policy. Once you’ve returned a pair of sunglasses, you can’t change your mind and go through the exchange process again. 

How to Contact Sunski

If you still have some questions that are unrelated to this Sunski sunglasses review, the brand’s customer service team can promptly assist you. Send them an email to [email protected]. 

You’ll have a better chance at a quick reply if you contact the team during the workweek, Monday to Friday. Sunski aims to reply to emails within 24 hours.

---

Check out some other options for trendy glasses & sunglasses:

Warby Parker

Coastal

Clearly

BonLook