Sunglasses Reviews: Margaritaville Eyewear

Nibblin on sponge cake
Watchin the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin my six-string
On my front porch swing
Smell those shrimp they’re beginnin to boil – J.B.


Bro B’ recently moved in for a “while.” I’m not sure what a “while” is in real numbers, but I like having him here…except for a few things. There’s has been a bit of breakage…the front door knob, the computer (guess it’s time to upgrade to a Mac) and also his good sunglasses. I figure that of all of the things that have gone wrong, his sunglasses would have been the easiest to replace. Turns out I was WRONG.

B has an EXTRA wide face. That’s not an insult, just a fact, and I know this because we drove from store to store, mall to mall and then BACK again looking for a pair that fit him. Around the same time, The Review Broads received an e-mail to review a pair of Jimmy Buffett’s signature shades. Good timing or just one of those magical things that happen when you’re down here wasting away in Margaritaville?

The choice was an easy one. I picked the pair with the second line of that famous song written on the inside of the stem that looked wide enough for his face. Yeah, that’s a SMART way to choose sunglasses isn’t it? Turns out, they ALL had that infamous line.

Two days later (wow, for a company owned by a guy who lays on the beach sipping Margarita’s and writing music, that was FAST), the Kingston sunglasses we had ordered arrived. Since B was tired of wearing my rhinestone decorated sunglasses, he RIPPED them open IMMEDIATELY. As he took them out of the box he had an odd look on his face.

I asked him what was wrong, and he replied that they felt cheap. I coughed over his statement as I grabbed them from his hand (thinking that $160 sunglasses that feel cheap would NOT be a good thing). They were extremely lightweight…EXTREMELY, with a matte plastic frame that was like a feather compared to those heavy ones he had been wearing. He was so used to wearing these HEAVY frames that he mistook lightweight for cheap.. It’s time to teach this kid about quality!

I pulled at the stems to find that they had spring hinges (great for keeping them from stretching out) and polarized lenses. They came packed in a great microfiber cleaning bag and a heavy case (that’s where you need heavy). There were some interesting touches like the holes in the end of the stems to threat the Margaritaville leash that came with it through, and of course there was that great line printed on the inside of one of the stems “watching the sun bake.”

• MPT (Margaritaville® Polarized Technology) nylon lenses
• 100% UV A/B Protection
• Heat Sculpted Polymer frame
• SunGrip rubber nose pads
• SunGrip rubber temple tip insert
• Spring hinges
• Integrated Margaritaville® Leash System
• Island Style details
• Ships with custom Margaritaville® Case and microfiber cleaning bag 

The little details like the temple tip insert to keep the glasses firmly in place, and the integrated leash really make these sunglasses stand out from the rest. Even Mr. S tried them on and gave his approval. The styling will appeal to those who like the laid back island look…perfect for searching for your lost shaker of salt or racing down the slopes.

My opinion? I think he looks good in them, but then again I’m biased…I love Jimmy Buffett and Bro B.

Priced between $160 – $180 a pair, Margaritaville eyewear can be purchased online.  

Ratings are based on a 5-star scale

Overall:  5