Review: Bajio Paila Sunglasses
Despite having a slew of sunglasses piled high in my closet and stashed in all of our vehicles, there are only three or four pairs I grab the most. There are a few sets with blue lenses that I really like for offshore fishing in Panama and Guatemala and another with goldish yellow lenses that I use for sight fishing or in low light conditions. One of the issues I have is I have a large cranium and high cheek bones. That means that many frames made for thin heads and slimmer faces squeeze my face, sit uncomfortably on my cheek bones, let light in above and below the lenses and frankly, look ridiculous.
I gravitated to the Bajio Paila sunglasses for a few reasons: First, I’d really enjoyed the Bajios that I’d tried before. Second, they were ORANGE, which is my favorite color and while I have lots of black and tortoise frames, I didn’t have anything in orange. Finally, after reading reviews I suspected that they’d fit my head really well. I couldn’t find any local stores that carried them so I made an online order, hoping that I wouldn’t need to return them.
Specs:
Product: Bajio Paila Sunglasses
Frame Color: Orange
Lens Color: Blue Mirror
Lens Material: glass lenses
Fit: Extra large
Price: $259
These glasses come in two other frame colors and six other lens choices.
There is a single version prescription version that comes in black and a progressive option with three frame colors all with seven lens colors.
What I liked:
I’ve had these polarized glasses in my collection for about six months now. I’ve taken them on an offshore tuna trip to Panama, a freshwater bass fishing trip to Mexico and I also used them when I went jogging outside, in additional to just regular around-town use. I found that they are nice enough to wear with my many orange everyday outfits -- not only do they enhance the outfits they excel when I’m in really bright sunlight.
I have a large, round head, and these frames offer full coverage. That not only protects my eyes from the sun but also shields more of my face from the sun’s harmful rays. I like that the temples are on the thinner side so I don’t have huge sunburn marks after being out in the sun all day.
Somehow they didn’t fog up in humid conditions or accumulate sweat in the inside bottom of the glasses like so many other glasses have in the past.
Another huge plus is the limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product. Bajio will service your glasses under repair if you sit, step or somehow damage them in an “Aw shucks” situation. I hope to never have to use it, but it’s nice to know that it’s there.
Potential Pitfalls:
If you have a wide face or a big old melon head you’re probably going to want to go with the extra large frame. They’re not necessarily lightweight like some other frames – take that into account. Also, the case happens to be very large but it holds the glasses firmly in place, I guess you win some you lose some. I love the color options, but not all of you want something bold. If you’re only going to get a single pair of shades you might want something more conventional than orange.
Bottom Line:
Bajio has only been around as a brand, but they’re not new to the eyewear business. They put a lot of thought into their products. That’s why so many guides, anglers and first responders use them. These orange Paila glasses have made their way into my rotation not only because they fill a specific need but also because of how well they are made – they’re durable and can withstand trips around the world or rough boat rides. I like the fact that when conditions demand something extreme I can reach into my bag and have them ready to fight off the sun.
