Tag: Gargoyles

Wear the Best Sunglasses in the World: The official sunglasses of Rich Hoffman

img_6972When I’m out in public I get two primary comments. People want to know where they can get a hat like mine, the Australian oil skin hat I wear so much. But even more than that hat they ask me about my sunglasses—my Classic style Gargoyles sunglasses, the type I have worn now for nearly thirty years. I have always been a Gargoyles sunglass wearer, exclusively for all three of those decades. I won’t wear anything else. I’ve tried $400 Oakley sunglasses and other variations of Ray Ban, but for my lifestyle only Gargoyles are up to my standards, which are high. I am the type of person who always wears sunglasses if the sun is shining. I wear sunglasses just to go outside and get the mail because I love my eyes—the Gargoyles sunglasses offer an ultraviolet light protection on their lenses that keep that damaging byproduct of the sun from burning out your retinas and I take it very seriously. I have maintained 20/10 vision for my whole life up to this point, and I take care of my eyes with added protection. However, I have a very rough lifestyle that is very dangerous to eyes. I ride motorcycles, spend a lot of time outside, I shoot guns, crack whips and have lots of activity around dangerous projectiles. I want sunglasses that protect my eyes from everything, but I don’t want my vision obstructed. So what other pair of sunglasses could I have that look just as good with a suit, or a cowboy hat? The only answer is Gargoyles Classics. The trouble is, they have been discontinued by the Gargoyles Company for several years only coming back occasionally as a kind of retro offering. Well, this happens to be one of those times. They are now being offered once again by the Gargoyles Company. The specific technical specs and link address can be seen below.

The iconic rimless style incorporates tradition and cutting edge innovation. Make no mistake, Classic’s are back. Light weight but robust, Classic offers outstanding ANSI Z87.1+ level protection with anti-reflective and oleo-phobic treatment to repel water and resist smudging to make cleaning easier. Additionally, Classic’s famous toric shield lenses provide the user with a fully unobstructed vertical viewing pane. All Gargoyles lenses are ballistic-rated – meeting or exceeding ANSI Z871.1+ impact standards. For more information on ANSI Z87.1+ or Protection+, click here. (Available in both tactical ratings)

Sunglasses have a job to do and blocking the sun is only the beginning. Gargoyles sunglasses don’t just shield your eyes. They provide sharp contrasts and accurate depth perception, so you can see what you’re supposed to see and your day can continue without interruption. Every detail of Gargoyles lens design and execution is geared toward improved optics and better vision.

A good lens isn’t just made – it’s crafted. At Gargoyles, the Z87.1+-rated lenses are made of ballistic-designed, high-index polycarbonate for incredible strength without added weight. From there, they’re optimized and treated to reduce glare while enhancing protection. The result is a lens of unparalleled quality and durability.

No matter how good they look, sunglasses aren’t worth much if they can’t protect your eyes. All Gargoyles lenses meet or exceed US and ANSI regulations and standards for UVA, UVB and UVC protection and the Z87.1+-rated products’ impact resistance is ballistic tested. They’re designed to provide optimal coverage and block ancillary light. With Gargoyles, your eyes aren’t just protected – they’re shielded.

Gargoyles provides protection from both the sun and unexpected projectiles. U.S. soldiers put themselves in harm’s way every day, and the equipment they wear must provide them as much protection as possible. When the U.S. Army needed a higher level of protection from their sunglasses, it sought out experts in the field of optics. ANSI created new high-mass and high-velocity impact standards based on this new market need and on the necessity of having regulation and consistent quality. The US sunglass industry uses the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as the governing body and rating system for sunglasses.

All Gargoyles Z87.1+-rated sunglasses meet or exceed high mass and high velocity impact standards as specified by ANSI and described below:

Wearers must be able to see 20 lines of resolution clearly from 20 feet away, and pinpoint a vertical/horizontal prism from 35 feet away.

WHY THIS MATTERS  The act of covering the eyes necessarily leads to a loss in visual clarity; the only question is how severely vision will be compromised. By meeting this ANSI spec, the impact of Gargoyles sunglasses on the user’s vision is negligible.

The lens and the frame of the sunglasses need to have the same size and protection DNA, with each lens individually cut for the frame in which it is housed.

WHY THIS MATTERS  If the lenses of a pair of sunglasses aren’t balanced and measured properly, it could lead to reflection and distortion. By meeting this standard, Gargoyles sunglasses provide the wearer clear, precise visual optics while reducing or eliminating the glare depending on the lens you choose.

The lens must be able to withstand a 1.1 pound mass dropped from 50 inches, as well as a quarter-inch projectile shot at 150 feet per second from ten yards away, without breaking, cracking, coming out of the frame, or in any way touching the eye or the surrounding tissue.

WHY THIS MATTERS  From gravel to shrapnel, anything that reaches the eye could be catastrophic. By meeting this ANSI specification, Gargoyles sunglasses are guaranteed to keep the wearer’s eyes safe from any projectile that might otherwise cause significant damage.

http://gargoyleseyewear.com/4fa28358d6984d0e551420103831bd58

I was riding a bicycle just this morning and I cut through a marshy lowland area that was full of mud. I managed to get through alright but on my way out of the pit was gravel. Once I got back out on the open road that gravel started flying off my knobby tires, some of which flew up and hit me in the face. Because of my Gargoyles sunglasses I did not have to worry about that gravel finding its way into my eyes—and I was able to press on. About six weeks ago I was in a major motorcycle accident. Certainly nothing I did, but things happen and my motorcycle sustained over $10,000 worth of damage. I was wearing a suit at the time that ended up covered in blood, I had torn cloths, broken bones in my wrist and ankle, but guess what didn’t get hurt as shattered glass pelted my face…….my eyes. No I wasn’t wearing a helmet—it was a nice day. Just my Gargoyles sunglasses. Occasionally when riding motorcycles down the highway behind large trucks from construction sites, rocks fly off their tires. I never worry about that debris hitting me in the face. I can take the pain if it hits me in the forehead or someplace else, but I have to be able to see through an impact—and my Gargoyles always provide more than adequate shielding.

When shooting guns, it happens often where projectiles from target impact sometimes fly back and hit the shooter. Just a few months ago while shooting my new .500 Magnum from Smith & Wesson the unthinkable happened. Given our position from a top down position, my family was shooting in a way to see if we could split a large river rock in half. Now that’s not a recommended shooting procedure, but I wanted to conduct a test to measure just how powerful a .400 grain bullet was traveling at such a high velocity backed by such extraordinary muzzle energy. You don’t get a good indication of what that is by shooting at paper targets. You need to see the bullet interact with something ominously stable. In this case it was a very large sedimentary rock pulled out of the river that was very thick. Because I was wearing my Gargoyles I stood about thirty yards from the target confident that there wasn’t any danger. The .500 Magnum punched the rock in two, which surprised me. A moment later debris rained back at us. I didn’t think much of it as I thought it was pieces of rock. But my daughter grabbed her forehead and blood was running down her face. Checking her out, a piece of the .500 Magnum bullet had bounced back and embedded itself about three inches above her eyes. She was not wearing Gargoyles—but sunglasses typical of the type you find in convenient stores. I sometimes assume that everyone is as protected as I am, and took a deep breath as we pulled the shrapnel out of her head. She was fine, but it was proof that anything can and does happen when dealing with dangerous things. Life is meant to be lived, but it’s important to take as much opportunity to give your body parts the tools to protect itself the best you can.

Some might argue that a helmet is the best way to ride a motorcycle, but they essentially encumber your senses entirely too much. Gargoyles offer protection without encumbering anything. They are so comfortable to wear that you forget they are on, but they also provide a complete line of sight in all directions. They are unique to say the least. After three decades my Gargoyles sunglasses are as much a part of me as my legs and arms. They are an inseparable part of my attire under all circumstances. So for those who have always wanted a pair, they are now available once again. They can be obtained for around a $100 so they aren’t outrageously expensive. But they feel like a million bucks, and will give you years of loyal use. Gargoyles are by far my favorite sunglasses, not just because they are reasonably priced for the quality they provide, but because they have proven to me over time to be a superior product. I never leave my home without them, and the sun rarely shines on my face without Gargoyles providing some level of protection. They are the ultimate sunglasses for an active person under any circumstance. And now they are available once again.

Rich Hoffman

 CLIFFHANGER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

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Gargoyle Sunglasses: Protecting the eyes of Rick Stevens in “Tail of the Dragon.”

As those who have read it are learning, I inserted some of my personal favorite places and things in my new novel Tail of the Dragon quite on purpose. The picture below is a scene from the book where the supercar in the story is just beginning to receive the kind of damage it will encounter during the greatest car chase in the history of car chases. The $20 million dollar restored Firebird running on vegetable oil through a 700 HP diesel engine conversation sustains tremendous damage through its frequent encounters with police and military forces. Some of the worst damage comes from the .50 caliber machine gun rounds which leave tremendous holes in the heavily armored classic car. But that isn’t the only armor in the picture. Featured in that photograph are my favorite pair of sunglasses called Gargoyles, otherwise known as “EYE ARMOR,” since they are reputed to deflect a .22 caliber bullet. In my novel Gargoyle sunglasses are the preferred sunglasses of Rick Stevens, the hero of Tail of the Dragon because like the car he drives, he needs armor to help him achieve his objective.

I included Gargoyles into the story of Tail of the Dragon because for over 20 years they are the only sunglasses that I have worn, and that will never change as long as I can buy Gargoyles. I am so passionate about Gargoyle sunglasses that once in Cancun, Mexico I had lost a screw to a pair of Gargoyles that were 10 years old and I had to face the intense sun of the Yucatan without protection. I went to a sunglass specialty shop looking for Gargoyle sunglasses so I could purchase a new pair. Much to my disappointment the store only carried Oakley sunglasses and Ray Ban, along with other similar brands—but not Gargoyles. The owner of the store almost sold me a pair Oakley’s that were very close in style to my Gargoyles. The cost of those Oakley’s down in Mexico was nearly $500 American dollars. As I put them on and looked at myself in the mirror, I felt like I was cheating on my Gargoyles, so I handed them back to the owner, and told him I’d buy more Gargoyles when I got back to the states. He seemed to admire my loyalty to Gargoyle sunglasses and swore that he would carry them from now on. He offered me a small jeweler’s screw with the correct threads to put in my old pair of Gargoyles for no charge and I was able to walk out of his store with my old sunglasses fixed.

I much preferred to face the intense sun of the Caribbean with my 10 year old Gargoyle sunglasses over a $500 pair of new Oakley sunglasses that looked very sharp, but just did not feel like Gargoyles. Gargoyles had been a part of my daily life for over 20 years. I can count on one hand the days I left my home without my Gargoyles. I am so passionate about my Gargoyle sunglasses that I put them on just to go outside to get the mail. I seldom ever let the sun hit my face without having Gargoyles on to shield my eyes with armor from the world outside.

I consider my eyes very valuable as I have 20/10 vision. I have always been very concerned in resisting the ultraviolent light thrown off by the sun and prefer filtered sun light through a good pair of sunglasses. I have done this since I was 9 or 10 years old. Gargoyles first came on the market in 1979. They were worn by Clint Eastwood in the movie Sudden Impact, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film Terminator. Dale Earnhart in NASCAR would make Gargoyle sunglasses part of his public image. I bought my first pair as I was working as a gunsmith in a shed I had set up behind my house and noticed that many of the shooters at the time were wearing Gargoyles to protect their eyes. I used my FFA license to qualify for a discount at wholesale dealer I had for gun parts who happened to sell Gargoyles. My discount made the $89 sunglasses at the time cost only $64. So I bought a pair for me, and a blue pair for my wife.

My love of Gargoyles has remained since that day in late 1989. However as the 1990’s came along and the old 80’s movie stars became older and less popular Oakley sunglasses began to take over as the most popular type of sunglasses. Oakley’s were the choice of the basketball player Michael Jordan so they became the next fashion craze in eyewear along with Air Jordan tennis shoes. Slowly over time, Gargoyles began to fade into obscurity as they had been carried by Sunglass Hutts all across the nation, but in the late 90’s those chain stores began fading as EBay and other online shopping outlets cut into the profits of those typical mall establishments. When Dale Earnhart had a crash that would cause his death, ambition for Gargoyles sunglasses seemed to disappear from the public completely.

I could no longer find Gargoyle sunglasses at a store, so I wore the same pair for over 10 years and never contemplated buying another pair even if I had to go for the rest of my life. Then we had the accident in Cancun where I had discovered that I had lost a screw to my sunglasses while climbing around in a cenote in the middle of the Yucatan Peninsula. Even though I had managed to fix my Gargoyles, it had become apparent that I would have to find a replacement pair eventually.

Once we returned to the states several more months went by and I intended to look for new Gargoyles but didn’t get around to it. Then about 7 months later for my birthday my wife gave me a present that was kind of small in relation to how excited she was about it. I opened the present and it was a new pair of Gargoyle Sunglasses she had found online at the new website for Gargoyles as seen here:

http://www.gargoyleseyewear.com/

I was of course elated to have a brand new pair of Gargoyles for the first time in a decade. I remembered all the times my other pairs of sunglasses had helped me avert disaster, particularly on my motorcycle where gravel would fly up from a truck in front of me on the highway and send projectiles at my face. On one instance I was hit in the face with many small pebbles from a cement truck as I was flying by the vehicle at over 100 MPH. The small rocks dug into my skin and caused blood to run down my face from many places, particularly my forehead. But my Gargoyles protected my eyes allowing me to squint through the pain while I recovered without crashing.

My loyalty to Gargoyle sunglasses is alive and well today, so for the character of Rick Stevens in a story that requires the character to endure billions of dollars of damage from bullets, missiles, broken glass, splintered wood and intense wind gusts, the only eyewear I would even consider are Gargoyle sunglasses. It is for that very reason that Gargoyles are the sunglasses used in my new book Tail of the Dragon. Because when the whole world seems to be coming down, and only speed can save you, it is Gargoyles that I would turn to time and time again to protect my eyes so they can survive to fight another day with the ultimate in eye armor. There is no substitute for a character who is the first breed of a new kind of superman, and such heroes deserve to have their eyes protected as the world throws danger in large doses at the most vulnerable spot on the human body—their eyes. When it comes to sunglasses “function first” is always the first consideration and when it comes to function, none function better than Gargoyles.

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This is what people are saying about my new book–Tail of the Dragon

“Just finished the book and am sweating profusely. Wow, what a ride !!!  Fasten your seat belts for one of the most thrilling rides ever in print.“

Visit the NEW Tail of the Dragon WEBSITE!  CLICK HERE!

Rich Hoffman
https://overmanwarrior.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/ten-rules-to-live-by/
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