Rose Tint vs. Sun Shield
Hi everyone,
I'm looking to expand my sunglasses collection and wondering whether I should go for a more pronounced rose-tinted lens or something better suited to strong sunlight.
I'm light-sensitive and wear sunglasses almost constantly when outdoors. Currently, I use:
Maui Jim Momi (Natural Grey / MauiBrilliant) – my favorite for sunny days. A bit cool in tone, but perfect when the sun is really bright.
Maui Jim Kaulana (MauiRose / MauiBrilliant) – works well in cloudy or bright overcast weather, though the rose effect is a bit subtle and feels more like a grey/rose mix in these conditions, possibly due to the gradient lens?
In addition, I have:
Tommy Hilfiger (TH 1795/S 086 HA, brown gradient lenses) – nothing fancy, but I like the warm tone. They're often too light in sun and work best in cloudy weather. I don't wear them much, as I feel MJ's are superior.
Prego sunglasses (Danish brand, model unknown – bought +10 years ago) with dark brown lenses. I don’t wear them anymore as the frame no longer suits me, but I like the dark brown tint.
I’ve considered the Serengeti Sedona for a stronger rose tone, but since it’s best in cloudy/overcast weather, I’m not sure it adds enough value to my current collection. Still, I often read about the "magic" of rose lenses, and I’m not sure I’ve truly experienced that yet. Living in Berlin, where the weather and buildings can be quite grey..
On the other hand, I sometimes find my Maui Jim Grey lenses a tiny bit too light in full sun, which led me to consider the Serengeti 555nm. They’re supposed to be darker (?), but I’m unsure about the greenish tint based on review photos. That said, they might perform well in bright light and could be slightly warmer than MJ Grey.
I do like the vintage, warm 1950s-feeling tone that brown lenses give. I also tried Serengeti Drivers (returned due to poor frame fit). They seemed bright and quite "orange-y", but I didn’t wear them outside enough to fully judge the photochromic effect.
I realize I’m describing different light conditions — and that’s exactly why people own multiple pairs. I'm just not sure if the Sedona is really that magical, or if I should just go for a darker lens instead. Also unsure whether the 555nm is actually darker or lighter than Maui Jim’s Grey.
Sorry for the long post — any suggestions? (..amazing content on this site by the way!)
If you’re very light-sensitive and spend a lot of time in bright sun, go for a darker, high-contrast sun shield lens (neutral grey or brown, polarized, full UV protection). Those give the best glare reduction and true color balance for long, sunny days — sounds like your Maui Jim Momi (Natural Grey) is exactly that and why it’s your go-to for bright days.
Keep a rose-tinted lens for low-light, overcast, dawn/dusk, or activities where contrast and depth perception matter — rose/rose-grey shows shadows and contours better and feels gentler on sensitive eyes in softer light (which matches how your Kaulana behaves). If you want one pair that tries to do both, consider photochromic polarised lenses or interchangeable lens frames so you can switch between rose for low light and grey/brown for full sun.