I love the American Optical Original Pilot. What’s not to love? They’re made in America (Massachusetts), look great on everyone (Don Draper for example), and previously had the American Airforce and NASA contract so they were worn by fighter pilots and astronauts (they were the sunglasses worn to the moon). American Optical Pilots can’t be discussed without also referencing the Randolph Aviator. Randolph currently holds the military contract and the sunglasses are for all intents and purposes identical (Randolphs are also made in Massachusetts). Randolph’s have always been, for reasons that are completely unclear to me, more expensive.
The last pair of AO Pilots I bought cost $115 with polarized lenses. The non-polarized versions were $84 (I have some of those too). At that price, I would tell anybody who asked that they should buy a pair (I don’t remember anyone actually asking but it didn’t stop me from telling people to buy them). Last year the company announced that they would be increasing prices because they were improving quality and were offering more styles. The price more than doubled- $194 for non-polarized and $244 for polarized glass lenses. Ouch! In AO’s favor is the fact that Randolph also increased prices. They are around $30 more than the AO version and again almost identical.
Were the AO Pilots underpriced and the price now reflects the value, or are they now overpriced? It’s probably somewhere in the middle. I haven’t been giving non-solicited advice to buy them since the price increase, but if you find a pair for $130 or less- you should definitely buy them.
Thanks to RCS Friend Jon Hickman for sharing his thoughts
I have an old pair. Have been looking at AO the past month. I really do like the Saratoga and love the look of the tournament in it’s gray offering. 7 barrel hinges with excellent acetate quality and polishing. I believe the lenses are nylon which offer a light weight . The reviews state that the optics on both models are excellent.
The fact that they are still made in the USA is a plus in my book and considering what some of these web-based eyeglass companies are charging I think that AO and Randolph are still a great value.
I’d pay $130, in fact have been planning on it, but dadgum I ain’t going to pay the new price. That’s ridiculous, especially because they haven’t really justified how they’re “improving.” If they really are improving and aren’t just saying that as an excuse to increase costs then they should offer a line of how they were previously made at that previous cost. Somewhat similar to how Duck Head has their different lines.
Agreed. They should have done a more staged increase if they wanted to get to $190.
I purchased a pair 7 years ago (around 2014) and they only cost me $50. I recently went to purchase a pair for my daughter who recently completed aviation school. I thought to my self this would be a great gift seeing how they’re pilot sunglasses and because she would always wear mine. However, I now refuse to buy the $250 sunglasses. Don’t get me wrong, im not saying that my daughter isn’t worth the 250 but, AO sunglasses used to be, awesome, bulletproof, CHEEP, pilot sunglasses, now they’re just expensive. For that price I could buy her a pair of raybans or better yet a pair of Oakleys that have prizm.
Ever since celebrities such as Johnny Depp start wearing them they now are too expensive. They are exactly the same as when I started buying them
as a young Marine 25 years ago. Im really upset that i will no longer be purchasing their 55m pilot shades. Bummer!
Overpriced. I loved them at $60 and $80 but not over $100. If I wanted to spend that kind of money, I’d buy the Randolph Engineering brand.
I found a gold pair I purchased at the Navy Exchange when I was stationed at NAS North Island, CA. I purchased them for $12.00. That was around 1990. I also had a pair of RE’s issued to me when I was on flight status. They are virtually identical. So I don’t see the logic in buying from RE if you can save $30 on the AO’s.
You have to take a closer look at AO – they build up a new factory in Chicago and translated the origial blueprints to uptodate machinery and production technique. before that time they had a period who the wher build in asia (to make them cheap) – so its a huge differnce between the quality standards 1990 & after 2019 – I preffer the original (especially when you consider what AO has done for USA)
As long as they keep making them in America the price hike is understandable, I will continue to support them as long as quality remains
Since I love aviation, I can’t get away from noticing this sunglasses mostly from tv shows or magazine back in 80s.
I don’t know who made it, but I ordered my first pair from Pilot Optical shop and it’s cost me exactly 27 bucks not including postage & packing. So this shade made by RE under contract from US military, but then I dig deeper founded that they’re originally manufactured by AO, also one of US military contractors. I also founded there’s another American company made this same design but I can’t remember exactly their name, presumably maybe one of another contractor. Yeah…I want to get one of that AO but seems out of my range now, since they are the original. I might get the replica instead.