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AO Eyewear Original Pilot 55mm Gold Frame with Bayonet Temples and True Color Grey Glass Lenses (OP55G.BA.TC)

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 285 ratings

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Product details

  • Fabric type
    Gold Steel Alloy Frames

About this item

  • Gold Steel Alloy Frames, Grey Glass Lenses
  • 55mm for Medium Faces
  • 98% UVA/100% UVB Protection
  • Bayonet Temples
  • Made in the USA. One Year Manufactures Warranty
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Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.04 x 0.03 x 0.04 inches; 4 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 30185OP55GBATC
  • Department ‏ : ‎ mens
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ September 23, 2006
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ American Optical
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000N5Z37C
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 285 ratings

Product Description

The U.S. Armed Forces' best-kept secret now available in the consumer market. Performance-tested sunglasses with classic aviator styling. The General has been a favorite of U.S. military pilots for more than 50 years. Engineered to rigid military specifications and issued to millions of U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen since 1958.The rugged and sturdy structure and high quality finishing of the steel alloy frame coupled with distortion free, toughened and polished True Color glass lens have made the AO Flight Gear Collection the standard bearer of all fine military sunglasses. To measure for frame sizing; First, stand in front of a mirror. Second, Hold a ruler so one end is lined up with your right temple and the ruler goes over the bridge of the nose. Third, measure distance between your temples to the nearest 1/4 inch. For better accuracy, measure to 1/8th inch. Keep ruller straight, avoid bending ruler. For Frames 52mm-up to 5 inches. For frames 55mm 5 inches to 5 1/2 inches. For 57 and 58mm-5/12 to 6 inces. Please note, temple lenght is determined by frame size. Warranty;For one year from date of purchase, AO Eyewear will repair or replace this eyewear (at their option) if defective in material or workmanship. No warranty is expressed or implied regarding damage resulting from consumer misuse or neglect or for any consequential damages arising out of the use of the glasses.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
285 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers appreciate the sunglasses' quality build, style, and fit. They find the glasses durable and comfortable, with a good look that never fades. The lenses are described as true color, darkening without distorting real colors. Many customers consider the shades a good value for the price, with excellent optics and American-made quality. However, some dislike the snap off feature.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

76 customers mention "Build quality"64 positive12 negative

Customers like the sunglasses' build quality. They say the shades are well-made and durable, able to withstand rough handling and perform well over time. The sunglasses are made to Mil-Spec standards at a lower price than other options.

"...They do look great, they're definitely way more durable than the three other (cheap) pairs I've worn out or outright broken in the time I've owned..." Read more

"...the originals and RE took up the design later, but both are very quality products...." Read more

"...THE BEST. Nothing compares. From the solid, heavy construction, to the precision engineered optics, to the stylish shape...." Read more

"...They're incredibly well made and the optical quality is great. Note: this style has a wide bridge...." Read more

41 customers mention "Style"41 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the sunglasses' style. They like the comfortable temples and true-color lenses that darken without distorting colors. The frames are well-made with a classic look that differs from plastic wraparound sunglasses.

"...They do look great, they're definitely way more durable than the three other (cheap) pairs I've worn out or outright broken in the time I've owned..." Read more

"...heavy construction, to the precision engineered optics, to the stylish shape. These glasses are the quintessence of quality...." Read more

"...And they really are very stylish; nothing like a classic pair of Aviators ;) 5 out 5, would highly recommend." Read more

"...They look amazing, and are a classic American brand...." Read more

28 customers mention "Fit"21 positive7 negative

Customers like the sunglasses' fit. They say the 55 mm size is the right size for their face and head. The sunglasses look cool and make their eyes very comfortable. The bayonet temples never hurt under a helmet.

"I like these a lot. They fit well without having them adjusted, but for anyone with fit problems, I'd recommend taking them to an optician who can..." Read more

"...Fit well, adjust well; clean well, and although I haven’t abused the lenses like crazy, they seem up to a respectable amount of treatment...." Read more

"...I don't see it as a detractor, but just FYI. 2. They will not fit right out of box. I tried them in and hated them...." Read more

"The size of the glasses are perfect for me. I get more compliments on these than any other pair of glasses I have. Very affordable and American made...." Read more

21 customers mention "Value for money"21 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the sunglasses for their good value and quality for the price. They find the sunglasses better than Ray Ban at a third of the cost, and sturdier than other high-end brands at a fraction of the cost.

"...the time I've owned these, and they're actually a really good value among real aviator sunglasses...." Read more

"The best thing about these is that they are very well built. Much sturdier than other high end brands at a fraction of the cost...." Read more

"...Very affordable and American made...." Read more

"I don't think they're like the originals but for the price they are still very nice.. Bought them for my father cause i lost his originals the first..." Read more

12 customers mention "Lens quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the sunglasses' lenses. They mention a good fit, excellent optics, and heavy construction. Some also say the glasses stay on well.

"...From the solid, heavy construction, to the precision engineered optics, to the stylish shape...." Read more

"Awesome glasses. The only upset was no cloth (thought this came standard??) and the velcro came off so I can't close the case...." Read more

"Good optics.A little tight ear-to-ear but they stay on!" Read more

"...It's heavy and uncomfortable but the lenses are nice and solid. I would recommend it to people who have high nose holding it nicely." Read more

7 customers mention "Shade quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers like the shades. They say the sunglasses have a perfect balance of shading their eyes from the sun without blocking instruments. The glasses fit well, are not too dark or too light, and block bright sunlight effectively. The true-color lenses darken without distorting real colors, making them great for flying.

"I keep these in my headset case - they fold fairly flat. Dark unpolarized glass is great for flying...." Read more

"They look great, keep the sun in check no matter how bright it is, and the bayonet temples never hurt under a helmet...." Read more

"These are great shades with a high build quality and sturdy design...." Read more

"...They fit well, and they block bright sun. They are easy on, easy off, since the earpieces are fairly straight. The lens quality is excellent...." Read more

6 customers mention "American made"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the sunglasses. They find them affordable, original, and a classic American brand.

"...They look amazing, and are a classic American brand...." Read more

"...Very affordable and American made...." Read more

"...Not cheap plastic like some of the newer Ray Bans. These are classic...." Read more

"Made in the USA, has a little bit of heft to it, well constructed. $100+ for sunglasses is absurd, go with these." Read more

5 customers mention "Snap off"0 positive5 negative

Customers are unhappy with the sunglasses. They report that the arms and nose pads snap off easily, and the lenses break or get stolen. The frames are also flimsy, causing them to rust at the welding and eventually snap off the lens.

"Great company! I recieved these sunglasses with a broken right nose pad...." Read more

"I had a pair of these sunglasses before and they broke into my locker in the gym; they were stolen from me...." Read more

"...used is super low quality and is extremely flimsy, which caused the nose pads to snap off...." Read more

"...The bridge on the Amazon-pair rusted at the welding and it eventually snapped off the lens...." Read more

Good quality. Comfortable
5 out of 5 stars
Good quality. Comfortable
Good quality and quite comfortable. Like the purchase
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2019
    I've had these for about a year now and for a while wasn't even wearing them... initially I was a little disappointed in them, but I've slowly come around. They're really intended for pilot use and I don't think they work *quite* as well for everyday wear, but I've been doing that lately and I've decided you just need to get a little bit used to them.

    They do look great, they're definitely way more durable than the three other (cheap) pairs I've worn out or outright broken in the time I've owned these, and they're actually a really good value among real aviator sunglasses. A pair of Ray-Bans or Randolph USA's (which are IDENTICAL to these; I know someone with a pair) will set you back more than double the price in most cases.

    The two things you have to be prepared for and/or get used to are:

    1) The bayonet-style earpieces. If you're not a pilot (and even if you are; not all pilots know this), you may wonder what the point of these are. Well, impress your friends when you tell them that these are meant to allow you to take off and put on the sunglasses more easily when wearing a headset. I can absolutely confirm that they work - you can pull off and push on the sunglasses from the bridge with one hand while wearing a headset. (I physically broke a cheaper pair with standard ear pieces trying to take them off while wearing my headset one day.)

    But when you're *not* wearing a headset, ie. just doing regular stuff, the bayonet ear pieces do mean the sunglasses can more easily slide down your nose. They also pinch the sides of my head a bit. I've gotten used to the feeling, though, and for aviation purposes they are better. If you actually are a pilot, you probably want bayonet style.

    2) The glass lenses are heavy... but also extremely durable. Now, AO does offer these with polycarbonate lenses, so bear that in mind. Just order them that way if you want that. I specifically wanted glass because they don't scratch as easily. But I had forgotten how much heavier they are; it's a small amount of extra weight in absolute terms, but over a period of time wearing them, you definitely start to feel it. And it also helps them to slide down if you're not wearing a headset.

    That said, my lenses don't have a single scratch on them after a year of (increasing) use, whereas the three cheaper pairs with polycarbonate lenses that I was using in the meantime looked like they'd been through a war after only a month or two.

    I know one or two other, older reviews have also complained about bent or misaligned frames from the factory, but mine seems pretty straight and it hasn't really loosened up or gotten bent through use either. It also doesn't have any scratches on it; basically, my pair looks brand new and at this point, I am using them every day both in the cockpit and out.

    In the end these have taken over as my default sunglasses because of the four pairs of different sunglasses I started the year with, two broke outright and one is so worn and scratched that I can't even see out of them properly anymore, but over the same time period these AO's don't look or feel any different whatsoever from when I bought them new. I do keep them in the case most of the time when I'm totally done wearing them (I just keep them on my shirt during the day, though), but I don't take any special care other than that.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2015
    I like these a lot. They fit well without having them adjusted, but for anyone with fit problems, I'd recommend taking them to an optician who can professionally adjust these. I bought these after looking at the very similar Randolph Engineering model, and at 1/3 of the price I'm very happy with my purchase.

    From what I've read, the AOs are the originals and RE took up the design later, but both are very quality products. I don't place any particular importance on a product being "authentic" or "the original", but I do very much care about quality. These are quality sunglasses, they are not "knockoffs". I imagine the REs have a touch more fit and finish at 3x the price, and probably a nicer case, but I have a hard time justifying the extra expense for essentially the same quality of product. If you have a lot of disposable income and run in circles that are snobby and brand aware, get the REs, otherwise get these.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2016
    Title says it all. AO makes the very, very, very best glasses. THE BEST. Nothing compares. From the solid, heavy construction, to the precision engineered optics, to the stylish shape. These glasses are the quintessence of quality.

    Compared to these, raybans are really not quality glasses. Their plastic or wire contruction feels like a toy or something fashioned from bits of wire stolen by meth heads from a construction site. In fact, some very important people, very important, told me that there may be some truth to my prior statement. Crooked glasses.

    Make Glasses Great Again!!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2017
    First off, make sure you have the real deal. The fakes are cheap pieces of junk and are frequently found on Amazon and fee-Bay. My first pair was a knockoff, and it watched the description of some of the poor reviews. My new pair is genuine, and definitely deserves five stars. They're incredibly well made and the optical quality is great.

    Note: this style has a wide bridge. I would recommend the smaller 52 mm for those with a small face as these tend to give the "bug eye" effect if they're too large. 55 mm is probably good for most people, with 57 mm being too large for even my ginormous face.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2016
    I bought these before investing in the similar version by Randolph. My pair at the time were vintage 52mm ray Ban aviators. A few tips to would-be buyers:
    1. These are heavy. Heavier than my '82 Ray Bans which says a lot. I don't see it as a detractor, but just FYI.
    2. They will not fit right out of box. I tried them in and hated them. Went to LensCrafters, 10 minutes later they were great.
    3. The nose bridge is WIDE. 20mm vs the 15mm norm on regular aviators. This threw me at first, but other people love them so who cares. This also doesn't effect fit. Randolph's are 15mm.
    4. If you're curious which to buy (52mm or 55mm), use Ray Ban wayfarers as a comparison. The fit is nearly exact, and they have them at sunglass hut.
    5. Drop friendly! These are glass but durable as hell.

    Hope this helps!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2020
    I’ve bought a number of aviators over the years, typically of rather cheap quality. Never lamented loosing or breaking them as a result. But these are vastly superior, and are immensely sound. I bought them after I finally got my remote pilot/drone operator license. And really, aside from fishing, they are easily my everyday go to pair. Fit well, adjust well; clean well, and although I haven’t abused the lenses like crazy, they seem up to a respectable amount of treatment. Even if I hadn’t lost my Fossils, I dare say these would’ve been the ones I’d reach for more often. And they really are very stylish; nothing like a classic pair of Aviators ;)

    5 out 5, would highly recommend.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • José Espinosa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy buen producto
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 14, 2019
    Muy buena calidad, había leído sobre este fabricante de lentes y cumple con calidad esperada y a un excelente precio. No olviden verificar sus medidas según las especificaciones del fabricante para garantizar que se adaptan bien a su tamaño de rostro.
  • Barnel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Soddisfazione dell’ acquisto
    Reviewed in Italy on February 16, 2020
    Buona manifattura dell’occhiale,arrivato prima del tempo stabilito. Occhiali come da descrizione venditore valutazione tutta positiva.
  • Achim Kaiser
    1.0 out of 5 stars Die Brille ist zu schwer
    Reviewed in Germany on January 24, 2020
    Die Brille ist zu schwer für die im Vergleich angebotenen Brillen der Konkurrenz.
  • Liam Hutchin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Glasses
    Reviewed in Canada on July 9, 2017
    Rugged and sturdy structured frames. Fit as expected. True Color® grey glass lenses offer remarkable colour contrast and clarity of vision.

    I am happy with these glasses.
  • Dalila DI BARI
    5.0 out of 5 stars Produit top
    Reviewed in France on April 16, 2019
    J’ai acheté ces lunettes comme cadeau d’anniversaire pour mon père c’était lui qui m'avait donné la marque et le modèle et il est très satisfait! Moi aussi je suis satisfait de l’emballage qui a permit au produit d’arriver en parfait état et surtout la rapidité de la réception du colis 2 jours après ma commande!