Shinzo Tamura Namba sunglasses review – Classic styling, modern materials, perfect execution

REVIEW – Everyone needs sunglasses, right? When I was younger, single, and had more expendable funds, I would treat myself to a nice pair of sunglasses. I’ve had Ray Bans, Oakleys, and others. Then, later in life, when my kids came along, I had other things to spend my money on other than sunglasses. So I’ve had tons of cheap sunglasses and have hated them all, despite what ZZ Top said. Now that most of my kids are grown (although I’m still trying to get them out of my house), I started looking for a nice pair of shades since I could more easily afford a nice pair. Then along comes the Shinzo Tamura Namba sunglasses available for review. I’d never heard of the brand, but the style looked nice, and they had polarized lenses, which is an important feature for me. So, yes, please. I would love to try them out. What makes these sunglasses different? What’s so special about them? Let’s find out.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $230.00
Where to buy: Shinzo Tamura

What is it?

The Shinzo Tamura Namba sunglasses are Wellington styled with extremely light Nylon frames, polarized Talex lenses, and a 5-year warranty.

What’s included?

• Shinzo Tamura Namba sunglasses
• Case
• Cleaning cloth

Tech specs

Lens: Polarized TALEX lens
Weight: 20g (including lenses)
Frame material: Ultralight and durable nylon
Frame width: 5.4in (136mm) from hinge to hinge
Temple length: 5.6in (145mm)
Made in Japan

Design and features

You may not recognize the name Wellington, but you’re probably familiar with Ray Ban Wayfarers or Oakley Frogskins. Both of these use the classic Wellington style made popular back in the 50’s. So does Shinzo Tamura with the Namba.

There’s nothing outlandish here. They don’t look like a rainbow colored windshield or windscreen, depending on where you’re from. They aren’t covered in Swarovski crystals. Shinzo Tamura Nambas are simply timelessly classic.

Every pair of sunglasses Shinzo Tamura makes has Talex CR39 lenses made in Osaka, Japan. The lenses are designed for clarity and polarized with Talex’s proprietary filter made with iodine compounds that block out more harmful light than traditional polarized lenses, according to the Shinzo Tamura website. I was sent the Copper Mirror Nambas, but they also offer four other options: topaz, slate, copper, and peridot.

The frames are made from what they call non-aging nylon material, making them ultralight and durable. They are double-molded to make them extremely flexible and resistant to deforming. The nose pads are made of a non-slip elastomer, which keeps the sunglasses where they should be. In case you’re wondering what an elastomer is, I’ll save you the Google search since I already did it. Here’s what I found: “An elastomer is a polymer with the property of elasticity, meaning it can deform under stress and return to its original shape when the stress is removed.” Shinzo Tamura even went so far as to use titanium in the arms that hold the nose pads!

Performance

The first thing I noticed when I took the Nambas out of the case was how light they were. When I say light as a feather, it’s not an extreme exaggeration. I can wear them for a long period of time and forget I have them on. Others I’ve worn can give me a headache after a while. I’m guessing it’s due to the pressure the arms put on my head. I mean, look at this melon.

When I put them on, I was surprised by the clarity of the lenses and the nice color contrast produced. Even though I’ve had what I consider to be nice sunglasses before, I don’t ever recall them being this clear. There was always some fuzziness around the periphery, not here, though. Being polarized as well means they cut down on a lot of glare.

Final thoughts

I have light colored eyes. I don’t know how true it is, but I’ve been told those of us with light colored eyes are more susceptible to bright conditions since light colors reflect more light than dark colors do. Because of this, I only buy sunglasses with polarized lenses. The Nambas do a great job of cutting glare and bright light. They’re so lightweight, I wear them indoors because I forget I’m wearing them. They don’t fit my fat head exactly, meaning I think I could use a wider frame, but they still look cool and work better than expected. The Shinzo Tamura Namba sunglasses are not what I would consider cheap, but if a nice pair of sunglasses is a worthy investment for you, then check them out.

What I like about Shinzo Tamura Namba sunglasses

• Crystal clear
• Polarized
• Ultra-light
• Stylish

What needs to be improved?

• A wider frame option

Price: $230.00
Where to buy: Shinzo Tamura
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Shinzo Tamura. Shinzo Tamura did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.

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