ThinOptics reading glasses – lightweight, compact, thin – updated 2019
Along came this new thing called ThinOptics reading glasses,
As the company says, they are indeed “insanely” thin, tiny and light – about the size of two snack crackers side-by-side, not much thicker than a credit card (about 1/8th of an inch), and only about 0.5 ounces (15 grams).
There are no earpieces to fuddle with, unfold, and try to slip over your ears to get to the all-important seeing part. This is just the front eyeglass section – think of those vintage glasses on a stick from the old days but without the stick. The nosepiece is flexible and springy so you simply find the right place on your nose where the glasses sit well and push them down. The spring between the lenses holds them in place (usually … but more on that later).
You can easily slip the ThinOptics in their case into a pocket of most any kind, in the side pocket or strap pocket of a pack or in the tiniest of purses or bags. The lenses come in two strengths, with a range of .50 on either side: low (1.75) and high (2.50).
Cell phone cases (with a slot for the glasses on the back) are available for Android, Samsung and iPhone with the glasses, though we did not test those. There is also an eyeglass pod you can stick on the back of your own phone case that we also didn’t test. Now about my comment that the spring holds the ThinOptics glasses on your nose … “usually.” Don’t try it when you are really sweaty, either from activity or the heat. The glasses just slither right off the nose faster than a kid flying down a water slide. Sure, you can still hold them so that works for sweaty moments but don’t try it standing on the edge of a cliff or buh-bye glasses. We did also wonder why the pod has the opening on the long side instead of the short side. If it were on the short side, you could put the readers in the case and the case in your pocket but only have to pull out the glasses when you needed them. Now you have to retrieve both glasses and case then find a place to put the case. One additional idea would be to add the tiniest little eyelet molded into a corner of the case so you could hang it on a lanyard or secure it in a pack.
NEW! As a follow-up to the tiny “nose-pinching” readers, ThinOptics in 2018 came out with super thin regular glasses with arms, called the “Front Page Collection.” We tried out one of the two designs available in 2019, called the Brooklyn, and indeed they are super thin and extraordinarily light as a feather. Not only that, they are a fashion statement, so you don’t feel quite as, well, dorky with them on. You can slip them in their sturdy metal case into a side cargo pocket on tight pants, and nobody will even know you have them there. The styling is superb, and they also make wonderful travel readers or just-in-case reading glasses.
Despite being practical take-alongs to slip into a pocket, the 4mm-thin case can still be a little difficult to open. In addition, there is a tiny bit of distortion around the edges so I would not want to wear them for more than quick reads, such as a menu in a restaurant. Designers also magnetized the case so the glasses pop back in almost on their own or they stick to the back of smartphones, but there is one problem with this feature: The case can demagnetize cardkeys, as happened to me at a hotel. So, keep your credit cards and hotel cards away. Available in two styles, several colors and four strengths.
All in all: Wonderful, thin, “just-in-case” ThinOptics readers that don’t demand a second thought to take along on any adventure or just around town and are good enough without question to receive our HITT Seal of Approval.
OUR LATEST POSTS
AMAZON INFLUENCER STORE
TRAVEL INSPIRATION
Breathtaking, sweeping sand. Trotting around in the Sahara desert -- barefoot of course -- you feel a bit like a kid, with warm sand between your toes. And then there are the views -- expanses of sand dunes as far as you can see, in a color that defies reality. Doesn't hurt when somebody is walking across the sand either. Thanks, Habib. ... 👉 Tap the link in our bio for more 👍 ... @thereseiknoian @opendoorsmorocco • • • • • #desert #desertlife #sand #dunes #sahara #landscape_lovers #landscapephotography #landscapes #landscape_captures #landscapelovers #instanature #morocco #maroc #moroccan #marocaine #nomad #bucketlist #travelphotos #travelbug #globetrotter #traveltheworld #travelphoto #travelpics #travelingram #lonelyplanet #natgeotravel #travelstoke #passportready #ilovetravel #thereseiknoian
For Charlotte and FoxFury, the adventure of traveling together and the wonder and joy of seeing new places, meeting new people, and learning new things is the ultimate expression of love. “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them,” wrote Mark Twain. Fortunately, Charlotte and FoxFury have discovered they travel very well together. They have also learned that by traveling together, with patience and forgiveness, they learn to see the world differently, which is a magical thing. Who is your favorite travel companion? 👉 Tap the link in our bio for more info 👍 • • • • • #toys #teddybear #toy #teddy #toyphotography #playdate #carousel #gingerbreadman #bear #mytravelgram #travelling #traveler #travelingram #igtravel #travelblog #traveltheworld #travelblogger #instatraveling #instapassport #traveladdict #lonelyplanet #friend #friendship #bestfriend #besties #instafun
Walls offer a helping hand. With steep angles, cobblestoned streets, and lots of uneven stairs, living in Chefchaouen Morocco 🇲🇦 must be a challenge. This woman uses the beautiful blue walls as a little support to aid her transit from market to home. @OpendoorsMorocco @loves_morocco . . . . . #instapassport #aroundtheworldpix #ig_masterpiece #flashesofdelight #travelog #urbex #streetshared #weekly_feature #createexploretakeover #shotzdelight #mkexplore #gearednomad #loves_Morocco #moroccotravel #travelmorocco #moroccotrip #sonyimages #sonyalpha #sonyalphasclub #streetphoto #streetlife #streetphotographers #streetphotographer #urbanandstreet #lensculture #urbanphotography #streetlife_award #street_photo_club #streetshot #morocco
Penguins are always so cute! Here on the back wall of the narrow Richard Gamble Memorial Park, you find this mama and her baby watching you. Step off the N street car from downtown San Francisco in Cole Valley and you are suddenly in a different, neighborly world with great restaurants and coffee houses. Try it some time! And go visit the penquins in the park too. @visitcalifornia @onlyinsf. . . . . . #streetart #streetartphotography #Penguins #urbanwalls #SFstreetart #urbanart #muralsdaily #instapassport #aroundtheworldpix #ig_masterpiece #flashesofdelight #travelog #urbex #streetshared #aov #weekly_feature #createexploretakeover #shotzdelight #mkexplore #gearednomad #california #streetsofsf #igerssf #onlyinsf #sonyimages #sonyalpha #sonyalphasclub #thecreative #travelon
Ready for Christmas? We are! Among our favorite Christmas Markets in Berlin is this one surrounding the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, with a nifty over-sized wood "pyramid." Another is the Red City Hall ("Rotes Rathaus") market near Alexanderplatz. There's a flyover by Santa a few times a night (sssh, his sled is on a wire), an ice skating rink, German comedians doing ice shows, as well as all the food and hot mulled wine you desire. Of course, hot mulled wine is standard fare at all markets. Traditional, normal-sized pyramids are made of wood and the heat from candles turn them, usually with a few little wooden figurines moving in a dance and maybe a few bells tinkling too. To learn which the are the best Christmas markets in Berlin, be sure to check out our story here - http://bit.ly/berlinchristmasmarkets @visit_berlin . . . . . #instapassport #thecreative #artofvisuals #aroundtheworldpix #ig_masterpiece #theprettycities #flashesofdelight #travelog #mytinyatlas #visualmobs #theglobewanderer #forahappymoment #exploringtheglobe #travelon #awesome_earthpix #ig_deutschland #diestadtberlin #berlinstagram #berlinstyle #ig_berlin #christmas #christmasdecorations #merrychristmas #christmastime #christmaslights #festive #christmasart #winter #visit_berlin #berlinpage
Not sure about all the others out there with what I lovingly call “aging eyes,” but toting reading glasses around with you all the time just in case you need to read something is a royal pain in the petooty. Fishing out the case, pulling it open, fumbling with the glasses, getting them open and each earpiece over your ears just to read a quick blurb in a museum, the opening hours of a restaurant, what time the bus leaves, a trail guidebook or a map. Then back they go. And do I want to schlepp one more bulky item along on runs, hikes and other adventures? No, not really. So I instead have a habit of waiting to read maps or guidebooks until I can find a sunny spot – and even then working to tilt the pages or map just right to make out words and trails.
Along came this new thing called ThinOptics reading glasses,
As the company says, they are indeed “insanely” thin, tiny and light – about the size of two snack crackers side-by-side, not much thicker than a credit card (about 1/8th of an inch), and only about 0.5 ounces (15 grams).
There are no earpieces to fuddle with, unfold, and try to slip over your ears to get to the all-important seeing part. This is just the front eyeglass section – think of those vintage glasses on a stick from the old days but without the stick. The nosepiece is flexible and springy so you simply find the right place on your nose where the glasses sit well and push them down. The spring between the lenses holds them in place (usually … but more on that later).
You can easily slip the ThinOptics in their case into a pocket of most any kind, in the side pocket or strap pocket of a pack or in the tiniest of purses or bags. The lenses come in two strengths, with a range of .50 on either side: low (1.75) and high (2.50).
Case and glasses go for $24. You can also buy items separately. Cell phone cases (with a slot for the glasses on the back) are available for Android, Samsung and iPhone for $38 with the glasses, though we did not test those. There is also an eyeglass pod you can stick on the back of your own phone case that we also didn’t test. Now about my comment that the spring holds the ThinOptics glasses on your nose … “usually.” Don’t try it when you are really sweaty, either from activity or the heat. The glasses just slither right off the nose faster than a kid flying down a water slide. Sure, you can still hold them so that works for sweaty moments but don’t try it standing on the edge of a cliff or buh-bye glasses. We did also wonder why the pod has the opening on the long side instead of the short side. If it were on the short side, you could put the readers in the case and the case in your pocket but only have to pull out the glasses when you needed them. Now you have to retrieve both glasses and case then find a place to put the case. One additional idea would be to add the tiniest little eyelet molded into a corner of the case so you could hang it on a lanyard or secure it in a pack.
NEW! As a follow-up to the tiny “nose-pinching” readers, ThinOptics in 2018 came out with super thin regular glasses with arms, called the “Front Page Collection.” We tried out one of the two designs available in 2019, called the Brooklyn, and indeed they are super thin and extraordinarily light as a feather. Not only that, they are a fashion statement, so you don’t feel quite as, well, dorky with them on. You can slip them in their sturdy metal case into a side cargo pocket on tight pants, and nobody will even know you have them there. The styling is superb, and they also make wonderful travel readers or just-in-case reading glasses. Despite being practical take-alongs to slip into a pocket, the 4mm-thin case can still be a little difficult to open. In addition, there is a tiny bit of distortion around the edges so I would not want to wear them for more than quick reads, such as a menu in a restaurant. Designers also magnetized the case so the glasses pop back in almost on their own or they stick to the back of smartphones, but there is one problem with this feature: The case can demagnetize cardkeys, as happened to me at a hotel. So, keep your credit cards and hotel cards away. Available in two styles, several colors and four strengths.
All in all: Wonderful, thin, “just-in-case” ThinOptics readers that don’t demand a second thought to take along on any adventure or just around town and are good enough without question to receive our HITT Seal of Approval.
Therese Iknoian
Latest posts by Therese Iknoian
- Best Christmas markets in Berlin: shop, sip, snack and more - October 18, 2019
- All of the things to do in Asilah Morocco plus where to eat - October 11, 2019
- Best luxury hotel in Fes Morocco: Riad Laaroussa can’t be beat - October 4, 2019
