Lighweight case for glasses?

If I recall correctly, the cases that LensCrafters gives away with new glasses weigh about 1.3 ounces (I might be off by a few tenths there). Those cases aren't hard-sided, but they're sufficiently reinforced that I wouldn't worry about them in my pack.

Jim,

I took a different route. When hiking, I just need glasses to read. So I bought a cheap pair of dime store reading glasses, the lightest I could find. I just keep them in a light sack, and try to pack them is a safe place. If they break, I am not concerned.

However, if you need to glasses for other than reading the solution is not viable.

There was a great posting a month or so about this topic.

Someone listed this like for building a lightweight tube.

Brilliant idea that is lightweight.

I have not done it yet, but thinking about it.

(I sleep like a dead log and actually sleep with my glasses on at night, hence, I really don't need a case)

See this link:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/search.asp?search=Tenite+Butyrate+Tubing+

-Tony

ed.

If I was really careful, I could probably use an empty tp tube with duck tape on one end. I did that before backpacking in Mexico, and it worked. But I'd have to be really careful, and I know myself.

Yeah, my glasses are prescription. I wear contacts, but bring the glasses as a backup. I bring a pair of backup contacts as well, and maybe it is a non-UL mindset to bring 2 backups. Really, I could bring 2 sets of back-up lenses (and drop the glasses) for almost zero weight penalty. That's cut 4 oz from my pack. What are the odds of 5 contacts getting ruined/lost whatever on a 2-3 night trip? But sometimes my eyes get dry and drops don't seem to help. OTH, I also wouldn't have to worry about losing/breaking the glasses, with no health insurance right now.

Tony, I'll look into that link. I should've searched the forums before asking.

James,

Too many threads to search!

My comments was just to give kuddos to the person who created the last thread…not a criticism of you.

I should have noted this:

The idea was to use the tubing for the case and then buying two end caps to complete the job.

Using a cloth, like the ones they give you to clean your glasses, wrap the glasses up and stuff it all into the tube.

Good luck!

-Tony

at home I keep my sunglasses in a hard zipper case like this one:

seen here (http://www.sourcingmap.com/slim-eyeglasses-eye-glasses-glass-black-case-holder-with-zipper-p-20395.html) for $4 and weight 1.5oz or so. it might be worth a try at removing the zipper for weight and adding a simple closure using velcro, or a rubber band.

I just use a quart-sized plastic zip-type bag and make sure there's still air in the bag when I zip it shut. The glasses are protected by the air surrounding them. With enough pressure, the bag will pop open, so use a good-quality zip bag and keep it towards the top of the pack.

Interesting. That looks just like the case I use now, of unknown origins, but mine weighs closer to 3 oz. Mine's probably not as slim.

James,

Not answering your question directly, but…

My glasses are light and flimsy because I hate the ones with thick frames.

In my various month-long trips to Asia, Europe, Africa, etc. over the years — all I ever did was wrap the flimsy spare pair inside a small piece of bubble wrap and secure with a piece of tape. After that, it's simply tossed into my ultralight Granite Gear stuff sack along with all my other misc. odds and ends stuff.

All these years, I've never had to use my spare — meaning the same spare has survived many trips in my backpack without a single scratch or bend!

Lots of travelers insist on the "security" of a hard-sided suitcase — not realizing that with a bit of care in packing — soft-sided ones are already more than good enough to protect pack contents. I really think the penchant for a hard-sided eyeglass case is fear overblown as well.

No guarantees of course, but I just haven't been able to break or even damage slightly my spare pair of glasses after years of traveling.

Of course, now that I posted this, a hundred other hikers/travelers will now post their eyeglass mishaps and tales of woe… :)

That's the kind of thing I was talking about when I asked if there were any unconventional cheap methods. I have plenty of spare bubble wrap at work. It should work perfectly. And it's free. I wear frameless too, but a single layer of of thick bubble wrap should be fine. Wrapped in the shammy I won't have to worry about scratches. Thanks.

I kepp my sunglasses in a home made closed-cell foam case. It can be taped together with duct tape. Cheap, easy, light, and very very effective.

Granite Gear sells a soft case, which may not be suitable. It weighs 1.6oz.

http://www.granitegear.com/products/accessories/glasscase.html

I bought a pair of "optical quality" folding reading glasses for hiking use. They came with a little case that's about the size of a cellphone. However, I find the glasses also fit in the cheap plastic container that my Petzl e+light came in. Weight? Dunno, but it's pretty light.

James, I bought a lightweight(20g) case intended for a cellphone to pack my glasses in. It's not hard-sided (made of that foam/nylon fabric), but I've not had a problem with the glasses getting crushed or anything. An added bonus is that it comes with both a plastic clip and a sewn loop that comes in handy for attatching to a shoulder strap, belt or whatever. Happy trails!

If you can see without your glasses, packing ain't so important.
If you are nearly blind without them, protect them like they are priceless.

Basically, I can see a couple feet in front of me in light blurry, then all is a blur of shapes/colors. So for me I not only protect my glasses at night, I carry prescription sunglasses. I am freaked about ever breaking my glasses – if I did, I would have serious issues just hiking out, let alone driving home.

So….I use the cases I get from the Eye Doc. Having said that, most of the cases are very UL and small. I usually get a choice so I pick the smallest by the brand. The shaped light hard ones work best – you are protected against most crushings and they mold the lenses.

I carry whatever pair is not on my face in the holder. At night I stash my glasses in my shoe, in the case (I can usually fit two pairs in) for another layer of protection.

Had a quick idea for an ultralight glasses case this morning.

what about a clear plastic clamshell package from the store?
http://www.greatriverplastics.com/clamshell.html

Take a trip to the drugstore or toystore and look for an inexpensive item that has a package your glasses would fit into.

I'm going to keep an eye out next time I'm at the store.

Sarbar! Wolfeye! Small world eh? lol Small blurry world for me if I lose my glasses, but I don't keep 'em in a case, not even the back-ups. My new Kelty has a fleece pouch sewn into it, just for glasses