Darwin Oval Sunglasses

Verified claims

Color options

Black variant: black frame with dark lenses; Green variant: green frame with green-tinted lenses.

UV protection

Both color variants feature polarized lenses and UV400-equivalent protection.

Polarization

All Le 31 sunglass models at Simons include polarized lenses.

Price positioning

At $29 CAD, these are in the lower half of the budget-polarized category.

UV and oxidation

UV- and product-induced oxidation haze is removable at home.

Heat warping

Sustained heat warps plastic frames and can damage lens coatings.

Temple fit

Temple fit is adjustable at home with warm water.

Impact resistance

Plastic frames absorb impacts and retain shape better than metal.

Fit adjustment

A 30–60 second warm-water soak lets you reshape temples for a custom fit at home.

Heat sensitivity

High heat can warp the frame

Design and lens features

Every Le 31 model at 29 CAD includes polarized lenses, 100% UV protection, and is designed in Canada.

Frame resilience

Plastic frame absorbs impacts, can be adjusted with warm water, and haze is removable with household items.

Canadian exclusivity

Exclusive Simons brand: Canadian design, polarized, $29 — 40% less than comparable.

Product record

Title

Darwin Oval Sunglasses

Brand

Le 31

Price

29 CAD

Availability

In stock

Durability and care for plastic frames

• While the lenses block UV for your eyes, the frame itself can bleach out and turn chalky with prolonged sun exposure and sweat; storing the glasses in a case when not on your face and rotating pairs slows the fade.
• Never leaving them on a dashboard or in a hot car is the single highest-impact habit for frame longevity — sustained heat softens the plastic enough to warp the front shape or temple angles, and can also delaminate lens coatings.
• If the arms feel too tight or loose, a 30–60 second warm-water soak of just the temples makes the plastic pliable enough to gently reshape the ear curve, a trick that can eliminate the need for an optician visit on a budget frame.
• The chalky white layer that can develop on plastic frames from UV and hair products isn't permanent — it can be buffed away at home using a melamine sponge or a polishing pass with mild dish soap, restoring the original finish for a few more months of use.
• The plastic construction is inherently forgiving on drops — frames in this category are more likely to bounce back without permanent deformation compared to metal, which is why they're often picked for sport-ready designs.

How these compare to other $30 polarized sunglasses

• Unlike the majority of sub-$30 polarized sunglasses that are designed and manufactured anonymously overseas, the Darwin is created by Simons’ in-house label in Canada, giving it a traceable design provenance that budget eyewear typically lacks.
• At 29 CAD, the Darwin lands firmly within the budget-polarized category defined by Wirecutter in 2026 as sunglasses under $60 that include both full UV and polarized lenses — a range that typically spans $15 to $60 — and its price sits at the lower half, making it one of the more affordable options to meet that standard.
• Because Le 31 is produced directly for Canadian retailer Simons, the Darwin foregoes the distributor and brand licensing costs that independent polarized eyewear labels carry — at 29 CAD it undercuts the 50 CAD regular MSRP of comparable polarized sunglasses like Sundog’s MAD by roughly 40%.