Eye Can See Clearly Now
Written: Oct 11 '09 (Updated Oct 11 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great back up for eyewear repair on the go
Cons: kit's screws won't work in all frames, you might need help or reading glasses
The Bottom Line: Go prepared with this kit, but you might augment its contents
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| criteeker's Full Review: Eyeglass Repair Kit |
So there you are, in the wilderness or some remote area and your only pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses needs fixin'. What do you do? Well if you are the type of person who "goes prepared" you'll pack this kit along for the ride when camping, four wheelin' or any excursion away from home or a drug store.
When it comes to handy items needed for camping and other excursions, Coghlan's is a name most of us know. I include quite a few of their products in my "kit" when leaving home for any excursion. Coghlan's eyeglass repair kit includes a small magnifying glass, a tiny screwdriver, twelve commonly sized micro screws (only two different sizes) and a vinyl pouch. Since it weighs in a sparse 1 ounce, backpackers will be happy.
But there are a couple significant limitations to this kit. The main one being that it only includes a few pair of "typical" micro screws in the more popular sizes. In some case, your glasses or sunglasses might have another size not included in the kit. At that points you really only have a couple options. A quick fix would be to use wire - either bailing wire or even the wire from a bread wrap. I've even used a safety pin - and looked goofy too. Anything that'll keep your glasses intact until you can get back home and properly repair them. BUT... if you're like me (a Virgo and someone who plans in advance) you could buy a bunch of micro screws and include them in your kit. You can find them at drug stores, optometrist's offices or eyewear shops.
For those of you (like me) who happen to be "near-sighted" - you're in luck. For those who are far-sighted, I would suggest using reading glasses or have someone else hold the magnifying glass. You're going to need both of your hands to replace these tiny micro screws. One hand to hold the glasses and the other to operate the tiny screwdriver.
For those of you who might not have a steady hand or lack manual dexterity, you might also toss in a pair of tweezers to "get the biscuit ion the basket." I mean, those screws are tiny and some folks might not be able to get the tiny screw in the hole and then might have trouble screwing into said hole. (no wise cracks)
These kits (and other Coghlan's products) can be found at Army surplus stores, camping stores, Harbor Freight Tools, on the internet and sometimes at a 99 cent store. Expect to pay anywhere from 99 cents to $5 depending on where you are and how much they need to gouge you at camping or ski resorts.
In the end, this is a great start for an eyeglass repair kit but I feel it needs to be augmented to be truly useful.
Other related reviews:
Tire Repair Kit
Emergency Blanket
Portable Camp Stove
Recommended:
Yes
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