There are three different hinge designs and these are the standard, or ‘barrel’ design, the flexible spring design and the hingeless design.
Countless brands offer standard hinge designs, which are practical and easy to come by. However, hingeless specs are far less common. Lindberg glasses are perhaps some of the best known hingeless specs around; their innovative technology has won them countless awards, and the quality of their frames speak for themselves.
Each of the aforementioned designs comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the best style for you will largely depend on your lifestyle. Are you a particularly active person who will require a tighter fit than is offered by standard hinges? In which case, spring or hingeless options might be best for you. Otherwise, perhaps the affordability of standard hinges would make these a better choice.
Below is some more information on these three different hinge types, and the pros and cons of each one.
Barrel Hinges
The barrel design is the standard and most common hinge type. In simplified terms, these work in a similar way to a door hinge. There are usually three to five tiny barrels that join together and are held in place by a very small screw. This allows the temples to open to ninety degrees and close for storage.
Glasses that employ this design tend to be affordable and easy to repair if the hinge component were to break. The simplicity of the barrel design makes it easily adjustable at home, potentially saving the wearer multiple trips to the opticians. However, as the specs are in constant use it is inevitable that the screws will loosen and that the overall fit will be affected. If you don’t tighten them regularly, you could lose a screw. This is likely to happen more often for those with active lifestyles, and it can be inconvenient.
Spring Hinges
Spring hinges strike a balance between flexibility and practicality. In contrast to the standard design mentioned above, this design is screwless and uses springs rather than barrels to allow the temples of the glasses to move beyond ninety degrees. When the frame bends, the spring takes the force of the movement and so the hinge retains its original fit without needing re-adjustment.
Generally, glasses that feature this type of hinge are well-suited to anyone with an active lifestyle. The spring allows the temples to fit more snugly around the head, meaning the specs are less likely to fall. They also don’t carry the added risk of losing a screw or requiring regular readjustment.
Whilst this type of hinge technology is brilliant for many, it does carry an additional cost. Often frames with spring hinges will be more expensive than those with standard designs, meaning anyone on a budget might struggle to afford this type of frame. Additionally, the more complicated design makes these hinges considerably more difficult to repair. Wearers will likely be unable to fix their specs at home, and so should prepare for a potentially costly trip to the opticians.
Hingeless
Last but by no means least is the hingeless design. These are one of the newest innovations in eyewear and are made from strong but malleable materials such as titanium. Unlike frames with other hinge designs, the temples on hingeless styles are curved and expertly fitted to the wearer’s head. Lindberg glasses are a wonderful example of flawless, hingeless design. Their patented technology and beautiful designs make them a firm favourite amongst many.
Glasses without hinges are lightweight and designed to fit the head snugly - the temples will be tailored by your optician to allow for a tight yet comfortable fit. The added guarantee that these frames will stay on during heavy activity means they are perfectly suited to anyone who regularly takes part in rigorous activities. They are also a wonderful choice for children who are constantly on the move.
Although hingeless glasses offer advantages over specs with standard hinge designs, the lack of adjustable barrels means the fit around the nose can be less precise. It is important that the temple lengths are measured accurately to ensure the best possible fit. Similarly to specs with spring hinges, the innovative technology makes them tricky and expensive to repair. Unfortunately frames of this type will likely need to be returned to the manufacturer if they break.
The most suitable hinge design for you is completely dependent on your lifestyle, budget and preferences. Barrel hinges are far more affordable and easy to repair, whilst spring and hingeless designs are perfect for active individuals. Lindberg glasses offer some of the best hingeless styles, but be sure to purchase from a reputable optician to get the most personal and professional service possible.
