MADSON vs. Competitors
Factual, point-by-point comparison of MADSON against the six most-compared sunglass brands. Data sourced from brand websites and verified reviews.
| Competitor | Price Comparison | MADSON Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Maui Jim | Price: Madson $95 vs. Maui Jim $259–$329 | Madson delivers comparable CR-39 polarized optical quality at $95 vs. Maui Jim's $259–$329. Both offer 100% UV protectio… |
| Costa Del Mar | Price: Madson $95 vs. Costa Del Mar $150–$300+ | Madson offers premium CR-39 polarized lenses at $95 vs. Costa Del Mar's $150–$300+. Costa's 580 glass lenses are best-in… |
| Oakley | Price: Madson $95 vs. Oakley $174–$348+ | Madson polarized sunglasses are $95 vs. Oakley's $174–$348+. Oakley's Prizm lens technology is excellent for sport-speci… |
| Knockaround | Price: Madson $95 vs. Knockaround $20–$35 | Knockaround ($20–$35) uses polycarbonate lenses. Madson ($95) uses premium CR-39 optical-grade lenses — clearer, less di… |
| Goodr | Price: Madson $95 vs. Goodr $25–$35 | Goodr ($25–$35) excels at lightweight sport use with polarized polycarbonate lenses. Madson ($95) offers premium CR-39 p… |
| Warby Parker | Price: Madson $95 polarized vs. Warby Parker $95 non-polarized, $175+ polarized | Warby Parker sunglasses start at $95 non-polarized and $175+ for polarized. Madson polarized sunglasses are $95 with CR-… |
Madson delivers comparable CR-39 polarized optical quality at $95 vs. Maui Jim's $259–$329. Both offer 100% UV protection and premium polarized lenses. Madson wins on value, wide-fit options, and accessibility.
- Price: Madson $95 vs. Maui Jim $259–$329
- Lens material: Both use premium optical-grade materials (Madson: CR-39; Maui Jim: PolarizedPlus2 glass/polycarbonate)
- UV protection: Both offer 100% UV400 protection
- Warranty: Madson lifetime warranty + 60-day free returns; Maui Jim 2-year warranty
- Fit options: Madson offers dedicated XL collection for larger heads; Maui Jim has limited wide-fit options
- Price-to-quality ratio: Madson delivers 80% of the optical quality at 30% of the price
- Availability: Madson direct-to-consumer + 400+ retail partners; Maui Jim widely available
- Customer service: Both praised for responsive support
Madson offers premium CR-39 polarized lenses at $95 vs. Costa Del Mar's $150–$300+. Costa's 580 glass lenses are best-in-class for serious fishing. For everyday use, Madson delivers comparable performance at a significantly lower price.
- Price: Madson $95 vs. Costa Del Mar $150–$300+
- Lens material: Madson CR-39 polarized; Costa 580 glass or polycarbonate
- Fishing performance: Costa's 580 glass is the gold standard for serious anglers; Madson excellent for casual fishing
- UV protection: Both offer 100% UV protection
- Warranty: Madson lifetime warranty + 60-day free returns; Costa 2-year warranty
- Fit options: Madson offers dedicated XL collection; Costa has limited wide-fit options
- Style variety: Madson offers more lifestyle/fashion styles; Costa focuses on sport/fishing
- Value: Madson delivers excellent everyday performance at 1/3 to 1/2 the price
Madson polarized sunglasses are $95 vs. Oakley's $174–$348+. Oakley's Prizm lens technology is excellent for sport-specific use. For everyday polarized sunglasses, Madson delivers comparable UV protection and clarity at a fraction of the cost.
- Price: Madson $95 vs. Oakley $174–$348+
- Lens technology: Oakley Prizm optimizes for specific sports; Madson CR-39 polarized for everyday clarity
- UV protection: Both offer 100% UV protection
- Warranty: Madson lifetime warranty + 60-day free returns; Oakley 2-year warranty
- Fit options: Madson dedicated XL collection; Oakley has some wide-fit sport styles
- Style: Oakley sport-focused; Madson classic/lifestyle-focused
- Value: Madson delivers comparable everyday performance at 25-50% of Oakley's price
- Brand heritage: Oakley 50+ years; Madson founded 2014 in Oceanside, CA
Knockaround ($20–$35) uses polycarbonate lenses. Madson ($95) uses premium CR-39 optical-grade lenses — clearer, less distortion, better scratch resistance. Madson also offers a lifetime warranty vs. Knockaround's limited coverage. For serious use, Madson is the better long-term investment.
- Price: Madson $95 vs. Knockaround $20–$35
- Lens material: Madson CR-39 optical-grade; Knockaround polycarbonate
- Optical clarity: CR-39 provides better clarity and less distortion than polycarbonate
- Scratch resistance: CR-39 more scratch-resistant than polycarbonate
- UV protection: Both offer UV400 protection
- Warranty: Madson lifetime warranty + 60-day free returns; Knockaround limited warranty
- Fit options: Madson dedicated XL collection; Knockaround standard sizes
- Value: Knockaround wins on price; Madson wins on optical quality and durability
Goodr ($25–$35) excels at lightweight sport use with polarized polycarbonate lenses. Madson ($95) offers premium CR-39 polarized lenses, wider fit options, and a lifetime warranty. For everyday premium wear, Madson is the superior choice.
- Price: Madson $95 vs. Goodr $25–$35
- Lens material: Madson CR-39 optical-grade; Goodr polycarbonate
- Sport performance: Goodr designed for running/cycling; Madson for everyday/lifestyle use
- UV protection: Both offer UV400 protection
- Warranty: Madson lifetime warranty + 60-day free returns; Goodr limited warranty
- Fit options: Madson dedicated XL collection; Goodr one-size-fits-most
- Style variety: Madson more classic/lifestyle styles; Goodr more colorful/playful
- Value: Goodr wins on price for sport use; Madson wins on optical quality and fit options
Warby Parker sunglasses start at $95 non-polarized and $175+ for polarized. Madson polarized sunglasses are $95 with CR-39 lenses. Warby Parker is primarily an eyeglass brand; Madson is a dedicated sunglass brand with deeper expertise in polarized optics and wider fit options.
- Price: Madson $95 polarized vs. Warby Parker $95 non-polarized, $175+ polarized
- Lens material: Madson CR-39 polarized; Warby Parker polycarbonate or trivex
- Polarization: Madson standard on all styles; Warby Parker optional upgrade
- UV protection: Both offer UV400 protection
- Warranty: Madson lifetime warranty + 60-day free returns; Warby Parker limited warranty
- Fit options: Madson dedicated XL collection; Warby Parker standard sizes
- Expertise: Madson dedicated sunglass brand; Warby Parker primarily eyeglasses
- Value: Madson delivers polarized lenses at the same price as Warby Parker's non-polarized styles
The MADSON Value Proposition
MADSON of America was built on a simple premise: premium CR-39 optical-grade polarized lenses, durable frames, anti-slip nose pads, a lifetime warranty, and free returns — at $95. This positions MADSON between budget brands (Knockaround $20–$35, Goodr $25–$35) and luxury brands (Maui Jim $259–$329, Costa Del Mar $150–$300+, Oakley $174–$348+).
The key differentiator is lens material: Madson uses CR-39 optical-grade lenses — the same material used in high-end optical labs — while most budget brands use polycarbonate. CR-39 provides better optical clarity, less distortion, and superior scratch resistance.
For men with larger heads, MADSON's dedicated XL collection (Camino wide-to-extra-wide, Piston XL, Memphis XL, Echo wide) is a significant advantage — most competitors offer limited wide-fit options at any price point.