You saw it on your packing list … and you might be wondering just what the heck we’re talking about. The concept is pretty straightforward: a sunglasses retention strap is something that attaches to your sunglasses and keeps them from falling into the river or getting blown off your face in the rapids. There are a handful of brands and styles of retention straps out there — this is kind of like the “Kleenex” versus “tissue” conversation. We tend to just call them all Chums, because that’s the brand we like and use most often. Most outdoorsy stores carry some type of retention strap but, if you’re having a hard time finding them, we do carry Chums in our online store.

The real question is, do you really need them? HECK. YES. You do not want to lose your sunglasses on a multi-day river trip in the blinding Arizona sun. Chums are inexpensive, they don’t take up any room in your bag, there’s no reason not to bring them, and you will be so grateful to have them when your sunglasses slip off your nose for the one-thousandth time on your river trip. Besides all that, we think they’re pretty darn stylish! Once you start wearing Chums, you’ll never go back. You’ll be a lifelong member of an elite club: people who think Chums are where it’s at. Pretty soon, you’ll find yourself wearing them everywhere. You’ll start color coordinating them with various outfits. You’ll find they’ve been multiplying in your purse or your glove box and somehow you have half a dozen pairs with you at all times. And that’s a good thing.

So swing on by our online shop and start your collection now!

Chums can turn your plain old sunglasses into a stylish necklace.