Given where I'm at and the conditions I'm likely to come up against I usually don't think of sunglasses as survival items. But there certainly are times when they could become essential. Pretty much everyone knows about snow blindness and high altitude, sunshine and snow can combine to temporarily blind a person. But down here we don't get much snow. But we do have a lot of coast and a climate that makes work and play on the water a year-round affair. And if you spend enough time out on the water your going to hurt your eyes if you don't protect them. Stuffing a few roll-up sunglasses into the first-aid kit and bail-out bag could make a big difference in comfort, safety and your ability to survive if your boat goes down.

They aren't going to help your lady killer reputation but at least you will be able to see the ladies.