The Story Behind the Big Kahuna

In 2022, Detour Sunglasses founder Chris designed the first Big Kahuna from a customer request. Little did he know, that request would lead to the creation of the first Big Kahuna frame, an XL design that would not only become one of our best-selling styles but fundamentally transform the shape of Detour Sunglasses forever.

For many decades, the sunglasses industry had historically used the “one size fits all” mantra, not allowing much diversity in sizing and fit options for personal eyewear. This approach ignored a simple truth: human beings come in all shapes and sizes, and XL heads have always been part of our diverse world. Those blessed with larger head sizes have consistently faced the frustrating challenge of finding sunglasses that not only look good but fit comfortably and securely.

This size gap is what inspired the first Big Kahuna back in 2022. Per customer request, we were asked to design a pair of sunglasses with wider temples and longer arms that would accommodate larger head sizes, and rather than dismissing this as a niche request, we recognized it as a chance to create something new.

The journey to create the perfect XL frame wasn't immediate. We invested several months in careful design work, testing, and multiple prototyping phases. After a lengthy development process, the Big Kahuna emerged as our first ever XL sunglasses, eventually leading to our Coastal XL, Cabana XL, and Breach XL. What started as a single customer request has evolved into the most recognizable aspect of our brand identity, living proof of Bob Ross' famous "happy accidents." Today, Detour Sunglasses stands proud as a champion for XL head owners worldwide.

Our commitment to serving the XL community has become more than just a business strategy – it's a movement that celebrates diversity in sizing and challenges the industry's status quo. The Big Kahuna reminds us that sometimes the best innovations come from simply listening to our customers.