Sunglasses...best for fishing?

[Luck e 1]

Obviously polarized is the best...but which brand is best?

Oakley? Are they really good or is it just a name?

Costa Del Mar? Their HSOforum is pretty convincing that their polarized glasses are superior.

Natives? What I currently wear...pretty good.

I have talked to guys who swear it doesn't matter...polarized glasses are all the same.

Is this true?

[Hookmaster]

I have Ocean Waves and my wife has Costa Del Mars. Both are good as are some others like Maui Jim. Ours are glass lenses which are a little heavier but we wanted the durability. I had some cheap polarized ones before that got scratched up and that relly caused eye strain when worn all day. With the Ocean Waves I can wear all day and the eyes feel great. There are many good brands today.

[Esox_Magnum]

They are different, wore cheapies for years but not anymore. I currently wear Ocean Wave Backwater Greens or H3O's, I prefer the H3O's due to having 3 different lenses I can change for varying conditions. I fish muskies and the ability to see is crucial. May be better ones out there now, both my pairs are 3-4 years old and see no signs of needing replaced yet, cheapies were at least once a year maybe twice.

[jwhjr]

I went from cheapies to Costas about 3 years ago and anyone who says all polarized lenses are the same must already be wearing rose colored glasses There is a world of difference between the two. The biggest difference I've noticed after a long day on the water is that I have no eye strain anymore, and the visibility into the water is much better too. I've only used the Costas, but I would guess that the difference would be similar between any of the better brands of sunglasses and the cheap ones.

[Luck e 1]

So there is definitely a difference between the cheapies and the big name brands.

But do youthink that the top of the line brands (Costas, Natives, Oakleys, Ocean Waves, H3O's) are all just the same? Or is there one that tops them all?

[Esox_Magnum]

Rage now is Costas, before that was Ocean Waves, Maui before those. Find a brand that fit you and you like. Another option that guys I know who own them say are the greatest are Habers, but those are avalible only online.

[KG243]

I love my Oakley sunglass', they by far fit me the best. I just tried pair after pair until I found what worked for me.

[walleyemaniac]

Since I've spent the money for a good pair I can now tell how crappy the cheap ones are. My lenses don't get all scratched up and you can't believe what you can see under the surface that you couldn't before. Spend the money on a good pair.

Another company is Solar Bat good glasses a budy of mine has a pair and realy likes them. Only thing is I don't think anyone up here carries them, might have to order on-line. Not the best when you can't try them on, unless someone knows who might have them.

The color of the lense makes a big difference as well. (found an article on this)

Gray - doesn't change your color perception. It's good for clear water on a bright, sunny day while line-watching for strikes.

Brown - is good when looking for fish and cover in clear water. However it makes muddy water look muddier.

Green - brightens green colors and bleaches out brown and tan. It is best in stained water, and for seeing bass and other speies that have green hues.

Yellow - (high contrast) performs best in the shade, under overcast conditions and when fishing in very dark water.

[Cherokee Ref]

I've had Kaenon (Kore model) for 5 years, same pair. Got the copper lenses, and I love them. You can get different color lenses and varying degree of light allowed through, also. Expensive, but check around for sales.

[Duffman]

If you are in no hurry to get a new pair, keep your eyes open for sales, online and in stores. I've seen Costas and Natives going for 60%-65% off recently, they might be last years models, but who cares?

[Luck e 1]

Duffam...

where did you see those sales?

[Jim Almquist]

Luck e 1 When you see a sporting goods store having a clearance sale or moving sale that is a good time to find great prices on good eye wear. I bought my second pair of Costas when the Gander in Duluth moved stores and the were 60% off so now I have a amber and a grey lens to choose from. Make sure to get a good case and a nice soft lens cloth to clean them with and they will stay like new for a long time.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have had costa with the poly carb lenses and now have the 580 lenses and can tell a major difference in them even.. and I thought I saw a huge diff when i got the polycarb.. I am more than pleased with the 580 lenses, it makes the world look likes its in hi-def.

[jwhjr]

I also have the 580 lenses and they're the cat's meow.

[candiru]

I have had some Costas for ten years (give or take). Out of style and a little scratched, but they still work.

[Luck e 1]

Are the Costas a little heavy to be wearing all day? Right now I have polycarb, with the plastic frames on my Natives and they are light and I can wear them all day.

I am just a little worried that the glass lens and the hard plastic frame will dig in all day.

[jwhjr]

I haven't had any issues with the Costa glass lenses being too heavy after wearing them all day.

[Deitz Dittrich]

As I said, I have both the poly and the 580.. and on my face I cant say I can tell a difference in weight.. The 580 are 22% lighter than most glass lenses.

[PEATMOSS]

The most important advice that I think has been lacking on here so far is to go to a store that has a big selection of top name glasses and try a bunch of them on. You'll want to find a pair that fits comfortably and that look good on you. We all have different shaped heads and faces and a good fit is critical. After finding a few that fit and look decent, don't be afraid to ask the clerk to walk outside with you to look around. You are potentionally spending a Cnote or 2 and this really isn't too much to ask.

I loved my Maui's that I had for about 4 years. Don't lend them to your teenager under any circumstances. After the kid broke my Maui's over the fourth, I went in for a new pair and found a really nice pair of Costas that I like even better. Both brands are great. You get what you pay for, just take good care of them.

[delcecchi]

Turns out most fancy sunglasses are made by the same company. There was an interesting article in the Wall street Journal online this weekend about sunglasses and this company. They also own many of the retailers.

[bigdog]

Sierra Trading Post often has high end sunglasses at steep discounts. I bought a pair of Costas for about $65 a couple months ago.

[DTro]

Always been a cheapie fan myself.

I have very senstive eyes, and if its light out I have them on, even if it's cloudy.

Because of that, I lose and or break them alot.

I probably go through 2 or 3 pair a year. I tried the $200 Maui Jim route, and they lasted about a couple of months and ended up at the bottom of the lake.

I just so happened to buy a new pair the other day at target (polarized of course) for a grand total of 1 dollar. I should've bought a dozen for that price.

[PierBridge]

On the cheap here also....Walmart Rengades "amber lense" are really nice for the money.

Been thinking about some Costa's for a while but haven't found anything I like for that amount of money.

The color tint in sunglasses also has an effect on the clarity of your vision and is an important factor when purchasing.

Sounds like amber is good color as far as our type of fishing goes from what I'm gathering.

[Shorelunch]

I went from the cheapies to CDM last Spring. There is definitely a huge difference, both in the lenses and frames. I got a grey pair for blue sky days and amber for cloudy. The 580's are sweet but the other lenses are very nice too. I think if you buy any decent brand previously mentioned you''re eyes will be better off - go with what fits best.

[chief]

Polarized sunglasses are required equipment for living. There isn't a day when you don't need them.

Points to remember:

Fit and comfort are extremely important. How glasses rest on your nose and cheekbones determine all-day comfort. Glasses that don't offer peripheral coverage are impractical for fishing. Every face is different, so the only way to determine fit is to try them on.

Our eyes are always working, in ways we're not aware of, to correct imperfections/imbalances in what we see. At the end of the day, we experience this as eye fatigue. Higher quality lenses are more optically correct, they allow less light distortion, and they more effectively reduce glare. All of this results in less eye fatigue.

For fishing here, in Minnesota, gray or green mirror lenses are probably best for sunny conditions. These lenses block glare, and reduce light-overload, while still allowing good depth perception and color accuracy.

Amber, yellow, vermillion lenses are best for low-light fishing. These colors greatly enhance depth perception, without blocking valuable light. These lenses are also perfect for 99% of winter driving duties, as they excell in overcast conditions.

Glass lenses are far more scratch resistant than polycarbonate offerings. They are a bit heavier, but you probably won't notice this if your glasses fit well. Glass is considered optically superior to plastic, but good quality plastic lenses come really, really close to matching them.

Having said this, I don't, personally, feel there are huge differences between "decent" and "high level" offerings. Through the years I've worn Costas, Serengetti's, Solar Bats, Oakleys, and H3O's---and they're all acceptable. I'm very fond of my current H3O Tsunamis, as I think they're a steal with 3 sets of lenses. I've twice broken the paddles on my Costa Wave Killers, but Costa has repaired/replaced them both times for a fair price.

Pricing isn't always a reliable indicator, but from $100.00 on up you'll get a reliable and useful product. Remember though, nothing is more important than comfort, coverage, and fit.

[Macgyver55]

They just had a clip on the (national) morning news today about how important sunglasses are. They tested 135 pair of sunglasses throughout the price range from dollar store specials on up to 150 bucks. I was really surprised after their testing that out of 135 tested, only 1 didnt give 100% UV protection. I think they said the set that failed was in the 35 dollar range. Comfort is all I look for....