polarized sunglasses

[Mr. Sheephead]

I am looking for a nice pair of polarized sunglasses. Any recommendations. around 100 dollars.

Thanks

[Esox_Magnum]

I love my H3o's, interchangable lenses and lifetime warrenty, have had mine 4 years now and love them.

[Bottle Fish]

Gander has some nice ones. Also the Strike Kings I think at FF are relatively the same thing. At least they look the same, just 60-70 cheaper.

[JBMasterAngler]

I've had my $10 pair of glasses for about 15 years now and they are absolutely no different than the "high quality" expensive ones. If I paid $100 for a pair of glasses I'd be an ex husband with a broken pair of $100 glasses

[thatoneguy]

You might be able to get a good pair on clearance somewhere this time of the year. I spent a little more on a pair of Costa del Mar Harpoons, and it was about the best outdoors-related money I've ever spent.

The difference between cheapie "polarized" glasses and the real deal -JB's good experience with cheap lenses is quite the exception from folks I've talked to and from my experience - is night and day. You get much more clarity, zero glare, you can see farther into the water (which is nice when you're sight fishing for bass!)...it's a revelation.

I used to think they were all the same until this year's walleye opener when a friend had me try on his CDMs. World. Of. Difference.

Do your homework - different lens colors work better under different conditions - and you'll be a happy camper.

[Jack Peterson]

Once you own a pair of Oakley's, you'll never buy anything else. My recommendation. I bought a pair a few years ago, and it's lasted me the whole time. Couldn't do any summer/winter activities involving the sun without them!

[JSK76]

I have had a a pair of Costa del Mar since 1996 paid $100.00 for them back then. I just accidentally broke them, poor things didn't have a chance when I put 190# between them and the dock! When I bought them the warranty was if you broke them and they couldn't be fix you got another pair at a huge discount and even if you lost them you got a pair at a discount price. To top it off there great glasses, 3 of my buddy's bought them too and have been very happy. I would check the warranty's on a few and mabe that can help you decide.

[Northlander]

In my opinion there is no comparing a cheaper (under $40) pair of sunglasses to a good pair. I have wore several brands from cheap walmart stuff to now a pair done by my eye doctor and the ones I have now are a million times better. I got the fit and style I wanted with the lens color I wanted, polarization, mirrored, lens material I wanted to keep light and scratch resistant. Im on my 10th year with them. I finally put a scratch in them when a ball hit me from the side at work and they hit the ground. If I would have had my strap on them it wouldnt have happened but hey shiz happens right.

My mind frame with cheap glasses was if I lost them no biggy. My mind frame now has been take very good care of them and dont lose them. I always keep them in a hard case when not using.

Im very light sensitive and get migranes if I stay in a bright light too long. With these new darker glasses my headaches have lessoned a lot.

So my advice is use your flex plan at work if you have one and get a good set of Polarized Sunglasses, a hard case, some lense cleaner and a good cleaning cloth.

Tons of good brands but my favorite non perscription set I had was the Oakley-------. (Cant remember the name but will look up.) They wrapped around the side more than other glasses and were more durable. The cheap glasses I had would always break some how.

[muskE]

My mind frame with cheap glasses was if I lost them no biggy. My mind frame now has been take very good care of them and dont lose them. I always keep them in a hard case when not using.

BUMP

I share this sentiment 100% as I am a converted, former-cheap-sunglasses-wearer. I bit the bullet and spent $170 on a nice set of glass Maui Jim's and I've had them for 5 years now. Before, I would spend $20-$30/ pair and run through 2-3 pairs a year from constant neglect ($200 in the same amount of time). I even ran over a pair after putting them on the bumper of the SUV at a boat launch because they didn't fit right. Not with my Jim's.

I bought the polarized (rose) glasses and wear them well into the twillight as well as in full sun on both hard/ soft water. Like Northlander, I religiously use the case they provided and, because they wear so well, hardly ever take them off.

Like generators, or anything else in life, you get what you pay for.

[Alagnak]

This could get into a ford vs chevy thing. There are lots of high quality lenses/frames out there. My favorite just happens to be Smith Action Optics. They are huge in saltwater and fly fishing anywhere out west, just don't see them much here.

Saying cheap glasses are as good as quality ones is like saying the same thing about rain gear. Someone is delusional. LOL

Whatever works for each person I guess. A good pair are one of my most important pieces of gear I own.

[MN BassFisher]

I would also chime in that there is a big difference between cheap ones and expensive ones. I had a pair of $20 ones for a few years, thought they were everything I needed. Then I bought a pair of Oakleys and I will never go back. I've also used some CDM's and those things are very nice too! Spend the extra money and take care of them and you'll be happy you did!

[UKCM]

I wore glasses for 25 plus years then got Lasik. At first I was excited to be able to buy a cheap pair of sunglasses as opposed to paying hundreds for prescription sunglasses. I quickly found out that to a certain point you get what you pay for. I am not saying that you need the most expensive sunglasses, but there is a difference.

Check out Costco. There are times you can get Maui Jim's (or other quality sunglasses) for 70 bucks. The trick is if they have a style you like.

[Northlander]

Remember everyones eyes are different and what be good for my eyes will not always be good for yours. Talk to your eye doctor and see what he recomends for your eyes, especially if you wear a perscription like I do. I think my sun glasses were in the $300 range back then. Thats $30 a year. Very good investment in my eyes. Pun intended.

[Mr. Sheephead]

been looking at all the advice and doing some web searching. The costa's look good. Are they glass they don't seem to say. I was told glass is the best? I found a web sight about Habervision sunglasses that has me very interested. They seem to give the best describtion of what they do, and the most bells and whistles of any ads I have seen. Does anyone know of this product or are they just blowing smoke.

thanks for all the advice! It's fun to see what you all have to say.

[riverwader]

I have had miltiple pairs of Smith sunglasses in the past 13 years. They are interchangable and include the polarized. I wear them all the time since I drive for a living. They are very light also. I agree with alot of people I used to buy the cheap glasses and they would break all the time, but once you buy a pair for $100 you treat them differntly. I buy mine at REI and they are 100% life time garunteed as long as you get the cheap membership.

[Esox_Magnum]

Habers are also good glasses, I don't own a pair but have friends that do and they love them.

[SpitnArgueDuckClub*]

been looking at all the advice and doing some web searching. The costa's look good. Are they glass they don't seem to say. I was told glass is the best? I found a web sight about Habervision sunglasses that has me very interested. They seem to give the best describtion of what they do, and the most bells and whistles of any ads I have seen. Does anyone know of this product or are they just blowing smoke.

thanks for all the advice! It's fun to see what you all have to say.

Yes all plano Costa Del Mar's are glass lenses, if you were to order rx lenses from the Costa catalog then you may get polycrbonate polaroid lenses. I would be sure to order / buy your through a reputable dealer that offers the warranty registration as they have an excellent warranty policy. FYI I make rx lenses in wrap sunglasses for a living and have been given many of the most popular brands to wear. Costa Del Mar Brine with the glass green mirror are my choice, all of the others go to relatives in need.

[deadeye]

I got to echo what others said about Oakleys. The thing that I like the most about them is that you can get whatever lenses you want for them. If you want dark black polarized you can get them. If you want a lighter color you can switch them out. If you scratched a set of lenses (which is what I usually do) no big deal.

[thatoneguy]

+1 for the Costas with green mirror lens.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Had my Costa Del-Mar Phathoms for about 5 years, excellent durability and the best glasses I have ever worn on the water for protection from the sun. Do yourself a big favor and get a good pair of shades whatever they may be.

[Tator2k]

Checkout Sierra Trading Post online. I purchased 3 pairs of Costas this summer for well over 50% each pair.

[Jim Almquist]

Had my Costa Del-Mar Phathoms for about 5 years, excellent durability and the best glasses I have ever worn on the water for protection from the sun. Do yourself a big favor and get a good pair of shades whatever they may be.

+1

Just get a decent pair and save the wear and tear on your eye's because its the only pair your going to get!

[Snag]

Maui Jim's are the nicest optics, but you have to make sure you don't sneeze on them or they might break. Oakleys are the best for durability and the wrap around is nice. They also can be placed on your hat forwards or backwards when you take them off.

[ozzie]

I have a pair of Bolle recoils and have been impressed with them....... and there is no question that the higher priced glasses are much nicer than the cheapies......I had a problem treating the $100 glasses like the $10 glasses until I broke 2 pair in 2 months a few years back...since then I have had 2 pairs in the last 5 and they are worth every penny. My wife just realized how much a difference a good pair of sunglasses make and went out to buy a pair. Well she didn't want the same kind and style as mine and made a point in letting me know that so she went shopping. She comes home and I notice she bought the same brand and model (different color)!!!!! Good Stuff!!

[Slabasaurus]

I got to echo what others said about Oakleys. The thing that I like the most about them is that you can get whatever lenses you want for them. If you want dark black polarized you can get them. If you want a lighter color you can switch them out. If you scratched a set of lenses (which is what I usually do) no big deal.

Yup. Picked up some Half Jackets with 3 sets of lenses (frames and one set of lenses are right around the century mark, with more sets of lenses and a hard case it's closer to two bills).

Orange lenses are my fav, help bring out contours on the golf course, and helps in low light conditions, and still effectively cuts the glare and lets ya see what all is under the water.

Bought my first pare of spendy shades in High school, since then, i've replaced them once (That's an avg of 10 years or so a pair).