Polarized Glass

[Nolan]

Hey I'm thinking it is time to invest in a nice pair of fishing/driving sunglasses. Im leaning towards Oakley's, but I don't know what lenses to get. If anyone has any suggestions they would be appreciated. Thanks

[Esox_Magnum]

I love my H30's, 4 sets of interchangable lenses gives me the options to best cover the days conditions, also think theres several different lenses you can get...Have had my first pair for at least 5 years thanks to RK at the Expo, got a 2nd pair last year just for everyday/spare use...

[mrklean]

I would go to a oakley store if you could they have all the different lenses there so you can figure out what you like and what fits you thats what i did

[mainbutter]

For those high end glasses, you really are paying more for the frames than the lenses.

It is not hard nor expensive to make polarized lenses that are great.

When buying frames, I like something that prevents back-glare caused by the sun being behind me. Goggle-style or something similar will give you the best performance in spotting fish.

[PackerBacker12]

No doubt in my mind I would get Costa Del Mar 580G sunglasses. I just got my first pair a couple weeks ago and will never get anything else. I dont have much experience with oakleys but 2 of my buddies have like 180- 200 dollar pair of oakleys. I tried them for a little while one day and I didnt think the lenses were very polarized at all. They were just like the 15 dollar ones you buy from the store with just a better clearer lense. Costas are top notch.

[Fish&Fowl]

No doubt in my mind I would get Costa Del Mar 580G sunglasses. I just got my first pair a couple weeks ago and will never get anything else. I dont have much experience with oakleys but 2 of my buddies have like 180- 200 dollar pair of oakleys. I tried them for a little while one day and I didnt think the lenses were very polarized at all. They were just like the 15 dollar ones you buy from the store with just a better clearer lense. Costas are top notch.

+1. And go for the Amber lens for musky fishing.

[Meat-Run]

********No doubt in my mind I would get Costa Del Mar 580G sunglasses**********

Hands down the Cost Del 580G are the premier glass lenses, I can't a speak for the other brands but CoD put high quality glass into these and it's almost if your not even looking into water, its amazing how it completely removes all glare.

Good luck in your search.

mr

[CJH]

Maui Jim are also considered to be one of the best.

[401TE]

I disagree that what you are paying for when you buy more expensive sunglasses is the frames. I have owned a bunch of different cheap pairs, a set of Natives with 3 sets of lenses, a pair of Maui Jim's with some dark lenses that I got as a gift, and a pair of Costas with the 580 green mirror lenses. The difference in clarity and stress on your eyes is night and day between quality glass and cheap stuff or "quality" plastic lenses. There is good reason you see guys who fish a lot wearing the top brands of sunglasses. If you are only going to get one pair, get a pair of Costas off the bay with the 580 green mirror glass. Should be able to find them for 160 to your door. I wear mine about 90 percent of the time, with the exception of long days where the sun is shining all day. Then the darker lens Maui Jim's come out.

[TrophyEyes]

I use Native's and find that they are very comfortable and have pretty good lens'. Unfortunately I have broken 1 pair of frames while ice fishing (plastic got brittle in the cold), which were replaced by Native for only the price of shipping. I also scratched a lens in the boat (very happy I had them on or I would have lost an eye). And last but not least I had a pair fly off my face doing 60+ mph on mille lacs because they are so light. They are good, but I also have had my problems with glasses, so I really don't want to spend a couple hundred on glasses. I have changed out the lenses to clear or yellow for hunting as well. Nice glasses.

[Nolan]

Im probably going to get the Maui Jims with the amber lenses. Sound alright?

[CaptainMusky]

Maui Jims are good. After purchasing a pair of Costas with the 580g lenses a year ago I cannot believe how amazing they are. Words cannot even express how relaxed my eyes feel and the unbelievable clarity.

My eyes are super sensitive to bright light. So much so that if I am not wearing sunglasses and come indoors I have a really hard time seeing for several minutes, but these Costas are amazing.

You only get one set of eyes and you might as well protect them with the best and IMO the Costas are hands down ahead of the rest. Wilyx are great too and if you need prescription lenses a very good option, but not quite the quality of the 580g lenses.

[Meat-Run]

sorry to push Costas but CaptainMusky summed it up perfectly your eyes are "more relaxed" and don't strain at all. Mauri Jims I'm sure are great glasses don't have any experience with them though.

mr

[thatoneguy]

+1 for the Costas.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

Agree with CaptainMusky. You only get one set of eyes. I wore cheap glasses for years and finally stepped up and got a pair of green mirror Costa 580. I've started to become more aware of what the sun does to my skin and from what I've read, it also can do a lot of damage to your eyes. With the nicer glasses, I feel so much better at the end of a long day of fishing and the ability to see into the water is amazing. It's nice to see the fish following deep running baits. They are also great in the winter when I'm outside all day in snow with bright sunshine.

There are several good companies. I would go with Costa, Maui Jim, Arnette or Smith.

I said I would never spend big bucks on shades because I always break them, however once you plop down the money, you are more careful. I'm going on year four with mine. Shop around and you can find quality shades on sale. I got mine for $50 off retail.

[Nolan]

Im gonna pick them up tomorrow after school. Where do you get those neck strap things? Also, can you get straps that float?

[lakeshoremunster]

I like my h3o's, I had a set of oakley's and didnt really care for them, the h3o's are super light some times I forget that I am wearing them and the twillight yellow lense is awsome.

[Shawn Kellett]

The nice thing about Costa's is the lifetime frame warranty. I had lazik and have very sensitive eyes and always wear mine outside. Needless to say after 6 years they were pretty beat-up. I sent them in and they referbed them no questions asked! They're by far the best glasses I've ever owned (Fathom 580's).

[CaptainMusky]

The place you buy your sunglasses from should have the croakies or some other variation of strap that you want.

[bassfshin24]

+1 for costa 580G. I have a pair and will never buy anything else. I highly recommend buying a pair. If you plan on buying a high end pair of glasses you might as well go with the best.

[dae06]

Just an FYI for future readers of this post. I've heard nothing but good about the Costa's, but what made mine mind up was that the Oakley's meet the ANSI Z87.1 standards for Impact protection. I can use these while fishing and working. I got the Flak Jacket XLJ's. I love them, but haven't tried any others.

[bobbymalone]

Just an FYI for future readers of this post. I've heard nothing but good about the Costa's, but what made mine mind up was that the Oakley's meet the ANSI Z87.1 standards for Impact protection. I can use these while fishing and working. I got the Flak Jacket XLJ's. I love them, but haven't tried any others.

I've went through so many pairs of sunglasses I won't spend the big bucks anymore.

But Oakley used to (maybe they still do) advertise that their sunglasses could stop a shotgun blast. So after my mom broke the frame on an old pair by not checking what was in the seat she was going to sit in, I figured what the heck.

Laid them face up on the ground under my parents deck, loaded a 7 shot shell in the 870 and blasted it from about 15 feet. Frames pretty much exploded but, yeah, they weren't lying about those lenses. Put a whole bunch of little dents in there, otherwise intact.

[PerchJrkr]

How good are Costa about the lifetime frame warranty?

[tcwin]

I have returned three different pair to Costa over the years. One of them was not their fault, ( my son sat on them) - they replaced them all no problem. The one pair was discontinued so they gave me a price range and said to pick another pair. Very happy with them.

[Dylan33]

I went with the Costa's with teh 580P black lenses...love them!

Hey guys, is there really a big differnece between glass and plastic lenses?