Sunglasses

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'm looking at getting a pair of decent polarized glasses in the near future. To date, I've always bought moderately priced glasses and they've worked out all right, but I'd like something a little better.

I'm looking to spend no more than $150 and was looking for some suggestions. What types of things should I look for. The Costa Del Mar Wave Killers have piqued my interest right now, but I'm open to any advice.

They'll see use mainly for bass fishing, bowfishing, and driving.

Thanks!

[iffwalleyes]

Just picked a pair of Costa Del Mar myself. I got a pair for about $110. I really like them. I have a amber lense in it and at first it took some getting used to for my eyes but after wearing them awhile you get used to them. They are awesome on the water for sure.

[porschevy]

I have had great luck with my Natives (about 130). They come with 4 sets of polarized lenses in different colors and a lifetime guarentee on scratches. A huge jump in clearity through water over my old bolle's.

[Try Too Fish]

Those of you that have went from low dollar too high dollar glasses Do you think you see more or deeper in the water?

Or are they just easier on the eyes? My thought is that they are just better for your eyes by cutting more of the UV rays!

[Bushwacker]

I have a pair of Maui Jim Seafarers and I am amazed at how well they work. I can see all the fins on fish when others can't even see the fish at all.

[Blaze]

I recently bought a pair of Smiths ($99) with a hard case & 3 extra lenses - clear, yellow, & grey - to go with the amber lenses I use every day. So far so good. I look at it as having 2 pair of daily shades (amber/grey), shooting glasses (yellow), and safety glasses (clear) all in one.

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

I have a pair of Oakley polarized with the amber lenses. Can't complain.

[lawdog]

Another vote for Maui Jim. Good stuff!

People who say that Rhinestone shades are no better than cheap sunglasses have never looked through decent glass!!! (thanks to ZZ Top for the lyrical theft there...)

[Black_Bay]

I have the Costa Del Mar Wave Killers in Backwater green and I love them. They're very light, especially for a glass lens. I think the visibility above and below the water is great with them.

[MuskieJunkie]

My friend borrowed me his Serengettis for the muskie opener, I was sold after 30 seconds of using them. You can see farther and deeper into the water than any other polorized glasses that I have used.

[Ufatz]

Been using these things for over thirty years. Experience (mine and others) is that amber or dark grey inland waters and only a good dark grey on the open salt. Which I guess most guys here won't be fishing that much. Action Optics has been in the business a long, long time and can provide prescription glassess too. Whatever you do.....buy them for their ability to improve your vision and NOT because a certain style makes you look cool. Good ones are good. Bad ones can make you go blind. No. Wait a minute...its something else that does that! Have fun.

[Northlander]

There is no doubt a good pair of polarized sun glasses are much better to see with and better for your eyes. Borrow a friends for a hour or so and see how your eyes feel. Then put on a $10 pair and see how your eyes feel.

[DTro]

I've had both. I had a pair of Maui Jims that were the most expensive they made.

Just a little tip, you can use your health care spending account for them

Anyways, IMO it's a cost benefit thing to me and the cost is way more then the benefit. It helps that I'm mostly fishing in chocolate milk, however it's not much fun to watch a $300 pair of shades go down the drink.

I'd much rather replace a pair of $10 every year then a $200 pair every few years.

[hitthebricks]

There is no doubt about it, a good pair is worth it. I,ve had two pairs of oakleys, $89.00, light weight, durable frames, but lousey lens coatings. Two pairs of Ray Bans, $99.00, very comfortable but mediocre clarity and both pairs broke within 6 mo. and neither sun Glass hut or Ray Ban would honnor the warranty. Three pairs of Smiths with glass lenses,$130.00, one pairs on the bottom of Big Marine after one week, next pair the frame broke after about 2 years and was replaced by Smith Co. for free and the third pair has a cracked lense from repetedly dropping lense down but overall are very durable considering the abuse they received with and also have high lens clarity. One pair of Costa Del Mars, $169.00, best quality lens so far and are still in perfect condition after one year. IMO if you buy from Sun Glass Hut, buy from one in Marshall Fields because thir required to commit to coustomer satisfaction. polycarbonite lenses are not as scratch resistant as glass and not as clear (except for Maui Jims), and Ray Bans are JUNK. HTB

[croixeyes]

Maui Jims get my vote.Have had a pair of the titanium rimless glasses for three years.You dont even know your wearing them.Did have to send them in cause of a crack by the nose piece,But they have taken care them at no out of pocket expense to me.Great customer service..

[tunrevir]

I have a pair of Maui Jims in the polarized dark lenses and a pair of Costa Del Mar Fa 111's w/ amber lenses. I really like them both but prefer the amber to the dark for most fishing situations. The Maui Jims are pretty lightweight and comfortable though. My .02.

Tunrevir~

[nytelyter]

and yet another vote for maui jims i am on my second pair in seven years and i am sold on them kinda on the spendy side but i thinik theye are worth every dollar i spent. ... pal

[SteveWilson]

My vote is for Smith's with the All Hour Brown photochromatic lenses. I like them a bit better than the Maui Jims I use to wear.

[Northlander]

Man I have pair of perscription Ray Bans and I really like them and they have held up great. Finding a good glass that you can get a perscription in at a fair price is hard to do.

Good thing my defered comp takes care of my glasses.

[Big Roy]

Just a little tip, you can use your health care spending account for them

dtro,

How are you able to do this? Is it for prescription lenses only?

[mntraveler]

From what my optometrist told me, you have to have perscription lenses to use the flex money for sunglasses. Non-perscription lenses do not count. If anyone has documentation or an eyeglass place that will allow it please let me know.

[DTro]

I don't know what the laws are on this, so I'm going to have to plead the fifth on this one, but I would think that if you have a good relationship with your eye doctor, you can get it written up to work

and if I would have ever done this it would have been because I had a huge chunk of money in my flex account and had to use it (or lose it) on something, not to screw the system.

[Swimmer]

Another vote for Action Optics (Smith) Volution style...titanium and rimless (the lightest I've ever seen, so no headache!). About $170 at Thornes.

[ozzie]

I am on my second pair of Bolle polarized. paid $110 great sunglasses and so nice on the eyes. i always try on others sunglasses and so far they are the cats meow for the price......

[Ralph Wiggum]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. There are a lot of nice pairs of shades out there. I just purchased the Costa Del Mar Wavekillers with the green mirror glass lenses. So far, I really like them (after the drive home and stroll around a pond). The definition and glare reduction is superb! You really don't know what you're missing, I guess. Now, if I can just manage to not sit on or lose them...

[LocalGuide]

I got a pair of NATIVE sunglasses about 2 years ago. They are a great pair. They have been dropped, layed in bad places (prone to scratching) and they barely show any scratches.

I have mine wore out pretty good, Im ready for a new pair.

Oh, and the 2 best parts, they have a lifetime warranty and a total of 4 pair of lenses.

BTW not all 4 are polarized, only one is. Otherwise the price would be more like $300 instead of $125. (Thats what the sales person told me atleast)