What Sunglasses Work?

I'm a fan of Costa Del Mar and Maui Jim for polarized glasses. I find that I can get a really comfortable fit, and they have very high quality lenses that do a great job at filtering glare and letting in the right light.

I'm another happy Smith wearer. My lenses are a brown tint and work well for me in a variety of water colors and bottom conditions...

The Smiths have been great for scratches. They're going on about three years now and I don't exactly baby them. I've had Oakleys in the past, and at three years they'd be due for lens replacement.

You're the second person to say they don't think the Oakley lenses are durable.  Thanks!  I was thinking about Oakley's - if I could find a pair without the neon Iridium coating.  You're also the fourth person to say the Smith lenses last a long time even the way we use them.  Appreciate it.

I'm a fan of Costa Del Mar and Maui Jim for polarized glasses. I find that I can get a really comfortable fit, and they have very high quality lenses that do a great job at filtering glare and letting in the right light.

Thank you.  I know they're for my eyes, and my eyes are priceless, but Gawd Almighty, they're costly.  How have they held up?  In addition to missing fish, I go through cheap sunglasses quickly and six pairs of cheapies add up to one pair of Maui Jim's real fast.

My Maui Jims and my Costas have held up great. For what its worth, I haven't had issue with Oakley either, but the lenses seem to hold up a bit better on the Jims and the Costas. I think a big part of the durability for sporty types of glasses is making sure they don't have flimsy frames, and especially hinges. I always try them on for good fit too.

I'm another happy Smith wearer. My lenses are a brown tint and work well for me in a variety of water colors and bottom conditions...

The Smiths have been great for scratches. They're going on about three years now and I don't exactly baby them. I've had Oakleys in the past, and at three years they'd be due for lens replacement.

You're the second person to say they don't think the Oakley lenses are durable.  Thanks!  I was thinking about Oakley's - if I could find a pair without the neon Iridium coating.  You're also the fourth person to say the Smith lenses last a long time even the way we use them.  Appreciate it.

In addition to scratches, I have also had two sets of Oakley lenses where the film on the front side of the lens blistered off.  Genuine Oakley lenses, not grey market knock off stuff.  After the second time, I was done with them.  I think it has something to do with being stored in a wet soft case, put somewhere that it won't dry quickly.

Add me to the camp of "never again" on the oakley's for fishing. They make nice glasses, pretty frames, but the lenses don't hold up super well when you factor in the cost. I am super hard on sunglasses so I've mostly gone with the walmart cheapy polarized glasses, but I am in the market for a better pair also. I know a lot of bass guys like Costa's and I have looked at those, one of my favorite youtuber's swears by these http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Eye_Surrender_ESM_Sunglasses/descpage-ESESM.html  and I may just pick up a pair to try out. I like the lifetime warranty, but having to pay $15/20 is a bit of a gimmick considering it would cost ~$5 to ship a pair of sunglasses. Regardless it's not a bad deal.

I have been a huge fan of Oakleys for their clarity of lenses and no distortion.   Are they overpriced? Absolutely, but I have been lucky not to pay full price on them.  I use a set of flak jacket XL which you can swap lenses on super easy.   If you can find them at a good price, I would get them.

My Maui Jims and my Costas have held up great. For what its worth, I haven't had issue with Oakley either, but the lenses seem to hold up a bit better on the Jims and the Costas.

Thanks for this.

In addition to scratches, I have also had two sets of Oakley lenses where the film on the front side of the lens blistered off.  Genuine Oakley lenses, not grey market knock off stuff.  After the second time, I was done with them.  I think it has something to do with being stored in a wet soft case, put somewhere that it won't dry quickly.

How weird is that?  I'm not that interested in Oakley's unless I find them at a fire sale price, but you wouldn't think the film would peel off no matter how you stored them.  Definitely not something you could drag back out of a river after being submerged for a month.  Good to know.

I have been a huge fan of Oakleys for their clarity of lenses and no distortion.   Are they overpriced? Absolutely, but I have been lucky not to pay full price on them.  I use a set of flak jacket XL which you can swap lenses on super easy.   If you can find them at a good price, I would get them.

My thoughts exactly!  I appreciate the information on lens distortion since most Oakley's are in wrap-around frames.  I had a pair that looked a lot like Oakley glasses - Nike or New Balance, one or the other - and they gave me an eye-strain headache after wearing them for half an half.  Don't want to go there again.

I am super hard on sunglasses so I've mostly gone with the walmart cheapy polarized glasses, but I am in the market for a better pair also. I know a lot of bass guys like Costa's and I have looked at those, one of my favorite youtuber's swears by these and I may just pick up a pair to try out. I like the lifetime warranty, but having to pay $15/20 is a bit of a gimmick considering it would cost ~$5 to ship a pair of sunglasses. Regardless it's not a bad deal.

I am not terribly hard on sunglasses but I don't pamper them, and I expect them to be able to resist scratches if I jam them in a PFD pocket, so I've avoided really inexpensive glasses.  A lifetime warranty, even at $15 or $20 a pop isn't terrible if they replace or repair them.  That's kind of a bonus, really.

Thanks again, everyone.

I havent had any issues with the coatings on Oakleys.  That being said, they SAY that you should only use their lens cleaner b/c others have alcohol that can ruin coatings.  I have no idea if there is any truth to that.

Important thing to look for is glass lenses.  That's why I love Costa. Glass lenses are more scratch resistant than plastic (polyfancywordsblabla it's still plastic)   Costa also has plastic lenses which are ANSI certified impact resistant.

Oakley is garbage with really good PR and advertising

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I don't worry about scratches when there is so much salt water spotting on my lenses (don't wipe when dry, kids !)

Also, when wearing the ones with the bifocal reader lenses - which really is a make/break for knots at my age - keep in mind that those lenses are where you would normally look to watch your step when walking. So take them off on land or risk a faceplant DAMHIK.

I havent had any issues with the coatings on Oakleys.  That being said, they SAY that you should only use their lens cleaner b/c others have alcohol that can ruin coatings.  I have no idea if there is any truth to that.

Yes it is.  You never wipe a camera lens or lens filters with alcohol.  It only cost me a cheap-o UV filter to learn that lesson.

Important thing to look for is glass lenses.  That's why I love Costa. Glass lenses are more scratch resistant than plastic (polyfancywordsblabla it's still plastic)   Costa also has plastic lenses which are ANSI certified impact resistant.

Oakley is garbage with really good PR and advertising

I like a guy who shoots straight from the hip.   

Yeah, glass lenses are a lot more durable, and I'm looking for that.  Thanks, Lee!

I don't worry about scratches when there is so much salt water spotting on my lenses (don't wipe when dry, kids !)

But I want to look cool when I wear my sunglasses at night!  Spotty lenses blow that.

Also, when wearing the ones with the bifocal reader lenses - which really is a make/break for knots at my age - keep in mind that those lenses are where you would normally look to watch your step when walking. So take them off on land or risk a faceplant DAMHIK.

Crap!  Now I have beer on my lenses.  Good advice, 'though.  It won't be long before I need split lenses, too.

Ok laugh at me, mock me, ridicule me..... but seriously, for sunglasses otw I buy the $15-$20 pair at Freddy's every 3-6 months and if I lose them in the spin cycle I really don't give a s#]t...  just my $0.02 cuz I'm  a cheap azz

Ok laugh at me, mock me, ridicule me..... but seriously, for sunglasses otw I buy the $15-$20 pair at Freddy's every 3-6 months and if I lose them in the spin cycle I really don't give a s#]t...  just my $0.02 cuz I'm  a cheap azz

Yes, yes.  I'm usually a tightwad, myself, but I don't think too much about dropping $80 for a fly line.  I have enough fly lines to last for the next two years, so this year I can think about pampering my precious, lovely eyes.  I would never ridicule anyone for wearing sparkly lavender-and-pink flower-framed sunglasses, Mojo, but I might fall down laughing my butt off watching you in a spin cycle.  And that's why I'm the worst wingman, ever.   

BTW - Great job in Tillamook this year.  Congratulations for a job well done!

From someone who wears glasses, FWIW, regarding lens materials...

Polycarbonate w/an anti scratch coating performs similar to glass (that often includes similar anti scratch coatings). There can be significant differences in hardness (scratch resistance) of different types of anti-scratch coatings. Mobile phones using polycarbonate and glass each have anti-scratch, anti-fingerprint coatings and they do wear off after a couple of months, not so for sunglasses unless you use your lenses as touch screens.

Polycarbonate is much lighter than glass which can make them more comfortable.

Polycarbonate has better impact resistance--it's rare, but I have seen a glass lens broken by a wayward sinker.

Any cleaner with ammonia will strip the optical coatings quite quickly, both anti scratch and others that protect your eyes. I'm not sure about alcohol-based cleaners, but I avoid everything but warm soapy water.

I have both glass and polycarbonate lenses. I do get a bit more wear out of glass, but I can wear a pair of polycarbonate lenses for 4+ years of daily if I clean them carefully...in Oregon that's the equivalent of 40 years for sunglassses ;-)

I think there's an obligatory call to point out the good sense to wear some kind of eye protection on the water. You may not need them for tying knots like me, or seeing clearly, or even care about seeing through the water surface like polarized allow. Just reeling in a jig or spinner can slingshot that little handful or hooks out of the water. Catching than with your face would be bad enough, hooking an eye would be quite a serious matter, as could a sinker. Don't fish without something. Ever.

My bimart specials were under $25, and are protected by the finest neoprene case available at the Dollar store. Comes with a clip for attaching to your PFD and everything.