Polarized Sunglasses

[mako]

I'd love to buy a nice pair of glasses but I don't know how many $100 pairs I've sent to the bottom of the lake.  That's a sick feeling.  I'll stick with BPS XPS models at $25.00 until I can learn how to be more careful or I don't have enough to worry about that I can spend more time worrying about my glasses.  :-?

[UrbanAngler]

My sunglasses are at the bottom of my favorite pond and I'm looking for a new pair.

I would like to get one pair with one colored lens that would work in most situations. I fish in a shallow pond, relatively clear water, with many large rocks.

Don't want to break the bank too much.

Any suggestions!

I also fish shallow lakes (stained and clear) and  occasionally deep lakes.

I used to buy cheap pairs of sunglasses at Walmart but they always ended up breaking after a month of use, so last year I finally broke down and picked up a pair of Hoven Sunglasses (copper lens) for $65 at the local Sport Chalet and I haven't had the need to purchase another pair of sunglasses yet. (Had them for almost a year now).  Plus these sunglasses allow me to sight fish easily in stained or clear, shallow or deep waters.

Remember , cheap shades break easily, and quality shades usually come with warranties. 

 

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

I refuse to spend more than $20 on sunglasses... between the wife, 2 young daughters and always on the go, I am lucky if a pair lasts me more than a month.

I even bought a $80 polarized pair that was perfect for fishing, only wore it when I went out fishing... second trip out I put them on the brim of my hat and they fell off.... so next time I hooked them over my shirt collar and when I leaned over to lip a fish, off they went into the water. I had them for 3 weeks and second fishing trip...

[Georgia Jeff]

That the ones Speedbead, they are awesome!

The EK sport straps are the best straps I have ever used.  They hold the glasses right at your neckline when not in use instead of half way down your chest like most do.  When they are on your eyes the strap doesn't hand down and rub your neck like others do.  They fit tighter I guess you could say.  Here is a link...

http://store.ekusa.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_10&products_id=97

This is going to be unpopular but here I go.

I have a pair of two year old Triple Tail Costas with green mirrored lenses ($189) that I like but don't love. The glass lenses are clearer than anything else that I have worn but they do not allow me to see down into the water any better than a pair of $40 Bolle sunglasses I have. If you are buying them just to see down in the water the Bolles do the job just as well. The glass lenses are heavier but are a little clearer (opinion).

I have also had to have them repaired twice. Once for the frame paint coming off and once for the lense material messing up. This has cost me another $20 or so. In my opinion if you pay almost $200 for glasses they shouldn't be tearing up every year.

I also have a pair of Costas that I bought that have three different sets of plastics lenses that I can change in and out. I lOVE these. I like the bright yellow lenses (not sure of the name). The tint makes greens really pop and makes everything look brighter. They are perfect for dusk and dawn. I bought them on sale for $60 from sierra trading post.

If I had to buy another pair I would not spend $100 plus dollars for a pair of Costas as I don't think they are worth it. If you can find a deal then they are.

sportsmansguide.com has Wiley X glasses on sale for about $30. This also lets you know about how much they are really worth! Ha!

Sounds like you got the Costa Tropic Star, perhaps? I have that pair and I love them.

Before this season is here, I will have a pair of 580 Costa glasses in Amber.

[MMan16]

I was just going to order a Revo stx from BPS and was reading this post I didn't see anything about the free wiley x glasses. I haven't placed the order yet. Was wondering if it expired or happened?

[UrbanAngler]

I refuse to spend more than $20 on sunglasses... between the wife, 2 young daughters and always on the go, I am lucky if a pair lasts me more than a month.

I even bought a $80 polarized pair that was perfect for fishing, only wore it when I went out fishing... second trip out I put them on the brim of my hat and they fell off.... so next time I hooked them over my shirt collar and when I leaned over to lip a fish, off they went into the water. I had them for 3 weeks and second fishing trip...

Two words: retaining strap. 

[UrbanAngler]

I was just going to order a Revo stx from BPS and was reading this post I didn't see anything about the free wiley x glasses. I haven't placed the order yet. Was wondering if it expired or happened?

I just seen that BPS promo (purchase  a revo, receive free shades) in their sales ad paper yesterday.

You can't go wrong with free shades. 

[Bigs]

Oakley has the best optics by far. The coast guard did an unbiased test a few years ago on a bunch of brands and oakley was by far the best. The best lenses imo are the "shallow blue" They are for what else, fishing shallow like us bass anglers fish. They work well for deep water too but its tough to see much in deep water to begin with. I wouldnt fish with anything else then my oakley monster dogs.

I own a pair of polarized Monster Dogs and a pair of the Tropic Star Costas. I wont wear my Oakleys if I am sight fishing or flyfishing. They just dont have the edge that my Costas do.

Well my vision is flawless, I have always been able to see alot better then most ppl I know and I can see everything with my oakleys. I have no problem seeing right down into the water as far as I need to in order to sight fish. I dont see how they could be improved whatsoever. What lenses do you have on your monster dogs ? What I love is they stay on your head so perfect and never get jarred loose even when hitting 4 foot chop at 60mph. They are also very comfy to wear. For what I paid for them on ebay , $130 shipped, they cant be beat. I think they retail for around 180 or so. Costa is alot more expensive and their optics are not any better not to mention the style of them is just so so. Ppl who buy the costa del mar imo are really buying into a brand name. You go ahead and wear those for the next 20 years and I will wear my oakleys, I been wearing oakley's for about 18 years now and like I said, my eyes are perfect. Their optics can be trusted in terms of how they impact your vision from long term use.

[Dan:]

Steve, did the Costas you tried have 580 lenses?

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

I refuse to spend more than $20 on sunglasses... between the wife, 2 young daughters and always on the go, I am lucky if a pair lasts me more than a month.

I even bought a $80 polarized pair that was perfect for fishing, only wore it when I went out fishing... second trip out I put them on the brim of my hat and they fell off.... so next time I hooked them over my shirt collar and when I leaned over to lip a fish, off they went into the water. I had them for 3 weeks and second fishing trip...

Two words: retaining strap.

thats the plans with my next pair... oh well live and learn

[Bigs]

Steve, did the Costas you tried have 580 lenses?

I havent fished with them, only tried some pairs on. I didnt really like the style too much compared to oakleys . And for how well the oakleys perform I dont see the need to fix what isnt broke. I would love to fish with someone who has them so we could swap glasses for a half hour or so. But what it all comes down to is I trust oakleys optics, I know they are not gonna trash my vision in the long run. I have owned maybe half a dozen different kinds of polarized glasses and none could do what the oakley shallow blue does imo. One thing I have noticed when I wear fashion shades or any kinda cheap glasses is that I cant see as well with them on. Things are so much more crisp with the oakleys. My best friend has been an oakley vendor for about 10 years or so, he's the one who told me about the test the coast guard did. This was maybe 3-4 years ago. I need to ask him what brands were tested and how they tested them. If you notice tho, most serious athletes wear oakleys and for good reason too.

[Dan:]

Steve, did the Costas you tried have 580 lenses?

I havent fished with them, only tried some pairs on. I didnt really like the style too much compared to oakleys . And for how well the oakleys perform I dont see the need to fix what isnt broke. I would love to fish with someone who has them so we could swap glasses for a half hour or so. But what it all comes down to is I trust oakleys optics, I know they are not gonna trash my vision in the long run. I have owned maybe half a dozen different kinds of polarized glasses and none could do what the oakley shallow blue does imo. One thing I have noticed when I wear fashion shades or any kinda cheap glasses is that I cant see as well with them on. Things are so much more crisp with the oakleys. My best friend has been an oakley vendor for about 10 years or so, he's the one who told me about the test the coast guard did. This was maybe 3-4 years ago. I need to ask him what brands were tested and how they tested them. If you notice tho, most serious athletes wear oakleys and for good reason too.

on the other hand, most fishing professionals use Costas...Oakley has lots of sponsorships and they are a "hot" brand that is popular with non-fishing average sunglass wearers (not that that's a bad thing, they are just a huge brand)

I would lend you mine to try but I don't have the top of the line lenses so I don't think it would be a good comparison. Try to find someone with the 580 lenses. They have the same contrast increasing properties that you are talking about with the Oakleys.

[Dan:]

has anyone heard anything or had experience with Kaenon sunglasses? I've been seeing more and more of them lately.

[burleytog]

when hitting 4 foot chop at 60mph.

OK...   You may need to slow down there Evel...

Ppl who buy the costa del mar imo are really buying into a brand name.

And those who buy Oakleys aren't? :-?

[burleytog]

has anyone heard anything or had experience with Kaenon sunglasses? I've been seeing more and more of them lately.

There are a couple of local personalities who are sponsored by Kaenon.  They seem to love them.  I haven't seen them anywhere.

[owl]

What about FishGillz?

http://fishgillz.com/index.shtml

[Bigs]

when hitting 4 foot chop at 60mph.

OK... You may need to slow down there Evel...

Ppl who buy the costa del mar imo are really buying into a brand name.

And those who buy Oakleys aren't? :-?

Last year was my first year with a bassboat and I can say I did get a lil too ambitious sometimes. I managed to get airborne for a few seconds at one point when I hit a 5 foot swell from a massive yacht on the potomac, an experience I dont wanna go thru again  I'm learning the finer points of boating but youre right, I'm gonna be very cautious out there this year.

I agree ppl buy oakley for the name alot but then again oakley has been around for decades , they are tried and true. Not sayin the costas arent, just sayin alot of anglers buy the costas just for the name. When I first bought oakleys back in the early 90's, it was a name brand I was buying into but they turned out to be great and I have worn them ever since with no regrets. Oakley should be paying me for this  :