Inexpensive Polarized Shade Help.

[bmac31]

Hey guys. I'll start off apologizing in case this is posted in the wrong fourm. Anyway I'm on a tight budget and was looking for a good all around pair of fishing sunglasses. I've noticed company's like strike king and Berkeley along with some others make what they advertise as polarized glasses in the 30-50 dollar range. Has anybody tryed a pair? I know they won't compare to a nice $250 pair but what does everyone think? Am I better off savings and getting a 100+ dollar pair?

Thanks

Brian

[atpns1234]

Hard to beat 580 costa lenses. I would not buy a pair of the Calcutta brand shades. Bought me and my son a pair a few years back and were in pieces before the trip was over. I would imagine the strike kings are ok.

[RAMBLER]

Spiderwire, in my opinion is the best for the money. About$20.00. Found mine at academy sports. For the price you can get both, a pair of amber and one of grey.

[ww2farmer]

I have never been an expensive sunglasses guy, I have lost/broke too many pairs in the past, and that's always kept me buying the $20 Berkley and Strike King glasses from Wal-Mart. Last year I "upgraded" to the $40 Strike King S11 glasses and they were worlds better than the $20 ones. I had several partners last year who wear much more expensive glasses try them, while I tried their's (Wiley X, and Oakley IIRC off the top of my head) And we all agreed that for $40 you can't beat the SK. They hang right up there in performance with glasses that cost $100+ for a fraction of the price.

[gallowaypt]

I agree with ww2. The S11's are a good bang for the buck. I got those in a dark shade because I will use them more during the day. For low light hours, I got a $10 pair of amber lens Berkeleys that get the job done.

[Bluebasser86]

I wear the $5 Berkley glasses from Wal Mart when I'm bank fishing or doing anything that I don't want to wear one of my expensive pairs of Costas. They're pretty decent, especially for the price. 

[Hi Salenity]

I love the s11 sunglasses! I wear the grey lenses daly and the amber lenses in the boat.

eBay is your friend if you want to save a few bucks.

[tritondriver]

i gave the sk glasses a try last year and after a few months the polarization started wearing off. looked like a oil spot on the lenses and would not come off, so just beware. with what we spend on our gear and boats i would rather spend extra on glasses that protect and last, then buy several a year at 40 a pop...get the good stuff.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I've done some research in the past and like a lot of things, the majority of sunglasses come from the same manufacturing plant. It looks to me that the point of diminishing returns is around $80 and anything over $125 or so you're paying for the name. Look for labels stating 100% Uv A&B blocking, shatter resistant, polarized and low distortion. You can get all this for <$100 easily. The test for polarization is to take two pair, hold the lenses perpendicular to one another and you shouldn't be able to see through them. I don't fish or do much of anything else without eye protection. I have 3 pair right now: dark, amber and clear for really low light and night time. 

[WIGuide]

I used to wear the $12 Berkley ones and those were pretty hard to beat for the price.

[hatrix]

I've done some research in the past and like a lot of things, the majority of sunglasses come from the same manufacturing plant. It looks to me that the point of diminishing returns is around $80 and anything over $125 or so you're paying for the name. Look for labels stating 100% Uv A&B blocking, shatter resistant, polarized and low distortion. You can get all this for <$100 easily. The test for polarization is to take two pair, hold the lenses perpendicular to one another and you shouldn't be able to see through them. I don't fish or do much of anything else without eye protection. I have 3 pair right now: dark, amber and clear for really low light and night time.

This ^^

The guy at my tackle shop showed me that trick. Put a pair on and try to look through a second pair and you can really see the difference in glasses.

[Preytorien]

I have used the ~$20 Spiderwire brand from Wal-Mart.

 

They seem to work very well, and they're pretty neat looking.

 

I tried them on side-by-side to my dad's Maui Jim polarized glasses, and other than being lighter than the MJ's, they did the same job.

[moloch16]

I agree with the Spiderwire votes.  I've tried a lot of cheap sunglasses (pretty much every brand available) and Spiderwire's are the best of the bunch.  I tried the Strike King S11 glasses and weren't thrilled with them, they weren't any better than $20 glasses.

 

You can get Spiderwire glasses at Wal-Mart.

[Talonman]

I have the Strike King S11 Sunglasses... I think they do a good job.

[Arv]

I've been using a pair of Strike King sunglasses that I've been pretty happy with, especially for the price I payed. I have bad luck with breaking glasses so I don't usually buy expensive glasses anymore

[NathanW]

I wear the $5 Berkley glasses from Wal Mart when I'm bank fishing or doing anything that I don't want to wear one of my expensive pairs of Costas. They're pretty decent, especially for the price. 

These 5 dollar berkley's have great polarization. I have tested them side-by-side with a pair of polarized Oakleys and Maui Jims. The Berkleys cut the surface better than both with no contest.

[Choporoz]

fieldsupply.com has Colemans on sale today at good prices.  I haven't tried them yet, but ordered a pair for $17 shipped -  just based on reviews I've found.

[JLeon77]

I have strike king S11's in Amber lense and a pair of excaliburs from Walmart that we're less than $20. Both work well and the cheaper ones are more comfortable to wear all day. Amber is better in low light, the Excaliburs have a darker lense for brighter conditions.

Both are great for the price, both pairs for less than half a pair of oakleys or costas...

[Master Bait'r]

This ^^

The guy at my tackle shop showed me that trick. Put a pair on and try to look through a second pair and you can really see the difference in glasses.

 

 

Especially if you flip around pair #2.  The pinches, bends and warps inherent in the lens design used by the manufacturing process will be very apparent.  Cheaper ones will look wavy while high end optics such as Smith and Maui Jim will look smooth.  Even if you're not into spending $$ on glasses, this will help you find which have slightly higher quality lenses than others.    

[Avalonjohn44]

I have Strike King SKP20 sunglasses, $25 at BPS, that I love. They are blue tinted with an orange mirror finish, and really sharpen everything.  I wear them driving and fishing.

[bartdude186]

another spiderwire vote here, have had mine for over a year and counting, still going strong.

[rippin-lips]

For $30 the S11's are nice.

[Bass Junkie]

For the $20 price point check out the Jimmy Houston series.

[Kevin22]

I use the strike king ones from walmart. They are right around $25. They work just fine. 

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

I will have to be honest my SK s11's look nicer but feel cheaper than my $5 berkley.  So far I am not completely sold on my S11 that I bought 3 weeks ago.  I will have a better idea after this season is over, I am going to try the s11 for the entire season this year.

 

j-