Polarized Sunglasses - are they all the same?!?

[cabled70]

Hi everyone,

I have owned many pairs of polarized sunglasses through the years (haven't bought a new pair in a few years though) and want to know your opinion/input.  Is there a large difference in what you pay for? I find it hard to believe that a $250 pair compared to a $20 pair have a giant "polarization" difference.  Feedback please!

[flyfisher]

polarized is polarized fro that perspective but you get the most advantage of that polarization with a higher quality lens.  Distortion and clarity are definitive differences in lower end glasses compared to high end.  There is also a large difference when you go from plastic to glass as well.  

I personally won't get a cheap pair again unless i have to and i have owned a lot of different brands and lens types. 

[Darren.]

I've done the cheap to mid-range to Costa Del Mar 

glass lenses. No question Costa takes the cake in

quality optics. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? At least

to me they are, but not everyone is the same.

 

I sat on my Costas after 3 years of never having

an issue with them. Busted a lens. Now I've got

to pay to get the lens replaced under warranty.

Beats buying a new pair, but for what I have to

pay for the one lens + claim cost, I could buy

almost 5 pair of $20 glasses.  Which is one

reason I have not sent them in yet...

[Scott F]

I've had both and to my eyes, the polarization is the same on both. To test how well just the polarization works, you need two pairs of each ones to test. Hold two pairs at 90 degrees to each other and hold them up to a bright light. with optimum polarization, no light should come through.

[Jon Morris]

Ha!

 

I have the $3 pair from Walmart.

 

El Cheapo right here.

[the reel ess]

I've been using the Calcutta cheapskate specials for probably the last 3 pairs (I lost one) and they've been fine. They look like Costas and get the job done. People look at them and think they're higher quality than they are. But it looks like next time I will need some with the reader lens in the bottom to tie knots. This is getting harder and harder and I actually use readers just for reading. So it looks like I'll need a high dollar pair next time.

[FrankN209]

Just picked up a pair of Maui Jims with glass lenses. Paid about 240.00, but the clarity is the best I've ever used. 

[JDNKC]

I have 4 pair of costas with different lens options.  I love them and am impressed with the clarity and the durability.  They don't scratch like the Oakleys I used to wear. 

[FrankN209]

8 minutes ago, JDNKC said:

I have 4 pair of costas with different lens options.  I love them and am impressed with the clarity and the durability.  They don't scratch like the Oakleys I used to wear. 

Costas are my next pair. I'm looking at the Hamlins. 

[gim]

After dropping a $200 pair of oakleys in the river, I opted for a $40 pair of floating shades.  The quality is obviously not as good as the nicer pair, but I can recover them because they float.

[NCbassraider]

There is definitely a difference when you go with a brand like Costa.  You have to match the lens to the waters you fish and that is what makes them better than just a polarized lens.  I have the green mirror for inshore bass fishing and the blue mirror for the ocean.  If you're going to spend the money make sure you buy the correct lenses. 

[Bluebasser86]

I've used several cheaper brands, Revo, Costa, Oakley, and WileyX. The clarity you get with higher end lenses is a very noticeable difference. If it's worth it all depends on the user. 

[kbeeb374]

Long story short, there is definitely a difference in clarity.  I can see fish that my dad and cousin can't see with their cheaper glasses.  But, the real reason I use Oakley's is because I can wear them all day and my ears and nose aren't sore.  If they aren't comfortable to wear for 8 to 12 hours then the savings isn't worth it at all to me. 

[NYWayfarer]

I used Strike Kings for years before needing prescription lenses. I see no difference in the polarization between the two.

 

The price difference is due to the materials used in the frames and lenses. If there's any difference in the tint, UV coating or polarization it is too little for the naked eye to tell.

[jimf]

I have used everything, from cheapo's to the best.  I own two pair of Maui Jim's, one an aviator pair that is about $300 and another sport pair that probably was about $150.  I had Lasik done which is wearing out, my eyes have drifted and now I am back to wearing glasses, and now use the Cocoon fitovers which are about $50.   The biggest difference to me between the expensive ones and the cheap ones are comfort.  Maui Jim also has great customer service.

 

I honestly can't see much, if any difference, between sunglasses in terms of optics.  Comfort and style, sure.  That's what you pay for imo.

 

I agree with this guy pretty much, especially when he says he would rather buy a rod or reel with the extra money

 

 

I 

[Hot Rod Johnson]

There are a lot of differences between Polarized Sunglasses. I believe that if you do a search in the "Search Box", this topic has been discussed in great detail.

[fishindad]

All great replies. My opinion is it all depends on two main things: 1) do you sight fish a lot? If so, then it is worth it. There's good low-to-mid priced options that work just fine if you mainly fish offshore, deeper water. 2) are you hard on your equipment? If that's true then I say not worth it. Just like others, I've lost sunglasses, broken them, dropped them in the drink, you name it; I've probably gone through at least a dozen pairs (that I"ll admit to) from $ to $$$ without naming brands. IMHO, one should always wear eye protection on the water for both cataracts (UV) prevention and flying jigs/weights/lures. If you spend enough time fishing, stuff happens. High dollar sunglasses are better but - I could have paid for an Ultrex with what I've shelled out for eyewear over the years, lol.

[cabled70]

Thank you everyone for the feedback!!! I did a lot of reading and research and watched multiple videos and took the plunge!...bought Costa Cortez Blackout with Copper glass.  Let the sight fishing begin...thanks again.

[HookRz]

Great thread, gonna look at the archives. But I think the most important thing is lense color matching conditions the light conditions.

I mostly use the lightest shade of yellow/tan that I can to match cloud cover/time of day. Any thoughts on lense color? 

[Hot Rod Johnson]

1 hour ago, cabled70 said:

Thank you everyone for the feedback!!! I did a lot of reading and research and watched multiple videos and took the plunge!...bought Costa Cortez Blackout with Copper glass.  Let the sight fishing begin...thanks again.

 

1 hour ago, cabled70 said:

 

 

 

 

Please check your PM's...

[Hot Rod Johnson]

"The biggest key is that whichever lens you use, it has to be 100 percent polarized to reduce the glare on the water and it has to have 100 percent UV protection."

[N Florida Mike]

I couldn't buy an expensive pair to start with,and if I did, they'd  soon be broken.But  I am in the market for a decent cheap pair.

[Hot Rod Johnson]

On 2/27/2017 at 7:40 PM, N Florida Mike said:

I couldn't buy an expensive pair to start with,and if I did, they'd  soon be broken.But  I am in the market for a decent cheap pair.

Strike King Plus Polarized Sunglasses at $14.97 - $29.99...

 

Offering a range of styles, the Strike King Plus Polarized Sunglasses feature comfortable, lightweight frames and premium polarized lenses - all for a great price.

 

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Plus_Polarized_Sunglasses/descpage-SKSKPSG.html

[smalljaw67]

When it comes to polycarbonate lenses, the optical quality between expensive pairs and cheap ones are stark. The difference between an expensive pair and a mid price pair is not going to be noticeable unless you have 20/20 vision and even then it isn't a lot. Now when you get to expensive glasses, they usually have the option of glass lenses, that is where the optical quality really comes out, there isn't any better than Costas or Maui Jims with glass lenses. The problem with glass lenses when fishing is they get heavy on your face and no matter how comfortable you will get some irritation from the nose bridge and ear pieces. I had Maui Jim glass lenses, awesome glasses with the best optical quality but after 4 hours of fishing in hot sun the weight would make them uncomfortable to the point I went back to the $50-$60 dollar market as it wasn't worth paying top dollar for polycarbonate lenses. The difference between the cheap poly lenses are the better ones are ANSI rated and scratch resistant, you get to that point around $40 or so and then the higher up you go the better the frame material and better rated the lenses are.
 

[Landis Carrier]

I just bought a pair of Costa C-Mates. I can't see to tie lures. Ha. Haven't used them for fishing yet but they fit great and the "cheater" part is great!! I also have 2 pair of Maui Jims and their quality is amazing too.