Need some value priced polarized sunglasses

[wasabi_VA]

Folks - please stick to sunglasses under $30. These threads get out of control when the guys who like expensive sunglasses start in on thier $100+ sunglasses....

 

I've been well served over the years with value priced polarized sunglasses - I'll call it $30 and under. If I buy more expensive sunglasses they ALWAYS get destroyed/scratched/lost within 1 season. GUARANTEED! But if I stick to my value lines I have much better luck getting 3 seasons or so out of them. It's time again for a new pair.

 

My last pair was Flying Fisherman brand - perfectly adequate, good polarization, not the best but I have no complaints. Anybody seen any great deals on higher priced stuff or good sale going on right now for 'decent' sunglasses?

[Scarborough817]

renegades are fairly cheap as well as some of the strike king. the issue with these will always be clarity of the lens, which normally is what you are paying for with more expensive brands 

[kylek]

Walmart has a pretty decent selection of cheaper glasses in their fishing section.  Stores in my area carry some strike king type and spiderwire ones.  

 

For just a little more than your $30.00  Strike King S11 glasses are pretty nice.  They are $39-$49 on TW.

[Smalls]

Cabela’s had a stand of really nice looking shades in the fishing section last time I was there. I don’t recall the brand name, but if I remember they were around $30-40. If I didn’t need RX lenses, I’d have probably given em a try. 

[mllrtm79]

i have a pair of the spiderwire ones, I think I paid $5 for them off of walmart clearance rack. 

I bought a pair of Shadyrays last year as well (I think I paid $28) but didn't care for the fit, so I gave them to my gf's stepdad who really likes them

[Fishingmickey]

Wasabi,

     You might check out Sierra Trading post. They have some very good brands for sale cheap. I saw numerous pairs for under $30. Also had Costas and Smith's for under $100.

FM

[J._Bricker]

MAXX sunglasses... surprisingly decent polarized glasses with different lenses for different weather conditions. I Googled them to confirm the correct spelling and found them on sale for 50% off.

[I/MBasser]

 I was in Erewhon and they had a rack of polarized sun glasses.   I found one that looked exactly like my $200 ray bans.  I think I paid $25 

[Troy85]

I buy the $15 pairs at Academy.  If I lose them its not the end of the world.

[scaleface]

I wear prescription glasses and used polarized clip-ons . Less  than fifteen dollars .

[All Day Fishing]

I got gray polarized lenses with my prescription sunglasses, I am not sure what quality polarization they use. How can you tell how good/bad they are?  how much better can you see in water? is it more clear? can you see deeper?  how much better are better polarized lenses?  Thanks guys!

[Wurming67]

Checkout body glove pretty decent polarization for the price and  VERY comfortable as well.Seen a rack of them at bps in Dania beach fl not sure if other bps carry them.

[Munkin]

Strike King S11 are very nice for the money. Bought 3 pairs somewhere on the interwebs for $49.

 

Allen

[bigbill]

Watch Walmart for clearance sale or eBay.

[Catt]

Strike King P10 $22.99 at Academy 

[Big Swimbait]

Of all of these, the Strike King S11's are very good for the $: 

https://www.overstockbait.com/collections/sunglasses

 

[smithy97]

These are some Kastking polarized glasses that I just bought. Love them so far! Very durable build and great clarity. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071ZFGTJP/ref=s9u_cartx_gw_i3?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B071ZFGTJP&pd_rd_r=5473136a-fb2c-11e7-a93f-53683bc212b0&pd_rd_w=vnhx0&pd_rd_wg=VYmev&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=7EPY3APAX9ZCV091V2M4&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=e6624b56-7cc1-411f-9d12-9cc8feb6c214&pf_rd_i=desktop

[TOXIC]

I understand the temptation to buy value based sunglasses but as is with "some" things, you usually get what you pay for and I have found that is true with eye wear.  Not that value based glasses won't work, to me it's how well will they work.  Since I need prescription shades, I am pretty much guaranteed to spend some coin to get them.  I work fishing events with a guy who actually makes prescription lenses for an eyeglass retailer.  He works in their lab.  He gave me some tips that I think will carry over to any sunglasses as well as prescription ones.  My standards are high since for 15 years, I have been going to Lake St Clair to bed fish smallmouth in May.  I was not seeing fish that my buddies were and they were using a higher quality sunglasses.  General rules as were communicated to me:

1. If you need a prescription, get prescription sunglasses.  

2. ALWAYS get polycarbonate lenses for fishing not glass.  Eye protection is paramount.  

3. Match the lense color to the task you want them to perform. Why a lot have multiple pairs.

4. Make sure they fit properly. Nothing like throbbing headache from ill fitting glasses.  

5. Quality matters.  Bad glasses are bad for your eyes and you only have one set.

So, for me I even went a little deeper and found that many of the expensive glasses manufacturers do not make their own Rx lenses.  They ship them out to the closest lab and all that $$ you are paying for "top of the line" glasses is for the frames only.  I ended up with Oakley Rx glasses in a poly lense color that is middle of the road and I can use them for fishing and driving.  I chose Oakley because they are one of the few manufacturers that require Rx glasses to be shipped back to them for their lenses.  Plus my buddy gave me a 50% off certificate and I have a good vision insurance plan.  I have had them for 3 years and don't know how I ever fished without them.  And because they cost me $$, I take good care of them.   All that being said and if I didn't need Rx glasses, I would still cough up the $$ for a sunglass manufacturer in the mid-price range that are made for fishing even if I thought I would lose them, because I think it is important to take good care of the only set of eyeballs I have.  

 

[wasabi_VA]

You make some good points about Rx glasses. And in fact, I am woefully tardy in getting prescription glasses as my vision has gotten worse these last few years. During that time I wasn't fishing, so I know as soon as I hit the hit water and start fishing again this season I am going to be struggling to see my line twitch. I need to go get a prescription soon and get some standard and sun glasses.

 

How do i go about getting decent prescription sunglasses? Previously I recall the eyeglass places offered frames, and I guess they send out to get the prescription glass to go inside like you said. Is there a way to buy the better quality fishing sunglasses without being bled by a local eyeglass place? Can I go get a moderate or higher end pair online if I know my prescription? If so, any suggestions on places to do this?

[TOXIC]

Most all of the mid-to upper $$ manufacturers offer Rx glasses.  Where it gets tricky is like in my case, I wanted "progressive" lenses.  That way I can see to tie knots and bed fish at a distance.  Progressive lenses have to be made with your eyes as a template and require fitting depending on the frames.  If you have just a single Rx then you can order on-line once you make sure the frames fit properly.  I guess you would have to ask the manufacturer who does their Rx but I know SolarBat and Smith Optics were on my list when I was checking.  They specialize in Fishing Glasses so I would hope their Rx glasses are higher quality.  I would hope that the big name manufacturers like Costa, Maui Jim and others have high standards for their lab work.  If I were looking, I would be calling them.  

[wasabi_VA]

My original request in this thread was just for non-Rx glasses and I ended up buying another couple pair of Flying Fishermans off Amazon for a really good price. They worked great before, will do just fine again. But I need to stop procrastinating and go get some eyeglasses and then figure out a prescription sunglass solution.

 

I now use readers quite often around the house to read fine print, remove splinters, see little things but also have worse vision out at fishing/casting/retrieving distances. So perhaps I need a pair of these progressive lenses. Starting to sound expensive...

[TOXIC]

You will be amazed at the difference!!  As a side note, you can get non Rx sunglasses at Bass Pro that have readers built in or you can get stick on magnifiers for whatever glasses you buy to help with close up work.  You don't have to spend a mint to get Rx glasses if you shop around.  Cosco has an awesome eye center as does Target and Sears.  I assume WalMart and Sam's do also.  My wife just got a pair of Rx sunglasses from Target since my vision plan picks up more of the cost there, she doesn't fish but got Ray Ban Rx and she is flabbergasted at the difference driving.  

[wasabi_VA]

I have been too lazy to go get a prescription, but now that I know they will;l help with fishing then maybe I'll take care of it this week! I'm a Costco member - do they do the eye exams too?

[MichaelCopeland]

I buy Yum brand polarized sunglasses at Wal Mart for $5. Good enough quality for me and at that price it's not a big deal if I lose or break them.

[wasabi_VA]

A number of my coworkers tell me they have progressive lenses so it sounds like maybe something I should pursue in my fishing Rx sunglasses. How would that work at a place like Costco then? I am set up for an appointment with the optometrist next door to Costco. Will Costco be able to order the progressive Rx lenses?