Sunglass lens color

[Rockhopper]

What is your go to?  Anything special that you require such as glass or plastic, etc?  I am a big fan of green mirrored bronze colored lenses for fishing, but want to try something different.

[LonnieP]

Costa green mirror glass lenses.

[looking45]

I wear yellow at first light,’to give more contrast to see anything that might be in the water. I switch to mirror blue during the day

[thediscochef]

My favorite ones are polarized purple mirror/smoke Grey prescription from zenni. I like purple and I can see the fishes in the water

[padlin]

My new ones are bronze with blue mirroring, previous were Lao bronze but not mirrored. I lost some of the color enhancing of the straight bronze but have better glare reduction. Both in polarized. So for fishing, the mirrored re nicer, for everyday wear the straight bronze, I could wear the bronze indoors without issue.

[scaleface]

brown

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Gray based lens and 8-9 light transfer. 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

Blue (gray base) lense for open water and high light, lots of reflection.

 

Yellow for low light and overcast conditions.

 

orange/copper for anything in between (variable conditions).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bankc]

Whatever you like. 

 

I've gone through a lot of them over the years, and I've come to realize that they all have their pluses and minuses, so it's really a personal decision you have to make.  There's no perfect blend or best option out there.  The best I can suggest is go to a store that sells lots of sunglasses and try on a bunch and see what you like.  Then take them out on the water and see which ones you prefer to fish in.  Everyone's going to be a little different.  You'll probably have to go through several before you find your favorite, so my advice would be to buy cheaper ones until you find exactly what you like.  Besides, you mostly are just paying for a name with all of these anyway.  Sunglasses are one of those things where there are definitely good ones and bad ones on the market, but you do NOT always get what you pay for.  I could walk into a mall right now and fine a pair of $10 sunglasses that are as good or better in just about every conceivable way (except brand name and perhaps style) than a pair of $500 glasses.  Price is not an indicator of quality here. 

 

 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

16 hours ago, Rockhopper said:

What is your go to?  Anything special that you require such as glass or plastic, etc?  I am a big fan of green mirrored bronze colored lenses for fishing, but want to try something different.

 

To answer your question more directly:

 

Glass/Plastic-Price can be a difference. Also If you don’t wear glasses some people have said that the extra weight of glass gives them a headache by the end of the day. I never had that problem.

 

I also posted something about color. I do lots of wading in fast powerful streams with slippery bowling ball sized rocks. It’s important for me to see the bottom and what I am about to step on. I don’t like getting wet or cracking my head open.
 

I’ve lost so many pairs that I tend to go for mid priced models made by Smith. I used to have a Pro deal with them.

[Susky River Rat]

I use copper/brown. Mine are prescription lens.

[gim]

16 hours ago, LonnieP said:

Costa green mirror glass lenses.

 

I'll second the green mirror lenses.  I use the polycarbonate versions though.  The glass ones are too heavy for my liking.

 

Green mirror lenses work in nearly every condition possible.  Bright sun, rain, clouds.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have 3 different ones but my favorite are my Smiths with green mirroir chroma pop.  I wear a pair of Coasta mostly in green mirror or when its real bright out blue mirror.

[Rockhopper]

I guess I should be a bit more specific.  I am a sunglass guy with multiple pairs.  I already know what brands/colors I like for different uses.  I use green mirror with bronze lenses fishing as most of my fishing takes place in the shallows or on a river or stream.  Bronze is the best you can get for that scenario.  I use smoke grey for daily driving, watching my kids sports, etc.  I use Oakley prizm sapphire on the baseball field for contrast enhancement. 

 

I guess after reading responses what I mean by looking to try something new is, I am looking for more of an open water lens.  Blue mirror seems like it would check that box, but most blue mirror glasses seem to have smoke colored lenses.  Does the smoked lenses block your vision into the water in an open water scenario?

[Zcoker]

I use the Costa Blackfin Pro green glass lens which have thus far served me well. Granted, my water down here in south Florida is quite dark, unlike clear lakes and streams. Regardless, I can see the fish well, the bottom well, and the fit is fantastic! 

[Koz]

I have green mirror lenses but I’m thinking about picking up a pair of amber lenses. 

 

I read something a while ago that declared there were only a handful of sunglasses production factories that supplied all brands throughout the world.

[Goby]

On 9/4/2024 at 6:28 PM, Rockhopper said:

What is your go to?  Anything special that you require such as glass or plastic, etc?  I am a big fan of green mirrored bronze colored lenses for fishing, but want to try something different.

 

So obviously the color of the mirrored finish has no real bearing on how you see through the lenses, the bronze or copper colored within that mirror is really what matters. The mirroring is purely cosmetic to make us look cool lol 

 

That being said, bronze and or copper is my favorite all around lens, by far. With or without a green mirror, matters not, I have both.

 

To be blunt, you really don't want to sway from those colors unless you want a pair of lenses specific for low light or deep deep blue water. I have rose colored lenses for low light, I prefer them over yellow myself, otherwise all I use is Smith bronze or copper lenses in one form or another.

 

I prefer Smith glass lenses myself, after pretty much trying them all. Glass is clearer than plastic lenses for sure... 

[GaryH]

On 9/4/2024 at 7:36 PM, LonnieP said:

Costa green mirror glass lenses.

My exact glasses. 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

2 hours ago, Goby said:

 

So obviously the color of the mirrored finish has no real bearing on how you see through the lenses, the bronze or copper colored within that mirror is really what matters. The mirroring is purely cosmetic to make us look cool lol 

 

That being said, bronze and or copper is my favorite all around lens, by far. With or without a green mirror, matters not, I have both.

 

To be blunt, you really don't want to sway from those colors unless you want a pair of lenses specific for low light or deep deep blue water. I have rose colored lenses for low light, I prefer them over yellow myself, otherwise all I use is Smith bronze or copper lenses in one form or another.

 

I prefer Smith glass lenses myself, after pretty much trying them all. Glass is clearer than plastic lenses for sure... 

 

The color of the mirror is not cosmetic. The color of the mirror absolutely impacts the color you see through the lens beneath it.  If the mirror is blue then it reflects blue light and the lens beneath it will make things look gray.

 

Don't you remember the old cheesy "Blue Blockers" sun glass commercial?

 

Blue mirror - shifts colors towards yellow
Red Mirror - shifts colors towards blue/purple
Green mirror - shifts colors towards rose/pink
Gold mirror - shifts colors towards green
Yellow mirror - shifts colors towards blue/green
Teal mirror - shifts colors towards magenta
Silver mirror - tends to darken without much shift in color

[F14A-B]

 

Oakley polarized 

[Sota]

If I may chime in. For overcast/  low light conditions. I’d use a yellow lens. For bright days I’d use a grey or green lens. 
 Whatever color lens you get. Make sure it’s polarized. 

[papajoe222]

Another that prefers Costa Green Glass for all conditions. I've tried other brands that have performed well, but my Costa glass lenses don't scratch like plastic and what I see through them seems clearer to me.

[PBBrandon]

I got 2 pairs I use regularly:

 

Oakley Brown Tungsten Iridium for most conditions

 

Costa blue mirror glass for bluebird bright days offshore

[boostr]

I have Costas with non glass green mirror bronze lenses, and they do a great job. 

[Koz]

I wear eyeglasses, so I just bought a pair of Cocoons fit overs. I chose the polarized amber lens with the green mirror.