Best sunglasses for sightfishing? Do they make a huge difference?
The brand really doesn't matter
It's the lens color that does. You need yellow or amber
Quote from: Manxfishing on March 08, 2014, 07:37:05 PM
The brand really doesn't matter
It's the lens color that does. You need yellow or amber
^^This^^
If you can find ones that have the lenses set back from the front of the frame (looking at the side, the lens is behind the frame profile) they tend to scratch less. Sunglasses with oversized bows also help to deflect the wind and reduce glare from the side. On the cheap side, the Strike King S11's are pretty good, though there are few models that dig in to my head. On the more expensive side, my personal favorite is the Native Eyewear "Andes".
The brand isn't really that big a deal, though, as Manx said, but I will say I've got a pair of Natives that are 9 years old now that I keep replacing the temple and nose pieces on (you can order parts online from them), and they never seem to get scratched, because of the way they are designed.
Anyone tried the kvd series oakleys?
I love my Solar Bats mostly for the customer service and the family run business. But like the others have said, brand really doesn't make much difference. It's color and quality. Keep in mind, for the most part, you get what you pay for. There are some decent glasses out there for a lower price, but the more you spend, generally, the better you will get.
Has anyone tried the Wiley X in prescription bi-focals. Getting old is a bother.
Never tried Wiley X, but my Solar Bats are prescription bifocals.
I had a pair of Solar Bats but eyes couldn't handle the curved lenses.
Quote from: Wolfie729 on March 08, 2014, 10:54:49 PM
Anyone tried the kvd series oakleys?
Oakleys have always been a qty. brand
KVD used to pimp the Strike King glasses before Oakleys so I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor
Just find some that fit your face, you like the style and get the right lens
The more you spend usually get's you better qty, warr or service
Costa Del Mar, with out a doubt. I've tried them all, but the quality of Costa's are unmatched. The lifetime warranty doesn't hurt either. Like earlier mentioned it has the most to do with the lenses, but Costa's are the entire package. They are pricey, spend the extra cash though you won't be disappointed.
You generally can't go wrong with any brand that uses precision optic lenses. What you should look for are prescription quality lenses with features like UV protection and good quality polarizing. The better glasses will have a high-impact lenses material like polycarbonate. The frames should fit comfortably and be made in a way that blocks most of the outside light (around the edges). Anti-glare coatings on both sides of the lens are great, too.
If you wear prescription glasses, you will get most of these features in your prescription sunglasses. Just be sure that the prescription is up to date and done by a quality lab.
How you want to use them will determine the color. Browns, and amber are best for contrast. They usually work the best for sight fishing. Grays and green are best for bright sunlight. Darker browns will work for bright sun, too.
My long-time favorite has been the Ray-Ban Daddy-O ll. It is an Rx-able (mine are prescription) black nylon frame with a cool rubberized coating that keeps the glasses from slipping off your head on hot, sweaty days. Its a semi wraparound design that blocks out a lot of light. Downside is, they are getting harder to find.
I have a brand new pair of Oakley Pit Bull Polished black with Deep Blue lenses for sale in the box with a bag for $140 if anyone is interested. Great glasses but I don't need them because I have 30 pairs already.
Oh the glasses above retail for around $200
$15 at Walmart. Its a bad feeling watching your expensive glasses roll out the back of your boat. That will only happen to me once. ;D
Quote from: Wolfie729 on March 08, 2014, 10:54:49 PM
Anyone tried the kvd series oakleys?
yeah I'm not impressed, I used a pair and had a hard time seeing beds. I use Costa's or the new Vicious Vision glasses. I like the Vicious the best. I use to use Kaenon's and they are excellent also, you get what you pay for.
I'll go with my Costa Del Mar Fathom 580G's in green mirror,best sight fishing glasses I've ever owned.
Quote from: River Walker on March 13, 2014, 05:42:23 PM
I'll go with my Costa Del Mar Fathom 580G's in green mirror,best sight fishing glasses I've ever owned.
those protect you from the glare of mojos bait hitting you ?
You got that right Redbone. The cheap ones that can be left in the boat or dropped in the water at no loss. I gotta say though the yellow or amber lens is the best. Has to be polorized.
I remember the DK open the year before last fishing beds with Mark Goetsch. I had grey tinted sunglasses and he had the amber type. He'd say oh there's a bass there's another one hey look at that one cast over there. I'm thinking, cast over WHERE I DON'T SEE ANYTHING. Then he let me put his sunglasses on and wow, night and day difference.
Can't stress the amber lenses enough.
For the guys out there with glasses do you prefer the cocoon type that goes over your rx glasses or the clip on flip down ones?
I have worn glasses pretty much my entire life. About 15 years ago I got really serious about bass fishing and tried wearing contacts so I could get a pair of Costa Fathoms in green mirror and they were fantastic. However, after 2 or 3 summers, I could not get used to contacts so I started wearing fit-overs. I have 3 colors of Cocoons and they were ok.
Last spring I got a pair of prescription Ray Bans, blended bifocals. I forget how much better a pair of sunglasses work when they fit tight to your face. The Cocoons are a distant memory now. I will always have rx sunglasses from now on. Love the Ray Bans. I am going to get another pair in amber if they make them. I don't remember if they do.
Btw, my Costas have been my wife's sunglasses for 5 or 6 years now and they are still going strong.
If you can, spring for the rx sunglasses. You won't be sorry.
Willie
Costas will outlast any sunglasses on the market! Have 2 pairs with 10 years on them
I love Costas, have a few. I did get prescription Willey X's a couple years ago and I'm pretty happy with them. I can finally see again to tie knots in the early morning!
as a contact wearing old fart, my Costa Del Mar Triple Tails hug my face enough to keep the wind from running down the lake blowing my contacts off into space. I also use these for snow skiing for the same reason plus the 580 lenses are awesome mine are blue but i am kind of looking for a pair with yellow lenses.
I got the prescription Costa's last year. Love the glasses, but hate hoping everywhere and tying knots one handed - since the Costas cost me an arm and a leg :-)
Get the best quality lenses you can afford and tolerate. I don't do well with two pairs of glasses and haven't found clip-ons of significant quality in the past. I have prescription glasses but need an update on the prescription and lens pretty bad now. With the cost at the moment I'm sticking to my old prescription pair and squinting a little :D
I may yet try a pair of wrap-arounds at some point just to see if I can get used to it to save money. If someone knows of clip-ons that actually work well I would be interested in knowing about them. Just in case.
Dan, could you wear contacts and some regular polarized sunglasses you like? I just picked up a pair of prescription sunglasses this year. I can see pretty good without them but maybe it will help with some sight fishing.