Polarized fishing glasses

[gpatton]

I'm sure that someone has posted about this subject before, and if they have, I hope you don't mind it being brought up again. I guess I'm writing to get an idea of the differences between the Costa del mar and Smith optics sunglasses. They are both rather pricey and boast impressive results, but does anyone have experience with them or compared them side by side with each other or with other less expensive glasses? I tried looking on google without much luck. Is the improved vision they say they have worth the cost? Smith offers a non-glass lens at half the price of their glass lenses. Does glass make that much a difference? Also what are your opinions regarding lens color for fishing rivers and streams? How does lens color effect what you see? I know it's a lot of questions. Thanks for taking your time to reply.

Greg

[Terry Lightle]

Have not used either of these,but I like copper colored lenses in running water.Just my preference.

[Colston Newton]

Is the price worth the cost? No. I've been using cheap polaroids for years and they work fine.

Of course using the cheapies haven't the panache of the expensive ones. If you are wearing a high dollar brand bug free shirt with logo prominently displayed rather than using a can of Deep Wood Off as you need it, you will want the pricey jobs.

[skondolf]

I asked some of the same questions and looked for recommendations a few months ago here and at another chat board when I thought I had lost my sunglasses. The overwhelming response was to get a pair of Smith Action Optics glasses.

Now I don't have any kind of logo on my shirts (except a Steelers t-shirt or two and possibly some dried pizza-sauce that might be confused for an alligator) and my $50 fly rods probably wouldn't put me in most elitist circles. I'll be "reasonable" when it comes to most equipment and clothing (waders, fly lines, vest, etc) but 2 areas I figure I should invest in would be personal safety (good wading staff) and my eyes. I don't have any specific data (although I guess I could find a ton of research on Google) but I feel that a good pair of glasses are better for your eyes in the long run than a cheap pair so I purchased a pair of Smith glasses. Funny thing is - I found a pair on one of the online "closeout" websites for over $100 off normal price so they became "reasonable" too.

As they were closeout I didn't have a choice in lens color and got Brown. I've heard many people say Copper is excellent. My other glasses (which I found later btw) are smoke gray. Do the Smith's work better? I think there's an improvement and I'm very happy with them but again, I didn't buy them so much for their glare-reducing qualities or ability to see into the water; I bought them to help protect my eyes.

I have no experience with the Costa Del Mar glasses.

YMMV

[DickM]

gpatton ........
I have had two pair of Action Optics, a pair of Haber Vision and just last year I bit the bullet and got a pair of Costa Del Mar, (Pescador's), in copper. I got to test them out last month in Campeche, Mexico sight fishing for Baby Tarpon in the mangroves.
I find that, YES, the Costa Del Mar's are worth the price as I could see much better through the water. But, you have to remember to try them on first. The first pair, I purchased on e-bay and they were much to small for my face and I had to sell them at a loss. The Pescador's are for a larger face. It is also important to get the Costa's with the 580 glass lenses. They are more expensive but I was seeing the fish before the guide did, which makes them worth it to me. I could see every reaction the fish made clearly.
See: http://www.costadelmar.com/SeeOutThe...eCosta580Lens/
If you try them, you will never want to try another brand.
DickM.

[ducksterman]

Dick, How did you feel the Haber Visions were in comparison? In previous similar threads it seemed that folks that had them were quite pleased.