I am looking for a good pair of polarized sunglasses to use on upcoming June trip. I have a couple of pairs of Action Optics but they are meant for the light of a mountain stream and not the glare of the flats and bays.
I don’t mind spending up to the $150 range since glare gives me wicked headaches.
Any suggestions on what to look for and which brands/models tend to work for you? I’m thinking more a wrap-around to cut the side light.
Thanks for the help and suggestions.
-John
I have used Hobie and Action Optics models with photocromatic copper lenses from the high in the Sierra Nevada to the flats of North Queensland Australia and found that this type of lense works very well for me in all conditions. For me, the ability of photochromatic lense to adjust to different lighting conditions has made them extremely versatile.
Costa Del Mar…been wearin’ 'em on the Florida flats for many, many years. Great warranty, also. [url=http://www.costadelmar.com/:21884]http://www.costadelmar.com/[/url:21884]
[This message has been edited by Flats Dude (edited 02 February 2006).]
JC and I both have prescription Action Optics in the amber…we had tried the blue tone in another brand and they didn’t work at all on the salt here, much less the flats for bonz.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
I wear “Ocean Waves” all day every day. These were a gift and they are just fine. Gary’s Costa’s would be just fine as well.
Rusty <><
“PC” is for Plant City not Politically Correct. if you wanna catch something ya gotta get a hook in the water
I don’t care what the brand is, Copper for me, I’m color blind and the copper gives good definition. The amber would be second pick but not as effective on pink and light colored flats.
My .02
Philip
Excus my spelling and gramma, I hooked Mondays and Fridays so I could Hunt or fish.
Rusty,
You wear Ocean Waves. What model frame and what color lens? I’ve heard the Backwater Green lens is very good for inshore.
Thanks.
-John
Flats Dude,
What model of Costa Del Mar’s do you have? And what lens do you have?
I’m looking for good coverage and as little light from the sides and underneath as possible.
I did try on the Triple Tail, Turbine, T2, and Polaris at a local optician. The Turbine and Polaris fit the best but I can’t find the Polaris online. It may be a discontinued model that the optician still had on display.
Thanks.
-John
I can’t remember the frame style I think it’s the Chicago. I have the darkest ones they have, the Blue off shore. I drive a tractor trailer here in Pirateland and the truck I drive has a long white hood which reflects the sun right back into my eyes.
Rusty <><
“PC” is for Plant City not Politically Correct. if you wanna catch something ya gotta get a hook in the water
It’s been so long since I bought mine, I can’t remember which ones they are. The lens is dark gray.
Okay, on their website, the frames are called “deep blue”, they are a nylon composite. I own three pairs and never had one to break. Their warranty is really good also. I had one pair that were so scratched up I could barely see out of 'em. I sent them back and they replaced them for 25 bucks. But that was a long time ago.
[This message has been edited by Flats Dude (edited 03 February 2006).]
Try this link, if it works, these are the ones I have except with the dark gray. [url=http://costadelmar.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CDM&Product_Code=B_Deep+Blue&Category_Code=B_Nylon+Composite:69e19]http://costadelmar.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CDM&Product_Code=B_Deep+Blue&Category_Code=B_Nylon+Composite[/url:69e19]
To PCRusty and FlatsDude,
Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.
John
John…
The only suggestion that I can make is to be sure that they have glass lenses. Yes, I know that they are heavier than polycarbonate but the will last 100 times longer and not scratch up. Amber is the color to get for the flats and if you can get them photocromatic all the better. You may pay a bit more for these but they will last you forever. (Or until you loose them.)
Have a pair of Costa del Mar Piscadors which I use for fishing and a pair of Maui Jims for posin.
JME
@===----?----?----?
Member [url=http://www.ukbass.com:36fc0]www.ukbass.com[/url:36fc0]
[url=http://jamiercgriff.blogspot.com:36fc0]http://jamiercgriff.blogspot.com[/url:36fc0]
Ditto Dick M.
Ours are the photo stuff, prescription, polarized…and glass. They are the ONLY shades we wear and use them everyday. Driving is especially tiring without them. They were very close to $300.00 five or six years ago. The lenses are in their third set of frames.
Good shades are usually as important to success as a good rod. 
[This message has been edited by lee s (edited 03 February 2006).]
Good shades are nice but I won’t spend any more than 10 bucks for a pair. My last four pairs, two are on the bottom of a lake and two are on the bottom of the ocean. I really envy you guys that can keep a pair of shades for any length of time.
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick
Nick, your as bad as me. Once I put those keepers on the frames my problem was solved. My hat stays on also with that gizmo clip on the back. I have lost more darn hats to the water then some people have lost flys.
Philip
Excus my spelling and gramma, I hooked Mondays and Fridays so I could Hunt or fish.
[url=http://www.kaenon.com/product.cfm?action=show_product&product_id=592:aa3be]http://www.kaenon.com/product.cfm?action=show_product&product_id=592[/url:aa3be]
I’ve used/got Mauis, Costa and Ocean Waves. These Kaenons by far are the best glasses I’ve used lightweight, great optics and the c-12 Copper color is perfect for sight fishing redfish and bones.
Costa MP2s… I ordered the Glass lens in Rose color… They are a little bright. if you have problems with the sun I would go with the amber. The Rose really makes the Reds down here in TX glow however.
Here in Florida we are much closer to the sun than other places so the UV (ultra violet) rays are much more intense. The main thing to be sure of is that you protect yourself from the UV rays. Many cheap sunglasses will even have a little sticker on them that will say 100% UV protection. These are usually found on the rack in the drug store or grocery store. An eye doctor once explained to me that there is truth in advertising regarding this statement. If they say there is UV protection there darned well better be or the Feds will jump right in. The problem is that the UV protection they are talking about is a thin layer applied at the last stages of manufacturing and every time you clean the glasses some of it comes off. After a dozen wipes for cleaning purposes most of the protection is pretty well gone.
I will say that for driving purposes the best pair of glasses I’ve ever had was a pair of Serengeti Drivers with lenses by Dow Corning. I cold feel my face muscles relax with them on.
What ever you do, for long term exposure protect your eyes. If you are in an area where you need to use sunscreen, good glasses should go hand in hand with it.
Tight lines and God Bless,
Rusty <><
“PC” is for Plant City not Politically Correct. if you wanna catch something ya gotta get a hook in the water