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Hi Fellas-
I've been lurking around this site for a few days now and see there is some great information here and some very knowledgeable individuals who appear to be very generous in sharing that knowledge.
I'd appreciate hearing some of your opinions relative to polarized fishing sunglasses. I've owned some costas and maui jims that were great glasses, but very expensive and the truth of the matter is, I'm very hard on glasses and tend to break em or lose em far too often. Any of you have good experiences with more affordable polarized glasses that you've enjoyed using for fishing? Thanks in advance for any feedback.
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Welcome to BFT! I usually go with the cheap ones that you can find at walmart. I usually go through them myself as well. I guess it all depends upon comfort for me.
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I used to use the cheap-o "polarized" glasses bought online and at gas stations. Then I tried Maui Jims. Haven't been able to go back. It made such a difference in the ability to see fish on the river that I CAN'T go back!  I'm kind of hard on glasses myself. I'm on my second pair of MJs and they've been semi-broken for over a year but I still make them work.
If it's any consolation, you can send in any Maui Jims for repair and it's generally around $50. And that's AFTER your warranty has expired.
Another viable option would be some polarized Oakley sunglasses. They seem to be a little cheaper than Maui Jims, but they still cut the glare pretty well. I have tried out a pair my brother had and they were decent. Still gonna be using my broken MJs for as long as I can though!
If you're fishing primarily on streams, I think Polarized is almost a necessity now. But if you're gonna be on lakes, cutting the glare in the water isn't nearly as important, and any cheap pair should be fine.
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I'm not sure what you mean by cheap, but I have Oakley, and Smith sunglasses that I consider expensive, but I also have some Coyote sunglasses that I pretty much wear all the time when I fish, and are considerably cheap then above mentioned . I will get another pair if needed. The Coyote glasses do have bifocals in some of the models for us older people. I have had a pair now for several years, and they have been great for the price. I believe they are 50-70 depending on the model.
Sportsman Warehouse did sell them ,I bought mine online.
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If you can spend around, or just under, $100 for non-prescription polarized glasses, try HaberVision. I can wear any brand I want, and get 3 new pairs a year as my prescription changes, and all I wear are HaberVisions. (Drivewear for low light, gray for the lake, and copper for the rivers/flats) I've worn Costas, Maui's, Oakleys, Orvis, and Ray Ban. My HaberVisions are as clear and useful as any of them, and better than some, at a fraction of the cost. Go to [url "http://www.habervision.com"]HaberVision.com[/url]. You may use my code, TARPON, or create your own account, to get the best price. If you need prescription/bi-focals as I do, they run in the $250 neighborhood. But, single visions are under $100.
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Berkley makes some really cheap ($5 at my local Walmart) polarized sunglasses that are actually amazingly comfortable. I highly recommend them.
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[quote BHuij]Berkley makes some really cheap ($5 at my local Walmart) polarized sunglasses that are actually amazingly comfortable. I highly recommend them.[/quote]
Hey I have used those before and I agree they are somewhat comfortable.[cool]
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Thank you, gentlemen! I appreciate the comments. This past week I leaned over the edge of the boat while fishing at East canyon and watched a pair of Costas hit the drink and sink out of sight. So while that memory is still stinging, I was on the hunt for a new pair that wouldn't produce tears if I lost em or broke em in the near future. I'll check out the Habervision and the Berkelys.
At the risk of labeling some of us as bb-heads and some of us as bucket heads, is your experience with the habervision and the berkleys is that they are meant for larger melons, tiny noggins, or right in between? I've tried on glasses that were so large they could wrap around my face twice if they were flexible enough. It's risky buying glasses online, but its generally where you get the best prices.
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hey LaL, welcome to BFT. Can't help out much on the sunglasses question. As I'm old and have to wear the bottom of old thick coke bottles to see anything much past my elbows, I have a set of prescription glasses I keep in my truck for driving and fishing. And I always have them made with polarized lenses. Not sure if they are as good as some of the high end Brand name sunglasses others have mentioned, but they at least allow me to see my line out to where it hits the water.
Anyway, welcome again................[fishin]
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"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
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[quote LockedandLoaded]Thank you, gentlemen! I appreciate the comments. This past week I leaned over the edge of the boat while fishing at East canyon and watched a pair of Costas hit the drink and sink out of sight. [/quote]
That is why I use chums. Keeps the glasses on my face and not in the water.
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HaberVision has different frames for different shapes/sizes, and they'll send you samples so you can try before you buy. They have many styles to choose from.
As for comfort, that has to do with the frames. Everybody has their own preference.
Its the lenses that make or break a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Not all are equal, and there's a reason Berkley's are $5 and Costas are $300!
As for them falling off, that's what chums or other sun glass retainers are for. Use them. Put them in a case when you're not wearing them. Then all you gotta do is try not to lose them! (I lost a pair in their case a few years back. ??? Still can't figure out where they ended up.)
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[quote Tin-Can]hey LaL, welcome to BFT. Can't help out much on the sunglasses question. As I'm old and have to wear the bottom of old thick coke bottles to see anything much past my elbows, I have a set of prescription glasses I keep in my truck for driving and fishing. And I always have them made with polarized lenses. Not sure if they are as good as some of the high end Brand name sunglasses others have mentioned, but they at least allow me to see my line out to where it hits the water.
Anyway, welcome again................[fishin][/quote]
Thank you, sir. I have to ask, where did you get that slick looking flag with BFT and your screen name on it?
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I'm looking at habervision's website and they do have some nice looking glasses. Pretty neat that they'll send you frame samples to try, so no suprises when you buy. Thanks!
Also, good call on the Chums, guys. I've never used them, but it sure would have saved me some heartache if I would have.
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[quote LockedandLoaded]
Thank you, sir. I have to ask, where did you get that slick looking flag with BFT and your screen name on it?[/quote]
Here is the latest thread on obtaining the flags.
[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=918441;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=918441;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread[/url]
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Edge Safety Glasses makes a decent pair of polarized sunglasses for $30. They are industrial and shatterproof and I think they are quite comfortable. Most industrial supply stores and Ace Hardware sell them...
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I bought pair of MAXX polarized fishing glasses at Anglers' Den last year, and I like them a lot. I also have a pair with no name on the frame that I got at Sportsmans' Warehouse that I like. Neither one was over $50.
Glasses and their fit are so personal that I don't think you can buy them online and be happy except by luck. Even if you go to a store, ask if you can take them outside to see what they're like in sunshine.
And ALWAYS use some kind of retainer strap or cord!
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L&L, I wasn't going to reply to this thread until you mentioned that you leaned over your "boat". Until I read that, I just figured this was all about eye wear while on a stream.
I have worn polarized glasses for many years while fishing from my boat but no longer do. Now I prefer the old traditional non-polarized glasses. I realized that wearing polarized glasses didn't help me "see" the fish 70 yards out behind my boat while trolling or 80 feet below my boat when jigging. But polarized glasses made it difficult to clearly see my Lorance fish finder. I found that I was frequently removing my sun glasses to read the screen. Something about polarized glasses and LCD screens that don't mix well.
Yes, there is more water glare without the polarized glasses now but the tradeoff for me is much beter to go old school so that I can see/read the screen.
Sory to hijack your post. I just wanted to share that. Now, back to the topic at hand ... "polarized sun glasses".
P.S. Welcome aboard BFT L&L.
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That's a very valid point. I wear non-polarized glasses while driving for that very reason. Instrument panels, gas pump screens, and even the side windows of my vehicle are not friendly to polarized glasses.
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Hmmm. I've worn polarized lenses every since I can remember, and never had a problem with seeing my LCD sonar/gps screens since I went away from paper graphs. I've tried non-polarized, but didn't see a difference. I also wouldn't dream of driving without them. They cut glare from water, signs, sun, everything. I guess everyone's eyes adapt to the correction differently or something.
Just a few months ago, I special-ordered a gray pair of bi-focal polarized lenses just for watching my sonar, with a high bi-focal so I don't have to tilt my head back. They're awesome!
According to my ophthalmologist in Sandy, polarized sun glasses are far better protection for your eyes in terms of UV strain and glaucoma prevention as well. So she says.
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[#0000FF]You have had some good input and ideas. After enough experience...good and bad...we all develop our own opinions and preferences.
Allow me to toss in more more factor that has not been mentioned. ANY EYE PROTECTION IS BETTER THAN NONE. That is what my doctor told me before replacing lenses in both of my eyes...because of cataracts mainly caused by many years of outdoor sun exposure.
I have always been active in sports...all of the "ball" sports as well as fishing and hunting. And I have always tried to wear sunglasses when romping around in the great outdoors...and especially when driving. For several years of my life I was a road warrior too...driving many thousands of miles each year...enduring the glare of sunlight off the highway and the hood of my vehicle.
In spite of my efforts to minimize the damage I still developed cataracts by the time I was 60. I was shocked at the news but have been pleased with the results of getting the replacements. And you can bet you'll never see me on the water without protective eyewear...with a backup pair in my gear bag.
What kind of glasses do I wear? Good ones that fit well and do the job. I don't buy on the basis of price...or snob appeal. But I have tried many kinds and I will agree that some of the spendier models are probably better. Just not worth the difference in my opinion. My doc said I was better off to wear a darker pair of cheap glasses than a lighter pair of pricier ones. It's all about blocking harmful rays.
Being able to see fish better? I don't stream fish much anymore and sight fishing is not a biggie while fishing from the low visibility angle of my float tube. But whenever I crawl in a boat or walk the banks you can bet I am wearing my best pair of polarized lenses. It's all good.
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