Topic: What Are Polarized Sunglasses? (Read 37 times)
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When properly formulated, both reduce glare substantially. As a result, most manufacturers still maintain some variation of these shades in their lineups. But co*panies have now branched out to give anglers even more options. For example, many anglers use yellow or “sunrise” lenses for low light scenarios, including early morning, late evening fishing, and extremely overcast days. Others like a silver tint. Many saltwater anglers, particularly those who go offshore, prefer a dark blue lens.
If you can only afford one pair, and you engage in a variety of types of fishing, go with amber or gray. It’s also worth asking local anglers for their input.
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Finally, once you buy a pair or several pairs of glasses that fit your fishing style, protect them and keep them clean. A padded or hard case prevents someone from crushing your glasses, and a microfiber cloth and dedicated lens cleaning solution can help prevent scratches.
While polarized sunglasses are generally beneficial for all anglers in just most situations, there are some disadvantages. First, the addition of the polarized coating co*es with an increased price tag, variable by manufacturer. The second is that the properties that make them so effective for reducing on-the-water glare may also make it difficult to read screens like marine sonar and GPS units. Some co*panies, such as Maui Jim, are creating lens materials the prevent eye strain and eye fatigue when staring at electronics.
In general, you get what you pay for with polarized sunglasses, but cost and quality are not always perfectly correlated. Numerous brands specifically target and address anglers’ needs, including Costa Del Mar, Bajio, Maui Jim, Wiley X and Revo, but they’re not the only ones. When in doubt, talk to an optician or the expert at a local tackle shop. Try them on, wear them outside, and see if the curvature of the lens in any way results in a diminution of clarity. If so, they’re not for you. The ideal pair feels like you’re wearing nothing at all, providing one less distraction or hindrance on a boat or in the water.
Glass lenses are typically considered the best. They resist scratches, but they also co*e with some drawbacks. First, they are heavy, which can cause fatigue, and perhaps more importantly they can shatter upon impact.
Many anglers prefer some form of plastic, such as the proprietary CR-39, which is lighter than glass and less likely to shatter, even if it’s not quite as optically precise. There are also polycarbonate lenses, which are less popular but also typically thinner and lighter than glass or plastic. These advantages often cost more, so the benefits may not be worth it.
It’s easy to go out and buy a single pair of discount or non-fitted polarized sunglasses and fish effectively and reasonably safely. However, the incremental differences resulting from the proper lens colors, frame styles, and quality add up to increased co*fort and additional fish. I’ve been on streams where I could see more than the anglers around me, not because my vision is any better (it’s not) but because I had the optical tool matched to the job.
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As my fishing efforts have branched out from bass to include cold water species, and inshore and offshore saltwater efforts, so, too, has my collection of sunglasses. I typically have at least two pairs with me on any trip. I keep at least three in my boat – one of which is for the fishing partner who ended up with a one-size-fits-all option that didn’t maximize effectiveness.
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