Key Features
The Maui Jim Kaiwi Channel’s super co*fortable wrap design provides unbelievable depth perception and clarity in bright overhead sun. As the best sunglasses for offshore fishing I wore these glasses for several days in Panama under blazing sun and I swear that I could see tuna “color” before anyone else, along with subtle hints of breaking baitfish and distant diving birds. The wrap design cuts out all light from the sides and even when seating the non-slip nose and temple pads keep them in place. They’re a good fit for average-sized faces, and they co*e in four frame colors, each with a matching lens.
Building on Costa’s long standing environmental co*mitment, this example of Costa’s “Untangled” collection is made from fishing nets that are at the end of their lives making these glasses the best sunglasses for sustainability. Costa already had a chokehold on a large percentage. They’ve earned respect for their quality product, but it’s this example of their co*mitment to the resources we all cherish should earn them more. The Pargo glasses contribute to the likelihood that we’ll be able to fish for generations to co*e. The frames are a little coarse to the touch, but you don’t feel that when they’re on your face, and if the Pargo isn’t your best fit there are eight other options—which means that everyone can do their part to clean up waste while helping their own fishing.
Dragon’s sunglasses are very light, co*fortable, cut glare, have good clarity, and they float. I tested several Dragon frames while fishing for false albacore in Morehead City, North Carolina. The frames that fit my large head the best were the Shore X LL Polars, but they have several full-wrap sunglasses that would be ideal for fishing.
I wore Dragon’s for 9 hours of fishing and it wasn’t until the very end of the day that I started to feel disco*fort from the frames. I attribute that excellent co*fort to the light frames. On my scale, the Shore X LL weighed 1 ounce co*pared to my slightly larger Bajio Rocas, which weighed 1.7 ounces. The frames fit snug, but not tight, and they didn’t move when we hit big swells at speed. They do have an integrated leash that snaps on and off, which is much more co*fortable than slip over leashes. Another cool feature that prevents your expensive fishing sunglasses from being lost is Dragon’s H2O floating frames.
The heart of fishing sunglasses are the lenses, which cut glare and allow you to see fish or submerged structure. False albacore fishing is associated with spotting birds and busting fish, but an underrated aspect is seeing bait pods under the surface. Using my Dragon’s, I saw a bait pod, casted my fly into the middle of it, and waited for the albies to attack. When they did, I started stripping and immediately hooked up. If I wasn’t able to spot that school of bait, I wouldn’t have been able to catch that fish.
I chose the Lumalens Red Ion Polar lens, which are very close to mirrored copper and a great all-around lens color. Dragon also has green and blue mirrored lenses, but lack the huge variety of lens options that other brands offer. They do have a huge selection of frames and if you are looking for a light pair of sunglasses with smart features like an integrated leash, check out Dragon’s full line of frames. —Scott Einsmann
Full coverage and clear sightlines demonstrate that Leupold’s shooting optics heritage has been extended to anglers and the results provide all-day clarity. I put these Leupold glasses on for long days of looking for bass that would’ve given me headaches in the past, but I got off the water as fresh as I’d started. That’s because not only do these frames cover a lot of my face without feeling bulky, but also because they’re ventilated. I felt like I could see a bit deeper, and a bit more clearly, without losing focus or ability as the hours pushed on. They promise that the polarization won’t deteriorate over time, either. Furthermore, they’re shatterproof making them the best sunglasses for sight fishing for bass.
As the best polarized sunglasses for women these functional yet fashionable aviators provide women who only want to invest in a single pair of glasses an ability to cover all bases with shades. They are equally good for staring down tarpon or for sitting behind the wheel of a convertible. If metal frames are your thing, and you want a practical yet distinctly feminine set of glasses, these are fashionable, yet will also serve you well on the water. They’re extremely co*fortable with snag-proof nose pads, and also super lightweight, so you can wear them from sunup to sundown without experiencing any sort of fatigue.
The Smith Guides Choice frames will fit most anglers well and offer subtle features like their integrated eyeglass retainer that set them apart from the co*petition. The Chroma Pop lenses perform well in bright sun and shade. They also enhance color and definition, which helps you differentiate between a stick and a brown.
Die hard meat chuckers and Euro nymphers can agree on one thing—good sunglasses help you catch fish. But, frames and lenses are just as much personal preference as fishing techniques and lucky hats. But, you can’t go wrong with the Smith Optics Guide Choice with Chroma Pop lenses. I’ve been fishing with Chroma Pops for about a year, and they are my favorite lenses for inshore, bass, snakeheads, and trout. The lenses transition well from needing to see fish in a shady spot to bright sun. I’d reco*mend the green or brown lenses because they’ll work in the widest range of streams. If you fish a lot of bright sunny days the mirror lenses will help reduce eye fatigue.
The biggest issue people have with the Guide’s Choice frame is they slide down your nose when you look down. I haven’t had that issue, but I do have a larger head so they fit my head snugly. Another con is that they use a spring hinge, which some anglers don’t prefer. —Scott Einsmann
If you don’t need prescriptions, these perfectly-functional glasses co*e at a bargain price and provide fashion forward styling. These polarized sunglasses may not have the heft and durability of more expensive glasses, but they’ll get the job done for the novice or budget-conscious angler making these the best cheap polarized sunglasses. You can keep an extra pair in your truck or boat in case you sit on one, too. The co*pany also makes signature series glasses for fellow bass pros Mike Iaconelli and Josh Bertrand, as well as bi-focal magnifiers.
If you frequently find yourself in situations that call for different lens options, these glasses save you from having to buy more than one pair. GoPro took their lens expertise from the camera world and applied them to what we call the best sunglasses for versatility. They’re stylish in a “Risky Business” kind of way, and co*e with three interchangeable lenses: A light amber lens with blue-mirror finish for enhanced detail and color in lower-light conditions; an amber lens with bronze-mirror finish for enhanced detail and color on the water; and a gray lens for accurate color and reduced glare in bright conditions including driving and winter sports. They also float.
If you’re like me, and occasionally miss a rod eyelet when rigging up, or can’t tell if your knots are perfect, but you’re not ready to wear prescription sunglasses full-time, then readers are a solid option. They’ve changed my ability to pay attention to small details that contribute to fishing success and I don’t have to change glasses to do so. The Ozello frames don’t just benefit your vision with lens technology – the wide temples block out sun to keep your peepers fresh, and the co*fortable nose pads maintain position so you’re always looking in the right direction. These have beco*e one of my favorite everyday pairs, just as good for looking at the menu at a beachside restaurant as they are for tying co*plicated knots on a windy day.
It’s critical to think of a few key factors as you embark on your search for the best polarized glasses for you. The first is where you’ll be fishing and under what conditions. The blue water of the tropics presents different challenges and opportunities than the muddy backwaters of your local river. Furthermore, a high overhead sun might co*mand different lenses than low light conditions. There are several key lens colors, most notably gray and amber, but they may differ from one manufacturer to the next, or go by a different name. In general green and amber are a great choice for most sight fishing. Grey is a color for general use and blocking out bright light. Blue mirror is the go-to choice for offshore.
The goal here is to block out all light, and whether you’re a pumpkin head or a pencil neck, or somewhere in between, find frames that fit snugly but do not give you a headache. I like something with shielding to the side in most cases, but my wife’s cheekbones are different from mine and she can wear an aviator or other minimalist frame style without letting in too much glare.
Finally, if you wear a prescription, make sure that your chosen glasses will allow for that alteration. If not, you might consider a fitover style or some add-on “cheaters” to help you get through the day, assuming that your prescription is not a matter of life and death.
In some cases, multiple pairs may be warranted, but good ones are typically not inexpensive, so choose wisely. There are countless brands on the market, and whether you take a longstanding stalwart like Maui Jim or Costa Del Mar, or one of the upstarts, there’s a wide continuum of quality