Thread: lense color for surf and pier

this is a question about what color lense for your sunglasses you are using. so, if you had to pick one color for standing on the pier or along the brine on the white sand all day in the highest and brightest day to block harmful rays but able to cut the water to see fish what would it be? do you use your fishing glasses also for driving? i have typically used gray for driving and the surf but dog gone, after 6-10 hours of high sun im pert near blind at the end of the day, possibly due to not having full eye coverage but maybe not. thanks in advance and looking forward to your replies

blessings

gooseboy out.....

I personally prefer mirror lenses. I have found that it to be beneficial when trying to sneak a peak at the beach scenery. Maybe that's just me? I wear my Costas for pretty much everything though.

Amber is the best I've found in 40 years now.
They cut the glare and increase contrast just a bit.
IMHO darker shades of blue, green, grey are too close to the typical color tint of our shallow water.
And yellow is too high contrast without enough glare reduction.

And the glasses are just part of the solution to see better into the water and protect your eyes (I make a living with mine).
Visors and caps allow too much light to shine on your face (and eyes) at times.
A wide brimmed hat, mostly dark colored underneath is not only cooler (less hot ;-) but much more often blocks more of the sun from your eyes (direct and indirect).

pic without sunglasses over lense:


same area WITH amber sunglasses over lense:

I second the amber colored lenses. I have two pairs of polarized sunglasses. The darker "blue"ish tinted ones I find better for driving, but the amber lenses allow me to see down deeper into water of all kinds.

Considering price and function, what do you consider the best VALUE in sunglasses?

Costas, Oakleys, Maui Jims, Ray Bans.....in no particular order. I'm very gentle with my sunglasses and I don't lose them, so I don't mind spending the extra money for a pair that costs a good deal more. Any of these brands have good polarized lenses. Go try them on, see which ones fit the best, and then you'll be the most satisfied with them.

Originally Posted by Kevin E.

Considering price and function, what do you consider the best VALUE in sunglasses?

That is hard to answer. The lenses from cheap to expensive are totally different.
Most cheap to mid-price point shades have a single layer plastic lenses with or without coatings (cheapos' are just a single thin piece of plastic with no coatings, mid-price point will have coated lenses that are stronger & more scratch resistant).
Higher quality shades like Costa's and Maui Jims (two best lenses on the market, IMO) have a layered lenses, with a layer of material between each lens and coatings on front & back.
The mirrored amber glass lens from Costa is probably about the best on the market, but they are heavier and will shatter if dropped on the lens. Their polycarb amber mirror lens is great too, lighter, impact resistant, wont shatter but will scratch.
So it depends on how much you want to spend.

My advice, go to a real sunglass store, like Shades in Orang Beach, try on as many pair as you can, compare the different lenses and frames. Get the best pair you can afford.

My pet peeve is scratched lenses. Probably my fault most of the time. But, if I can replace a scratched (fairly cheap pair) 10X for the price of a top of the line pair, is that a better route? Or, is a top of the line pair 25X more scratch resistant? I have no experience with top end sun glasses and am hesitant to make the leap. Just like everything else on the net, you can read reviews and opinions that are very polar. My wife now has a pair of very top end glasses that I bought her for Christmas. She says she likes them, but for the price, she would not buy another pair. It isn't a real big deal, but was curious what the folks that fish quite a bit wear. Amber lenses are pretty much my favorite also, so issue with that suggestion. I do appreciate the replies!

I wear trifocals already, so no way am I gonna fork over $$$ for Co$ta$, Oakley$, etc.
Or maybe I'm just a cheap bastid ;-) LOL

Anyway, I used to use Strike King clip ons until they got hard to find locally...
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Strike-Ki...asses/16225766

But I really like these from BPS even better...
Cocoons Flip-Ups Rectangular 54 Clip-On Sunglasses | Bass Pro Shops

Decent eye protection for a fraction of the price!

What kind of top-end glasses did she get?

"Real" sunglasses or designer ones?

Back when I worked at a sunglass shop, the expensive "designer" sunglasses, that are made solely to attract the ladies and their credit cards, has some of the crappiest lenses, most weren't even polarized.