Polarized Sunglasses

[vanven]

Never owned an expensive pair of sunglasses... I just buy the renegades at Wal-Mart for $10. I don't know if I could justify spending more than 100 on sunglasses. Is there really that much of a difference in how well they cut glare?

I have heard and read numerous well known guides talk about how important a good pair of sunglasses is. Typically it ranks right up there with a good rod/reel in importance. I have always worn quality glasses. I am light complected so the simple things like blocking UV rays are important.

A good pair of properly fit polarized sunglasses will do a few things:

• Block UV rays
  
• Reduce eye strain
  
• prevent fogging
  
• protect you eyes from foreign objects
  
• allow you to see further into water
  
• improve your ability to see details such as indicators in glare
  
• apparently cost an arm and a leg
  

-Jerod

[vanven]

After a long discussion with the Smith Optics international sales manager and an exchange of pictures. I have been duped. Apparently the sunglasses I bought at the outlet store were not in fact Action Optics glasses like I was led to believe but another brand with a very similar insignia. I will give Smith Optics a ton of credit for bending over backwards dealing with a customer they could have easily blown off.

Back to the search....

-jerod

[trizkid]

i recently got a pair of the fish gillz sunglasses for 50 bucks.......i love them they cut the glare great and they are very light weight.......and another plus is that they float....and can be put in hot water and then are able to be molded around your head to get a perfect fit........good deal i think

[strangercreek]

You might try Bolle. I have a pair of Meanstreaks that I have had for 4 years (wireframe, not snowboarder glasses) and the lenses are great. You can find them online for just over $100.

The nosepiece wore out on mine and they discontinued the model so I had to stop wearing them for a while but then I made another stop by the Bolle/Bushnell shop in Overland Park just to see if they had any new parts. Luckily they started stocking the nose pieces so I bought 3 of them.

They do a good job with their lenses.

Glasses are a pain in the A$$, sunglass or otherwise.

[vacation]

I have always used the cheapo sunglasses from gas stations or wal-mart (still do by the way) but I did try a pair of Costa Del Mars on from a fishing guide in Mexico and tried another brand (dont know the name) from a fishing guide in S.California...both pair were UNBELIEVABLE and put mine to shame shame shame...; however, I still use the cheapos...makes me not fell bad when I drop them in the water and I do that a lot...

[Geoff]

i use the cheapo renegades from walmart. at 10 bucks i dont care if they fall off my head onto the highway and get hit by a tahoe going 70..oh wait..that did happen. ha. I just fear that the day i get a GOOD pair of glasses something terrible will happen to them

[laker67]

For the past 40 years I have used Foster Grant, Bill Dance, and Strike King glasses. I don't think I have ever paid more than 12 bucks for a pair of polorized glasses. Those high dollar brand names mentioned in this topic, are they really 10 and 12 times better than mine? Are you seeing 10 times the number of fish that I'm seeing? I don't think so.

[Zack Hoyt]

For the past 40 years I have used Foster Grant, Bill Dance, and Strike King glasses. I don't think I have ever paid more than 12 bucks for a pair of polorized glasses. Those high dollar brand names mentioned in this topic, are they really 10 and 12 times better than mine? Are you seeing 10 times the number of fish that I'm seeing? I don't think so.

Stuff like this cracks me up. Am I seeing 10 times more fish than you.....probably not. Am I seeing them before you or not having my glasses fog up or not having the lenses all scratched up or having to repurchase glasses because there is no warranty with them.........

How many of you die-hard cheapo sunglasses fans have ever had the pricier on the water? Trying them on in the store does about as much good as setting in a sports car on the lot. It may feel good, but you have no idea what it is really capable of. Opinions being what they are, I respect yours.

[Woodchuck]

I'm thinking of buying a pair of Smith's. I had some 10 years ago that I got on sale at BPS for $40. Some SOB stole them out of my truck one night. But I have bought 2-3 pair a year because the frames break. If Smith has a lifetime frame warranty at $15-$25 a pair the Smith's will be cheaper in the long run.

[ness]

i use the cheapo renegades from walmart. at 10 bucks i dont care if they fall off my head onto the highway and get hit by a tahoe going 70..oh wait..that did happen. ha. I just fear that the day i get a GOOD pair of glasses something terrible will happen to them

One of the good things about expensive sunglasses is the anxiety that comes along with them. It helps you develop some good habits like actually being careful with your sunglasses. Like: putting a strap on them, using the case, storing them properly, not setting them face down, etc. I suspect a lot of the reason people burn through $10 sunglasses so quickly is that they don't give a rip what happens to them, and they treat them that way.

I'm a pretty frugal guy, but I don't scrimp on this critical piece of equipment.