Sunglasses are a great and often overlooked tool for anglers, especially those who enjoy sight fishing. The best sunglasses for spotting fish have polarized lenses. It is always a good idea to protect your eyes when enjoying an activity like sight fishing, and the right pair of sunglasses will not only do that, it will also give you the ability to see what is under the surface of the water. Any quality pair of sunglasses will reduce glare and improve your vision during most parts of the day, however sunglasses with polarized lenses use a unique technology that sets them apart.
To ‘polarize’ a lens, is to apply a thin chemical coating to one or both sides of the lens that will filter out different light waves depending on their polarity (direction). This chemical coating has a specific molecular structure. The molecules are lined up specifically to absorb/eliminate horizontally polarized light waves while reflecting/allowing vertically polarized light waves to pass through. Picture the way window blinds only allow light to pass through from a certain direction.
When the sun’s rays reflect off of flat and/or bright surfaces, such as water or snow, the reflected light waves are horizontally polarized. Polarized lenses block the reflected light which gives anglers the ability to scan the water for fish without having their vision impaired by glare. This allows them to see clearly past the surface of the water.
Wrap Around Frames protect the peripheral area around your eyes from wind, debris, and ambient light. This makes them a good option for active wearers who plan on finding themselves in diverse weather conditions.
Half-Rim Frames usually but not always go around the top of the lens. This is a popular style for athletes because they give you minimal visual obstruction. They are comfortable and weigh less than full-rim frames.
Rimless Frames
are a popular option for casual use because they are both stylish and light weight. They do not offer as much protection or durability as other frames, however they do offer optimal all-day comfort.
Plastic Frames are generally found on sunglasses made for active wear, the most common types being nylon, xylonite, and polycarbonate. Most sports and safety glasses are made with polycarbonate frames because it is flexible and impact resistant giving you optimum eye protection. You will also find more color options with plastic frames.
Metal Frames are generally found on sunglasses made for casual wear, the most common types being aluminum, stainless steel, nickel, and titanium. All of these metals are durable, corrosion resistant, and light weight. Titanium is a very popular choice for frames because it is hypoallergenic and extremely strong and light weight.
Polycarbonate is a popular lens material because it is very light and extremely impact resistant. This makes it a very comfortable and safe option. The only drawback with polycarbonate lenses is their tendency to scratch easier.
Glass lenses are much less likely to scratch but are not as impact resistant as plastic lenses. This makes it a popular option for casual use. They are very clear and optically correct giving you minimal visual distortion.
There are a variety of lens color options, each one offering different advantages depending on light conditions. Light conditions are dictated by weather, time of day, and physical surroundings such as mountains and trees. This chart overviews common lens colors and their benefits:
Concerning your eyes, a false sense of security can be extremely dangerous because not all sunglasses offer UV protection. Sunglasses without UV protection only block out glare and ambient light so they may reduce your need to squint even though they are not protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. So if you are looking for something with UV protection, make sure it is specified. Look for a label that specifies 100% protection against both UVA and UVB or 100% protection against UV 400.
Assuming that you are going with polarized lenses, consider the thickness of the polarizing film. This will most likely be either 0.75 mm or 1.1 mm. The thinner film is found on lower quality sunglasses that are definitely more likely to scratch, while higher quality sunglasses have thicker polarizing film that is more scratch resistant and durable. Some of the more high-quality sunglasses laminate the polarizing film between two layers of lens material to eliminate the possibility of it being scratched or rubbed off. See Polarized Sunglasses on Amazon
Since polarized lenses absorb/eliminate reflected light, they will not always be the best option because sometimes you actually want to be able to see reflected light. In some vehicles for example, the head-up-display reflects off the windshield and polarized lenses would prevent those light waves from passing through to your eyes. Polarized lenses also make it difficult to see LCD screens. Newer vehicles and machinery often have LCD screens so polarized lenses may not be a good option for some drivers.
Steve is a surfing coach living and working in Kona. He sets up and operates competitions on several of the islands. He works with local businesses each year to participate in ocean cleanup
Outdoor Dimes may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article
To ‘polarize’ a lens, is to apply a thin chemical coating to one or both sides of the lens that will filter out different light waves depending on their polarity (direction). This chemical coating has a specific molecular structure. The molecules are lined up specifically to absorb/eliminate horizontally polarized light waves while reflecting/allowing vertically polarized light waves to pass through. Picture the way window blinds only allow light to pass through from a certain direction.
When the sun’s rays reflect off of flat and/or bright surfaces, such as water or snow, the reflected light waves are horizontally polarized. Polarized lenses block the reflected light which gives anglers the ability to scan the water for fish without having their vision impaired by glare. This allows them to see clearly past the surface of the water.
Since polarized lenses absorb/eliminate reflected light, they will not always be the best option because sometimes you actually want to be able to see reflected light. In some vehicles for example, the head-up-display reflects off the windshield and polarized lenses would prevent those light waves from passing through to your eyes.
Costa, more specifically Costa Del Mar, meaning Coast of the Sea. Founded in 1983 and based out of Daytona Beach Florida, Costa Del Mar specializes in manufacturing polarized sunglasses for outdoor use. Costa sunglasses are built by hand in the USA and come with an industry best limited lifetime warranty. The company raises funds for the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Program and is part of multiple campaigns dedicated to protecting the ocean and its wildlife.
