Fishing Glasses

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CanadianAngler87

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Messages
915
Location
Waterloo
I recently broke my sunglasses in my Slip N Fall on the river this weekend. Lookin for a good pair, reasonable in price. Any suggestions?
 
Hey CA

I've read somewhere that a polarizing filter is the same thing weather you buy $15 Rapala's at Walmart or $150 Ray Bans. What you're actually paying for is the frame and maybe some extra coating on the lens and of course the name. Since I'm a frugler, I'd rather buy 10 Rapala's over 1 Ray Ban. I know the Ray Ban is much better quality and all but I can afford to lose $15 from a fall or scratched lens from a stray hook, then lose $150. I currently use a pairof no-name brand from LeBaron's that I bought 20 years ago.

The biggest problem with polarized glasses I find, is that they are either too light or too dark. Too bad they don't make them with a extra dark, clip on, size matched lens for really sunny days.

I like the wrap around to protect my eyes from all angles.

Try a bunch on, LeBaron has a sunglass turnstile stand.
 
These are two brands i swear by when it comes to polars.
http://www.solarbat.com/
http://www.mauijim.com/banyans-6942.html

Solar bats are wicked, mind you, i have only worn them on the boat but they are very comfortable and i can see schools of smallies 20ft down on a bright day which is something that i cant say about other polars i've tried.

My favoutire though are the Maui Jims, i have tried all their lenses and found the HCL Bronze to be best suited for fishing. Maui Jim has a patent on their polarization from what i was told and i can definitley see why. They have crispest optics i have seen, nothing compares. everything looks like im in a imax movie lol. And they are so light and comfortable i dont even notice im wearing them all day. Pick em up you wont be dissapointed.
 
Hey CA

I've read somewhere that a polarizing filter is the same thing weather you buy $15 Rapala's at Walmart or $150 Ray Bans. What you're actually paying for is the frame and maybe some extra coating on the lens and of course the name. Since I'm a frugler, I'd rather buy 10 Rapala's over 1 Ray Ban. I know the Ray Ban is much better quality and all but I can afford to lose $15 from a fall or scratched lens from a stray hook, then lose $150. I currently use a pairof no-name brand from LeBaron's that I bought 20 years ago.

The biggest problem with polarized glasses I find, is that they are either too light or too dark. Too bad they don't make them with a extra dark, clip on, size matched lens for really sunny days.

I like the wrap around to protect my eyes from all angles.

Try a bunch on, LeBaron has a sunglass turnstile stand.

Once you get a quality pair of glasses you'll be sold. I was once an advocate of 'buy many cheap ones' for the price of one good one. The lens, polarize coating, and structure of the glasses are of simply much better with high-end glasses. They are generally less prone to scratching, almost always guaranteed for life, and most importantly provide better (honest) protection for your eyes.

CTV did an episode where they tested the UV protection of cheap-ass glasses and found they all failed to meet spec. You see those racoon-eyes people get, imagine that sunburn on your eyes. I doubt you'd buy some chinese off-brand sunblock, same precaution should be given to your eyes bro.
 
These are two brands i swear by when it comes to polars.
http://www.solarbat.com/
http://www.mauijim.com/banyans-6942.html

Solar bats are wicked, mind you, i have only worn them on the boat but they are very comfortable and i can see schools of smallies 20ft down on a bright day which is something that i cant say about other polars i've tried.

My favoutire though are the Maui Jims, i have tried all their lenses and found the HCL Bronze to be best suited for fishing. Maui Jim has a patent on their polarization from what i was told and i can definitley see why. They have crispest optics i have seen, nothing compares. everything looks like im in a imax movie lol. And they are so light and comfortable i dont even notice im wearing them all day. Pick em up you wont be dissapointed.


maui jims are the best --i used mine today--
 
it's true that ray-bans and rapalas serve the same purpose but for 1/10 of the price. and remember. most ray-bans have glass lenses so dropping it would be $120 + flying away. I got my rapalas for $12 at Lebarons. and they have other brands. I think they have bolle to which i would be buying myself for xmas. any polarized glasses will do, it all depends on where and how you use it.
 
Once you get a quality pair of glasses you'll be sold. I was once an advocate of 'buy many cheap ones' for the price of one good one. The lens, polarize coating, and structure of the glasses are of simply much better with high-end glasses. They are generally less prone to scratching, almost always guaranteed for life, and most importantly provide better (honest) protection for your eyes.

CTV did an episode where they tested the UV protection of cheap-ass glasses and found they all failed to meet spec. You see those racoon-eyes people get, imagine that sunburn on your eyes. I doubt you'd buy some chinese off-brand sunblock, same precaution should be given to your eyes bro.

I'd like to see that b/c years ago, CTV also did a review of the UV400 stickers you'd find on sunglasses and found that the cheapest glasses had better protection. I know the expensive lenses will have finely polished lenses and little to no abborations. However, the episode I saw wanted to point out that price is not guage for UV protection. I suppose I could take my current shades to my optomitrist and have her check it out.

Yes I know, we only have one pair of eyes so why go cheap...lol.

Here is a link to Health Canada on sunglasses, click Standards for UV Protection.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/glasses-lunettes-eng.php#st
 
there are differences in polarized glasses, i can't remember the name of the one si have now, but they are fantastic, i spot fish that others can't see in the same pool, one guy i fish with quite often has the rapalas, he often asks to borrow mine to see the fish :)
 
I use the inexpensive strike king sunglasses and tey seem to work fine for me, but I have never done a side by side test with some of the more expensive glasses.
 
I'd like to see that b/c years ago, CTV also did a review of the UV400 stickers you'd find on sunglasses and found that the cheapest glasses had better protection. I know the expensive lenses will have finely polished lenses and little to no abborations. However, the episode I saw wanted to point out that price is not guage for UV protection. I suppose I could take my current shades to my optomitrist and have her check it out.

Yes I know, we only have one pair of eyes so why go cheap...lol.

Here is a link to Health Canada on sunglasses, click Standards for UV Protection.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/glasses-lunettes-eng.php#st

You're right, price is not an absolute factor in UV protection. Some 20 dollar glasses will almost certainly provide adequate protection. But determining which ones are safe and which ones aren't isn't immediately apparent in most cheap glasses. Paying for 'the name' is good in this case. because Ray-Ban don't wanna get sued for selling bad goods. They got too much on the line.

It's not a topic near and dear to my heart or anything like that, it's just my rationale with things like this. I also wouldn't by a cheap life jacket, climbing ropes made offshore, or a DVD from the Pacific Mall. Cause when I want my stuff to work, it better work. <_<
 
Hey CA

I've read somewhere that a polarizing filter is the same thing weather you buy $15 Rapala's at Walmart or $150 Ray Bans. What you're actually paying for is the frame and maybe some extra coating on the lens and of course the name. Since I'm a frugler, I'd rather buy 10 Rapala's over 1 Ray Ban. I know the Ray Ban is much better quality and all but I can afford to lose $15 from a fall or scratched lens from a stray hook, then lose $150. I currently use a pairof no-name brand from LeBaron's that I bought 20 years ago.

The biggest problem with polarized glasses I find, is that they are either too light or too dark. Too bad they don't make them with a extra dark, clip on, size matched lens for really sunny days.

I like the wrap around to protect my eyes from all angles.

Try a bunch on, LeBaron has a sunglass turnstile stand.

Those bad boys you were rocking last weekend were sick!
 
I personally have a nice pair of Oakley polarized ones. I am careful with my gear and have had them for years and they are still in perfect condition. Worth it to me
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate the suggestions and guys going out of their way to post sites. I had a 20$ pair from wally mart. I had them in my hand when I slipped and they went flying! Oh what I would do for a video! Anywho I'm liking the solarbats and the thought of being able to see fish 20 feet down is sweet. They are also in my price range, you think an Amber or Bronze lense is the way to go? I have a pair of polarized oakley ski goggles, think they would work? They offer lots of protection lol im j.k
 
Biggest difference with the cheap glasses is plastic lenses. You cant trust that they have been made to the proper specs and over time they will warp. When they warp the sun bounces off of the lens in ways that can cause damage to your eyes. When I was working a summer job a random optometrist noticed my cheap glasses and educated me on the dangers of using them (these were dollar store glasses). He didnt have any benefits with telling me this info as we were in the middle of nowhere so its not like he was going to get a sale.

With that being said I know Ray-Bans, Maui Jims, and Oakleys could all be easily sold at $100 less than what they sell for and still be profitable. Does anyone know of any quality glass lens brands that sell for a reasonable rate?
 
Just remembered that CBC Marketplace did a show on prescription glasses. Which I have to wear so sunglasses have to fit over mine. They said most P-glasses go for $200 min and up to many hundreds of $. The optometrist pays only $3 per lens then charge you a arm and a leg for the frame. They mentioned that there were only a few lens makers. It makes me wonder if the same goes on with sunglasses. High markup for fashion statement, just like Nike shoes and most everything else, child/slave labour......lol.

As said earlier Nado, Rapala glasses seem good and look cool. I have about a dozen Foster Grants but none of them are polarized :angry: . I might make a trip to Efton Science store, they have/sell sheets of polarized film. I'm thinking put that on my prescription glasses.........lol.
 
Just remembered that CBC Marketplace did a show on prescription glasses. Which I have to wear so sunglasses have to fit over mine. They said most P-glasses go for $200 min and up to many hundreds of $. The optometrist pays only $3 per lens then charge you a arm and a leg for the frame. They mentioned that there were only a few lens makers. It makes me wonder if the same goes on with sunglasses. High markup for fashion statement, just like Nike shoes and most everything else, child/slave labour......lol.

As said earlier Nado, Rapala glasses seem good and look cool. I have about a dozen Foster Grants but none of them are polarized :angry:/> . I might make a trip to Efton Science store, they have/sell sheets of polarized film. I'm thinking put that on my prescription glasses.........lol.

grub you can get some old polarized camer lenses and mount them like my gopro :) good times
 

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