Buying Guide: Polarized Fishing Sunglasses
Polarized Fishing Sunglasses – What’s the big fuss?
Polarized fishing sunglasses in my opinion are a must have for any fisherman of any experience level. Not only do they prevent harmful damage to your eyes they also provide an advantage to fisherman with the ability to see below the water surface. If you are like me, I spend long days on the water, and without my glasses, my eyes would be exposed to harmful UV rays and be subject to ongoing irreversible damage.
A quality polarized lens will offer the following advantages over a non-polarized lens
- Increased comfort for your eyes and reduced strain
- Visual clarity enhancements especially when looking through the water surface or areas of contrast
- Better color representation
- Reduced glare and reflections
Are Polarized Sunglasses worth it?
Not only is the glare from the top of the water annoying, it also prevents a fishermans depth perception. The glare forms a layer across the top of the water and distorts ones view into the water and also colors. A strong glare can also cause temporary blindness and be quite dangerous if operating a boat or watercraft. So buying a quality pair of glasses is worth it. Your normal dark colored lenses are fine for general use, but they do not block the harsh glare that polarized glasses do, and when fishing, any advantage when chasing fish is welcomed.
What to look for
When choosing a pair of polarized fishing sunglasses there are a few things to consider. The below information should give you a good guide to follow so you can make an informed decision when you next purchase a pair.
UV Rating
The lens darkness or price tag of sunglasses does not guarantee it’s UV protection. Lens have certain chemicals added to them, or multiple special coatings to assist with UV absorption. So make sure you purchase sunglasses that are labelled as blocking 99 – 100% of harmful UV rays.
Frame design and weight
If you are out fishing for hours on end regularly, the frame design and weight will be an important factor when choosing a pair of glasses. Choosing a pair that is lightweight but still durable would be my recommendation. Titanium frames are both lightweight and strong, but also corrosion-resistant which is important when around water and the elements. Plastic compound sunglasses however can be constructed to both be strong and lightweight but also be thicker and provide more cover of the eyes and face, especially on the sides or arms of the glasses.
Frame construction and durability
As mentioned above, if you are looking to invest some good money in a pair of glasses then be sure the construction is of quality that they will last. A lot of fishing sunglasses are made of durable plastic which makes them both lightweight, but also can withstand a beating when fishing. Metal frames whilst strong, do not provide much coverage of the face.
Lens quality and scratch resistance
One way to check lenses for their quality is to ensure they have a uniform tint. They should not be darker in one area than another. Hold the glasses at arms length and looking through them at a object in the distance. Proceed to slowly move the glasses across the object and if the object distorts or becomes blurry then the lens is flawed.
Cost
Polarized sunglasses are generally more expensive due to the fact they contain better quality lenses. Whilst there are still cheaper versions on the market, they will lack certain other qualities in their build ie, weaker frames, poor materials etc. It’s best to consider how often you will use the glasses and in what situations. If you are prone to constantly breaking or losing your glasses, you may want to opt for buying cheaper pairs more regularly. If you are constantly onthe water I would recommend investing in a medium to high quality pair and making a solid effort to look after them and avoid losing or damaging them. It’s likely a more expensive pair of glasses will come with a better level of warranty as well, so that is a bonus and something to keep in mind. Higher quality glasses will be made of a better quality materials and again, less change of breaking.
