Polarized Glasses?????

Packrat · Senior Member

Polarized Glasses?????

vince · Senior Member

Hey Rich,

I'd recommend Smiths - excellent optics quality, nice construction, and they seem to be very popular with guides (as I'm sure you know from owning a pair). About the fit - I have two pairs of Smiths and the fit is drastically different. These are the ones I have now: http://www.smithoptics.com/Shelter_32_5.html.

If you're going to the clean up day you can give 'em a try.

Vince

LilWhippersnapper · Senior Member

Costa Del Mar are very popular, but very expensive... I usually just by the strike king brand. They're cheap, but seem to do the job just fine.

Ty · Senior Member

If you can find a Big 5 sporting goods store they usually have cheap polarized. I got a pair of the "stance" model by Smith for about $40.

Packrat · Senior Member

I don't like to do cheap when it comes to sunglasses. I like a quality glass lense, don't like the plastic. I have a back up pair of Ray Bay Daddy-O's that will get me by but I like the copper lense over grey....seem to be able to "into" the water better with the copper.

rgloft · Senior Member

I got a pair Someone left them in my glove box Ill let em go really cheap! just kidding they're vince's .HaHaha

-- Edited by rgloft on Monday 16th of November 2009 05:26:05 PM

vince · Senior Member

I should try glass Smiths and see if it's worth it. It just seems like they'd be so heavy.

You better not sell those Richard! Those glasses are awesome. I got them after my now ex-girlfriend broke the first pair.

DrBombay · Senior Member

So far I've lost a $200.00 pair of titanium framed beatiful oklay's, A nice pair of smith's that came with 3 sets of lenses, Then last august found a nice pair of glasses on the east carson, Don't recall the brand but they worked real good. I lost every single pair of these glasses by setting them on the bill of my hat then going though bushes ! So now I just by cheapies, Hell maybe good glasses are a an unfair advantage, I'll tell myself that to justify the cheapies.

LilWhippersnapper · Senior Member

I do agree with Rich that Copper sees better than the dark lens.

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

Ty, I also purchase Smith when on sale at Big 5. My track record of breaking/losing would put me in the hole too badly. Generally, while on a lake sitting low in the tube, I will go with a darker lens (gray) and use the copper for stream fishing especially in filtered, low light conditions. Nothing worse than trying to tie on a fly in the dark before the sun sets...

dtp916 · Senior Member

If you want the best, it's Oakley Polarized.

Oakley has the only optically correct lens, as their lenses are molecularly bonded to minimize distortion. Distortion is caused by light, glare, and layers of glass/polycarbonate, adhesive, polarization, and scratch resistant laminate on competitors glasses (of which Smith has many). Oakley has a single layer that provides full UV protection.

Add to this, they are one of the few companies that follow ANSI Z78.1 testing on all their optics. That's American National Safety Institute. A steel ball can be shot into the lens of Oakley glasses at over a hundred miles per hour and it will not break, crack, or eject. A steel weight with a point is also dropped from about 4 feet and it with not break, crack, or eject the lens. It won't touch your eye either. No competitor can say that.

What this means is if you take a #6 rubberlegs or SSG shot to the eye, your vision is protected. If you eat it on the bank and face plant on a rock, your vision will be protected. If you get in a wreck on the way to the river and your airbag inflates, it will protect your eyes.

Oakley High Definition Optics come in many styles, fits, and lens colors. See more at Oakley HDO Polarized and read all about their technology as well, if you like.

If you want the clearest vision, the best protection, from the company that revolutionized optics, the choice is really simple.

jvento · Senior Member

I would second DTP's statement, especially for prescription sunglasses. I have a pair of Oakleys prescription glasses and they are fantastic! The only company that I know of that can truly have a wrapped pair of frames with prescription lenses. Usually with prescription lenses you have to have a very flat frame in order to avoid vision distortion (fishbowl-like effect). Mine are wrapped just as much as non-prescription frames and cover a greater portion of my field of vision. Really enhances your peripheral vision!

-Jon

Packrat · Senior Member

it doesn't appear that you can choose your lens colors....

vince · Senior Member

Smiths use tapered Lens Technology too, and they are ANSI certified as well. http://www.smithoptics.com/technology.html?category=1&id=1

I bet the Oakleys are excellent, but I think the competition in the sunglass market has brought innovation to all corners

Vince

windknots · Senior Member

I saw some polarized glasses at Costco for $28. Didn't have a chance to put them through the paces but even if they are half decent the price is tough to beat. If I had to buy a pair right now I'd probably get one of those.

JT · Senior Member

vince wrote:

Smiths use tapered Lens Technology too, and they are ANSI certified as well. http://www.smithoptics.com/technology.html?category=1&id=1

The Smiths are ANSI certified but to different specifications (ANSI Z80.3). Oakleys are certified under the ANSI Z87.1 specifications.

Edit: I looked up the standards, and the ANSI Z80.3 specifications (specifically for sunglasses) include the same impact tests as the ANSI Z87.1 standard (for safety glasses).

-- Edited by JT on Thursday 19th of November 2009 06:08:07 PM

dtp916 · Senior Member

Packrat wrote:

it doesn't appear that you can choose your lens colors....

Packrat, what color do you like? Did you try Oakley Custom? Then you can chose the frame AND the lens, and inscribe it if desired. My favorite lens is VR28 Black Iridium Polarized, followed by Tungsten Iridium Polarized, and Bronze Polarized. It depends on how dark you want it, and what color your eyes like. Shallow Blue is also excellent.

Vince - Smith still uses layers in their shades, and layers cause distortion. If you go to the bottom of their "Tech" page it shows the 9 layers they use to make their sunglasses....That's 8 layers to cause distortion, and 8 more than I would want in a pair of sunglasses. Oakley's are molecularly bonded into one, with flawless wrap and rake.

That's great they are incorporating new/competitive ideas to improve their product, but put a lazer test through any pair of Smiths (or Kaenon or Maui Jim or Gucci) and it will show you the distortion. Add to that, all Oakley Sunglasses are made in Southern California under one roof from start to finish. No outsourcing for parts or labor.

If you ever have the chance to tour the Rolling O Lab they will give you the full details of Oakley High Definition Optics, and you can watch them obliterate the Smith (and other competitors) lenses. They will also show the distortion from their competitors as well.

What can I say, I love sunglasses, and I love Oakley HDO. The bottom line is wear what you like and what you have confidence in. But look around at some of the top athletes - Shaun White, Lance Armstrong, Bruce Irons, and Gretchen Bleiler - they rock Oakleys.

-- Edited by dtp916 on Thursday 19th of November 2009 09:47:50 PM

LilWhippersnapper · Senior Member

dtp916 wrote:

Packrat wrote:

it doesn't appear that you can choose your lens colors....

What can I say, I love sunglasses, and I love Oakley HDO. The bottom line is wear what you like and what you have confidence in. But look around at some of the top athletes - Shaun White, Lance Armstrong, Bruce Irons, and Gretchen Bleiler - they rock Oakleys.

-- Edited by dtp916 on Thursday 19th of November 2009 09:47:50 PM

They rock Oakley's cuz Oakley rocks them with money. I'm not trying to bash Oakley, but it's true.

-- Edited by LilWhippersnapper on Friday 20th of November 2009 01:18:38 AM

Ty · Senior Member

I have 3 pair of Oakleys. I use them mainly for golf. I have a pair of Smith that I use out on the rivers and when I have them on I can't tell the difference between the 2 brands, except for the reminder in the back of my mind that the Oakleys average about $140 a pair and the Smith I picked up for $40.

vince · Senior Member

LilWhippersnapper wrote:

dtp916 wrote:

Packrat wrote:

it doesn't appear that you can choose your lens colors....

What can I say, I love sunglasses, and I love Oakley HDO. The bottom line is wear what you like and what you have confidence in. But look around at some of the top athletes - Shaun White, Lance Armstrong, Bruce Irons, and Gretchen Bleiler - they rock Oakleys.

-- Edited by dtp916 on Thursday 19th of November 2009 09:47:50 PM

They rock Oakley's cuz Oakley rocks them with money. I'm not trying to bash Oakley, but it's true.

-- Edited by LilWhippersnapper on Friday 20th of November 2009 01:18:38 AM

As much as I love my Smiths, I'd rock Oakley's too for what those guys get paid. DTP did have an interesting point on the molecular binding though.

I bet even if I had the best custom handmade fly fishing sunglasses out there, there'd still be days when a 7 year old with a worm outfishes me.

Vince

AfricanAngler · Senior Member

Ty wrote:

I have 3 pair of Oakleys. I use them mainly for golf. I have a pair of Smith that I use out on the rivers and when I have them on I can't tell the difference between the 2 brands, except for the reminder in the back of my mind that the Oakleys average about $140 a pair and the Smith I picked up for $40.

Damn I wish my Smiths had been that cheap..... Anyway at the end of the day that matters is personal preference. I have owned Oakleys, Costa del Mars and Smiths at one point or another. They were all great glasses and it would just be a cases of personal preference.

If I had to choose a favourite it would be the Smiths, but that is only because they are the photo sensitive type that get lighter or darker depending on the light.....( I believe they are they only company at the moment that offers that option in a polarized lens, but don't quote me as I am not sure about that.) Having that means I can leave them on until almost dark which I like because with my casting my eyes need the protection confuse

mx19 · Senior Member

I sell both smith and oakley as well as a number of other high end and cheap brands in my shop...I have the luxery to take the different glasses out on the water in different light conditions, sunny days cloudy days etc. I use a 160.00 pair if smith for normal sun light conditions and a 240.00 pair of smiths for low light conditions.Thats what works for me and I get to try them all...having the correct eye wear make a difference in the number of fish I catch.Just ask 59 pines who had some cheap polarized shades .He had to get right up on the fish to see them .Then spooked them.

59pines · Veteran Member

I have to admit MX has some sweet shades. Although sometimes it can be as simple as choosing left or right... I should have chose right! :)

dtp916 · Senior Member

LilWhippersnapper wrote:

They rock Oakley's cuz Oakley rocks them with money. I'm not trying to bash Oakley, but it's true.

-- Edited by LilWhippersnapper on Friday 20th of November 2009 01:18:38 AM

True!!!

Kaju · Member

As a less expensive alternative, try this site...
http://www.habervision.com/

I bought the "Nice" model with the corelex photochromatic glass lenses in copper for around $90.00. They do a very good job of cutting out the glare, and the copper tint really helps on overcast days.

Kaju

AC22 · Senior Member

I use Oakleys for my sunny days they have a bunch of great sunny day lenses......and I have a special prescription for cloudy day's but ....Oakleys are nice and they look kick a**