Oakley Frogskin Polarised Glasses

Oakley Frogskins are just one in a line-up of sunglasses produced by Oakley in America. The glasses have always been at the top end of the price range for what many tend to regard more as fashion statements than practical tools enhancing vision. In many instances sunglasses seem to be less about protecting the eyes than about looking cool.

To their credit, the folk at Oakley have gone to great lengths to ensure their glasses protect and in some cases enhance vision. Oh, and they look pretty cool, too. In fact some Oakley sunglasses are so cool they're out there in the stratosphere (this is also true of their prices). By courting high-profile athletes for endorsements and investing heavily in space-age materials and design, Oakley have carved an enviable position for their sunglasses world-wide. With even their budget glasses retailing here for around $260, it's not surprising the company takes its products seriously.

Frogskins were one of Oakley's original releases and now the Frogskin 11 has evolved from the classic model, offering a more wrapped look. They're at the bottom of the company's price range and the don't feature some of the bizarre and spacey frames of more expensive models. What they do have are optically perfect lenses made from a material Oakley call Plutonite. This acrylic is extremely strong and impact-resistant, offering the eyes a level of protection difficult to match with other sunglasses. These lenses are mounted in wrap-around frames of O-Matter - a lightweight, flexible patented plastic exclusive to Oakley.

The lenses offer 100% UV protection and also block blue light, while an Irridium coating helps reflect glare and heighten contrast. Frogskins come in seven frame colours and seven lens tints but only one combination is polarised - black frame with gold-tinted lens. This is the pair we have trialed for the last month or so.

Up until now all of my fishing glasses have been fairly heavy with bulky frames and shades to block light from the sides and above. The Oakleys have no need of shades. The wrap-around design ensures that the glasses sit so close to the face, very little light sneaks past. At first the sensation was odd, but I soon got used to them. Optically, they're so good there is no distortion, no matter what part of the lens you look through, and vision is crystal clear. Coupled with the lightweight frame (which also does an excellent job of gripping the side of the head) and acrylic lenses, you soon forget you're wearing glasses. More importantly, after a whole day of wear I did not have a headache - a new experience for me as I always get one from wearing sunglasses.

For looking into the water, the glasses are superb. The best test for any polarised fishing glasses is to fish with a buddy who is not so equipped. It soon becomes apparent that you are able to see a whole lot more than he can. Even more telling was the fact that my buddy was wearing polarised glasses from another maker and still couldn't see half of what I could.

The gold tinted lenses are ideal for trout fishing - they're the traditional colour for 'spotting' glasses, however, I've found the gold tint fine for sea fishing, as well. Oakley have available six models with polarised lenses, some with grey or black tinted lenses, ranging in price from $260 to $340. They are available from any authorised Oakley dealer.