Sunglasses
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=133805
Printed Date: 27 May 2026 at 4:37pm
Topic: Sunglasses
Posted By: MATTOO
Subject: Sunglasses
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 4:32pm
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I don't know how many I've owned and killed. Too many to tell her indoors and far to many to find the right ones. Besides muppet moments of loss, damage from careless owner my biggest issue is lens scratching. So if you have some experienced suggestions I'm all ears, well not really I'm all legs but that's another topic. M ------------- Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0! |
Replies:
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 4:38pm
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make a lanyard using some Dacron, drill small holes in each arm at the end.... thread the Dacron through and either whip ends or weave ends.....Glasses live on your face, hanging from your neck or hanging up once at home.
------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 4:51pm
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Thanks Titahi, Sorted that problem 50 years ago. Without drilling holes in my glasses arms. Any response about my question of value from you. Cheers. ------------- Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0! |
Posted By: neil_cb125t
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 5:00pm
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So I live in eye protection, I have done all the tests over time.... From Gas station specials, Oakley's, Ray bans, and high end aviation brands.... The best glasses I have ever owned, and still own are Maui Jims.... The lens are far superior to anything I have tried, they dont scratch when they fall and land lens down on the concrete, the dont scratch. Some lens are actual glass. I had one lens break when they fell down a steel industrial set of stairs. So I sent them to MJ HQ which is in Aussie, they were replaced.....and returned.....for free. The factory can rebuild the whole pair if required. I think a std lens replacement kit is around $70 a set. They are fantastic for fishing. They are slightly heavier which I like. Some dont. Have a look see, but I will never by a set of sh*t plastic Oakley ever again. https://www.mauijim.com/AU/en_GB/top-styles-for-men" rel="nofollow - https://www.mauijim.com/AU/en_GB/top-styles-for-men
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Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 5:10pm
| As a lifelong speccy four eyes who has trashed too many pairs of glasses, I would suggest you have a rule. Your sunnies need to be on your face or in their case! In an extreme situation, i.e. marlin hook-up, around your neck on a lanyard is also acceptable! |
Posted By: Hook-it
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 5:18pm
| yes , leave them on your face, when not needed put back into case. Like MB I also wear glasses and have trashed a few over the years my insurance company loves me. |
Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 5:27pm
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Thanks all three of you. Yeah I'm careful but reminders are good when it's been so long.. Don't need them as in prescription , well choose not to for fishing. It's the glasses doing as Niel..........,,lll suggests it's that accidental scratching. I'll look into those Maui Jims, But come across some Costa del mars. Hard to know with no real time experience. But Neil I'll look at those Mauis. Thanks to all. M ------------- Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0! |
Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 5:35pm
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I've been using Costa Del Mars for maybe five years now and really rate them, good quality, handle the knocks, still look good and haven't succumbed to scratches. Not cheap though. But if you are rough and don't care then I would probably just buy the shimano ones from a tackle shop, that way if you lose, break or scratch then you won't be in tears due to the cost.
------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 5:44pm
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Cheers Al, Was like that until I needed to see ...age dissatisfaction. Yeah those glasses seem to rate really well. Where did you buy yours from cos I'd like to try some on in Nz before choosing a fit. ------------- Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0! |
Posted By: ET487
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 6:06pm
| Spotters, the best i ever wears. Expensive but it worth every cent. Lost my last pair in Feb while working/fishing on the islands. Will buy another pair soon. |
Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 6:28pm
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neil_cb125t wrote:Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 7:14pm
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Mattoo wrote: Where did you buy yours from cos I'd like to try some on in Nz before choosing a fit? In truth I did not buy them, I entered a competition that IGFA ran as a survey and I won them.  Alleged to be worth about $300 US
 ------------- "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau |
Posted By: CoastalStan
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2020 at 7:20pm
| I own several pairs from Shimano, Nike, Smiths, Ray Bans and Maui Jim’s. Brand is important but like reels each manufacturer makes different price point products. For Sight fishing I use polarised Maui Jim glass lense. If general fishing I have smiths plastics lenses. For driving I use non polarised Ray Bans, easier to read lcd screens etc. try multiple brands and different styles/types and find the one that best suits your need. |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 1:26am
My answer of value is..... Brand is unimportant. All lense material will scratch if you don’t look after them properly After that it comes down to How much you wanna spend Your face shape vs sunglasses style Polarized for any water sport ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: viscount
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 3:08am
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Mattoo how many sunnies have you brought over the years, it adds up, I have been wearing costas for years and yes they are expensive but you not have one pair, go the glass lenses you will be happy, the costa savers are good as well they just slip on the arms. You could PM cuver special to see if he still has a pair forsale. ------------- Calling fishing a hobby is like calling brain surgery a job - Paul Schullery |
Posted By: Captn Phil
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 11:29am
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Buy a really ridiculously expensive pair. You'll cringe every time you look at them but you'll also take bloody good care of them. For me, I've been through dozens of pairs of different brands. Maui Jims with a lanyard have great quality optics and outlast anything else I've had by miles. ------------- Taking sportfishing charters to the next level. Blue Water Adventures Ltd Whangaroa / Bay of Islands |
Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 4:02pm
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Thanks for the great input guys. Really appreciated. Glass glasses seem the right direction. ------------- Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0! |
Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 10:10pm
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I have frameless Maui Jims which I like however I have heard others have had issues with the lens cracking at the connection points. I am very careful with them and they have lasted well. I note Snappa Geoff's comments above comparing the MJs to Smiths. Based on those comments if I was to buy again I would try the Smiths. |
Posted By: sappercatcha
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 10:33pm
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Always make sure Lenses on your fishing sunnies are wet before you clean them dry salt will munt your lenses faster than anything If im on the boat i wet them with fresh water always have a couple of Litres stored in the boat for Emergencies And your lens cleaning cloth At home after every trip warm mildly soapy water before putting them away Good sunglasses are a must and they must be Polarised otherwise imo you may aswell not have any Ive got a set of dirty dogs that live on the boat and ray bans that I normally wear if I remember to take them ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">  keep up the good work boys
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Posted By: Schampy
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2020 at 11:12pm
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Have gone through literally dozens of brands over the years as I wear them for eye protection all day on the building site .... not just on sunny days on the boat or driving. Weirdly enough have gone full circle and currently back to Oakley... Double edge this time. They just fit the shape of my face, are crystal clear, extremely comfortable and last for bloody ages. I guess its human nature to try new shapes and styles as years go by... but im probably going to get another pair ( 3rd in 4 years) of same style they have been that good. Have heard good things about Maui Jims. Might be better for boating.
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Posted By: Fishb8
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2020 at 7:27am
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Got old and have to wear prescription polarised now or clip ons. Used and lost heaps. My best pair were Vuarnet glass - just magic. Put them in shirt pocket and leaned over the side.....glug, glug, bye bye $350. Also have still got Spotters lenses but in a cruddy frame. One lesson I learned was never to put a pair in a dishwasher! ------------- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken |
Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2020 at 9:17am
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If you are just wanting UV eye protection there is not much difference between $400 and $20 pairs.Fair go recently did a show on them. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/fair-go/clips/can-a-cheap-pair-of-sunglasses-do-the-same-job-as-an-expensive-pair" rel="nofollow - https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/fair-go/clips/can-a-cheap-pair-of-sunglasses-do-the-same-job-as-an-expensive-pair ------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2020 at 9:37am
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I brought a nice pair in Aussie , around the early 80s.. Lasted for everything right thru to late 90s.. Never laid them down on the lenes.. never. Could not afford to re source or replace. They are still around here somewhere. Replaced in the late 90s, Then my short sight got a bit crap. Read a news paper on the floor or other side of the room type of thing. see a number plate on the other side of a hill.. Always could not find a pair of 'red shed' reading glasses even thu had heaps pairs laying around... except when trying to read labels and prices in a shop.. So bit the bullet about 12 odd yrs ago.. decided I need to be able get out of bed put a pair glasses on , and take off end of the day... And for driving, boat, tying traces etc,a polarized pair. Off to specsavers, 2 ( the best deal) stand pair of progressive focus, and 1 pair of polarised. Except I like very like colour, can see the eyes thru, and theirs where just see eyes thru sometimes. about $1200. Near on the best convenience thing ever done, and in retrospect..should have done a few yrs earlier. Put glasses on in the morning, can see the needle on the milk therometer making the fresh ground flat white.. Driving .. polarized in the truck specs holder. Because they are always on they dont get a hard life. I have never had to use those neck rope things, or ever dropped a set of glasses looking down (except cheap red shed reading glasses) Its like a hat, if it is fitted right will not blow off, glasses will always stay on.. OK they may not be the best on the water, but work very well driving.. My old polarized I could go into dark shop and read see fine years ago.. these can but on the verge of easy. Replace my 1st set glasses got 2nd set delivered in L4 lockdown. |
Posted By: Fishb8
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2020 at 3:23pm
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My grey Prescription progressive polarised (from Zenni Optical) are 80% dark, which is fine for driving and ship-board but a bit dark for trout fishing. The clip-on plastic ones can be bought in bronze and grey. The bronze are better for fresh water (and cloudy days at sea)and can be easily removed for re-tying small flies. My Serengeti Drivers were the best non-fishing pair. ------------- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken |
Posted By: The Tamure Kid
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2020 at 4:00pm
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I really liked my Oakleys in terms of fit and feel, and the lens seemed great - until they were about 2 years old and started to get little bubbley patterns on them. I took them into the place that sold them to me and they said sweating, sunscreen, grass and a few other things cause that "damage" to the coating. Given they're designed for outdoor wear it's a bit ludicrous. Anyway, I now have a pair of glass polarised Spotters (with the blue reflective lens) and really like them. Got them in a sale from Australia. I prefer styles with a bit of a wraparound design for eye/skin protection and practicality of keeping our rays from the side for vision. I also use a comfortable neoprene lanyard which means they almost never get put down in the boat, so never have a chance to get scratched.
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Posted By: chris_gee
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2020 at 9:51am
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I am heavy on glasses. I now order Reks from the US. They are unbreakable, made to order, with prescriptions,shade level, colour, polarised, etc at a very good price. |
Posted By: Big -Dave
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2020 at 10:48pm
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I wear a pair of shimanos from burnsco. I put them on my head as I go out the door. Take them off when I get home. Driving, fishing, everything, if they are not on my face they are on top of my head. They get dropped, cleaned with dubious cloths and generally abused. Never a tally lost a pair, but they last a few years..I'm happy. Never had the coin to buy expensive ones, more expensive, the more likely I will lose them.. ------------- you can't fix an idiot with duct tape, but it does muffle them for a while... |
Posted By: JBoffshore
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2020 at 2:56am
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As stated here previously, spending big money on a set will usually encourage you to take better care of them. It is worth stating that I am supplied glasses by Costa Sunglasses and as such that is what I wear. Optical clarity is very important and that is where a lot of development cost goes for companies like Smith, Costa and Maui Jim among others. Purchasing from a fishing oriented brand is going to yield better results than from a generic company such as Ray Ban, Oakely etc as Lens tint and shape will Optimised for what we do. My preference is for Glass Lenses as the additional scratch resistance is incredible, however you need to be more aware of breakages due to shock impact (dropping them, having a swivel hit the lens etc). I have a pair of Prescription lenses from Costa which are plastic lens, and they require lots of care to make sure they don't scratch. I keep a very damp clean Chamois in the bridge to knock the salt off, then I use a Lens wipe after that. When purchasing your glasses for fishing, you ideally want a pair with lenses that hug the profile of your face, this stops light getting behind the lens and reflecting in your eyes. Obviously, wearing a hat at all times will heap massively with this also. You may find a pair that looks better, but fishing glasses should be optimised for fishing, not looks. Deciding what tint or Lens colour to buy is equally important. I have amber lenses for early morning or river fishing, and Blue mirror lenses for offshore work on a clear day. Grey Lens or green mirror can be a good option to cover most bases well. Costa has a great website to help you choose a lens color and shape. Hope that helps.
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Posted By: Darelmichel
Date Posted: 11 May 2025 at 8:02pm
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Hey mate, totally get where you're coming from — I’ve had more pairs than I can count too. Lens scratches are the bane of my existence. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years that might help: Microfiber Cloths Only – Never use your shirt, paper towels, or tissues. Always go with a clean microfiber cloth — they’re worth the few bucks. Rinse First – Before you wipe the lenses, rinse them with water or a lens spray to avoid rubbing dust or grit across the surface. Hard Case Habit – Make it a habit to pop them into a hard case when they’re not on your head. Even short-term in a soft case can be risky if they’re floating around in a bag. Anti-scratch Coatings – Some lenses come with stronger coatings than others. I've found the higher-end polycarbonate Avoid Leaving Them in Hot Cars – Heat can degrade lens coatings, making them more scratch-prone. And hey, if you find a pair that survives more than 6 months of real-world use — let the rest of us know! 😅
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