Sharpen Your Water Vision: The Best Sunglasses for Fishing of 2017
When you’re out in the waters looking for your next big catch, your rod, line, or any of your fishing gear isn’t the most crucial tool – it’s your eyes, dear angler.
When the sun’s too high and its million rays hit the waters consistently during the day, your eyes will be irritated by the strong lights.
Like all other sunglasses, fishing specs function to protect the eyes from damaging effects of the sun as well as keep your vision sharp as if there’s no light around.
A sunglass is a crucial tool for fishing that’s why we’re here to provide you with the best sunglasses for fishing plus some tips on choosing the best one.
Fishing sunglasses protects the eye from strain caused by harsh lights
Not only will a fishing sunglass protect your eyes from UV light but it’ll also fatten the chance of a big catch by enhancing your vision through filtering out certain light wavelengths.
You might ask “What makes a fishing sunglass so special? Can I just use my regular sunglass?”. Uhm, yes you can definitely use what you have but the benefits you’ll gain from wearing a fishing sunglass is unparalleled by your regular sunglass.
The lens is the key part of a fishing sunglass that makes all the difference. Fishing sunglasses have polarized lenses that offer the best protection from the sun.
It cuts the glare at some angles given off by shiny surfaces such as water, allowing the wearer to see right into the water that would otherwise be inhibited by the glare.
But you can’t just choose any polarized sunglass and wear it on your next fishing spree. There are some things you need to consider first when picking out the best sunglasses for fishing.
Things to Consider When Picking Out the Best Sunglasses for Fishing
1. Lens Tint
Rule number 1: Buy two or more sunglasses with different polarized tints. There are specific tints that are suitable for various light conditions.
See how a polarized lens allows you to see a clearer view. Photo from theidleman.com
Common fishing sunglass lens includes the amber and mossback colors. The amber’s sort of a reddish brown tint that filters blue light, making it great for low light conditions such as cloudy and overcast skies.
Amber colored lens are brownish
In contrast, the mossback color resembles a dark green hue that brightens and enhances the green color while filtering out the browns. This lens color increases the contrast between the fish and the water, making it easier to see the fish’s direction and location.
A gray-colored lens also works for sight fishing in streams and lakes where the bottom is way darker compared to the surface.
Moss-colored lens appears dark green
There’s also a double gradient lens which is a combination of amber and mossback. The amber tint predominates when you look further into an object whereas the mossback comes to play when you look down the water in search of a catch.
The double gradient seems to be the most efficient of all tints.
2. Lens Material
Polycarbonate lenses are the toughest
Another important factor to consider when picking out a fishing sunglass is the material the lens are made of. Fishing pairs are either made of glass, acrylic, or polycarbonate/polyurethane.
Glass lens is the heaviest yet the most scratch-resistant. They are durable but they’re also prone to cracking like your windshield.
If you have a tight budget and are searching for the cheapest ones, acrylic lenses are the best you’ve got. They’re not as clear as glass and they can break easily too but it’ll be able to deflect light off your eyes.
Lastly, we have the polycarbonate or polyurethane lenses. These lenses are super lightweight, very clear, and scratch-resistant too. Most high-end sunglasses use this material.
3. Coating
A mirrored coating’s purpose is to hide the eyes when the pair is worn. It’s a great feature to look for because it helps the lens cut more glare and reflect light away thus enhancing the eyesight and lessening eye strain.
4. Fit
Your sunglass should fit nicely on the face because you’ll move a lot when fishing
Of course, the sunglass should fit comfortably when worn on the face. You don’t want the pair dropping down your nose every time you look down on the waters, do you?
Make sure that the glasses fit nice and tight. The sides should also prevent light from coming in through the edges. Remember that any light that penetrates through the glasses can obstruct your vision as it reflects into the lens.
Now that you know the useful features a great fishing sunglass should possess, it’s time to tread through the best-rated fishing sunglasses and choose the best one. You ready?
5 of the Best-Selling Sunglasses for Fishing
Product | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
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**Below, you'll see more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.
#1 - AKASO Polarized Sports Sunglass
Via Amazon.com
The AKASO Sunglass features 5 interchangeable lenses – polarized gray, mirrored lens, yellow night vision, blue, and clear anti-fog) which are very easy to change and can be used for different outdoor activities under various lighting conditions.
The gray lens is perfect for fishing, the yellow for driving, and the blue for cycling. Also, the frame of this terrific pair is constructed from plastic titanium which is very sturdy and unbreakable. Both the frame and lens are impact-resistant too.
However, one major con of this pair is the only polarized lens is the gray one. Though the remaining four effectively blocks out damaging UV rays, they don’t reduce glare as much as the gray lens.
If you ask me, the polarized gray lens can effectively reduce glare and enhance your vision underwater.
What We Like:
- Durable frame and lens
- Interchangeable lenses
- Unisex
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Clear visibility
- Bendable
- Grips firmly
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only the gray lens is polarized
- Non-mirrored coating
#2 - Duduma Polarized Sports Sunglass Du645
Via Amazon.com
The unbreakable Duduma sunglass is designed for outdoor sports and activities such as cycling, fishing, golf, and softball. It guarantees versatility and comfortability with its unique and built-to-last design.
This wonderful pair features a lightweight design with thin yet sturdy frames that air can freely circulate into your face for ventilation thus eliminating the accumulation of moisture in the lens which obstructs the vision.
Furthermore, it has a unique feature – a bendable frame that springs back into its original shape after storing or accidentally dropping it.
Lastly, an amber-colored polarized lens characterizes this pair. The lens effectively protects against UV light and cuts glare while enhancing the view in front.
Why opt for expensive sports sunglasses when this pair can do the same job?
What We Like:
- Durable lens
- Unisex
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Clear visibility
- Bendable
- Grips firmly
What We Didn’t Like:
- Non-mirrored coating
- The frame’s made of cheap plastic
#3 - HODGSON Sports Polarized Sunglass
Via Amazon.com
HODGSON boasts of their ergonomic, unbreakable, and stress-resistant sunglass made from the most advanced technology. Similar to the Duduma brand, the frame of this polarized sunglass is lightweight, breathable, durable, and has a good fit.
What’s great about this pair is its exceptional amber lens that emits almost zero glare while drastically deflecting the light given off by shiny surfaces.
We’ve tested this pair and their claims are true – we’ve never felt a bit of eyestrain while fishing for hours with the sun setting above us.
Also, the REVO coating of the lens hides the eyes while enhancing the natural color of the surroundings without any traces of color modification.
We’re in love with this pair because now, we can see fish and other objects clearly across the stream which we aren’t able to before.
What We Like:
- Durable frame and lens
- Unisex
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Clear visibility
- Mirrored coating
- Bendable
- Grips firmly
What We Didn’t Like:
- The bridge of the frame is too narrow
#4 - Duduma Polarized Sunglass Tr90
Via Amazon.com
The Duduma Tr90 is a higher-end version of the Du645. They've upgraded the frame from sturdy plastic to a polycarbonate material which is way durable, resulting in a sturdier frame that can withstand any impact and scratch.
Furthermore, the manufacturer has addressed complaints of the polar coating peeling off from the lens thus they adopted 7-layer TAC polarized lens to resolve the problem.
We don’t know about the durability of their new lens but we can say that the thick lens does seem to resist fogging and cut more glare than the Du645.
What We Like:
- Durable frame and lens
- Unisex
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Mirrored coating
- Clear visibility
- Bendable
- Grips firmly
What We Didn’t Like:
- The frame’s not too flexible; may not fit snuggly for people with bigger faces
- The bridge of the frame is too narrow
- The frame rides high in the line of sight
#5 - Torege Polarized Sports Sunglass
Via Amazon.com
Like the first one on our list, the Torege Sports Sunglass features 5 interchangeable lenses with the same tints as the first. They’re easy to assemble and replace too. Likewise, only the gray lens is polarized.
With regards to the frame, it’s made of polycarbonate which is scratch and impact-resistant and ultra-lightweight too.
Perhaps the one feature that distinguishes this pair from the AKASO brand is the rubber ear and nose pad which sets the frame firmly on the nose despite the sweat in every motion.
What We Like:
- Durable frame and lens
- Interchangeable lenses
- Unisex
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Clear visibility
- Bendable
- Grips firmly
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only the gray lens is polarized
- Non-mirrored coating
- The frame’s too big for most people
The Verdict
Admittedly, it’s hard to choose which of the five best-selling sunglasses is the best sunglass for fishing.
You may think that the best one’s the type with interchangeable lenses because they’re versatile and has special lenses for various outdoor activities until it says that only one of the lenses is polarized.
Well, you don’t really need more than two lenses for fishing. Aside from the lens tint, you also need to factor in the durability and material of the lens, structure and sturdiness of the frame, and most importantly, how comfortable the sunglass sits when worn.
All these attributes are possessed by the HODGSON Sports Polarized Sunglass. It’s made from material of the highest quality, it’s unisex, and it definitely enhances your vision on the waters.
Hey angler! What’s your favorite sunglass brand for fishing? Do you have other recommendations? We’d love to hear your thoughts below! Oh, wait up!
Will you share this article first before leaving? Cheers!
