cody-
Steelhead
Every minute of every day looks like a sunset
Sunglasses lens tint/color for PNW fishing, what do you like?
- Thread starter Josh
- Start date
DoesItFloat
Life of the Party
Maui Jim's amber polarized
Bruce Baker
Life of the Party
For my Maui Jims, I did not have a choice. I had to go with polycarbonate for my progressive bifocals.
You know, to be fair, I'm not sure I have either. And do own an older set of glass Smith's. Β―\_(γ)_/Β―
Coach Potter
Life of the Party
My Smithβs are heavy due to the frames not the glass. it doesnβt bother me at allβ¦Iβm not sure why I even mentioned it. I have had polycarbonate lenses before...the scratch pretty easy and I hate that.
Regarding glass vs plastic, I think the difference has a lot to do with fit and quality of the nose pads. With poorly fitting pads, glass will get uncomfortable in a hurry. Plastic is light enough that the fit and pressure distribution hardly matters.
+1 for Costa Sunrise Silver Mirror
+1 for Costa Sunrise Silver Mirror
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
I'll chime in here. After 40 years of working on the water. I shopped online for Costa Sunrise Silver. (from the recommendations here.)...A couple of days ago I was walking to my favorite deli (Gerideli) and saw a chalkboard sign that said "150 pairs of Maui Jim's". It's a new store on Commercial street called "J Slocum marine"....... Maui Jim's have been the only brand ( of many, over the years) that I have insisted my friends try out. Well,, from a very impressive selection (and saleswoman) I went for the Blue Ho'okipa in smoke grey. I would have never bought these online. However the ability to actually try on all the styles and lenses made it easy to spend $225 with confidence. I50 pairs of Maui Jims to try out and the best Rueben sandwich in Washington.....Gatta love Fidalgo Isand.
I too would never go back to plastic. Had a pair of Smith, don't remember the model, but polarized plastic and expensive - all scratched up before 1 season was over, making the optical quality non-existent. Maybe I did something wrong (wiped them with the wrong material), I don't know, but I'll never go back, glass is far superior, in my not worth much opinion.
cheers
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
And about those glasses...I have a pair of good sunglasses that work well for when the sun and glare is brutal. I wanted a pair to cut the glare on less brutal conditions. The Maui Jims Smoke Grey (with blue mirror), for me, seems perfect for the job (they say the mirror squints for you). Trying on several pairs is paramount..... About the weight thing....I've always had the thick plastic frames and glass lenses. Never even thought about weight. But I'm here to tell you, the instant I put on those feather weight Maui Jims....I was sold. The way that they fit and securely hug my face is astounding. I am attempting to lessen the strain on my eyeballs and facial muscles (squinting), and I now believe that the heavy glasses I have been wearing, may have been slightly contributing to that strain.
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Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
I would never wear anything but polarized sunglasses. I have tried many brands of very good quality polarized lenses. I've been happy with all of them but dang.....Maui Jims just seem to "pop" for me like no other brand.
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
The pair I got are "frameless" and have very delicate looking hinges. That, along with the non-glass lenses, probably makes them the most "delicately fragile" sunglasses I've ever owned. However, Maui Jim has an impeccable reputation for customer service/repairs. I've had first hand experience that was quite outstanding.
Yep, totally agree w/ the plastic/glass. If I were to purchase another pair of non prescription sunglasses, it'll be another pair using glass. Prescription is an entirely different issue.
Dustin Chromers
Legend
I like the lightest shade of amber I can find. I like glasses I can wear in the morning and sight fish but still are effective throughout the day.
For salt and sun I prefer a reddish Costa colour.
For salt and sun I prefer a reddish Costa colour.
Dredging up this thread in hopes of some intel before end of day today.
Context: my company offers a vision benefit that gives me up to two pairs of glasses per year - -$200 off of each. Options are not unlimited, but they do have some Maui Jims as well as the Smiths Guide Choice (but sadly the polarchromic lenses not available on thisβ¦..).
I already have some Maui Jims with the HCL Bronze, smith low light, etc etc. so Iβm not hurting for options but given the good price, I was thinking about picking up a pair with the βMaui Greenβ lens or just their neutral grey. I also have choice of Smiths Guide choice in chroma pop polarized gray green, or chroma pop glass polarized brown. Anyone try it/use those and if so thoughts?
Context: my company offers a vision benefit that gives me up to two pairs of glasses per year - -$200 off of each. Options are not unlimited, but they do have some Maui Jims as well as the Smiths Guide Choice (but sadly the polarchromic lenses not available on thisβ¦..).
I already have some Maui Jims with the HCL Bronze, smith low light, etc etc. so Iβm not hurting for options but given the good price, I was thinking about picking up a pair with the βMaui Greenβ lens or just their neutral grey. I also have choice of Smiths Guide choice in chroma pop polarized gray green, or chroma pop glass polarized brown. Anyone try it/use those and if so thoughts?
I haven't used those brands, but I like polarized brown/amber for everything.
I don't think you are going to go wrong with a set of these Smith lenses. Pretty classic and high quality. Proven over many days on the water.
Nothing wrong with these either. I'd just take the brown if given the option between the two. Might depend on your opinions on glass vs plastic (if the gray/green are plastic lenses).
Funny - when looking at the Smith site a minute ago I happened upon a pic of a friend of mine in the Guides Choice reviews, showing off one of the taimen from the Mongolia trip a few years back 
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