10 Best Fishing Sunglasses In 2023

How To Choose A Pair Of Fishing Sunglasses – Buying Guide

Choosing the right pair of sunglasses for fishing is important if you’re to get the eye protection your need when out there on the water and also benefit from enhanced visual clarity and ability to see deep into the water.

You’ll want to find a pair that works with the type of fishing you’ll be doing and the environment you’ll be angling in. Here’s what to pay attention to when shopping for sunglasses so you can end up with the best pair for you.

Lens Color

To provide optimum vision depending on the conditions, fishing sunglasses may be tinted to reduce brightness or have polarization combined with coloring to reduce brightness as well as glare.

Some are also mirrored so that the wearer can see the outside environment clearly but others can’t see his or her eyes. Mirroring reduces exposure to glare and UV rays and mirrored lenses are good to wear when fishing in sunny conditions. So which color lenses should you choose for fishing?

Don’t just go for the coolest color. Consider the time when you go fishing, the weather conditions, and the light environment you’ll be fishing in to choose the best color lens for fishing. Here are the different color lenses and their effects.

Gray/Smoke Lens Color

Gray reduces light transmission thus lessening brightness and glare and enhancing color and depth perception with minimal color distortion. They shield the eyes from the sun while making it possible to see deep into the water.

They suit bright conditions such as sunny days and offshore fishing. They also work very well in streams and rivers that have a greyish or limestone base. Gray tints are also the go-to for everyday activities on water and land.

Amber, Brown, Copper and Orange Lens Color

These lens colors let light in low light conditions and make the environment appear brighter. These lens colors enable one to see clearly in overcast, cloudy, fog and haze, dusk, and dawn and murky water conditions. However, they offer very little protection from glare and harmful radiation when it’s bright and sunny.

They are a popular go-to tint because they are versatile and work for most situations from sight fishing, driving to everyday activities. Amber is the best for all-around fishing conditions.

Yellow Lens Color

These are able to filter out blue light increasing depth perception and enhancing contrast. They enable clear vision when fishing in overcast conditions such as dense fog. Yellow is the go-to for sight fisherman as it makes it possible to see and distinguish things into the water.

Green Lens Color

Green mirror and tint lenses have an amber/copper base color. They improve contrast and vision on sunny days while reducing color distortion. They are the best lens colors for freshwater fishing and sight fishing when it’s sunny.

Blue Lens Color

Blue and blue mirror tints have a gray base that helps block the harsh direct sunlight as well as the extremely intense light reflections on open water making them the best for saltwater fishing. For offshore fishing, polarization and mirrors are very important to reduce brightness and eliminate glare.

Material

The lens material is an important consideration as it determines how durable your sunglasses will be. Typical lens materials are acrylic, glass, polycarbonate, and NXT polyurethane.

Acrylic

Acrylic lenses are the most affordable option but acrylic sunglasses don’t provide much clarity or protection from UV rays. They only serve as a barrier stopping stray objects from entering the eyes.

Glass

Glass lenses are made from real, ground glass. Glass lenses offer the best optical clarity. They are also durable and heavy-duty. Glass lenses are heavier and more scratch-resistant than polycarbonate lenses but are prone to shattering when dropped or during impact. They also have an expensive price tag.

Polycarbonate

Most sunglasses have polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate is a synthetic material that makes for precision lenses that are lighter than glass and more impact resistant. They work well in almost any type of fishing condition. However, they’re vulnerable to scratches and often feature scratch-resistant coatings to overcome this weakness.

NXT Polyurethane

NXT polyurethane is the lightest, offers superior optical performance, is stronger and durable than polycarbonate, virtually unbreakable and doesn’t shatter like glass. It’s the ideal material for running, golf, or fishing sunglasses where the toughness provides optimal eye protection against flying objects like fishing hooks and golf balls. The catch is that polyurethane sunglasses are very rare and costly.

Lens Treatments

Lenses for fishing often have treatments such as polarization, UV, anti-smear, hydrophobic/water repellent, and fog proof coatings applied to improve clarity and offer even more protection to fishermen’s eyes.

UV Protection

UV protection is a must-have feature in sunglasses. Actually, sunglasses were originally made to shield and protect the eyes from the sun’s harsh rays and their damaging effects.

The sun emits harmful UVA, UVB, UVC, and blue light rays that can cause eye damage over time. Too much UV exposure over many years can lead to cataracts and damage to the retina.

Even worse for anglers, the danger posed by the sun’s rays is doubled when out there in the water because of glare.

To offer UV protection, the lens of fishing sunglasses are usually treated with UV resistant materials to shield eyes from the harmful UVA and UVB UV light rays.

The more sun protection offered the better. Most lenses come with UVA protection. Some go ahead and offer UVB, UVC, and blue light protection making them the ultimate for sun protection.

Go for sunglasses that block out at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays. They should also filter 75 to 90 percent of visible light. Look for a sticker or tag indicating that they block 100% of UV rays or those labeled “UV 400,” which blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers.

The Oakley sunglasses reviewed above offer 100% UV protection filtering of all UVA, UVB, UVC, and harmful blue light up to 400nm. These offer full UV protection.

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Fit and Style

Sports frames are the best for fishing. Apart from their tough and lightweight construction to suit active performance, they usually have a wrap-around design, nose pads and rubberized temples to ensure a tight, non-slip yet comfortable fit that hugs the face and temples.

The snug fit keeps away ambient light rays as well as hooks, dust, sand, and debris that might hurt the eyes. It also secures the sunglasses to your face preventing them from riding down on hot, sweaty afternoons, when you suddenly move your head or when a strong wind suddenly blows.

If wrap-around sunglasses fit too tightly on your face, there is little air circulation and you can get very hot and sweaty behind the glasses. To avoid this, form-fitting sunglasses often feature vents that let cool air in.

To ensure you get a frame that fits, measure the width of your temple and nose bridge, and compare to the dimensions on the product page to determine the right size to get.

Durability

You want to invest in a sturdy and hard-wearing pair of sunglasses that will withstand the elements and serve you for a long time. The best fishing sunglasses don’t come cheap and you don’t want to find yourself back on the market for a replacement pair after only a few trips.

To ensure you make a durable purchase, pay attention to the construction quality and quality of materials used to make the sunglasses.

Polycarbonate lenses are lighter than glass lenses and more impact resistant. However, they’re vulnerable to scratches. Ensure the lens also have a scratch-resistant coating to overcome this weakness.

Glass lenses are durable and heavy-duty. They are heavier and more scratch-resistant than polycarbonate lenses but are prone to shattering when dropped or during impact.

NXT polyurethane is stronger and durable than polycarbonate, virtually unbreakable and doesn’t shatter like glass. It’s the ideal material for fishing and active outdoor wear. However, polyurethane sunglasses are very rare and expensive.

Warranty

Warranty is another important consideration when shopping for the best fishing sunglasses. A good warranty shows that the manufacturer believes in their sunglasses and are willing to guarantee its performance, build quality and quality of components.

For you, it’s your insurance just in case your pair fails you for reasons that aren’t your fault. The longer the warranty, the better. Some of the sunglasses reviewed above come with a lifetime limited warranty.

Accessories

And don’t forget the essential accessories to accompany your sunglasses. To avoid losing your glasses in the water, it’s a good idea to invest in a neck strap, neck lanyard, or a floatation device.

Straps and lanyards ensure that if your glasses come off, they will catch on your neck instead of falling into the water. If your glasses fall in the water, floating straps or attachable floaters ensure the glasses stay on top of the water’s surface for easy retrieval.

Having a lens cleaner and cloth handy when out on the water gives you a way to wipe or clean your sunglasses and restore clarity on those long, sunny days where your glasses get dirty and greasy limiting visibility.

FAQs

Globo Surf Overview

Fishing glasses are a must-have when fishing, as they offer you eye safety and visual clarity to make your fishing adventures more fun and efficient. Most anglers consider a quality pair of sunglasses an essential piece of fishing equipment and never fish without them.

All of the glasses reviewed here have the features fishermen need. As you can see, there are all kinds of styles, and finding a pair that offers the protection and visibility improvement you need but is also cool and stylish isn’t hard at all.

Now that you know what makes the best fishing sunglasses, you can confidently pick a pair to accompany you on fishing trips to improve your fish-spotting capabilities in the environment and light conditions you fish in and protect your eyes.

With a great pair of fishing glasses on your face or safely tucked away in the sunglasses case of your tackle storage system<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>, you can look forward to amazing fishing expeditions in the future.

More Fishing Accessories Reviews:

• Underwater Fishing Lights In
• Underwater Fishing Cameras
• Wading Staff
• Reel Cleaning Kits
• Fishing Reel Grease And Oil
• Fishing Knot Tying Tools
• Fish Lip Grippers
• Fishing Line Spoolers
• Fishing Carts
• Insulated Fish Bags
•  Fishing Rod Holders
• Fishing Rod Holders
•  Fishing Watches
• Fly Fishing Sling Packs
• Fishing Headlamps
• Fish Scales
• Fishing Chairs
• GoPros For Fishing
• Fishing Coolers
• Rain Gear For Fishing
• Gifts For Fishermen

Are sunglasses a must-have accessory for your fishing trips? What is your favorite pair of fishing sunglasses? We’d love to hear your views. Share in the comment box below.