The Sunglasses Thread

“I wear prescription glasses and got a second pair (darK) when I got last my regulars. It sucks that I can't get the nifty polarized lenses for fishing without them being cheap flip-down style. Dark glasses really help on the road, beach or slopes.”

“Smith may have had a French company make the frame but they are and always have been an U.S. (Idaho based) company.”

“LeSubtil, be careful; not all expensive non-prescription sunglasses can hold prescription lenses. Or inexpensive ones for that matter. When purchasing sunglasses a great portion of the cost is in the lenses. Why spend lots of $ on something you're going to throw away? Depending on how strong your script is it would be more sensable to have a pair made in your script with an old frame or one you buy specifically for sunglasses.

You can get prescription lenses polarized, mirrored, etc. You will pay through the nose for it and it will take awhile but they'll be just as nice if not nicer than those bought w/o prescription lenses. Never EVER pay for scratchcoating unless you just want the warrenty included w/ the price. It doesn't work and is already on most lenses anyways.”

“Thanks Joy. To DOC it is. Now if I can get the store to call them safety glasses I'll be all set LOL.”

“Flyguy:
Check out Action Optics, they advertise in Fly Fisherman, and make polarised, glass lensed prescription (and non-prescription)
glasses that darken in sunlight.

I agree that cheapo polarised add-ons are a horror, not to mention the plastic mess that's left if you leave them on the dash on a sunny day. Only glass can be made photosensitive, glass also blocks IR, and only plastic can be polarised; Action Optics uses a laminated lens. They are not cheap but are top quality.

I bought my ex a pair of Ray Ban shooting glasses in 1970. When I got contacts I discovered I needed sunglasses and I started wearing hers and kept them. They finally fell apart last summer, which I think shows the benefit of buying quality products - 30 years isn't bad.

I do a lot more mountaineering than shooting or fishing now and so I bought CEBE glacier glasses to replace the Ray Bans. I got glass lenses that block UVA, UVB and IR (which causes farigue - eyes account for 25% of your energy expenditure) and are far more scratch resistant than plastic and will not warp if left in a hot car. I remove the side shields for general use.

As I said, I needed sunglasses when I got contacts and regret the years I spent in the outdoors with glasses that slipped when I sweated, bounced when I ran or fogged up when I had to shoot. I wear rigid, gas permeable lenses that I don't have to remove for a couple of days if I use drops. The CEBE's are of course anti-glare, but I don't think they will be quite as good as polarised lenses for fly fishing. Anyway, that's my 2¢'s worth. Happy trails.”