Sunglasses - what've you got, what do you recommend??

[Dave W]

After losing my $400 Maui Jims overboard:mad: :mad: (that's them in my avatar - at least I've got the memory:()I've now got a pair of the 'Polaroid' fishing sunnies with the amber lenses.

They're pretty good but not a patch on the Maui's - not that I expected them to be.

I may be getting another pair of Maui Jims again fairly soon (What do you want for Christmas Dave?? - A gift voucher from Sunglass Hutt would be great thanks champ:D ) but wanted to know everyones thoughts on what's the best, or their favorites.

So what do 'ya reckon??

[mangajack]

Best sunnies i have ever had and still have and use are Spotters hurricane photochromic sunnies with the brown lenses. I am yet to find a comparable pair to these. The lenses are a glass and very resitant to scratching. i have had my pair for 6 yrs now and although they are faded and a bit daggy looking now they have still got the best vision for fishing. I think 1 scratch in 6 yrs for fishing glasses is outstanding.:D :D :D

you can see them here:
http://www.spotters.com.au/product_frameset.html#

Tony

[kevinnugent59]

Dave

I have two pair. The RayBans wrap arounds I use everyday, and a pair of Serengeti's that I keep for special occasions.

I like the RayBans because they aren't too dark, keep glare to just about zero, and only cost me $85 in a sale. :)

I also make sure I attach a $2.50 strap to them when I go fishing....for around my neck. Good insurance.

Kevin

[Bream Master]

Firstly, any polaroid fishing glasses are better than none at all. If anyone is still fishing without glasses, they don't know what they're missing.

Secondly, the new Spotters photochromatic penetrator gold lens is awesome. They might be $200+ but from what I've seen of them they rock...

That being said, I still use the Jarvis Walker plastic lenses that we sell in the online store. For $50 they do a reasonably good job.

Warren.

[Davo]

Hey Dave,

I recently picked up a pair of the Spotters photochromatic bronze penetrator, glass lens with the Tremor frame and must say it was one the best decisions I've made.

They cut out all glare and highlight shades of reds which I was told are a promident colour in a seabirds retina, which helps them to penetrate the water when soaring above in search for food.
True or not they are an awsome set of sunnies and I've seen alot more action under the water since buying these.

I've had cheaper polaroids, but after using these they just dont come close.
Dearest pair of sunnies I've ever had but by far the best I've come across.
Scored mine for under $200 aswell. :D

Davo

[Big Muddie]

I have Fish Polarised sunglasses- cost about the same as the Jarvis Walkers.

Maybe my eyes are so bad that I really can't tell the difference, but after trying an expensive pair and then using the Fish ones, I really couldn't justify to myself that it's worth paying big bucks for sunglasses. The test was done while I was on the water too - so the conditions were the same for both pair.

I lose them often enough now, so watching $$$ float away isn't my idea of fun - LOL.

[Bear]

I envy you guys that can buy off the shelf. Unfortunately I need prescription glasses.

I you're like me then I would look at getting titanium frames. I have then on in my avatar and they are light and very flexible as well as non-rusting. Not cheap though, but worth the purchase.

[Richo]

Dave,

Get a pair of the new spotters, at $250 odd are a bargain compared to your last pair, and as Warren said they are supposed to be Awesome - been heaps of rave reviews..... Im getting very close to justifying the purchase of a pair for myself..

Cheers

Richo

:p

[Ravin]

I have 2 pairs but the ones I use most of the time are Bolle Blue Venoms. I bought them as a spare pair if anything happened to my Carreras sports but found the Bolle's more comfortable & do a better job at half the price.

[Marc_s]

Dave,

Following the bagwaggon the Spotters are a great buy! I have had mine for about a year now and they a great. I have the photochromatic penetrator gold lens and you can't even tell you have them on! They're so clear and with the added bonus of photochromatic lens -gets darker when the sunlight is getting brighter (vise-versa). Another good thing with the spotters are they that they are Australian made and owned and that unlike many other brands they have some fashionable frames. (who siad you don't have to look good when fishing :cool: )

Pm me and i'll let you know where i got mine from! They were $30-40 cheaper than anywhere else (that's almost 4 packs of softies Dave! We all know how much you love softies);)

[Billfish]

I have 2 pairs, Mako and Spotters penetrators. The Penetartors are the better of the two, the Mako's are just too dark sometimes whereas the Penetrators are always just right.

[Dave W]

I busted the arm off the 'Polaroids' :mad:last night so I'm looking seriously now.

After having a good look at where they broke, I reckon it's a ****house design - only got them 2 weeks ago as well, and I can't take them back because I bought them in Condobolin - 5 hours away.

I'll definitely look into the Spotters (no pun intended:D )

get it... look into the Spotters... he he he he

At least I keep myself amused:D

[mangajack]

Wise choice Dave big thumbs up there!!!
I was surprised so many of us fishos using spotters tho gotta be something in that i reckon. Plus for driving glasses they are excellent too esp when you are driving into the sun morning or late afternoon. The sun just isnt painful to your eyes. :cool:

Tony.

[Richo]

I was close before now Im convinced, mmmm better join frequent flyers I think. Warren your not thinking of getting these in are you??

CHeers

Richo:cool:

[Bear]

Some manufacturers will fit prescription lenses, how do we find this out without having to go through the Op?

[Dave W]

Try filling out the web form Bear:

http://www.spotters.com.au/contact_main.html#

or emailing them:

spotters@bigpond.com

[Ravin]

I just happened to walk into the local sunglasses shop & a pair of spotter thunder penetrators in photocromatic brown jumped out of the cabinet & landed on my face, the kind lady in the shop let me leave a deposit & walk the 2 minute walk to the Pumicestone Passage to try them out looking at water. I then rushed back to the shop & now I own them. I AM impressed! Awesome & excellent is all I can say. If you haven't got a couple hundred bucks to spare don't try them on cause you will go into hock to buy them :D

[Craig_S]

Ravin, I'm a victim as well. Tried on a pair of Hurricanes with Penetrator photochromic bronze lenses and immediately solved my wife's problem of what to buy me for Chrissie:)

[Tracy Johnson]

I have a pair of Spotters Photochromatics in amber lense, great pair of glasses for driving and fishing. The glare is cut down significantly looking out the car windshield, and on the water they're excellent. Fishing for Bass and Bream they help you to find the deeper holes, sand banks, and drop offs in the estuary, and excellent for fishing weed edges for Bass. A plus is the lightness of the frame and the fit.

Tracy

[Bear]

Thanks for that Dave.

Just sent them an e-mail.

[Mim]

Hi guys,

Just been reading all you have to say about these sunnies. I was an optical dispenser for 14 years before I quit to become a student.
Try to steer clear of Polaroids and Fish. These sunnies do not have an optical quality lens and can infact cause damage to your eyes, as the lenses have a lot of distortion. Any other sunglass with a polaroid lens that is of optical quality is the way to go.
I recently had to purchase a pair of new polarised sunglasses, it just about killed me having to pay money as I used to get them for free. I bought the Arnette Steelwing with grey polar lenses. The greys and green coloured lenses do not distort natural colours. Some of the browns and yellows distort colours, however they give better contrasts. So you need to weigh up what you want. A word of advice though. If you wear brown or yellow lenses for driving be careful at traffic lights as it is harder to see the amber and red lights changing colours. A few years ago the West Aust Police force banned their officers from wearing these colour lenses for that reason.
The photocromatic lenses are also really good, and with modern technology you can now get them in plastic, however these do not go as dark in our sunlight as they are effected by heat. They go the darkest on cold glary days, not so dark on bright sunny days.

Sean, You can get some good quality optical prescription polarised lenses, these are also available in plastic lenses, which reduce the weight on your nose. I used to work at Kingsway Optometrists, and their pricing is pretty good and they will go out of their way to make sure you get exactly what you want

Cheers,

Mim

[Bear]

Thanks Mim,
The reason I have the small lenses I have now is mainly cost.

When I was looking around for prescription sunnies I wanted some with the light, flexible titanium frames. The only reason I stuck with the glass lenses was the concern about scratching plastic lenses.

It's not a cheap combo though. The frames at the time were pretty rare and set me back around $500 all up.

[Mim]

Hi Sean

Unless your sunnies are chemically hardened then they are actually more dangerous if they break as the glass will splinter and is extremely difficult to get out of eyes. Chem hardened lenses will shatter rather than splinter.

Plastic lenses can have a scratch resistant coating put on them which makes them almost as scratch resistant as glass. Another thing I would reccommend is an antireflection coating as this will also assist when on the computer and when you are fishing.

I can fill you in on more info tomorrow night if you like. Otherwise I will just keep my mouth closed :-P

See you tomorrow night

Mim

[Bear]

I'd appreciate that Mim.

See you then.

[Dave W]

Originally posted by Bream Master


Secondly, the new Spotters photochromatic penetrator gold lens is awesome. They might be $200+ but from what I've seen of them they rock...


Warren.

I've just received the new Spotters brochure and the only penetrator lense colours they list are Bronze (photochromic), and Gold Mirror and after a bit of correspondense with them the Gold Mirror is definitely not available as photochromic - so, knowing this, which one would you go for:confused: (and does this mean the Gold Mirror used to be available as photochromic??? Was that what you were refering to??)

This question is open to everyone - I've already picked the frame style - help me out with the lense please:)

Cheers,

[Ravin]

Dave mine are the bronze photochromatic & they are great. I have had them stuck to my face since I bought them & used them around the flats fishing twice today & I am impressed.:)

[Davo]

Hey Dave.W,

Yeah go with the bronze penetrator lense.
You won't be dissappointed.:D

Davo

[Dave W]

Thanks Ravin & Davo - my head is saying Bronze Photochromic (for the functionality) but my heart is saying go the Gold Mirror ('cause they look pretty damn flash:D )

Time will tell....:rolleyes:

Any other comments??

[pete s]

anyone else apart from chris used stalkers?? i need to upgrade my sunnies thanks to a lovely big scratch right in the middle of the right lens:(

im just weighing up the options. all this talk of spotters is tempting me but you can never have too much info. on sunnies that is :)



cheers pete

[Richo]

Just scored myself a pair of Thunder Penetrators in Bronze (photochromic), not cheap, but santa was feeling pretty generous this year, and the best thing to do was put her around a heap of other breamers so she could see I wasn`t the only person who`s behaves like I do. Can`t wait to get them out on the water, maybe even this afternoon. In fact definitly this afternoon.

Cheers

Richo:p

[bluefin]

Firstly, if you want to take the reflections off the water, they have to be polarised! Photochromic are good because they lighten in low light situations,(early morning, you still want to see under the surface without reducing the available light) Then darken as the UV increases.But as far as I know, are only sucessful in glass! Glass lenses don't scratch as earily as CR39(plastic)But they do break and are much heavier. Although Polarised glass is laminated and much safer. Brown lenses have better haze penetration than grey, and being "Yellow" have good shape definition also. Polaroid lenses are polarised, mass produced,and inexpensive. They do the job! Bolle' on the other hand are optical quality lenses and much clearer with no distortion!!! The brand is a personal choice!! The higher the price, the better the Quality. To a point. Brand name comes into it!!!!!!!

Perscription Polarised lenses have been around for decades,both in brown and grey, take your Rx to any dispensing outlet or optometrist and talk to them, These are also the best place for advice no non prescription sunnies also!

[Lorchy]

ehhe, BOIZ I CAN GET MAH SUNNIEZ 40% OFF AT SUNGLASS HUT LIVERPOOL.....EHEH
LOL
SORRY HAD TO SAY THAT TO GET YOU ALL DROOLING