What to look for in fishing sunglasses

When looking for your next pair of fishing sunglasses, the process can be overwhelming. Between price, style, features, and brand, there are a lot of options out there. Choosing the right pair of fishing sunglasses can make a significant difference in your fishing experience, and in this guide, we'll explore some key features to look for when selecting fishing sunglasses, ensuring you find the perfect pair to better your time on the water.

Polarized Lenses

Polarization is the key to owning quality and effective fishing sunglasses. Not only does polarization help reduce eye strain, it also cuts glare and defines details when looking at the water. 

Polarized lenses specifically target horizontal light waves, which cause the glare that reflects off of water. Once glare is reduced, it becomes much easier to see beneath the surface of the water, helping you to fish with more clarity and accuracy.

Without polarization, your fishing sunglasses aren't fishing sunglasses. 

Lens Color

Choosing the right lens color for your sunglasses can substantially improve your fishing experience by enhancing visibility, decreasing glare, and increasing contrast. Here’s a quick breakdown of some common sunglasses lens colors and what makes them great:

Amber/Brown Lenses

Amber and Brown lenses do best on partly cloudy to sunny days. They are ideal for spotting fish against green/blue waters, and they are most commonly used when fishing freshwater lakes and rivers.

Yellow/Gold Lenses

Yellow and Gold lenses will serve you well in low light, in the early mornings or late evenings when the sun is not as bright. Known to enhance vision in overcast/dim conditions, they will increase brightness and contrast, making them excellent for fishing rivers and streams in wooded areas.

Green Lenses

Green Lenses strike a perfect balance between Blue and Yellow lenses, as they are ideal for sunny to cloudy days where sunlight is present but not as intense. They are a versatile lens color and suitable to many different environments, but they are great for spotting fish and fishing shallow freshwater. 

Blue Lenses

Blue lenses are the top choice for offshore, open ocean fishing due to their ability to block harsh light and reduce glare. They help fishermen see into the deep blue waters, making them ideal for both fishers and boaters alike. 

Frame Shape

Frame shape plays a very important role in the longevity and efficacy of your fishing sunglasses. When browsing styles of fishing sunglasses, look out for a wraparound, full coverage design that will ensure comfort, safety, and security when on your face. 

The wraparound design is popular for a reason; it keeps the light from getting into your eyes while also staying secure around your head. So when you're reeling in the catch of the day, you're sunglasses aren't going anywhere. 

Material

Quality fishing sunglasses should have hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings that help to prevent the peeling, fading, and stripping of your sunglasses after longtime use. Fishing sunglasses are exposed to many different elements, such as salt water, heat, sweat, and oil, and these protective coatings are essential in helping to preserve them.

Warranty

A good warranty makes it all worth it. There seems to be an endless amount of ways to break a pair of shades, but a solid warranty helps you to cover all your bases and not spend more than you need to. 

Some brands offer free repairs, some offer free replacements, but what makes a warranty truly valuable is the team that stands behind it. Customer service chatbots and unsympathetic representatives are almost always a dead end. Look for a company that will stand behind their products and be on your team, so when life inevitably happens, you will get the help you need in repairing/replacing your glasses.

Browse our collection of Fishing Sunglasses here!