Inexpensive Polarized Shade Help. 2024

bmac31 reply :

Hey guys. I'll start off apologizing in case this is posted in the wrong fourm. Anyway I'm on a tight budget and was looking for a good all around pair of fishing sunglasses. I've noticed company's like strike king and Berkeley along with some others make what they advertise as polarized glasses in the 30-50 dollar range. Has anybody tryed a pair? I know they won't compare to a nice $250 pair but what does everyone think? Am I better off savings and getting a 100+ dollar pair?

Thanks

Brian

atpns1234 reply :

Hard to beat 580 costa lenses. I would not buy a pair of the Calcutta brand shades. Bought me and my son a pair a few years back and were in pieces before the trip was over. I would imagine the strike kings are ok.

RAMBLER reply :

Spiderwire, in my opinion is the best for the money. About$20.00. Found mine at academy sports. For the price you can get both, a pair of amber and one of grey.

ww2farmer reply :

I have never been an expensive sunglasses guy, I have lost/broke too many pairs in the past, and that's always kept me buying the $20 Berkley and Strike King glasses from Wal-Mart. Last year I "upgraded" to the $40 Strike King S11 glasses and they were worlds better than the $20 ones. I had several partners last year who wear much more expensive glasses try them, while I tried their's (Wiley X, and Oakley IIRC off the top of my head) And we all agreed that for $40 you can't beat the SK. They hang right up there in performance with glasses that cost $100+ for a fraction of the price.

gallowaypt reply :

I agree with ww2. The S11's are a good bang for the buck. I got those in a dark shade because I will use them more during the day. For low light hours, I got a $10 pair of amber lens Berkeleys that get the job done.

Bluebasser86 reply :

I wear the $5 Berkley glasses from Wal Mart when I'm bank fishing or doing anything that I don't want to wear one of my expensive pairs of Costas. They're pretty decent, especially for the price.

Hi Salenity reply :

I love the s11 sunglasses! I wear the grey lenses daly and the amber lenses in the boat.

eBay is your friend if you want to save a few bucks.

tritondriver reply :

i gave the sk glasses a try last year and after a few months the polarization started wearing off. looked like a oil spot on the lenses and would not come off, so just beware. with what we spend on our gear and boats i would rather spend extra on glasses that protect and last, then buy several a year at 40 a pop...get the good stuff.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

I've done some research in the past and like a lot of things, the majority of sunglasses come from the same manufacturing plant. It looks to me that the point of diminishing returns is around $80 and anything over $125 or so you're paying for the name. Look for labels stating 100% Uv A&B blocking, shatter resistant, polarized and low distortion. You can get all this for <$100 easily. The test for polarization is to take two pair, hold the lenses perpendicular to one another and you shouldn't be able to see through them. I don't fish or do much of anything else without eye protection. I have 3 pair right now: dark, amber and clear for really low light and night time.

WIGuide reply :

I used to wear the $12 Berkley ones and those were pretty hard to beat for the price.

hatrix reply :

On 4/8/2014 at 9:03 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:
I've done some research in the past and like a lot of things, the majority of sunglasses come from the same manufacturing plant. It looks to me that the point of diminishing returns is around $80 and anything over $125 or so you're paying for the name. Look for labels stating 100% Uv A&B blocking, shatter resistant, polarized and low distortion. You can get all this for <$100 easily. The test for polarization is to take two pair, hold the lenses perpendicular to one another and you shouldn't be able to see through them. I don't fish or do much of anything else without eye protection. I have 3 pair right now: dark, amber and clear for really low light and night time.

This ^^

The guy at my tackle shop showed me that trick. Put a pair on and try to look through a second pair and you can really see the difference in glasses.

Preytorien reply :

I have used the ~$20 Spiderwire brand from Wal-Mart.

They seem to work very well, and they're pretty neat looking.

I tried them on side-by-side to my dad's Maui Jim polarized glasses, and other than being lighter than the MJ's, they did the same job.

moloch16 reply :

I agree with the Spiderwire votes. I've tried a lot of cheap sunglasses (pretty much every brand available) and Spiderwire's are the best of the bunch. I tried the Strike King S11 glasses and weren't thrilled with them, they weren't any better than $20 glasses.

You can get Spiderwire glasses at Wal-Mart.

Talonman reply :

I have the Strike King S11 Sunglasses... I think they do a good job.

Arv reply :

I've been using a pair of Strike King sunglasses that I've been pretty happy with, especially for the price I payed. I have bad luck with breaking glasses so I don't usually buy expensive glasses anymore

NathanW reply :

On 4/8/2014 at 8:22 PM, Bluebasser86 said:
I wear the $5 Berkley glasses from Wal Mart when I'm bank fishing or doing anything that I don't want to wear one of my expensive pairs of Costas. They're pretty decent, especially for the price.

These 5 dollar berkley's have great polarization. I have tested them side-by-side with a pair of polarized Oakleys and Maui Jims. The Berkleys cut the surface better than both with no contest.

Choporoz reply :

fieldsupply.com has Colemans on sale today at good prices. I haven't tried them yet, but ordered a pair for $17 shipped - just based on reviews I've found.

JLeon77 reply :

I have strike king S11's in Amber lense and a pair of excaliburs from Walmart that we're less than $20. Both work well and the cheaper ones are more comfortable to wear all day. Amber is better in low light, the Excaliburs have a darker lense for brighter conditions.

Both are great for the price, both pairs for less than half a pair of oakleys or costas...

Master Bait'r reply :

On 4/8/2014 at 9:48 PM, hatrix said:

This ^^

The guy at my tackle shop showed me that trick. Put a pair on and try to look through a second pair and you can really see the difference in glasses.

Especially if you flip around pair #2. The pinches, bends and warps inherent in the lens design used by the manufacturing process will be very apparent. Cheaper ones will look wavy while high end optics such as Smith and Maui Jim will look smooth. Even if you're not into spending $$ on glasses, this will help you find which have slightly higher quality lenses than others.

Avalonjohn44 reply :

I have Strike King SKP20 sunglasses, $25 at BPS, that I love. They are blue tinted with an orange mirror finish, and really sharpen everything. I wear them driving and fishing.

bartdude186 reply :

another spiderwire vote here, have had mine for over a year and counting, still going strong.

rippin-lips reply :

For $30 the S11's are nice.

Bass Junkie reply :

For the $20 price point check out the Jimmy Houston series.

Kevin22 reply :

I use the strike king ones from walmart. They are right around $25. They work just fine.

DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only reply :

I will have to be honest my SK s11's look nicer but feel cheaper than my $5 berkley. So far I am not completely sold on my S11 that I bought 3 weeks ago. I will have a better idea after this season is over, I am going to try the s11 for the entire season this year.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Since you asked at the end of your question, save up and spend the money on the best glasses you can possibly afford and then....hold your breath.....TAKE CARE OF THEM.

A great pair of glasses will last you a long time with the proper care. Your eyes will thank you over the long haul.

FrankW reply :

I think you will be a lot better off saving your money and getting a $100 pair. Don't buy a cheap pair with glass lenses. They will shatter on impact. The best buy that I know about is the WileyX polarized glasses. They are safety glass certified with great frames. You can buy a pair for $80. I have the Gravity glass with a foam seal around the perimeter of the lenses. This blocks all light and wind from entering the interior of the lens. A great fishing glass.

Frank

WileyX Gravity Safety Glass

slimshad reply :

Hard to beat Maui Jims and Costas. If you take care of them they will last as long or longer than 5-6 pairs of the others. Just like reels, boats and women- you get what you pay for lol

Kevin22 reply :

They won't shatter on impact if you don't drop them. lol

nocluefisher reply :

Check out the Oakley vault website. They have a lot of good deals on polarized glasses. I just bought some pit bull angling specific polarized.

bigbill reply :

Look at eBay.

bmac31 reply :

Thanks for all the great advice guys. My buddy picked up a pair of amber framed spiderwire sunglasses from wal mart, from the advice of this post for $17. So far he's impressed, we will find out soon enough. Were trying to get out there this weekend. I think I'm gonna pick up a pair of Berkeleys or spiderwires at wal mart and save for a pair of Wiley x's. Thanks guys.

Brian

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Inexpensive Polarized Shade Help. 2024

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