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Oakley Vs Costa 2024


fishing user avatarULG reply : 

Anybody have experience with costas and oakley angling specific lenses?? Iv used oakley anglibg specific lenses n i love em. Thought bout diving into the costa family but just want a opinion of comparison of th 2 if anybody has any insight. Just trying to justify th cost or should i just get another oakley lense n frame. I kno that costas are all th rave but just wanted a compatison is all. Thanks guys


fishing user avatarBassinLou reply : 

I cannot give you a fair comparison because I never have used Oakley's. I have used Costa's for several years now and I never leave home without them. They are awesome to say the least. I can also vouch for their CS. I have had to return two pairs for wear and tear issues over the years and all I have had to due is send them $10 or $12 (I forget) plus $5 USPS box and I get a brand new pair in about 2 weeks. Not bad considering the glasses cost over $200.


fishing user avatar00 mod reply : 

I had no fewer than 6 pairs of Oakleys before switching to Costas.  That being said, none were "fishing" lenses but all were polarized.  I like the Costas much better.  My fishing buddy just switched too, and he loves them!

 

Jeff


fishing user avatarCwitherington3 reply : 

I bought my first pair of costas this year and I won't leave home without them! I couldn't imagine a better pair of sunglasses


fishing user avatartallen316 reply : 

Never owned costas but I love my Oakley. I have polarized lenses and never fish without them. I would recommend them to anyone.


fishing user avatarTeal reply : 

Made the switch years ago, costas make a far better lens imo


fishing user avatarDyerbassman reply : 

Too rich for me. My Berkleys work just fine.


fishing user avatarMCS reply : 

Costas lenses are great their frames feel solid compared to my two pairs of oakley i had but the rubber trim on some models peels off. A problem they had for a while and yet to fix, send in as warranty you got a 50/50 of it being replace for warranty or them telling u it is wear. That said to me is a minor but annoying issue that I can and will live with, guess others like me and that is why no fix yet. Lol


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 

I've had a few pairs of both, Costa's blow the Oakley's out of the water when it comes to being able to see what's down there. 


fishing user avatarMccallister25 reply : 

Never owned a pair of Oakleys, so my opinion is biased. I have a pair of Costas with polarized amber lenses, and never hit the water without em.


fishing user avatarMDBowHunter reply : 

IMHO Oakleys are way over priced, and no where as nice as they are made out to be. Costas are great glasses and blow Oakleys away, but I think I like my Maui Jims better then any Costas that I've ever owned.


fishing user avatarHanover_Yakker reply : 

I have had both and can tell you that the lens quality on the Costas are better but the price point is what scares many people away.  The one caveat to this whole discussion is that in actuality, the manufacturer is not the limiting factor in your decision - your own vision is.  The amber lens from Oakley, Native Eyewear, WileX, Amphibia, Hobie Polarized, Maui Jim, Ray-Ban, Costa, Smith Optics, etc are not equivalent to one another.  Your best bet is to find someone that has a lens color you like and go out on the water and see for yourself.

 

The other factor to consider then is the fit.  Although the lenses for Costas are far superior to Oakleys in my opinion, none of the Costas fit my nose structure or face comfortably.  The nose pads on the Oakleys just sit better for me.  Your face may be different.  It's a shame too, because I love the Costa designs and the inshore green lens color.  Heck even Hobie Polarized (whom I have a Pro Staff deal with) doesn't have a frame or nose/bridge configuration that fits my face without giving me a splitting headache.

 

Forget the brand and go for fit first, then worry about lens color.


fishing user avatarQUAKEnSHAKE reply : 
  On 7/30/2013 at 6:56 PM, Hanover_Yakker said:

I have had both and can tell you that the lens quality on the Costas are better but the price point is what scares many people away.  The one caveat to this whole discussion is that in actuality, the manufacturer is not the limiting factor in your decision - your own vision is.  The amber lens from Oakley, Native Eyewear, WileX, Amphibia, Hobie Polarized, Maui Jim, Ray-Ban, Costa, Smith Optics, etc are not equivalent to one another.  Your best bet is to find someone that has a lens color you like and go out on the water and see for yourself.

 

The other factor to consider then is the fit.  Although the lenses for Costas are far superior to Oakleys in my opinion, none of the Costas fit my nose structure or face comfortably.  The nose pads on the Oakleys just sit better for me.  Your face may be different.  It's a shame too, because I love the Costa designs and the inshore green lens color.  Heck even Hobie Polarized (whom I have a Pro Staff deal with) doesn't have a frame or nose/bridge configuration that fits my face without giving me a splitting headache.

 

Forget the brand and go for fit first, then worry about lens color.

 

X2

Ive bought pair after pair of Costa (8 total) only to return them after a few outings couple weeks and tried many of their other frames over and over. One pair of Permits can fit differently than the next same pair so trying multiples of same is needed. For my wants I cant find a frame that fits me well. One that wont slip while sweating. One that gives very good coverage top bottom sides to block out light. They just dont have the frame selection for larger/wider/flatter skulls. The Fisch came close but light enter from upper corners. Plus even the blue mirror I would like to be a bit darker. 

 

With Oakley they have a fair number of frames that fit larger different shapes. A few frames close around my eyes, above the eyebrow, back farther on sides blocking side light from coming in better than any Costa Ive tried. The unobtanium holds great even on highly humid days with sweating heavily the frame stays put much bettter no slippage this with sunscreen applied as well. I dont use the fishing specific lens I opt for the black iridium polar it just better for me on mostly to bright sunny days but may be helped from the light blockage of their frames.

When I tried on my Pitbulls it was literally like, fitting like a glove, fit great not squeazing my temples the covering above around eye is excellent.

 

Ive also purchased REVO and MJ but those had a few of the above issues. The REVO lens though had a distortion to them that bugged me.

 

So yeah price not the factor for me its the fit function that drives my purchase.


fishing user avatarULG reply : 

fits already figured the lens i want, thats exactly why i posted this topic, to see if anyone has used both and could make a valid comparison but from what im gathering as long as i can find a pair of costas to fit my face right im all in! thanks guys for all the input, i kinda figured it might lean toward this but i think i just wanted to see in front of me! lol! but thanks again everybody for your posts and input! hopefully i will post something in the near future bout how i love my new costas or...... about how i couldnt find a frame to fit my face! lol either way, im gonna post something. thanks again to the members and the BR staff!


fishing user avatarBassinLou reply : 

Congrats. Enjoy.


fishing user avatarSam reply : 

Outstanding thread.

 

I plan to get either Oakley's or Costas and will now go with Costas.

 

I want prescription lens and my local Bass Pro Shop will send them to a lab who does the grinding for Costas.

 

Thanks to all who posted.


fishing user avatarflyfisher reply : 

I'll also echo the Costa dominance over the Oakley :)  I have owned both as well as a few others like native and smith all being polarized.

 

Chuck had it right when discussing the fit as that is key, no great lens does you any good if you don't wear them.  That being said, the biggest difference is when going from plastic lens to glass lenses.  I have always liked the smith lenses the best when it comes to plastic but when it comes to glass the costas offer the best non-distortion view out there.


fishing user avatarSPEEDBEAD. reply : 

My wife put my costas on the other day. Her expression?  "It's like seeing everything in HD."

 

Yeah, they are awesome.


fishing user avatarZach Dunham reply : 

Not to hijack this thread, but I figure this is a good place to ask. Has anyone owned or tried a pair of Amphibia's? I have always been an Oakley guy but I do want to see all my options. After reading this thread I definitely want to try Costa's. I do love the way Amphibia's look though and I like the idea of floating sunglasses. Any info would be awesome!


fishing user avatarBrian Needham reply : 

imo there is no "vs" but only Costa.

 

Costas = living life in HD.......(still waiting on Costa to buy that slogan from me)


fishing user avatarULG reply : 

good thots to "imanidiot" lol but thats a very good point, the amphibias seem to have made quite and impression on the market. im up for thots on the subject myself for my own benefit but im goin with the costas, price isnt the issue, its fit and lense quality, ive tried on some 580g cabolitos with blue lenses and they awesome but....... the ear peices puched my ears out, freakin deal buster!!!! i had a good deal going on them too, a friend said he tried on the black frames and he bought them cz they didnt do that so im set on costas js hope they fit my face!!! but info on amphibias would b nice to hear seeing many pros are using them. thanks again guys


fishing user avatarPotomacBassin reply : 

Little late on this, but I literally switched from Oakley to Costas two weekends ago (both polarized) and couldn't believe how much more I could see under water.  The Potomac can be pretty muddy, but I started noticing more clear water with my new Costas.  I got the Costa Saltbreak with blue mirror lens.  Love 'm.


fishing user avatarPotomacBassin reply : 

One last thing (not sure if it was mentioned above), is to make sure you get the strings to make sure they stay on your head.  I forget what they're called.  I had a pair of RayBans go in the river last month when I was untieing the boat from the dock.  I'll never wear glasses on the water without them again.  I don't care how dorky I look.


fishing user avatarBrian Needham reply : 
  On 8/1/2013 at 7:35 PM, PotomacBassin said:

One last thing (not sure if it was mentioned above), is to make sure you get the strings to make sure they stay on your head.  I forget what they're called.  I had a pair of RayBans go in the river last month when I was untieing the boat from the dock.  I'll never wear glasses on the water without them again.  I don't care how dorky I look.

 

croakies


fishing user avatarflyfisher reply : 

Croakies suck in my opinon.

 

Go with

http://www.cablz.com/


fishing user avatarColdSVT reply : 

i own both...I wear the oaklys when I am not on the water...the costas ONLY when I am on the water

 

the oaklys are good don't get me wrong but the Costas are waaaay better on the water


fishing user avatarBrian Needham reply : 
  On 8/1/2013 at 9:10 PM, flyfisher said:

Croakies suck in my opinon.

 

Go with

http://www.cablz.com/

 

 

I actually use the "C-wires" but yeah the common name is croakies.


fishing user avatarderekxec reply : 
  On 8/2/2013 at 3:34 AM, ColdSVT said:

i own both...I wear the oaklys when I am not on the water...the costas ONLY when I am on the water

 

the oaklys are good don't get me wrong but the Costas are waaaay better on the water

i am the same way...costas on the water and oakley for everything else


fishing user avatarBrian Needham reply : 

why do yall guys short change your "off the water" eyesight by not wearing Costas 24/7/365?

 

if it is good on the water, its real good off the water......


fishing user avatarQUAKEnSHAKE reply : 

Costas dont protect any better than Oakley,REVO, Maui Jim, Strike King or other brands as long as lens are rated to block 100% of UV rays. But this is where prior mention of fit comes in. A poor fitting pair of Costas or any brand can do more harm than good. Openings to the side,above, below, around frame can let UV rays in and with the darker tint your eyes will be dilated more allowing the chance for more UV ray exposure.


fishing user avatarColdSVT reply : 
  On 8/2/2013 at 1:35 PM, Brian Needham said:

why do yall guys short change your "off the water" eyesight by not wearing Costas 24/7/365?

 

if it is good on the water, its real good off the water......

because i prefer amber lenses when fishing and grey when i am not lol.

aaannnnd because if i take my Costas out of my gear bag i'll forget them at home and be ticked


fishing user avatarBrian Needham reply : 

then you need 2 pairs of Costas! LOL.

 

I never take mine off(have a few pair), so I always wondered by people just wore them on the water.


fishing user avatarzwhiten12 reply : 

The 580 lens in the costas is definitely worth the extra money!


fishing user avatarRoachDad reply : 

What colors do you guys wear for fishing?  Is that all that makes a pair "fishing" glasses?

 

I only wear polarized.  Been getting Oakley's for years but a buddy has convinced me to switch.  He said go with amber.


fishing user avatarBrian Needham reply : 
  On 8/6/2013 at 3:37 AM, RoachDad said:

What colors do you guys wear for fishing?  Is that all that makes a pair "fishing" glasses?

 

I only wear polarized.  Been getting Oakley's for years but a buddy has convinced me to switch.  He said go with amber.

 

color is not that big a deal IMO for normal wear ......I wear blue mirror and green mirror in the costas all the time. I think costa either has a grey, amber bases.

 

If you are willing to search, go back and look for other costa threads and find what I have posted in the past. I have posted Costa's recommendations based on activity in at least 3 threads. good info about lenes, light %, lens base color.


fishing user avatarBassinLou reply : 

My everyday pair you will see in my avatar. Green mirror, amber. My off shore glasses are blue mirror, grey. I feel that the lens color does play role in the water and environment you fish in.




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