Costa Del Mar vs. Other brands ( a sunglasses thread)

[MoneyBiscuits]

Hey guys and gals...

I need your help. See, I lost my sunglasses on the beach and my mom won't let me get a new pair. She said "you need to learn a lesson."

Well, I figure.. Maybe if I ask for a slightly cheaper / different brand, I could convince her to let me get them.

Maybe you guys should help support me too and tell me how much you need yours and then she will realize how important they are!

[Crazy Eyes]

I will give you some support....as a Optometrist I get to see many different types of eye disease every day and many of them are either caused or progress quicker due to UV rays. A quality pair of sunglasses will afford your eyes and the surrounding tissues the protection they need from UV rays as well as the dangers of foreign objects entering the eye under fishing/boating conditions. Good luck.

[costaricasportfishing]

Kaenon great glasses

[chris surowiec]

If the sun is shining I won't go outside without my sunglasses. I consider them important enough that I keep a spare pair in a case in my tackle bag for if something happens to the pair on my face. While shad fishing I have had a shad jump and throw the hook sending a shad dart back at me at mach 1 and on one occasion it hit the frame of my sunglasses saving my face from injury. I have trouble spending big bucks on sunglasses, so I get last years styles of Bolle` sunglasses from http://www.campmor.com they are quality shades at one third the price of Costas. It's personal preference but the bridge of my nose likes lightweight polycarbonate lenses much better than heavy glass lenses.

[Ultralite]

I have the following:

* Maui Jims

* Ocean Waves

* Kaenons (2)

But recently I tried a buddy's Action Optix by Scott. The were prescription glass, photochromatic (darken and lighten depending on the light level), polarized and bifocals. All I can say is wow. If you look at all of the of above that I have, they have a film on the inside of the lens that eventually looks like you got sunscreen on them and never comes off. Not so with the Action Optix. Also, I had my eyes surgically corrected (lens implants) and Lasik adjusted so that I would have blended or mono vision (one eye corrected for reading, one for distance). When I slipped on his glasses, it corrected the eye that was set for reading and my distance vision was incredibly sharp, yet with the bifocals I could quickly tie on a size 22 dry fly. The photochromatic allowed you to easily fish into the waning light of the evening. They are the only manufacturer offering the polarized, photochromatic in prescription bifocal glass. By far the best I've seen out there.

[NJPete]

In terms of optics, i think that Oakley makes a great lens (but lousy designs as i have a big head). I really like their polarized fishing lens, but they are not available in all styles and the ones they are available in are typically on the smaller side.

I have been using Costa Del Mar's for the past 2 seans and have been very happy with them. I beat on sunglasses and these 2 pairs have held up equally well. They dont have the optics of the Oakley's but they are close and the designs seem to fit me much better.

I have also had Maui Jim's and been very happy with them. Their polarized lens are better than Oakley's however they typically are more expensive, scratch easily, and wont stand up to the abuse i deliver.

[Fish Biz]

How Bout you work it off doin odd jobs and buy your own than your mom will see how responsibile you are and if you loose them its on you. I don't know your situation, but growing up I wanted a jeep parents where not keen, but I bought it with my money and they accepted it. Gotta agree with the Optometris, though good glasses are worth their weight in gold for your eyes. I wear Maui's but have had my share of Costas. MY .02 Good Luck. Tim

[Gale Winds]

I bought a pair of Calcuttas for $20 at a local B&T in Cape May. That was about 3 years ago, and I couldn't be happier with them.

[ReelBroke]

I've allways been a Maui guy, but the past season I tried the costa del mar 580 lens & I can't put the Maui's back on. I had to shelf 5 pairs of Maui's.

[Snapp]

I've allways been a Maui guy, but the past season I tried the costa del mar 580 lens & I can't put the Maui's back on. I had to shelf 5 pairs of Maui's.

I too was a Maui' guy. I just bought a pair of Costa's "blackfin". I have only been on the water once with the Costas and I have already forgotten about the Mauis...