The fish can tell the difference. If a fish swims up and sees you wearing cheap sunglasses he'll assume you're using cheap bait, he'll laugh and quickly swim away. If he sees you wearing expensive sunglasses he'll assume you're using a very nice tasty bait, he'll stop and pause for a bit while he admires you're sexy shades then go bite you're hook....Bam! Got em!
Anyone will be "surprised" by how "similar" $5 glasses are compared to $250 glasses. The problem is, you're flipping them on and off in a period of one day. Go fishing a whole summer with good glasses like Costa Del Mar, Maui Jim, Oakley, etc. Then one day toward the end of the summer, put on the $5 Berkley. Then you'll be able to understand the difference in quality. I used to be the same cheapskate glasses guy until I got a pair of Oakley's for Christmas 5 years ago. Anytime I put on $5 glasses, they are complete pieces of crap. I'll never buy a cheap pair of glasses ever again. He even nailed it at the end around the 10:00 mark. Your vision is intangible, but the optical improvement is for sure noticeable if you wear them enough.
@@evaldasbus9174 Nah I've bought a pair of Costa and Maui's with prescription lenses now that I wear glasses. It makes any $250 pair seem cheap now. Prescription are over $500 unfortunately.
I am an Optician by trade and I will say this from my experience fishing over the last 25 years with sunglasses. *I have used the best and the worst. *There are different quality Polarized lenses on the market. The $5.00 Berkley's are not bad but there are subtle draw backs you can notice with extended use. Your eyes will most likely get fatigued faster without an Anti-reflection coating on the back side of the lens. *Visual acuity can be subjective. *Everyone will appreciate detail differently. *Lens color will play a part in how you see. -Amber is my favorite because it enhances colors more then gray and your vision driving in overcast or rain is sharper. -Gray is the best for those peak sunshine hours. -Green is great for tennis, golf, and early morning and late evening fishing. -Rose lenses tend to be a great middle ground between amber and gray. A good pair will have a quality Polarization with an AR coating. I can go into more detail if you all would like but it will be a wall of text. My summation would be, Polarized something is better then nothing. A quality polarization will bring out more detail then a cheap polarization. I keep some Berkley quality frames for myself and friends to use in a pinch but I love my Maui Jims the best Costa a very close second.
Thanks for your insight, Joe. You mentioned visual acuity being subjective; For instance, might wearing good sunglasses be like wearing good shoes? To a person with bad feet, good, quality shoes might make a world of difference, while to someone with healthy legs, back, feet, etc. they might be fine all day, wearing flip flops.
That is correct. Also, I have many people that are simply more perceptive then others which can be good and bad. I can have say two brothers come in together and one will jump for joy with how good they can see with them when we test them outside. His brother will shrug his shoulders and say what's the big deal about these glasses. Both of the brothers are not wrong in their impressions. On another note, if you have perfect vision verse close but not perfect the individual will have a different perspective as well. If say you have a very slight correction in your vision that is not corrected the difference in the sunglasses will not be very apparent as well. An analogy you could apply would be this, regular polarization and no treatments make you see in HD but Maui Jim or Costas give you Blu-ray. I can see the difference in Blu-ray verse HD but it really does not matter to me. Good sunglasses enhance the colors that you see regardless of tint color. I could also go into Bi-gradient tints as well. Bi-gradient tints make the sunglasses squint for you, this may sound crazy but this helps a lot as well. I am sort of like you Marty in the sense that I can function just fine with my Berkley's but I can tell a difference with my other glasses. For instance, when I am say tuna fishing and you have deep water and tons of surface glare the AR really makes it worth while to have the Costas on all day long. If you are standing verse sitting you may notice a bigger difference in what you can see as well.When I am on my kayak, I don't have the same perspective as standing on a boat. Oh damn, My two vices, fishing and glasses (shop talk to me). I know this does not clear up every question so please ask more if you would like to. I'd love to answer them. Its the least I could do considering all of your awesome content you give us! Keep up the great work Marty! Also, try the sunglasses again and look out on to a large body of water when it is sunny with no hat on. Try them as well while driving in different conditions. If its gloomy or rainy your amber lenses should give you more detailed vision verses the gray tinted lenses. If you don't mind me asking, when was your last eye exam? Men your age usually don't get checked often if ever till they notice something is off for at least two weeks or a month. : )
Edward Hall I sell Maui Jims for the normal retail prices because they are the current versions. The cheapest will be at Sam's or Costco because they sell all of the discontinued versions that still have the quality lenses of course.
Edward Hall local sporting goods stores will sell relatively cheap yet serviceable sun glasses. Just make sure your kids get the polarized forms at least. Save the Maui and Costas till they are around driving ages. I find more kids will appreciate them at that age usually.
I was in the same situation as you. A friend convinced me after 2 weeks to buy a pair of Maui Jims. I had a hard time thinking of spending that kind of money on 1 pair of sunglasses. I had the exact mindset as you. But I have to tell you that there is an incredible difference with the quality of the lenses and frame. As Joe mentioned your eyes do get very fatigued easier with cheaper lens sun glasses. I know this first hand when I used the cheap ones out fishing because I didn't want to get salt water on my Maui's. When I returned my eyes were blood shot red due to the cheaper lenses not protecting my eyes the way the Maui lenses protected them. Now I use nothing but a quality pair of lenses. Also as you stated the picture is better due to quality lenses. I promise you there is a difference.
Jason Colon Well guess what? You don't have to spend $260+ to get UV protection polarization. Yes, there will be some "actual" quality differences between el cheapo $5 and $260 glasses, but what about in between? By in between, I mean $20-$30 vs $260 which would narrow the gap considerably quality wise. What you are left with are marginal differences and about $230 of snob appeal. Of course anyone spending $260 will defend that action at length.
I have had PRK surgery and I am far from a snob. Been working my life since I was 14. As a person that could barely see 5 ft in front of me it's all about protection for my eyes. And like a mentioned prior that I noticed the difference when my eyes were red which means the sun got through those cheap lenses and was damaging my eyes. However with the Muai I tell you I haven't had that happen since. It's much more noticable to me probably because the layer that was taken from my eyes makes my eyes a little more sensitive however if it's happening to me I'm sure it's happening to anyone else on a different scale.
I read a lot of comments about eye protection; I do not wear any glasses and have protected them. I also vote for people who said expensive ones have quality. I would have liked them to be 50-60% cheaper though.
I have an old pair of Calcutta sunglasses I've had for 18 years that cost $25. I see all the guides wearing fancy glasses and thought, I needed a pair. For the price, I expected to see through the water, through the fish and see what it had for dinner. NO DIFFERENCE in vision. NONE ! I returned the Costa's and got my money back. I figured it out. All the guides get guide discounts and brings the prices WAY down. So In all actuality, the expensive ones are just fashion statements. "I spent more money - I'm brilliant!" Guys that say they are better, are simply trying to justify their waste of money, Horse hockey !
As a pilot and I also drive a lot, this is my verdict about high-end sunglasses: First, high quality sunglasses are not those well known designer trash, but those who are specialized in making sunglasses such as: Serengeti and Maui Jim which I consider top notch, so you pay for the quality (optics, frames, technology...) and not for the name of the brand. I have tried all high quality sunglasses: Maui Jim, Revo, Smith, Oakley, Ray-Ban you name it, and I find Serengeti to have the best quality in terms of optics and frames, not to mention their great various designs. Another thing to mention here: please do not buy cheap sunglasses, you'll feel instant dizziness and eye fatigue, and that's something the camera lens won't reveal. Also, polarization of Serengeti sunglasses is integrated within the lens, you are not going to experience any form of eye fatigue, however, cheap sunglasses use polarizing filters which is much cheaper and worse. Do yourself a favor and buy good pair of sunglasses and I recommend Serengeti, you won't just protect your eyes, but you'll have greater experience with the tints they offer.
Spent 400 for a pair of Oakley Juliets that are worth more than I paid ten years ago. They are the finest sunglasses I have ever owned. Completely comfortable for all day wearing. I cannot get that with cheap sunglasses.
I have had years and years of cheap sunglasses. Never once damaging or losing them whilst fishing. It's always been once I have taken them home again hat the problems occur. Last year though, I did "invest" about £35 (about 2 and a bit times the money I usually pay) and they were more comfortable (I got a wide head) came with a nice case and cloths to keep them clean, but they also came with a lanyard. But the main reason I bought these ones.... They FLOAT! Fishing in continually cloudy water, the only real benefit I have had locally for polarised sunglasses is that it reduces the glare when casting into the sun. I have been able to fish in such circumstances for much longer without getting a head ache from the glare. But that is it. I don't wear them when generally out and about unless I am out looking for signs of fish activity early in the spring and summer. They just live atop the pc (so I know where they are and dont lose them in the home as usual), gathering dust.. Great video and great review too, Marty. Not because of your verdict, but because of your honesty and willingness to stand against the crowd. Nice one!!
I noticed the higher cost lenses has a more mirror like reflection, while the other pair did not, that may add more protection for the eyes on the water where sun glare is a problem, and more so for some people, I always prefered the copper amber lenses..
what i think you might be actually spending on more expensive sun glasses is probably build quality and more exotic coating methods that they put on the lenses. in some of them you can get prescription lenses too so that amps up the prize. In actual performance, i don't really see them being a whole lot better ether if you compare them to cheaper shades the differences to me are very small.
I think the cost of higher priced sunglasses are really unseen to the eye. I do believe that the lenses are a HUGE difference from the cheap to the expensive. It may not be something you can notice instantly, but the protection you get from the sun is what it's really all about. Think about this.....if Walmart sells those glasses for $5.00, Berkley most likely has about $2.00 into them! Now ask yourself....do you REALLY believe you are getting 100% UVA and UVB protection for that price? You only have one pair of eyes. Protect them my friend because as you know, Florida sun ain't no joke!
I second that! Anybody unsure why you need UVA protection: look up macular degeneration, learn that it causes blindness, is untreatable and bad sunglasses make the progression of sight loss worse.. Good sunglasses on the other hand will protect your eye health. (I made another comment just above this one (commenting on the optician's comment) with a longer contribution.
You can get UV protection from a plastic bag. It's not really that expensive. Don't get scammed. Luxottica has you in their pocket. Don't know who they are? Use Google.
@@troyperales6873 I used to use berkley sunglasses along with Walmart Ozark trails and by the end of each summer the polarized costing would always burn off. I now have Costas with the 580 e glass and there's no comparison
love your honest review. I compared cheap flying fisherman glasses to overpriced Oakley years ago. been rocking the cheapo flying fisherman's ever since.
I run a few sunglass optic locations and their is a huge difference. First off those five dollar glasses are made with Triacetate. It is used for cheap sunglasses or clip-on sunglasses. It is cheaper price and lightest weight. You are just ruining your eyes with those garbage. Triacetate is not 100% safe for your eyes. It's a spray on film. Which translates if it rubs off, or scratches, the uv from the sun gets in. Second off, triacetate is not meant for your eyes to look through, hence the low price. Your just damaging your eyes. Thirdly, you have no anti reflective coating which reflect uv. Lastly, if they are not at least polycarbonate grade or better your optical clairty is very low and it's straining your eyes. And yes... all Costa's are polarized. Major difference in quality. Bro do not buy 5 dollar glasses unless you want your eyes to go to shit. You can get a descent pair of polarized glasses for everything, for about $50. Suncloud as an example and they too have a life time warrenty. My opinion is that while I agree to an extent about Costa, try Smith.
This was one of the best videos I’ve seen in a very long time. I’m subscribed to your channel now because it is easy to tell that you are humble, honest, and kind. Thank you.
i'm right there with ya man! most ppl who spend that kinda money on glasses will usually sit there and bash the cheap ones because their afraid to look stupid.thanks for the honest review!
SLICE HEARTSHOT If you feel good with what you wear whether it be nice apparel, shoes or sunglasses then more power to ya. But to say that someone who spent a couple hundred dollars on quality shades or shoes or whatever doesn't want to look stupid....that's really quite contrary to reality.
+SLICE HEARTSHOT wrong pal , i always got the 5 dollar ones and they were fine, till i bought some oakley half jackets for 110.00 most i ever paid , kept them mint for 7 yrs, then sold em for 65 and the kid loved em.... now im looking for new flak jackets 2.0 and they are def worth it........
Thank you for a good hinest review. I just stumbled apon this video. It looked hard for you towards the end there. I am a young father first and a fisherman second. I am on a budget and I appreciate the honesty in this video. I would like you to know that you earned a new subscriber. Thank you for saving me a bunch of money.
What I love about my costas is the comfort. And quality. Every time I put cheap glasses on they are shaped weired. And they are not rubberd like costas are in the right places
As a long time, older guy, fly fisher who needs to change flies on the water the prescription option is a big deal. I fish for trout around the country and saltwater flats of the Caribbean as well as the inland bays of the Texas gulf; which is to say a variety of environments. I'm a believer that quality sunglasses provide superior optics with reduced eye fatigue ever since I bought my first pair of Smith Optics about 20 years ago. Also, I found glass provides better optics/clarity than polycarbonate. Now on my second pair of Costas I highly recommend them. Be advised of price though. The $260 cost as noted in the video is for non-prescription glasses. If, like me, you need prescription and progressive bifocals the cost is more like $800. That's a bit pricey, but not much more than regular glasses with a similar prescription with an anti-glare coating. It would be nice though if Costa took vision insurance.
Don’t know how I came across this video but I remember when I switched from cheapies to my first pair of costas and I never looked back because I could tell a huge difference in quality especially when you clean the cheap ones and the cheap polarization film comes off. I can dump a full of sand on my 580g lenses and rub them clean with a with a regular rag and no scratches. Do that with a cheap pair and see what happens. Also lense color on open water with costas makes a huge difference. It doesn’t make you see deeper in the water per say but what it does is takes the glare 100% away from the top of the water and give you a clearer field of view and also real polarized glasses keeps all the nasty uv rays out of your eyes.
Honest review...for me the best sun glasses in my experience are polaroid lenses...fancy frame or not...it is lense that matters for 100% care & protection of your eyes.
I completely agree with you no need too spend lots of money on sun glasses when you can buy much cheaper ones and have much more money to spend on actual fishing equipment. I would only spend up to a maximum of $40 for sun glasses just for that little extra quality so they don't break as easy, great video man and G'day from one of your Australian Fans! I wish you could experience some of our fishing here I think you would love it!
i have a pair of Costas and a pair of cheapo glasses also. The difference I notice is in the eye fatigue, my eyes seem to get tired after all day fishing with the cheapo glasses and with the Costas they don't. but maybe its in my head LOL!
Its fashion. Which is fine, as fashion has its place in culture, but desinger polarized glasses wont help somebody see fish better than most utility polarized glasses. The way to improve the ability to see fish, is by practicing looking for fish. The more you practice, the better ya get at it. Concentration and intensity also improve. You get 5 guys on a boat (with good vision), wearing a wide variety of sunglasses, and one guy of the 5 will consistently see the fish first. Over and over, Not always. But more so often than not. Its the guy that is used to focusing his attention on the water, and not drifting mentally, or getting distracted. Its not the glasses.
I thought about that yesterday as I tried to distinguish redfish from the random patches of grass on the flat and figured there must be people that are just better at picking up their slight movements giving them away, simply because they pay better attention. I agree with you Chip, 100%
zoffinger More so than target fish, vision intensity is even more crucial when it comes to select bait acquisition. Its all about Watertime. The more time you spend on the water, the stronger your vision intensity gets. All the good sunglasses work. Don't go for the Super cheep Polarized glasses because they may not provide the right UV protection. Your pupils dilate because of the tint, but they arent being protected from UV light. Make sure your shades have decent UV and the polarization is good to go.
Costa & Maui Jim & Ray Bans are the "YETI" of sunglasses // ALL MARKETING. Get yourself some ShadyRays and call it good...plus, that terrific warranty. Thank you for the video, well done and honest. Good Job.!
my hubbie has caught tons of fish with the 5$ and 15$ pair of sunglasses sight fishing in the gulf and bay....never had an expensive pair yet, cant imagine how much better we would do.
I use the Rebel, blue lense and white frame sunglasses that you can find next to those berkley shades and they work well. I've had my fair share of designer shades. Considering wear and tear in sunglasses, I'd rather use a handful of the Berkley, Rebel, and Yum sunglasses.
For $5 you can carry a few spares in the boat/tackle box in case you loose them over the side or accidentally step or sit on them. $260 would ruin a good day of fishing
I don't think $200+ for a pair of sunglasses is worthwhile. However, there are many great sunglasses to be had around $100. A $20 pair of sunglasses will certainly feel cheaper than ones costing $100, and they won't perform as well in terms of wear and tear, overall longevity. For folks who have a very tough time with not losing sunglasses, the $20 option is probably the way to go. For those who value and care for their sunglasses, the more expensive pair is definitely worthwhile. Because it's not just about UV400 protection, but about optical correctness. I have one pair of sunglasses made by Nikon that I've owned since 1996. 20 years. And aside from a few minor nicks to the lenses, they're in terrific shape (I plan on keeping them another 20 years).
if i could wear cheap shades i would. i wear prescription shades down here in florida. i have to pay extra but having health care benefits helps with the overall cost.
Oakley sunglasses are the best in my opinion ! High quality optics and frames, they will last alot longer ! Sunfactor 4 out of 5 is not the kind of protection you will find in cheap sunglasses ! I have the Oakley T-Wire from 1998 and they are still going strong ! I use them every summer and they are not scratched up yet ! Absolutely awesome !
This is a great topic. I have worn every pair of sunglasses in my life and the ONLY difference I notice is that cheaper sunglasses seem great out of the box but tend to lose quality very soon. You also have to be careful of counterfeit glasses. A real pair of Oakley's will give you years of quality service. Oakley, like some other expensive company's take longer to make and are labor and material related as well and cost reflects that. I like Native myself and they retail for around 150.00. My biggest fear of expensive glasses is losing them. Lot's of good info here..
Costa del Mar has really dropped in quality in recent years. The only problem I ever had with my first pair was someone stole them! But my most recent pair already has a cracked glass lens and one of the arms snapped off pulling them down from my head. Videos like this need to be seen so people stop wasting their money on poor quality junk! Costa now charges $12 just to look at warranty repairs and you'll just about never have something they consider to be a "warranty repair." Then they charge you $50-$100+ for frame or lens replacement plus shipping. I appreciate your honesty in this video. All of your videos are very insightful!
Yeah you're right. But... Investing in your passion is important. I think you need to be buying top quality gear if you can. It also adds to confidence on the water which may be superstition, it still feels better. Even if everything looks the same.
I've just bought a pair of Oakley c-wire blue Ice iridium polarised sunglasses for 95p from a charity shop. You can get high quality for peanuts if you look hard enough. Great videos by the way.
i got two polarizref the one cheap and more expensive. the cheap one give me hallunication vision when you see reflective light. the more expensive its clear
Thanks for that review, don't really have 150-250 to spend on glasses. Recently heard about polarized sunglasses so I'll be going to Walmart or Sportsmans to look for some cheapies.
Marty. Amen. Just saw this video. I have had a pair of Tuna Alley CDM's replaced twice! The rubber falls off the bottom. The lifetime warranty has a few catches as well. They don't replace for free. Picked up a pair of XPS glasses at Bass Pro for $24. Love them. Don't believe the hype. Live on the edge.
those $5 sunglasses rock! they stood up to almost a year of bowfishing and are still going when in 3 days in the beginning of the year i broke 3 more expensive pairs and for the price of one of the expensive pairs i bought a BUNCH of spares so I have some for my buddies to use
I got a a couple of Costas, I like the frame and the rubber gripping material on them. here in South Texas it gets humid during the dog days of Summer and that gripping material really hold. Plus the glass cuts down on the scratching. great vid
Berkeley has polarized amber versions too, i've been using them for years, best value in glasses ever, same 5 bux, i always go for polarized amber with the least amount of darkening.
You are absolutely right. Very expensive sunglasses may have good quality lenses, but not the best... you're really paying for the frame materials and the styling. I've seen some truly COOL looking Oakleys (like the Juliet and X-Square models), but... the prices are just insane. However... you can buy mid-priced sunglasses and you'll get MUCH better frames than those $5 Berkeley's. The other thing that is important to note is optical quality. If you get cheap sunglasses, they may likely have slight aberrations to the lenses resulting in less than 100% optical correctness. And that can cause eye strain over time. I have a pair of old Nikon sunglasses with phenomenal UVA and UVB protection, not polarized, 100% optically correct, and excellent on cutting glare. 20 years of ownership and the lenses still look great (I use them only for driving and keep them in a case). So $5 sunglasses are fine for when you're in situations where sunglasses may get easily damaged or lost... but for glasses you really want to keep, get a very good quality mid priced pair that has 100% optical correctness and quality comfortable frames that last.
I owned several brands as most people. If it can help some the best bang for the money I experienced is Serengeti. And one of the best filtering you can ever get. Espcially if you are a driver or pilot with the "driver gradient". Plus they're durable. I had some WileyX for more "intense" activity: they're ok but they didn't last me more than 5 years before one of the legs broke off from the frame (poor molding quality, the glasses never took a beating) whereas my Sergenti are still here. Sergenti doesn't have the most comforable frames but they're improving. Peace.
I personally love costas warranty. Also if you buy a old pair of costas for really cheap and call them for a repair. You can get any pair of your choice. I think the fee was only like 70$
I just got my costa saltbreaks in today with the green lenses and within 10 minutes I can tell that they are better quality polarized lenses than the oakley's that i've used for the past ten years. I love oakley's but the polarization and clarity of these glasses are much better in my opinion. I still love oakley's but for fishing, costa will be my choice for now on. I've owned the cheap Walmart glasses, they work but not as good nor do they last as long. The lense protection will begin to peel in no time but you can go pick up another pair for 10 bucks. I'm just blown away at the clarity of the Costa's!
One of the main reasons for price dif. is the process of polarization,there 3 types with the best for your vision protection and less eye fatigue obviously being more expensive,which also is more expensive to do.
I know of one brand that is worth the money (Mako in Australia). I bought a pair and after 9 years they were scratched, but still usable. I bought a pair of Raybans next (as I was overseas), and got 6 months out of them. I used to only get 6 months out of my Oakleys also. My next pair of Makos were stolen after 3 years, and the next pair, I ran over after 3 years.
I agree with your friend Chip totally. I've gone through 3 pairs of Maui Jims (+$800) compared to a few dollar Foster Grant polarized glasses and they're about the same clarity and it's a fashion thing. However the advantages of my Maui Jim's Ho okipa is the lightweight. They never leave indentations on the bridge of my nose, flexible with a rubber nose grip that keeps the glasses from sliding down (unless you're sweating your ass off...lol). Retail is about $180 but in my opinion are well worth it. The jelly-like material they use wrap around from ear to ear and very comfortable. Also they're not bulky like most frames. My ophthalmologist claims these are by far the best eye protection glasses out in the market today. Maybe just his opinion but I never leave home without them.
zoffinger I here ya. Personally I'd sell them while they're in good shape and get something else. Or like you've stated in you video, you can just buy the $5 glasses until they can't serve it's purpose any more. Sell them and use the money and buy some sun protection wear. You definitely need it in Florida. Cheers Marty!
Jae Chae I have some $300 Maui Jims that my friend ( a sunglasses distributor) got me for $60. 5 years in, used and abused since they are my only pair of glasses. Clean the lens with some decent cleaner and they can be put right back on the shelf to be sold as new. They are beyond durable, but that doesn't matter if you lose them I guess. To each their own. For me, its the comfort that makes it worth it.
I have a couple pair of expensive Maui Jim triple polarized fishing glasses, and I noticed a huge difference in clear water vs cheapo fishing glasses. In stained water that is more common here in Wisconsin, there is not as much difference between them in terms of visibility into the water.
I will keep my Oakley Polarized glasses. I have had them for 15 years. So the difference is not only in the lens, but the frames as well. I do however keep two pair of cheaper glasses for guests.
I used to fish quite a bit and started out wearing the cheap polarized glasses and then invested in a good pair. I would suggest wearing the cheap ones all day in bright sun and then another day wear the better ones. I could tell the difference in clarity and comfort. Polarized glasses are dimensional, the expensive ones are lined up horizontal where the cheap ones tend to be a little off. Tilt your head sideways and the polarization goes away. I think the better glasses are way overpriced but they do seem to be a little better.
Wow what great video! I was starting to think you were starting to kinda sell out to brands and stuff. I was still happy for you though because you make really good videos and i though you deserved some nice fishing gear. Now I see that you're more genuine that i first thought. Well done, keep up the good work and im looking forward to seeing your next video! Tight lines.
For me, the difference is in comfort. I bought a $5 pair of polarized glasses when I started fishing and got massive headaches from the glasses when wearing them for hours. It was the way they sat on my ears. From that, I went out and bought a $150 pair of polarized Oakley Flak Jackets and have had them for 5 years without any issues. I put them on my face and forget they are there because they are so comfortable. In a pinch I'd definitely use the cheap ones but a high-end pair is well worth the money if you're going to wear them every day.
I can't say about Costa's, but I always wore cheap shades. Then I put on a pair of Maui Jim's Peahi's and fell in love. The clarity and how they felt on my face was AMAZING! I wore them for six years before I broke them. Two years later after countless twenty - fifty dollar shades I bought another pair of Peahi,s. I even tried other pricey brands, however, non of them had the same impression on me. I found the same pair of Peahi's from Maui Jim, put them on and completely felt the same eight years earlier. If you aren't going to constantly brake, loose or have someone steal them, I will spend the money on good shades everytime.
Spied a little thing and I followed her all night In a funky fine Levis and her sweater's kind of tight She had a west coast strut that was as sweet as molasses But what really knocked me out was her cheap sunglasses
@@firewire8912 Oakley got bought by Luxotica and are made in China now. They are no different than the $5 Berkley's. Costa with the 580 glass are the real deal.
Since I had to buy a pair of sunglasses anyway I decided to go with an inexpensive pair from Walmart. What was best about this was that for under 20 bucks I got bi-focal polarized sunglasses in the fishing department. Thanks for your reviews!
lol I'm with you on the same kayak I think I'm going to go to Walmart and pick myself up pair of $5 glasses I never had none thank you for showing them to me
I have a pair of Costa del Mar Fathoms and a pair of Maui Jim Big Wave polarized. Tried several different pairs before dropping the cash for the spendy ones and I'll never go back. My Costas have been in warranty repair three times for lens replacement and I've paid less that $20 each time. The Jims are my backups.
Thanks for reveiw. I've used warranty but had to pay to get them looked at and then pay 50 n some to replace. Next pair wore out n half time. They wanted 80 plus to fix. Thats not warranty stated at all. Nose peice deteroiated on both glasses n left sticky sludge on my nose. Costa Hype! Debatting on trying Salt Life with Zeiss lense. Poor boy trying to protect his eyes.
I actually use a pair of those Berkley glasses but with amber lenses. I think the cable I use to keep them around my neck cost me close to 3X what the glasses cost! lol I've wondered myself if there was a significant difference between expensive glasses and the cheapies. Thanks for the review.
I have tried out loads of my fishing pals glasses and the medium priced glasses seem to be the best buy regarding build quality and seeing fish underwater and removing the glare.
Honesty...thats what we got ..well done Marty,great comparison on both pairs. Cheap and cheerful they say...too right,i smile every time i see some one wearing the pricey ones and there i am with my 3.99 pair on !!
In my experience there are differences between high cost and low cost sunglasses, but they tend to be subtle. Actually this is also the same with many other types of optical products. Usually in very dark conditions the plus would go to the expensive optic with fine quality ground lenses. I guess if price was never an object, one could always buy the most expensive product under the assumption they are getting the best. As for me, I am very cost conscious and will buy a product which will get the job done without breaking the bank. Same holds true with my choice in rods and reels. Sunglasses can be outrageously expensive, or can be a good deal as in those Berkeley's. The most apt comparison I can think of in the fishing realm is the cost differential between acceptable performing low cost fly tackle and the ultra expensive fly rods and reels. Hold the two products together and you really can't justify the difference.
I have a pair of Oakley Radars that of course are polarized, but just bought a new pair of Costa Blokes with the green mirror. Just the comparison of what you can actually see in the water makes a huge difference. The oakleys have really disappointed me with the quality. I think if you specifically buy the Costas for fishing (green mirror) are much better than the cheap ones. The clarity is also much better and not nearly as much distortion
Dropped mine cracked the glass lens sent them in and they charged me $90 buck so yeah 260+90= 👎 now they are cracked again and sitting in my closet. Thanks for your honest opinion.
First, thank for this comparison post. Now onto the subject of this post. I have used less expensive angler shades and have had great results. The problem becomes extreme eye fatigue after wearing the cheaper/less expensive glasses. I found that my eyes were forced to work much harder to focus creating this eye fatigue! (My Opinion Only)...
I don't see the Costas and similar glasses as anything more than a status symbol. I do like my $160 WileyX glasses though, and here's why; WileyX glasses are next to indestructible. I have slung rocks from my weedeater and hit my lenses, and the rock just bounces off. Don't try that with those Costas unless you want an eye full of glass! They are OSHA approved safety glasses. Also the ones I got(model: AirRaid) come with a removable foam gasket that basically turns them into goggles; keeps dirt and debris out, and totally blocks out glare so I can see into the water. These are the same type of glasses worn by a lot of our special forces guys so that should say something!!! Check'em out and I think you will 'see' a BIG difference! Tight lines buddy
Thanks for the comparison. I've been wondering for years if I should buy a better pair. Haven't been able to talk myself into spending the money so I have always bought the Berkley sunglasses. Glad to hear I haven't been missing anything. Watching your videos this winter has me all pumped up to get on the water this spring. I just bought a used Kayak yesterday so I can give my first one to my son and he can join me this summer. Now we are working on making bait buckets, gear boxes and customizing the yaks to fit our needs. Keep the videos coming and keep fishing.
Its fashion at this point. There are two types of fashion. Costume, which is not for the real world (stage and performance) and there is the fashion that you actually wear in the real world. What you choose to do with that is personal style. Downgrading a person for sporting designer sunglasses is Hating. So the rule I try to live by is simple...if you see somebody with something nice, give them a compliment....otherwise remaining silent could be considered Hating.
I can sure tell a difference and after a few months, you will find that blue coating to be coming right off the cheapies. Also look at fine detail like leaves changing in color and then there is a huge difference with the Costas.
I use the cheap one all the time.. It's just like my reels n rod setup , under $30 , my brothers stuffs are over $1k, yet we catch just as much fish , sometime they catch more , other times I end up catching more .. It's just a status thing
Hi Marty, I just sent you a message though TH-cam, Im not sure if you check your YT messages. Please let me know if you don't see it. All the best Andy.
My friend Ebenezer says the same . Cheapest are the best . I Rather go for quality and looks than just on price . Quality always costs and it really does add enjoyment to life . Each to their own I guess
They are completely worth it to me. I have 580G green mirror, and just ordered a pair with 580G blue mirror. I also have SpiderWire glasses from walmart. My Costa's fit my head much more comfortable... I can wear them all day with out noticing I have them on. The lens quality isn't even a comparison.. My Costa lens are way better than my Spiderwires...
I used to be a member of the Cheap sunglasses camp and swore I'd never spend more than $20 on shades. My dad bought a pair of Costas a few years ago and I tried them on while fishing and I swore I could see better with them on than with no glasses or even my $15 ones. I just bought my first pair (black Permits with Blue Glass lenses) and it's NUTS!!! I wear them all the time when I drive. Even on the morning driving to work with the sun in my face, they are nice and not Too dark either. I'm not advising staring at the sun but you can literally stare at it and it's just a circle, no giant blaring glare! They make colors contrast way better and cut glare like crazy. Now instead of getting beamed by sunlight reflecting from windshields I can see right through them to the Driver. You just have to try them to see. I don't think you'll get the full effect in the store either. Once you spend a day with them you'll wonder why you ever wasted you time and money on the cheapies. They are so clear (and comfortable) that you almost forget your wearing glasses. As for losing them, that's just a matter of self discipline. I always put them in the case when I take them off and I rarely let them sit on top of my head for more than a few seconds. A lanyard goes a long way too. Due to the fact I spent $260ish on them I Inherently take much better care of them then I ever did with my cheapies. I'm not gonna say they aren't pricey though. I Do believe you are paying for the name but the Quality is definitely there too. They aren't all creaky and chinsy feeling.
I once went to air show. and the ARMY had a display tent and where testing and developing different types of sunglsses ! what amazed me is that thay where developing something that now have the name Gargoyles !!!!!! 😎
I really like the point that you made out 👍🏼 but I also believe that there are visible differences between good designed - high quality glasses and the cheap ones, it's just that the expensive ones are too much marked up with their branding and marketing strategy. In the end it's all about making a conscious choices rather than spontaneous urge driven. Thanks for making the video, I really enjoy it :)
The fish can tell the difference.
If a fish swims up and sees you wearing cheap sunglasses he'll assume you're using cheap bait, he'll laugh and quickly swim away.
If he sees you wearing expensive sunglasses he'll assume you're using a very nice tasty bait, he'll stop and pause for a bit while he admires you're sexy shades then go bite you're hook....Bam! Got em!
+Dilbert Doe your* your sexy shades nvm i'll leave now.
+Dilbert Doe هههههههه
Dilbert Doe LMAO
I found those professional fishing glasses, with 3 different lenses(3 in 1), Check on this site;
bit.ly/2yNCjnT
I doesn't matter if they see his sunglasses if they see 3his hair they wil be out of there really fast
i wore cheap glasses for years.I bought a pair of costas cheap. i will never wear cheap glasses again. the difference is astonishing in my opinion.
Maui jim !!$ best my opinion
Anyone will be "surprised" by how "similar" $5 glasses are compared to $250 glasses. The problem is, you're flipping them on and off in a period of one day. Go fishing a whole summer with good glasses like Costa Del Mar, Maui Jim, Oakley, etc. Then one day toward the end of the summer, put on the $5 Berkley. Then you'll be able to understand the difference in quality. I used to be the same cheapskate glasses guy until I got a pair of Oakley's for Christmas 5 years ago. Anytime I put on $5 glasses, they are complete pieces of crap. I'll never buy a cheap pair of glasses ever again. He even nailed it at the end around the 10:00 mark. Your vision is intangible, but the optical improvement is for sure noticeable if you wear them enough.
you never buy Oakley again ,you will wait them for Christmas probably
@@evaldasbus9174 Nah I've bought a pair of Costa and Maui's with prescription lenses now that I wear glasses. It makes any $250 pair seem cheap now. Prescription are over $500 unfortunately.
I am an Optician by trade and I will say this from my experience fishing over the last 25 years with sunglasses.
*I have used the best and the worst.
*There are different quality Polarized lenses on the market.
The $5.00 Berkley's are not bad but there are subtle draw backs you can notice with extended use.
Your eyes will most likely get fatigued faster without an Anti-reflection coating on the back side of the lens.
*Visual acuity can be subjective.
*Everyone will appreciate detail differently.
*Lens color will play a part in how you see.
-Amber is my favorite because it enhances colors more then gray and your vision driving in overcast or rain is sharper.
-Gray is the best for those peak sunshine hours.
-Green is great for tennis, golf, and early morning and late evening fishing.
-Rose lenses tend to be a great middle ground between amber and gray.
A good pair will have a quality Polarization with an AR coating. I can go into more detail if you all would like but it will be a wall of text.
My summation would be, Polarized something is better then nothing. A quality polarization will bring out more detail then a cheap polarization. I keep some Berkley quality frames for myself and friends to use in a pinch but I love my Maui Jims the best Costa a very close second.
Thanks, this is important info. Its not about the money when it comes to protecting your eyes. Especially if you have had lasik or prk.
Thanks for your insight, Joe. You mentioned visual acuity being subjective; For instance, might wearing good sunglasses be like wearing good shoes? To a person with bad feet, good, quality shoes might make a world of difference, while to someone with healthy legs, back, feet, etc. they might be fine all day, wearing flip flops.
That is correct.
Also, I have many people that are simply more perceptive then others which can be good and bad. I can have say two brothers come in together and one will jump for joy with how good they can see with them when we test them outside. His brother will shrug his shoulders and say what's the big deal about these glasses. Both of the brothers are not wrong in their impressions. On another note, if you have perfect vision verse close but not perfect the individual will have a different perspective as well. If say you have a very slight correction in your vision that is not corrected the difference in the sunglasses will not be very apparent as well.
An analogy you could apply would be this, regular polarization and no treatments make you see in HD but Maui Jim or Costas give you Blu-ray. I can see the difference in Blu-ray verse HD but it really does not matter to me. Good sunglasses enhance the colors that you see regardless of tint color. I could also go into Bi-gradient tints as well. Bi-gradient tints make the sunglasses squint for you, this may sound crazy but this helps a lot as well.
I am sort of like you Marty in the sense that I can function just fine with my Berkley's but I can tell a difference with my other glasses. For instance, when I am say tuna fishing and you have deep water and tons of surface glare the AR really makes it worth while to have the Costas on all day long. If you are standing verse sitting you may notice a bigger difference in what you can see as well.When I am on my kayak, I don't have the same perspective as standing on a boat.
Oh damn, My two vices, fishing and glasses (shop talk to me). I know this does not clear up every question so please ask more if you would like to. I'd love to answer them. Its the least I could do considering all of your awesome content you give us! Keep up the great work Marty!
Also, try the sunglasses again and look out on to a large body of water when it is sunny with no hat on. Try them as well while driving in different conditions. If its gloomy or rainy your amber lenses should give you more detailed vision verses the gray tinted lenses.
If you don't mind me asking, when was your last eye exam? Men your age usually don't get checked often if ever till they notice something is off for at least two weeks or a month. : )
Edward Hall I sell Maui Jims for the normal retail prices because they are the current versions. The cheapest will be at Sam's or Costco because they sell all of the discontinued versions that still have the quality lenses of course.
Edward Hall local sporting goods stores will sell relatively cheap yet serviceable sun glasses. Just make sure your kids get the polarized forms at least. Save the Maui and Costas till they are around driving ages. I find more kids will appreciate them at that age usually.
I was in the same situation as you. A friend convinced me after 2 weeks to buy a pair of Maui Jims. I had a hard time thinking of spending that kind of money on 1 pair of sunglasses. I had the exact mindset as you. But I have to tell you that there is an incredible difference with the quality of the lenses and frame. As Joe mentioned your eyes do get very fatigued easier with cheaper lens sun glasses. I know this first hand when I used the cheap ones out fishing because I didn't want to get salt water on my Maui's. When I returned my eyes were blood shot red due to the cheaper lenses not protecting my eyes the way the Maui lenses protected them. Now I use nothing but a quality pair of lenses. Also as you stated the picture is better due to quality lenses. I promise you there is a difference.
Jason Colon Well guess what? You don't have to spend $260+ to get UV protection polarization. Yes, there will be some "actual" quality differences between el cheapo $5 and $260 glasses, but what about in between? By in between, I mean $20-$30 vs $260 which would narrow the gap considerably quality wise. What you are left with are marginal differences and about $230 of snob appeal. Of course anyone spending $260 will defend that action at length.
I have had PRK surgery and I am far from a snob. Been working my life since I was 14. As a person that could barely see 5 ft in front of me it's all about protection for my eyes. And like a mentioned prior that I noticed the difference when my eyes were red which means the sun got through those cheap lenses and was damaging my eyes. However with the Muai I tell you I haven't had that happen since. It's much more noticable to me probably because the layer that was taken from my eyes makes my eyes a little more sensitive however if it's happening to me I'm sure it's happening to anyone else on a different scale.
i am not into fishing but for some reason i like to watch this guy talking
Same. No idea about fishing. Just watched his boat build. He’s a lovely inspiring ‘oke. Such integrity too.
Zoffinger is just a cool, down to earth kinda dude
I read a lot of comments about eye protection; I do not wear any glasses and have protected them. I also vote for people who said expensive ones have quality. I would have liked them to be 50-60% cheaper though.
I have an old pair of Calcutta sunglasses I've had for 18 years that cost $25.
I see all the guides wearing fancy glasses and thought, I needed a pair. For the price, I expected to see through the water, through the fish and see what it had for dinner. NO DIFFERENCE in vision. NONE ! I returned the Costa's and got my money back. I figured it out. All the guides get guide discounts and brings the prices WAY down.
So In all actuality, the expensive ones are just fashion statements. "I spent more money - I'm brilliant!"
Guys that say they are better, are simply trying to justify their waste of money, Horse hockey !
Dropping those in the water is like losing a GoPro. No Thanks! I have the $5.00 ones and they work just fine.
Great Video!
Good, honest review!
As a pilot and I also drive a lot, this is my verdict about high-end sunglasses: First, high quality sunglasses are not those well known designer trash, but those who are specialized in making sunglasses such as: Serengeti and Maui Jim which I consider top notch, so you pay for the quality (optics, frames, technology...) and not for the name of the brand. I have tried all high quality sunglasses: Maui Jim, Revo, Smith, Oakley, Ray-Ban you name it, and I find Serengeti to have the best quality in terms of optics and frames, not to mention their great various designs. Another thing to mention here: please do not buy cheap sunglasses, you'll feel instant dizziness and eye fatigue, and that's something the camera lens won't reveal. Also, polarization of Serengeti sunglasses is integrated within the lens, you are not going to experience any form of eye fatigue, however, cheap sunglasses use polarizing filters which is much cheaper and worse. Do yourself a favor and buy good pair of sunglasses and I recommend Serengeti, you won't just protect your eyes, but you'll have greater experience with the tints they offer.
Serengeti funboy 😆
@@TheMrJurand2 I have now 5 pairs of Serengeti. Love them all
@@simodahedRandolph Engineering and Maui Jim are my personal favorites. Optical quality matters
@@didamnesia3575 Try Serengeti
I only buy 10-15$ sunglasses. They work great and comfortable. Only draw back they break after a year. Not sure how long expensive ones will last.
Spent 400 for a pair of Oakley Juliets that are worth more than I paid ten years ago. They are the finest sunglasses I have ever owned. Completely comfortable for all day wearing. I cannot get that with cheap sunglasses.
I have had years and years of cheap sunglasses. Never once damaging or losing them whilst fishing. It's always been once I have taken them home again hat the problems occur. Last year though, I did "invest" about £35 (about 2 and a bit times the money I usually pay) and they were more comfortable (I got a wide head) came with a nice case and cloths to keep them clean, but they also came with a lanyard. But the main reason I bought these ones.... They FLOAT! Fishing in continually cloudy water, the only real benefit I have had locally for polarised sunglasses is that it reduces the glare when casting into the sun. I have been able to fish in such circumstances for much longer without getting a head ache from the glare. But that is it. I don't wear them when generally out and about unless I am out looking for signs of fish activity early in the spring and summer. They just live atop the pc (so I know where they are and dont lose them in the home as usual), gathering dust..
Great video and great review too, Marty. Not because of your verdict, but because of your honesty and willingness to stand against the crowd. Nice one!!
I noticed the higher cost lenses has a more mirror like reflection, while the other pair did not, that may add more protection for the eyes on the water where sun glare is a problem, and more so for some people, I always prefered the copper amber lenses..
what i think you might be actually spending on more expensive sun glasses is probably build quality and more exotic coating methods that they put on the lenses. in some of them you can get prescription lenses too so that amps up the prize. In actual performance, i don't really see them being a whole lot better ether if you compare them to cheaper shades the differences to me are very small.
Thank you for the honest review. Maybe not 5$ but some 15-20$ decently made ones with tough lenses and AR on top would be great.
I think the cost of higher priced sunglasses are really unseen to the eye. I do believe that the lenses are a HUGE difference from the cheap to the expensive. It may not be something you can notice instantly, but the protection you get from the sun is what it's really all about. Think about this.....if Walmart sells those glasses for $5.00, Berkley most likely has about $2.00 into them! Now ask yourself....do you REALLY believe you are getting 100% UVA and UVB protection for that price? You only have one pair of eyes. Protect them my friend because as you know, Florida sun ain't no joke!
+Smokin' Briar Sound advice.
Plus them berkleys would shatter if hit with anything in the face .
I second that! Anybody unsure why you need UVA protection: look up macular degeneration, learn that it causes blindness, is untreatable and bad sunglasses make the progression of sight loss worse.. Good sunglasses on the other hand will protect your eye health. (I made another comment just above this one (commenting on the optician's comment) with a longer contribution.
You can get UV protection from a plastic bag. It's not really that expensive. Don't get scammed. Luxottica has you in their pocket. Don't know who they are? Use Google.
@@noblelies yea but how fast does that UVA coating wear off on cheap glasses ? Any cheap glasses or had the coating would come off within a year
the polarization film rubs right off on the berkleys after a couple of uses in saltwater watch..
That's exactly what happened to my cheap sunglasses after only one time of being splashed.
@@troyperales6873 I used to use berkley sunglasses along with Walmart Ozark trails and by the end of each summer the polarized costing would always burn off. I now have Costas with the 580 e glass and there's no comparison
Just picked up a $20 pair of XPS glasses from BPS. So far I like them far more than either pair of my Oakleys or my Maui Jim. Thanks for the video.
I use Edge Dakura Polarized Safety Glasses. $26 bucks on Amazon.
Super comfortable, protects your eyes really well and they are sturdy.
love your honest review. I compared cheap flying fisherman glasses to overpriced Oakley years ago. been rocking the cheapo flying fisherman's ever since.
I run a few sunglass optic locations and their is a huge difference. First off those five dollar glasses are made with Triacetate. It is used for cheap sunglasses or clip-on sunglasses. It is cheaper price and lightest weight. You are just ruining your eyes with those garbage. Triacetate is not 100% safe for your eyes. It's a spray on film. Which translates if it rubs off, or scratches, the uv from the sun gets in. Second off, triacetate is not meant for your eyes to look through, hence the low price. Your just damaging your eyes. Thirdly, you have no anti reflective coating which reflect uv. Lastly, if they are not at least polycarbonate grade or better your optical clairty is very low and it's straining your eyes. And yes... all Costa's are polarized. Major difference in quality. Bro do not buy 5 dollar glasses unless you want your eyes to go to shit. You can get a descent pair of polarized glasses for everything, for about $50. Suncloud as an example and they too have a life time warrenty. My opinion is that while I agree to an extent about Costa, try Smith.
Nick Prosperie thank you for actually knowing the difference i thought everyone on here was gonna be ignorant on the different.
$15 sunglasses gives you a little more options. I'd call that a good middle ground.
This was one of the best videos I’ve seen in a very long time. I’m subscribed to your channel now because it is easy to tell that you are humble, honest, and kind. Thank you.
i'm right there with ya man! most ppl who spend that kinda money on glasses will usually sit there and bash the cheap ones because their afraid to look stupid.thanks for the honest review!
SLICE HEARTSHOT
If you feel good with what you wear whether it be nice apparel, shoes or sunglasses then more power to ya. But to say that someone who spent a couple hundred dollars on quality shades or shoes or whatever doesn't want to look stupid....that's really quite contrary to reality.
+SLICE HEARTSHOT wrong pal , i always got the 5 dollar ones and they were fine, till i bought some oakley half jackets for 110.00 most i ever paid , kept them mint for 7 yrs, then sold em for 65 and the kid loved em.... now im looking for new flak jackets 2.0 and they are def worth it........
holdem5180 mine broke after a year so I fixed them and less then a year later they completely fell apart. Getting a pair of costas soon
Thank you for a good hinest review. I just stumbled apon this video. It looked hard for you towards the end there. I am a young father first and a fisherman second. I am on a budget and I appreciate the honesty in this video. I would like you to know that you earned a new subscriber. Thank you for saving me a bunch of money.
What I love about my costas is the comfort. And quality. Every time I put cheap glasses on they are shaped weired. And they are not rubberd like costas are in the right places
What I love about Costa sunglasses is I can get them in prescription.
As a long time, older guy, fly fisher who needs to change flies on the water the prescription option is a big deal. I fish for trout around the country and saltwater flats of the Caribbean as well as the inland bays of the Texas gulf; which is to say a variety of environments. I'm a believer that quality sunglasses provide superior optics with reduced eye fatigue ever since I bought my first pair of Smith Optics about 20 years ago. Also, I found glass provides better optics/clarity than polycarbonate. Now on my second pair of Costas I highly recommend them. Be advised of price though. The $260 cost as noted in the video is for non-prescription glasses. If, like me, you need prescription and progressive bifocals the cost is more like $800. That's a bit pricey, but not much more than regular glasses with a similar prescription with an anti-glare coating. It would be nice though if Costa took vision insurance.
600$ ouch
Don’t know how I came across this video but I remember when I switched from cheapies to my first pair of costas and I never looked back because I could tell a huge difference in quality especially when you clean the cheap ones and the cheap polarization film comes off. I can dump a full of sand on my 580g lenses and rub them clean with a with a regular rag and no scratches. Do that with a cheap pair and see what happens. Also lense color on open water with costas makes a huge difference. It doesn’t make you see deeper in the water per say but what it does is takes the glare 100% away from the top of the water and give you a clearer field of view and also real polarized glasses keeps all the nasty uv rays out of your eyes.
Honest review...for me the best sun glasses in my experience are polaroid lenses...fancy frame or not...it is lense that matters for 100% care & protection of your eyes.
I completely agree with you no need too spend lots of money on sun glasses when you can buy much cheaper ones and have much more money to spend on actual fishing equipment. I would only spend up to a maximum of $40 for sun glasses just for that little extra quality so they don't break as easy, great video man and G'day from one of your Australian Fans! I wish you could experience some of our fishing here I think you would love it!
i have a pair of Costas and a pair of cheapo glasses also. The difference I notice is in the eye fatigue, my eyes seem to get tired after all day fishing with the cheapo glasses and with the Costas they don't. but maybe its in my head LOL!
Yep you are on the money. I have too noticed this.
The Better lenses include and Anti-Reflection coating on the back of the lens. All Maui Jim's and Costa's have the AR coating.
Its fashion. Which is fine, as fashion has its place in culture, but desinger polarized glasses wont help somebody see fish better than most utility polarized glasses. The way to improve the ability to see fish, is by practicing looking for fish. The more you practice, the better ya get at it. Concentration and intensity also improve. You get 5 guys on a boat (with good vision), wearing a wide variety of sunglasses, and one guy of the 5 will consistently see the fish first. Over and over, Not always. But more so often than not. Its the guy that is used to focusing his attention on the water, and not drifting mentally, or getting distracted. Its not the glasses.
I thought about that yesterday as I tried to distinguish redfish from the random patches of grass on the flat and figured there must be people that are just better at picking up their slight movements giving them away, simply because they pay better attention. I agree with you Chip, 100%
zoffinger More so than target fish, vision intensity is even more crucial when it comes to select bait acquisition. Its all about Watertime. The more time you spend on the water, the stronger your vision intensity gets. All the good sunglasses work. Don't go for the Super cheep Polarized glasses because they may not provide the right UV protection. Your pupils dilate because of the tint, but they arent being protected from UV light. Make sure your shades have decent UV and the polarization is good to go.
Costa & Maui Jim & Ray Bans are the "YETI" of sunglasses // ALL MARKETING. Get yourself some ShadyRays and call it good...plus, that terrific warranty. Thank you for the video, well done and honest. Good Job.!
The Maui Jim Sea House Aviator shades are Amazing! Especially in Blue Hawaii.
my hubbie has caught tons of fish with the 5$ and 15$ pair of sunglasses sight fishing in the gulf and bay....never had an expensive pair yet, cant imagine how much better we would do.
I use the Rebel, blue lense and white frame sunglasses that you can find next to those berkley shades and they work well. I've had my fair share of designer shades. Considering wear and tear in sunglasses, I'd rather use a handful of the Berkley, Rebel, and Yum sunglasses.
never skimp on eyewear or footwear!!...
or underwear!!
Corvux IX especially not underwear
That's what Grandma with the bunions and thick glasses used to say.
For $5 you can carry a few spares in the boat/tackle box in case you loose them over the side or accidentally step or sit on them. $260 would ruin a good day of fishing
I don't think $200+ for a pair of sunglasses is worthwhile. However, there are many great sunglasses to be had around $100. A $20 pair of sunglasses will certainly feel cheaper than ones costing $100, and they won't perform as well in terms of wear and tear, overall longevity. For folks who have a very tough time with not losing sunglasses, the $20 option is probably the way to go. For those who value and care for their sunglasses, the more expensive pair is definitely worthwhile. Because it's not just about UV400 protection, but about optical correctness. I have one pair of sunglasses made by Nikon that I've owned since 1996. 20 years. And aside from a few minor nicks to the lenses, they're in terrific shape (I plan on keeping them another 20 years).
if i could wear cheap shades i would. i wear prescription shades down here in florida. i have to pay extra but having health care benefits helps with the overall cost.
Oakley sunglasses are the best in my opinion ! High quality optics and frames, they will last alot longer ! Sunfactor 4 out of 5 is not the kind of protection you will find in cheap sunglasses ! I have the Oakley T-Wire from 1998 and they are still going strong ! I use them every summer and they are not scratched up yet ! Absolutely awesome !
This is a great topic. I have worn every pair of sunglasses in my life and the ONLY difference I notice is that cheaper sunglasses seem great out of the box but tend to lose quality very soon. You also have to be careful of counterfeit glasses. A real pair of Oakley's will give you years of quality service. Oakley, like some other expensive company's take longer to make and are labor and material related as well and cost reflects that. I like Native myself and they retail for around 150.00. My biggest fear of expensive glasses is losing them. Lot's of good info here..
Did you wear my sunglasses?
Costa del Mar has really dropped in quality in recent years. The only problem I ever had with my first pair was someone stole them! But my most recent pair already has a cracked glass lens and one of the arms snapped off pulling them down from
my head. Videos like this need to be seen so people stop wasting their money on poor quality junk! Costa now charges $12 just to look at warranty repairs and you'll just about never have something they consider to be a "warranty repair." Then they charge you $50-$100+ for frame or lens replacement plus shipping. I appreciate your honesty in this video. All of your videos are very insightful!
Yeah you're right. But... Investing in your passion is important. I think you need to be buying top quality gear if you can. It also adds to confidence on the water which may be superstition, it still feels better. Even if everything looks the same.
I've just bought a pair of Oakley c-wire blue Ice iridium polarised sunglasses for 95p from a charity shop. You can get high quality for peanuts if you look hard enough.
Great videos by the way.
i got two polarizref the one cheap and more expensive. the cheap one give me hallunication vision when you see reflective light. the more expensive its clear
Thanks for that review, don't really have 150-250 to spend on glasses. Recently heard about polarized sunglasses so I'll be going to Walmart or Sportsmans to look for some cheapies.
You seem honest and intelligent I want a quality pair of sunglasses just don't want Oakley or to have that confused look you have
I agree I always wear cheap glasses for my regular construction job but I wouldn't trade them for my Oaklys I can tell the difference when I wear them
Marty. Amen. Just saw this video. I have had a pair of Tuna Alley CDM's replaced twice! The rubber falls off the bottom. The lifetime warranty has a few catches as well. They don't replace for free. Picked up a pair of XPS glasses at Bass Pro for $24. Love them. Don't believe the hype. Live on the edge.
those $5 sunglasses rock! they stood up to almost a year of bowfishing and are still going when in 3 days in the beginning of the year i broke 3 more expensive pairs and for the price of one of the expensive pairs i bought a BUNCH of spares so I have some for my buddies to use
I got a a couple of Costas, I like the frame and the rubber gripping material on them. here in South Texas it gets humid during the dog days of Summer and that gripping material really hold. Plus the glass cuts down on the scratching. great vid
Berkeley has polarized amber versions too, i've been using them for years, best value in glasses ever, same 5 bux, i always go for polarized amber with the least amount of darkening.
You are absolutely right. Very expensive sunglasses may have good quality lenses, but not the best... you're really paying for the frame materials and the styling. I've seen some truly COOL looking Oakleys (like the Juliet and X-Square models), but... the prices are just insane.
However... you can buy mid-priced sunglasses and you'll get MUCH better frames than those $5 Berkeley's. The other thing that is important to note is optical quality. If you get cheap sunglasses, they may likely have slight aberrations to the lenses resulting in less than 100% optical correctness. And that can cause eye strain over time. I have a pair of old Nikon sunglasses with phenomenal UVA and UVB protection, not polarized, 100% optically correct, and excellent on cutting glare. 20 years of ownership and the lenses still look great (I use them only for driving and keep them in a case). So $5 sunglasses are fine for when you're in situations where sunglasses may get easily damaged or lost... but for glasses you really want to keep, get a very good quality mid priced pair that has 100% optical correctness and quality comfortable frames that last.
I owned several brands as most people.
If it can help some the best bang for the money I experienced is Serengeti.
And one of the best filtering you can ever get.
Espcially if you are a driver or pilot with the "driver gradient".
Plus they're durable.
I had some WileyX for more "intense" activity: they're ok but they didn't last me more than 5 years before one of the legs broke off from the frame (poor molding quality, the glasses never took a beating) whereas my Sergenti are still here.
Sergenti doesn't have the most comforable frames but they're improving.
Peace.
I personally love costas warranty. Also if you buy a old pair of costas for really cheap and call them for a repair. You can get any pair of your choice. I think the fee was only like 70$
I just got my costa saltbreaks in today with the green lenses and within 10 minutes I can tell that they are better quality polarized lenses than the oakley's that i've used for the past ten years. I love oakley's but the polarization and clarity of these glasses are much better in my opinion. I still love oakley's but for fishing, costa will be my choice for now on. I've owned the cheap Walmart glasses, they work but not as good nor do they last as long. The lense protection will begin to peel in no time but you can go pick up another pair for 10 bucks. I'm just blown away at the clarity of the Costa's!
One of the main reasons for price dif. is the process of polarization,there 3 types with the best for your vision protection and less eye fatigue obviously being more expensive,which also is more expensive to do.
I know of one brand that is worth the money (Mako in Australia). I bought a pair and after 9 years they were scratched, but still usable. I bought a pair of Raybans next (as I was overseas), and got 6 months out of them. I used to only get 6 months out of my Oakleys also. My next pair of Makos were stolen after 3 years, and the next pair, I ran over after 3 years.
I agree with your friend Chip totally. I've gone through 3 pairs of Maui Jims (+$800) compared to a few dollar Foster Grant polarized glasses and they're about the same clarity and it's a fashion thing. However the advantages of my Maui Jim's Ho okipa is the lightweight. They never leave indentations on the bridge of my nose, flexible with a rubber nose grip that keeps the glasses from sliding down (unless you're sweating your ass off...lol). Retail is about $180 but in my opinion are well worth it. The jelly-like material they use wrap around from ear to ear and very comfortable. Also they're not bulky like most frames. My ophthalmologist claims these are by far the best eye protection glasses out in the market today. Maybe just his opinion but I never leave home without them.
Jae Chae Agreed. My Costas are heavy and are always sliding down my nose. It's got so annoying I don't want to wear them anymore.
zoffinger I here ya. Personally I'd sell them while they're in good shape and get something else. Or like you've stated in you video, you can just buy the $5 glasses until they can't serve it's purpose any more. Sell them and use the money and buy some sun protection wear. You definitely need it in Florida. Cheers Marty!
Jae Chae I have some $300 Maui Jims that my friend ( a sunglasses distributor) got me for $60. 5 years in, used and abused since they are my only pair of glasses. Clean the lens with some decent cleaner and they can be put right back on the shelf to be sold as new. They are beyond durable, but that doesn't matter if you lose them I guess. To each their own. For me, its the comfort that makes it worth it.
I have a couple pair of expensive Maui Jim triple polarized fishing glasses, and I noticed a huge difference in clear water vs cheapo fishing glasses. In stained water that is more common here in Wisconsin, there is not as much difference between them in terms of visibility into the water.
I will keep my Oakley Polarized glasses. I have had them for 15 years. So the difference is not only in the lens, but the frames as well. I do however keep two pair of cheaper glasses for guests.
Yeah if you keep your stuff nice. Sweet designer shades are luxury.
I have had my $3 pair of sunglasses I got at a flea market 25 years ago. They must be high quality if I've had them that long.
I love my costas and will never go on the water with out them, they are the BEST.
I used to fish quite a bit and started out wearing the cheap polarized glasses and then invested in a good pair. I would suggest wearing the cheap ones all day in bright sun and then another day wear the better ones. I could tell the difference in clarity and comfort. Polarized glasses are dimensional, the expensive ones are lined up horizontal where the cheap ones tend to be a little off. Tilt your head sideways and the polarization goes away. I think the better glasses are way overpriced but they do seem to be a little better.
Wow what great video! I was starting to think you were starting to kinda sell out to brands and stuff. I was still happy for you though because you make really good videos and i though you deserved some nice fishing gear. Now I see that you're more genuine that i first thought. Well done, keep up the good work and im looking forward to seeing your next video!
Tight lines.
For me, the difference is in comfort. I bought a $5 pair of polarized glasses when I started fishing and got massive headaches from the glasses when wearing them for hours. It was the way they sat on my ears. From that, I went out and bought a $150 pair of polarized Oakley Flak Jackets and have had them for 5 years without any issues. I put them on my face and forget they are there because they are so comfortable. In a pinch I'd definitely use the cheap ones but a high-end pair is well worth the money if you're going to wear them every day.
I can't say about Costa's, but I always wore cheap shades. Then I put on a pair of Maui Jim's Peahi's and fell in love.
The clarity and how they felt on my face was AMAZING! I wore them for six years before I broke them. Two years later after countless twenty - fifty dollar shades I bought another pair of Peahi,s. I even tried other pricey brands, however, non of them had the same impression on me. I found the same pair of Peahi's from Maui Jim, put them on and completely felt the same eight years earlier.
If you aren't going to constantly brake, loose or have someone steal them, I will spend the money on good shades everytime.
Spied a little thing and I followed her all night
In a funky fine Levis and her sweater's kind of tight
She had a west coast strut that was as sweet as molasses
But what really knocked me out was her cheap sunglasses
I know on me cheap glasses gives me a headache, where as quality glasses don’t.
same here
+Bradlee davis very true. Oakleys i love
depends on the UV capability and comfort on the bridge of your nose
same here i can't wear cheap glasses they give me headaches
@@firewire8912 Oakley got bought by Luxotica and are made in China now. They are no different than the $5 Berkley's. Costa with the 580 glass are the real deal.
I was just deciding between nice sun glasses or a new fly rod! Thank you so much for the input!
80% status/profit/marketing costs, 10% higher quality and design, 10% hype...
I found a nice happy medium...Polaroid lenses, about $100...totally confortable, great polarization, and the amber tint.
Since I had to buy a pair of sunglasses anyway I decided to go with an inexpensive pair from Walmart. What was best about this was that for under 20 bucks I got bi-focal polarized sunglasses in the fishing department. Thanks for your reviews!
lol I'm with you on the same kayak I think I'm going to go to Walmart and pick myself up pair of $5 glasses I never had none thank you for showing them to me
I have a pair of Costa del Mar Fathoms and a pair of Maui Jim Big Wave polarized. Tried several different pairs before dropping the cash for the spendy ones and I'll never go back. My Costas have been in warranty repair three times for lens replacement and I've paid less that $20 each time. The Jims are my backups.
Thanks for reveiw. I've used warranty but had to pay to get them looked at and then pay 50 n some to replace. Next pair wore out n half time. They wanted 80 plus to fix. Thats not warranty stated at all. Nose peice deteroiated on both glasses n left sticky sludge on my nose. Costa Hype! Debatting on trying Salt Life with Zeiss lense. Poor boy trying to protect his eyes.
An inbiased review! Thumbs up!
I actually use a pair of those Berkley glasses but with amber lenses. I think the cable I use to keep them around my neck cost me close to 3X what the glasses cost! lol I've wondered myself if there was a significant difference between expensive glasses and the cheapies. Thanks for the review.
I have tried out loads of my fishing pals glasses and the medium priced glasses seem to be the best buy regarding build quality and seeing fish underwater and removing the glare.
Honesty...thats what we got ..well done Marty,great comparison on both pairs. Cheap and cheerful they say...too right,i smile every time i see some one wearing the pricey ones and there i am with my 3.99 pair on !!
I have prescription Costas in my truck for driving and Strike King in my tackle box for the fishing.
In my experience there are differences between high cost and low cost sunglasses, but they tend to be subtle. Actually this is also the same with many other types of optical products. Usually in very dark conditions the plus would go to the expensive optic with fine quality ground lenses. I guess if price was never an object, one could always buy the most expensive product under the assumption they are getting the best. As for me, I am very cost conscious and will buy a product which will get the job done without breaking the bank. Same holds true with my choice in rods and reels. Sunglasses can be outrageously expensive, or can be a good deal as in those Berkeley's. The most apt comparison I can think of in the fishing realm is the cost differential between acceptable performing low cost fly tackle and the ultra expensive fly rods and reels. Hold the two products together and you really can't justify the difference.
well you have money for 50 berkleys that is his point
I have a pair of Oakley Radars that of course are polarized, but just bought a new pair of Costa Blokes with the green mirror. Just the comparison of what you can actually see in the water makes a huge difference. The oakleys have really disappointed me with the quality. I think if you specifically buy the Costas for fishing (green mirror) are much better than the cheap ones. The clarity is also much better and not nearly as much distortion
Dropped mine cracked the glass lens sent them in and they charged me $90 buck so yeah 260+90= 👎 now they are cracked again and sitting in my closet. Thanks for your honest opinion.
First, thank for this comparison post. Now onto the subject of this post. I have used less expensive angler shades and have had great results. The problem becomes extreme eye fatigue after wearing the cheaper/less expensive glasses. I found that my eyes were forced to work much harder to focus creating this eye fatigue! (My Opinion Only)...
I don't see the Costas and similar glasses as anything more than a status symbol. I do like my $160 WileyX glasses though, and here's why; WileyX glasses are next to indestructible. I have slung rocks from my weedeater and hit my lenses, and the rock just bounces off. Don't try that with those Costas unless you want an eye full of glass! They are OSHA approved safety glasses. Also the ones I got(model: AirRaid) come with a removable foam gasket that basically turns them into goggles; keeps dirt and debris out, and totally blocks out glare so I can see into the water. These are the same type of glasses worn by a lot of our special forces guys so that should say something!!! Check'em out and I think you will 'see' a BIG difference! Tight lines buddy
Thanks for the comparison. I've been wondering for years if I should buy a better pair. Haven't been able to talk myself into spending the money so I have always bought the Berkley sunglasses. Glad to hear I haven't been missing anything.
Watching your videos this winter has me all pumped up to get on the water this spring. I just bought a used Kayak yesterday so I can give my first one to my son and he can join me this summer. Now we are working on making bait buckets, gear boxes and customizing the yaks to fit our needs.
Keep the videos coming and keep fishing.
Good luck this spring, jd :)
Its fashion at this point. There are two types of fashion. Costume, which is not for the real world (stage and performance) and there is the fashion that you actually wear in the real world. What you choose to do with that is personal style. Downgrading a person for sporting designer sunglasses is Hating. So the rule I try to live by is simple...if you see somebody with something nice, give them a compliment....otherwise remaining silent could be considered Hating.
This guy has awesomest personality
I can sure tell a difference and after a few months, you will find that blue coating to be coming right off the cheapies. Also look at fine detail like leaves changing in color and then there is a huge difference with the Costas.
I use the cheap one all the time..
It's just like my reels n rod setup , under $30 , my brothers stuffs are over $1k, yet we catch just as much fish , sometime they catch more , other times I end up catching more ..
It's just a status thing
Hi Marty, I just sent you a message though TH-cam, Im not sure if you check your YT messages.
Please let me know if you don't see it. All the best Andy.
My friend Ebenezer says the same . Cheapest are the best . I Rather go for quality and looks than just on price . Quality always costs and it really does add enjoyment to life . Each to their own I guess
I’ve noticed the eye fatigue drops with the more expensive of Costa’s and a little more clear quality as well.
They are completely worth it to me. I have 580G green mirror, and just ordered a pair with 580G blue mirror. I also have SpiderWire glasses from walmart. My Costa's fit my head much more comfortable... I can wear them all day with out noticing I have them on. The lens quality isn't even a comparison.. My Costa lens are way better than my Spiderwires...
I used to be a member of the Cheap sunglasses camp and swore I'd never spend more than $20 on shades. My dad bought a pair of Costas a few years ago and I tried them on while fishing and I swore I could see better with them on than with no glasses or even my $15 ones. I just bought my first pair (black Permits with Blue Glass lenses) and it's NUTS!!! I wear them all the time when I drive. Even on the morning driving to work with the sun in my face, they are nice and not Too dark either. I'm not advising staring at the sun but you can literally stare at it and it's just a circle, no giant blaring glare! They make colors contrast way better and cut glare like crazy. Now instead of getting beamed by sunlight reflecting from windshields I can see right through them to the Driver. You just have to try them to see. I don't think you'll get the full effect in the store either. Once you spend a day with them you'll wonder why you ever wasted you time and money on the cheapies. They are so clear (and comfortable) that you almost forget your wearing glasses. As for losing them, that's just a matter of self discipline. I always put them in the case when I take them off and I rarely let them sit on top of my head for more than a few seconds. A lanyard goes a long way too. Due to the fact I spent $260ish on them I Inherently take much better care of them then I ever did with my cheapies. I'm not gonna say they aren't pricey though. I Do believe you are paying for the name but the Quality is definitely there too. They aren't all creaky and chinsy feeling.
I once went to air show. and the ARMY had a display tent and where testing and developing different types of sunglsses ! what amazed me is that thay where developing something that now have the name Gargoyles !!!!!! 😎
Unfortunately those of us who need prescription glasses have to spend a bit more on sunglasses. Transition lenses are the way to go. 2 in 1.
I really like the point that you made out 👍🏼 but I also believe that there are visible differences between good designed - high quality glasses and the cheap ones, it's just that the expensive ones are too much marked up with their branding and marketing strategy. In the end it's all about making a conscious choices rather than spontaneous urge driven. Thanks for making the video, I really enjoy it :)