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Whether you’re fishing in sunny, cloudy or rainy conditions, the right pair of sunglasses is essential to cut the glare on the water’s surface. Fishing sunglass lenses need to be polarized, so not just any old pair will do.
Name | Average price | Lens type | Usable with prescription eyeglasses? | Purchase |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cocoon Slim Line | $55 | Optical-grade, gray | Yes — fits over top | Shop at Cocoons |
Orvis Superlight Tailout | $70 | Shatter-resistant, amber, polycarbonate | No | Shop at Orvis |
Suncloud Zephyr Bifocal | $80 | Impact-resistant, polycarbonate, built-in magnifier | Bifocal design | Shop at L.L Bean |
Oakley Split Shot | $165 | Mirrored, polycarbonate, gray | No | Shop at Oakley |
Costa Blackfin 580P | $180 | Polycarbonate | Yes — can be ordered with prescription lenses | Shop at Backcountry |
Kaenon Arcata | $250 | Polycarbonate, available in four tints | No | Shop at Backcountry |
Maui Jim Peahi | $250 | Scratch-resistant glass, available in three tints | No | Shop at Bass Pro Shop |
*All of our picks for top fishing sunglasses have polarized lenses.
Polarized lenses are specifically designed to reduce glare from reflective surfaces like water, sand and snow. Glare happens when sunlight bounces off a smooth, shiny surface — like water — and is reflected back along the same horizontal plane.
For fly-fishermen standing in a stream, glare is especially problematic. Not only can it spoil their chances of catching a fish, it can also damage their eyes. So wearing polarized sunglasses is vital.
Polarized lenses remedy glare by using a filter that only allows vertically-oriented light to pass through. Horizontally-reflected light from the stream won’t enter your eyes and cause an annoying or even blinding glare.
Use one of these tests to see if your sunglasses are polarized:
Beyond polarization, compare these other important features in sunglasses for fly-fishing:
Anglers who wear prescription eyeglasses now have more options than ever. Some styles clip on to your prescription glasses using magnetics and other attachments, while others are designed to be worn over top of your regular glasses.
Some specialized sunglasses even offer bifocal lenses for those who need help seeing up close. You also have the option of purchasing a separate pair of prescription sunglasses, which combines your corrective lenses and sunglasses into one.
Water surface glare can not only ruin your fishing trip but also harm your eyes. Gear up with a pair of polarized sunglasses for fishing and say goodbye to glare.
Ready to buy? Compare top fishing sunglasses
Looking for more fly-fishing essentials? Don’t miss our comparison of some of the top fishing vests for fly-fishing.
We considered features such as polarization, style and fit, lens type and coating and extra features to create our list of the best fishing sunglasses. We also took into account our personal experiences and third-party online reviews.
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