Sunglasses

[S-Kippy]

I have loads of pairs. Had a very good pair of amber lens Polaroids that some fink down South now uses cos I left them in the car park at Throop. My current faves are a pair of Smiths yellow lens [Harris sale...bargain !] and a pair of top of the range Polaroids I won on FM. Very good glasses but not that comfortable. The Flying Fisherman are pretty good and they are comfortable.

No way would I pay top dollar though. Too easily lost,sat or trodden on.

Big Phil wears OPtilabs and says they are fantastic. Fortunately I am not yet mole sighted like him.

 

[vort]

I have a pair of prescription sunners but they are not polarised lenses.

Drivewear look interesting but I have very bad short sight they don't appear to do -9 diopter lenses.

Over the years I have tried several clip-ons but these produce reflections between the various surfaces.

I am currently using a cheap pair of chinese jobs that you wear over normal glasses. These work OK but are a bit too 'Joe 90' for my taste.

Still looking for the perfect solution...

 

[Tee-Cee]

Thought I would throw into the ring although its notdirectly related to sunglasses.......

I would suggest to everyone that before going out and spending a fortune on sunglasses it is definitely worth having a proper eye carried out and on a regular basis. It is only because of regular testing (annually but now every 6 months for me) that a fairly serious condition was found with my right eye.
To cut a long story short I've had an expensive eye op for Epiretinal Membrane which means a will have poor vision for some time to come as swelling in the eye abates and even then it may never get better. This means I also have cataracts in both eyes which will require further ops complicated by the original op.
In talking to my consultant (I paid to have one of the best in his field) it seems many he sees have problems simply because they do not have regular tests particularly as they get older. Also, and this is the point, many buy cheap sunglasses that are fashionable but quite useless for 'regular' wear. This is where I suggest fishermen are a special case because they wear sunglasses more often than most so it pays to be absolutely sure of what you're buying and to get proper advice.......FROM AN OPTICIAN
In my case I am now stuck with zero fishing, even less reading of books (my other love)and an uncertain future around my general eyesight AND zero driving if things get worse.

Not to say this sort of thing will happen to any of you but then that's what I thought.....and I've always tried to keep up the annual testing!!

Just be sure of what you're buying..........................

 

[Paul Boote]

Very sound stuff, Tee-Cee. I believe that the best advice that I, a non-medic layman and someone still blessed with a decent set of peepers, can offer is not to wear sunglasses for very long / all the time when fishing, for, however "good" they are, they affect your vision and probably do some damage. So, unless I am in blinding tropical or alpine sun (which I haven't been for several years), I only use sunglasses for fish-spotting, and leave what I was born to do the looking rest - less eyestrain, fewer headaches after hours of staring through lenses.

 

[Ray Roberts]

Thought I would throw into the ring although its notdirectly related to sunglasses.......

I would suggest to everyone that before going out and spending a fortune on sunglasses it is definitely worth having a proper eye carried out and on a regular basis. It is only because of regular testing (annually but now every 6 months for me) that a fairly serious condition was found with my right eye.
To cut a long story short I've had an expensive eye op for Epiretinal Membrane which means a will have poor vision for some time to come as swelling in the eye abates and even then it may never get better. This means I also have cataracts in both eyes which will require further ops complicated by the original op.
In talking to my consultant (I paid to have one of the best in his field) it seems many he sees have problems simply because they do not have regular tests particularly as they get older. Also, and this is the point, many buy cheap sunglasses that are fashionable but quite useless for 'regular' wear. This is where I suggest fishermen are a special case because they wear sunglasses more often than most so it pays to be absolutely sure of what you're buying and to get proper advice.......FROM AN OPTICIAN
In my case I am now stuck with zero fishing, even less reading of books (my other love)and an uncertain future around my general eyesight AND zero driving if things get worse.

Not to say this sort of thing will happen to any of you but then that's what I thought.....and I've always tried to keep up the annual testing!!

Just be sure of what you're buying..........................

Sorry to hear of your predicament Tee-Cee, I hope things pick up for you soon. It may be worth trying a Kindle if your specialist allows it as you can turn any book available in that format to large print.

Its also worth checking the UV protection of any glasses you buy, I disagree with Paul as they can offer 100% UV protection to your eyes, like factor 50 for your eyeballs.

 

[jacksharp]

I get eyestrain from pole-float watching and particularly when wearing cheap Polaroids. I am going to buy a pair of Shimano ones next which, whilst not breaking the bank at under £30, should be better than the pair I bought in Lidl for £2.99! mg:

 

[Paul Boote]

They take their sunglasses pretty seriously overseas - Treat your sunglasses as though your vision depends upon them | Fly Fishing | Gink and Gasoline | How to Fly Fish | Trout Fishing | Fly Tying | Fly Fishing Blog

After reading the above, I have just built a small domestic shrine to mine here at home - discreet everlasting flame, burning incense, a little Buddhist monk (very reasonable if you buy them in bulk direct from Tibet) in a corner constantly chanting "Ommmmm", some Selfie pictures of a fishily triumphant Moi looking Great wearing them, the skins of a few warring bird types on the walls - nothing too showy.

If it goes on like this, I'll have to ditch all the fishing tackle and the fish and become a 2013 Ray Ban Aviators Reincarnation of the Cast of Easy Rider.

 

[flightliner]

Ive had several over the years but about fifteen years ago bought some cheap ones until I could get into town and buy better.
They cost seven quid and all it says on them is "made in korea".
Not long after buying them I was out on a big pit bream spotting with a friend who was wearing optix comorants, just passing a bay he announced that it was clear of fish but after looking myself suggested he try mine cos he had missed a shoal of biggies.
He was mortified and asked who mine were made by but I couldnt help him on that score.
They are indispensible to me having put me on some great fishing when others miss out using expensive branded ones.
They are in my car now with one arm missing (no one will repair them as they have glass lenses) but they are absolutely irreplaceable so a bit of wire has to suffice, if I were to loose them I would be very upset.
For most other situations that just need sun protection I have a pair from boots the chemist that cost much much more but arnt a patch on my originals.

 

[geoffmaynard]

I've never found any which beat amber in any light conditions, whereas the grey and browns often don't do the job properly, especially with deeper water. If I had 20/20 vision I would go for Cormorants, even though they seem a bit heavy, but as I wear glasses I wear clip-ons from Daiwa for about £15. I keep them clipped to the brim of my hat when not in use so they never get forgotten or lost.

 

[MarkTheSpark]

If I had 20/20 vision I would go for Cormorants, even though they seem a bit heavy...

[signature]
So many cormorants, so few recipes.

You've been COOKING your sunglasses, Geoff?

BTW, one final plug for Eye Level and TF Gear sunnies - both good IMO, and excellent value for money.

 

[Paul Boote]

Great fun late morning: literally eye-balling first a big common, then, after a 400-yard walk, a barbel, through sunglasses (amber and light grey) and a pair of little Olympus 8x30 bins (both with the glasses worn on my face and held in front of the bins - bit of a faff but I got it to work) . Watched the carp blowing freebie baits in and out like a good un, with own heart hammering away like a good un, too - the fish was so "close", I felt as if I could reach out a hand and pat it on the head. The barbel? Well, being a barbel, she just hoovered everything I put her way (three small batches, twenty minutes apart, she disappearing into a weedbed for a few minutes as I laid the table, returning once I had returned to kneeling crouch behind some bankside veg'. Great fun.

 

[Bluenose]

Thought I would throw into the ring although its notdirectly related to sunglasses.......

I would suggest to everyone that before going out and spending a fortune on sunglasses it is definitely worth having a proper eye carried out and on a regular basis. It is only because of regular testing (annually but now every 6 months for me) that a fairly serious condition was found with my right eye.
To cut a long story short I've had an expensive eye op for Epiretinal Membrane which means a will have poor vision for some time to come as swelling in the eye abates and even then it may never get better. This means I also have cataracts in both eyes which will require further ops complicated by the original op.
In talking to my consultant (I paid to have one of the best in his field) it seems many he sees have problems simply because they do not have regular tests particularly as they get older. Also, and this is the point, many buy cheap sunglasses that are fashionable but quite useless for 'regular' wear. This is where I suggest fishermen are a special case because they wear sunglasses more often than most so it pays to be absolutely sure of what you're buying and to get proper advice.......FROM AN OPTICIAN
In my case I am now stuck with zero fishing, even less reading of books (my other love)and an uncertain future around my general eyesight AND zero driving if things get worse.

Not to say this sort of thing will happen to any of you but then that's what I thought.....and I've always tried to keep up the annual testing!!

Just be sure of what you're buying..........................

Jeez sorry to hear that mate, I hope you make a full recovery soon and thanks for the post.

The quality of sunglasses is not something I've ever really considered as up until recently I have been in denial about my eyesight, now I need glasses for reading and my eyesight seems to be getting even worse for close up stuff I suspect it's time to make a bit more of a considered choice before buying cheap and cheerful?

I have a pair of shimano gigs bought as a birthday prezzy by Mrs C a few years back... I'd like to think they were decent enough quality, but prior to that it was anything with 'polaroids' in the description off the cheapo rack in Boots or Superdrug!

 

[jacksharp]

Had a look at some Eye Level sunnies in my local angling superstore today and was quite impressed. No pairs above £15.99 and a huge range of styles. However they are all Category 3 and I would like a lighter tint in amber. The old Optix Cormorant HLTs were good but mine fell to bits after 20 years of abuse!

---------- Post added at 18:08 ---------- Previous post was at 18:02 ----------

Jeez sorry to hear that mate, I hope you make a full recovery soon and thanks for the post.

The quality of sunglasses is not something I've ever really considered as up until recently I have been in denial about my eyesight, now I need glasses for reading and my eyesight seems to be getting even worse for close up stuff I suspect it's time to make a bit more of a considered choice before buying cheap and cheerful?

I have a pair of shimano gigs bought as a birthday prezzy by Mrs C a few years back... I'd like to think they were decent enough quality, but prior to that it was anything with 'polaroids' in the description off the cheapo rack in Boots or Superdrug!

I wear contact lenses and my vision (with them in) is excellent but everyone gets age-related focussing problems and I have loads of pairs of cheapo reading glasses in every room, car, jacket, fishing bag, etc. and tying on hooks and baiting-up can only be done with their assistance.

I am looking at a pair of Shimano sunnies too!

 

[nicepix]

Had a look at some Eye Level sunnies in my local angling superstore today and was quite impressed. No pairs above £15.99 and a huge range of styles. However they are all Category 3 and I would like a lighter tint in amber. The old Optix Cormorant HLTs were good but mine fell to bits after 20 years of abuse!

---------- Post added at 18:08 ---------- Previous post was at 18:02 ----------



I wear contact lenses and my vision (with them in) is excellent but everyone gets age-related focussing problems and I have loads of pairs of cheapo reading glasses in every room, car, jacket, fishing bag, etc. and tying on hooks and baiting-up can only be done with their assistance.

I am looking at a pair of Shimano sunnies too!

I know it is difficult sometimes to do proper comparisons but if you have a pair of cheap polarising glasses and a more expensive pair take the time to try them out and compare them side by side. In a shop you can sometimes use the glare on the glass of the windows to compare how much is eliminated, but water is better. I have done this myself and honestly if you didn't try the test you would never know what you are missing by not getting a good pair. Some of the clip-on types are next to useless, as are some of the fishing branded types compared to a good brand such as Bolle.

Unfortunately due to an injury sustained at work I now have to use prescription lenses so am hamstrung with my choice. The Optilabs specs are as good as I have seen in prescription lenses, but the old Bolle specs cut through the glare better.

 

[Paul Boote]

Interesting to see how a bit of non-corporate reality referring to the weekend's usual suspects' collective dump on Yours Ever Truly at 8.40 or so this morning has now disappeared from this thread. Still, I kept a page copy at the time and sent it to People Who Count. Rearranged realities, eh?

Sunglasses, anyone?

 

[Bluenose]

Paul, I felt your post was nothing to do with the thread, I read it as a rant at 'The Usual Suspects'.. it got reported by another member, so I pulled it, I've re-read the post on the basis of what you've stated here and I'm happy with my original decision.

If you see a post you are unhappy with, please report it via the 'report post' button and I/we'll take action if we deem fit and if you are not happy with my/our actions then please take it up with the editor.

Cheers

 

[Paul Boote]

Paul, I felt your post was nothing to do with the thread, I read it as a rant at 'The Usual Suspects'.. it got reported by another member, so I pulled it, I've re-read the post on the basis of what you've stated here and I'm happy with my original decision.

If you see a post you are unhappy with, please report it via the 'report post' button and I/we'll take action if we deem fit and if you are not happy with my/our actions then please take it up with the editor.

Cheers

Take it up with an Editor? I think not. Too much like bureaucracy.

The Right Sort of People saw it and gently rolled their eyes, knowingly.

 

[Fred Bonney]

I've had prescription Optilabs for it must be going on 15 years.
Hard as nails even when sat on, and well worth the cost for that reason alone.

 

[Paul Boote]

Clearly a case of "Does my bum look big on these..."