On 1/30/2018 at 9:12 AM, J Francho said:

My info is from an employee at Maui Jim.  The mirror is for appearance only.  The reduction in light is balanced with the tint, but it serves no practical functional purpose.  Meaning a non mirror lens can and does perform as well as a mirrored lens.  In the application of sunglasses, mirror is for appearance only.

 

On 1/30/2018 at 3:56 PM, Kyhokie said:

Green mirror amber is what I use for most freshwater applications 

Bro, your source is wrong. Mirroring absolutely cuts down on light penetration. 

Mirror definitely makes a difference on Oakley and Costa maybe not Maui's. Take the same Oakley lens say Black polarized gray its LT is 10% add the mirror coating Black Iridium polarized gray LT goes to 9%, reflect a bit more light.

 

 

The Maui coating not having an effect may be the cause of the annoying back light reflection my Banyans suffered with.

" Costa Mirror sunglasses will reflect light and reduce glares. On the water, the mirror lens will also help you see fish better. Costa mirrored lenses are made through a high-tech beam ion deposition process. This process makes the lenses the most scratch resistant available."

 

This video has Costa employee explaining the difference.

 

 

 

I just returned from a bonefish trip where I used my regular prescription glasses with an amber clip-on, both from Zenni.  The clip-on cost about $4.  Worked very well-now and then I saw fish the guides had not yet located.  I'm not saying the combination is the best optical performance, but if on a budget, it is worth considering, because it basically worked.  Without the clip-on, I could see nothing in the water; with it on, it was like turning on a light, or removing the surface of the water.  Worked both on sunny days and overcast.

 

If I could find some high performance, full coverage wrap arounds with a bi-focal window at the bottom, I would buy it.  In amber.

 

Sometimes in overcast conditions the high performance greys, with about 90% visible light filtration, don't provide enough visible light to get through, and detail is lost due to it being too dark.

I like a high-contrast amber for everything.  I tend not to wear sunglasses unless I am fishing as I hate keeping track of them or having the bulk in my pockets. 

 

 

Costa does have their own prescription lenses, they have little costa symbols etched into them. I like the silver mirrored which is a gray base for almost everything...

1 hour ago, ThatredneckguyJamie said:

Costa does have their own prescription lenses, they have little costa symbols etched into them. I like the silver mirrored which is a gray base for almost everything...

You are correct.  These were not available when I bought mine.  Good to know!!  

2 hours ago, TOXIC said:

You are correct.  These were not available when I bought mine.  Good to know!!  

As a side note for anyone that might be interested...Most insurance plans will not pay for the costa lenses

On 1/31/2018 at 10:32 AM, J Francho said:

Let me elaborate, since the concept escapes you.  When you put a mirror deposition on the lens, they will reduce the amount of tint.  Color of mirror doesn't matter, color of tint can have an effect.  I have a pair of non mirror grey off shore glass shades, and they're darker than any mirrored Costa or Oakley I've owned.  So, when you look at mirrored or non mirrored in the same line up, it makes NO DIFFERENCE.  Pick what you think you look pretty in. 

 

Also, who here fishes in space?  With no atmospheric filtering of sunlight, I'd think they'd be designing screens with just about every thing they can use and still be able to see.

Calm down man. Aren't you a global moderator? I've fished with kids that were less wound than you... A simple Google search would tell you that your first statement of "Mirror serves no function at all.  It's just for looks" was incorrect. 

Dark gray in the sunlight and amber for low light conditions. Get some SK S11 ones for like $15 each and you are set.

 

Allen

I’m partially color blind and until I purchased a pair of 580G’s with green lenses I would have never given an opinion one way or another.  Now the only time I don’t wear them is when I’m indoors and even then, many times I’ll leave them on. 

I have both mirrored and non.  Makes difference to me.  I like the looks that mirrored offers.  You can take the tiny bit of science that's twisted into marketing hype as "better" for what it's worth.

Its not hype if theres an actual measurable difference such as with Oakleys.