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Mirrored versus non mirrored glasses


Caiden24
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I want to get new glasses because the ones I have I now are more for like bright open waters like the ocean. I want to get copper or amber colored lenses but I am not sure if I should get mirroring with them or not. Thanks!

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I use to have clip-ons for my prescription glasses that were polarized, but not mirrored.

20190712_101737.jpg.a825a6ab1e78478fab11bb0a788944c9.jpg

 

Last year, got some 'over the glasses' pairs (Gray, Amber, Green) that are mirrored and I'm impressed with the difference in ability to see.

20230908_084547.jpg.8fcfd67dc8208bb21584a46f6116b808.jpg

 

From now on, it'll be mirrored for me, thank you.

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I have found mirrored to be better when it is extremely bright, but they can reduce visibility when the sun is not extreme.  Check tour eyes with various tints, only a gray or dark gray works for my eyes.  Greens , ambers etc give me headaches from being to bright.  Try some different colors before you spend your hard earned dollars...

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Mine are prescription amber, no mirror.

I've  had mirror and had no issues.

I'd say whatever makes you look the coolest 😉

 

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46 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I use to have clip-ons for my prescription glasses that were polarized, but not mirrored.

20190712_101737.jpg.a825a6ab1e78478fab11bb0a788944c9.jpg

 

Last year, got some 'over the glasses' pairs (Gray, Amber, Green) that are mirrored and I'm impressed with the difference in ability to see.

20230908_084547.jpg.8fcfd67dc8208bb21584a46f6116b808.jpg

 

From now on, it'll be mirrored for me, thank you.

Thank you!

18 minutes ago, airshot said:

I have found mirrored to be better when it is extremely bright, but they can reduce visibility when the sun is not extreme.  Check tour eyes with various tints, only a gray or dark gray works for my eyes.  Greens , ambers etc give me headaches from being to bright.  Try some different colors before you spend your hard earned dollars...

Test them as in by going to a store or by buying cheap ones first? Thanks!

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Green mirrored Costas with glass lenses, the very best!

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I’ve been using polarized progressive wraparound shades from Wiley X for 10 or so years now, in what they call bronze. First pair were not mirrored, 2nd 2 pair were mirrored, I prefer the mirrored. To me they seem darker and the polarization works better.

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2 hours ago, Caiden24 said:

Thank you!

Test them as in by going to a store or by buying cheap ones first? Thanks!

I often buy my glasses at outdoor markets where I can try them in the sun.  To hard to see inside a store.  I don' t buy cheap junk glasses, but I don't spend big bucks for fancy names either.  Quality of lenses if first, brand name means little.  Everyone's eyes are different that is why real life testing should be used.  In my boat I carry one set of mirrored and one polarized non mirrored.  

Eyes can prefer different colors so a good reason to try different colors.  My eyes do not like amber, bronze or green.  The gray works best for me.. Try different colors and see what works best for your eyes..

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I have ripped the mirror off every pair I ever had when cleaning them so I switch to the dark ones and they last way longer. Blenders have been my fav brand so far, ignore the white spray paint I got on them 

 

IMG-5300.jpg

the good thing about that lens color, which I’ve heard but escapes me, is they are good for any sky condition, I was seeing threadfin shad under the surface after sunset with them on this evening 

 

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The only real advantage to a mirrored sunglass is that they help reduce glare within the glass itself.  But regular sunglasses can do the same thing with AR (anti reflective) coatings.  Mirrored sunglasses also tend to be darker, because the mirror coating blocks out about half the light by design.  If you've ever looked through the back of a two-way mirror, you'll notice it darkens what you see, even though the glass itself is transparent.  

Mirrored sunglasses biggest benefit is privacy.  They don't let others see your eyes.  Outside of that, and style, of course, there's nothing a mirrored sunglass does that nonmirrored sunglasses can't do just as well.  

 

Now whether or not a particular set of mirrored sunglasses are better for you depends on the actual sunglasses in question and what you prefer.  And they may or may not reduce glare better than nonmirrored sunglasses, depending on the quality or lack of AR coating on the nonmirrored sunglasses.  And they also may or may not be darker, because the company may decide to use a lighter lens color for their mirrored sunglasses to counteract the darkening from the mirrored coating and make the two varieties roughly the same darkness.  

My point being, if you're worried about only the performance aspects, and not style or privacy, it's best to try both and see what you think.  The mirror coating itself doesn't guarantee anything, performance wise.  So depending on which two sunglasses in particular we're talking about, the differences can be apparent, non-existent, or even the opposite of what you'd expect.  

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Blue mirror is designed for open water in bright situations.  That's the one you would want specifically for those situations like fishing in saltwater on a sunny day.

 

I personally like the green mirror but I am using mine for a multitude of conditions from sunny to cloudy in freshwater.

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The green mirrored Costa sunglasses solved ALL my problems. I've been through them all, Rayban, Oakley--just lost a set of those. I had the Oakley Split Shots, probably the cheapest pair of glasses ever owned. The Costa by comparison are far better, high quality stuff. The visual field is wonderful for casting and spotting big bass. Green lenses designed specifically for shallower inshore style fishing. I have the Blackfin Pro green glass lensed version. They really cover well and hardly feel like ya got them on, even all day out in the blaring south Florida sunlight. Best advise is to hit up a place like Bass Pro, Dick's, or even a local Sunglass Hut to try whatever sunglasses on. Just like clothing, should fit well, feel well, and perform extra well! 

 

IMG_5005.jpg

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18 hours ago, geo g said:

Green mirrored Costas with glass lenses, the very best!

Yeah I bet they would be, I just don’t have $200 laying around 

18 hours ago, airshot said:

I often buy my glasses at outdoor markets where I can try them in the sun.  To hard to see inside a store.  I don' t buy cheap junk glasses, but I don't spend big bucks for fancy names either.  Quality of lenses if first, brand name means little.  Everyone's eyes are different that is why real life testing should be used.  In my boat I carry one set of mirrored and one polarized non mirrored.  

Eyes can prefer different colors so a good reason to try different colors.  My eyes do not like amber, bronze or green.  The gray works best for me.. Try different colors and see what works best for your eyes..

Ok thank you, the only problem is that I don’t have outdoor markets where I live

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42 minutes ago, Caiden24 said:

Yeah I bet they would be, I just don’t have $200 laying around 

 

You can get the polycarbonate version (580P) lenses for about 100 bucks or less brand new if you look around.  I actually prefer them over the glass lenses for the weight.  The weight of the ones with glass lenses is noticeable if you've never tried them.

 

Also, glass can shatter.  Polycarbonate can't.  Not that it would make a difference unless something hit the lens at high speed.

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I don't have an opinion on mirror vs non-mirro as I have not had enough experience with them yet. As for lense color dark grey in the sun and amber in low light conditions. 

 

Allen

 

 

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1 hour ago, Caiden24 said:

Yeah I bet they would be, I just don’t have $200 laying around 

Ok thank you, the only problem is that I don’t have outdoor markets where I live

Many stores will allow an attendant to walk outside with you to try them on.  

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1 hour ago, airshot said:

Many stores will allow an attendant to walk outside with you to try them on.  

That’s exactly what I did. Try them on in person, buy them online. I gave the retailer the option to price match and they declined. That’s their loss.

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23 hours ago, geo g said:

Green mirrored Costas with glass lenses, the very best!

 

For bright conditions and very clear water I agree.  For low light conditions the Costa Sunrise Silver Mirror lens are awesome!  

 

To the OP- my everyday driving glasses are Suncloud which run around $50 (you can always find them on sale).  I often end up wearing them fishing.  They are a great value and while Costas are better they are definitely not 4 or 5x better.  

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On 3/21/2024 at 3:45 PM, gimruis said:

Also, glass can shatter.  Polycarbonate can't.  Not that it would make a difference unless something hit the lens at high speed.

 

Here's an article about a woman who had a minor fender bender that set off her airbag. The airbag broke her sunglasses and she lost one of her eyes. The article doesn't say specifically, but I think hers were plastic, not glass. It's hard to really know what you're buying a lot of times when it comes to sunglasses.

 

https://www.11alive.com/article/money/consumer/sunglasses-safety-in-crash/85-7a8eebdc-3478-42e5-a9e5-465dac28425b

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42 minutes ago, fin said:

The article doesn't say specifically, but I think hers were plastic, not glass. It's hard to really know what you're buying a lot of times when it comes to sunglasses.

That is wild.  Your right it does not specifically say what the lenses were made of; only that polycarbonate is shatterproof.

 

The airbag expanded at 200 mph with 2000 pounds of force.  That's some ridiculous physics.

 

The costa sunglasses are specifically labeled as 580G or 580P.  The g is for glass and the p is polycarbonate.  I have the polycarbonate ones.  I do not wear them in the car, I only wear them fishing.  That won't be changing.  I picked the polycarbonate versions because of the weight to be honest.  I didn't care for the heavier glass lenses.

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My green glass, Costa Permits, I wear everyday, in the boat, and around the home, for the last 12 years.  I lay them down anywhere, wear them on top of my head all day, and not a scratch anywhere on the lenses.  They don't scratch and the frames are as strong as the day I bought them.  They have fallen off my head several times over the years but the frames protect the shatter proof lenses.  Yes you pay more, but they are a wonderful product! 

 

I have a pair of Maui Jim's yellow glass lenses that I need to send back for a lense replacement.  No comparison between the two in quality.

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I think the best quality lenses as far as performance are MJs glass.  The problem is that they're HEAVY, making it feel like they can fall off my face when I look over the side of a pier or jetty and after 8hrs it gets uncomfortable.  They tend to scratch and chip a little easier as other brands as well.

Costas glass lenses are light in comparison and have similar performance, with the MJs contrast being a hair better IMO.  Costas plastic lenses are really good and performance wise they do everything the glass does at a lighter weight.  They are poly so they will scratch much easier than the 540g.  

Oakleys has some really comfortable frames, but you have to pay extra for polar.  

If you want Costas, the best site by far is  jomashop.  They have most of the best frame and lens combos at prices that no one else can match.  The best part is if you don't like them they will refund you or exchange them for a different pair.  They got glass fantails for 118 right now, that's a steal.

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I believe the lense being polarized vs. mirrored is of much more importance to you, since it's the polarization that cuts down on glare. In addition, the filtering of specific colors helps with clarity.

 

I'm old-ish and use thin line, so I prefer having readers built in.

 

The Kastking Ellijay bifocal fishing glasses are nice without breaking the bank ($50).

 

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, geo g said:

the frames protect the shatter proof lenses

Costa 580G lens is not shatter proof. The 580P ones are labeled as shatter proof.

 

Glass lens is scratch resistant, however.

 

https://www.costadelmar.com/en-us/c/580-lenses

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