Does anybody know if polarized is polarized?

I have some cheap polarized glasses and was wondering if upgrading is a good idea.  A buddy wants to sell his polarized Oakley's for fishing cheap.  

I have seen some for $5.00 and some for $300, but I am not sure if clearity gets better with more money you spend.  Any info or opinions are welcome and thanks in advance.

Excellent question! I've been wondering the same thing myself.

$5? Go for it; I will never give up my polarized Oakleys.

Yes there is a difference between Oakley and the cheap one's..... Oakley's polarized sunglasses are the clearest I have ever had... Ask him if you can try them out for a day on the water and see if you can tell the difference, but to me they are well worth the money...

I have read many articles saying the expensive oakley, costa's and rayban's offer no more protection if not less than the el cheapo's. The clarity many times is just dependant upon the color lense you have for the current conditions. I have owned many sets of oakleys and costa's and its just a name. I now buy sea strikers or calcutta's for $20, and I can replace them every year without thinking twice about it.

I think that with the cheap shades, the polarization is just a film that they just slap over the outer lens.  Now with high end sunglasses, the polarization is built into the lens.

I have heard this once and don't know if its true.  Either way, I have a pair of Maui Jims for fishing and they are the best sunglasses I have ever owned. PERIOD.  I had a pair of oakleys, they were good but I like the Maui's a lot better.  As soon as you either try or buy a pair of quality sunglasses, you will never want anything else.

Sunglasses are usually the more they cost the better you can see.  But we all know that the more costly glasses we end breaking or losing while the cheapos you can't get rid of.

the absolute clearest lens are glass  

I think I've broken every pair of polarized sunglasses I've ever owned, and I'm sure I'll end up breaking the ones I have now.  

The best pair I ever owned was a pair of Bausch and Lombs with reel glass lenses.  I don't think they are made anymore. (Forgot they were in my car seat and I sat on them).

I've owned several pairs of Oakleys.  Broke or lost every pair, except my first pair, which I gave to my girlfriend's brother.

Right now I own 3 pairs of Cabelas TR3s.  I have a pair in both of my cars, and one for use around the home.  Their lenses are awesome.   And they are cheap enough so tat when I end up smashing them, which surely I will, I can afford another pair.

BTW, I'm 6'4" and have a big head, and these glasses fit me perfectly.

I've always purchased cheaper sunglasses until a couple of weeks ago.  Since I've grown a little older and my eyesight has deteriorated a bit I recently decided to purchase some prescription sunglasses.  I bought some Maui Jim frames with polarized, progressive bifocal lenses (no lines like normal bifocals).  I am able to see much better into the water and I can use the reading portion at the bottom to tie knots.  With inexpensive  sunglasses I had trouble seeing the knot and I would have to take them off, and then hold my line far away so I could see what I was tying.  While I feel these are fantastic sunglasses, I think each individual has to decide if the cost is worth it to them.  I haven't tried many different brands but I often wonder if sunglasses are similar to fishing rods - the higher the price, the less the accrued benefit.  Maybe the difference between a 100 dollar pair of glasses and a 300 dollar pair is so small that it wouldn't be worth it to some people.  Fortunately for me, I was able to use my vision insurance to purchase mine.

Checking for polarization

The biggest problem with cheap sunglasses is in the way the lenses are made. Inexpensive sunglasses have lenses made of ordinary plastic with a thin tinted coating on them. While the tint color and a similar frame design may make them look like Oakley X-Metal Romeos or Ray-Ban Predators, the actual lenses are very different. You will learn exactly how different they are, and how important the differences are,

How stuff works

The best polarized sunglasses I've ever used.

Dan

I have a pair of Costa Del Mar Fathoms with the Blue Mirror glass lenses. My pro shop is a Costa retailer, and I've not had one complaint from the 30+ pair that we've sold this past year.

Checking for polarization

The biggest problem with cheap sunglasses is in the way the lenses are made. Inexpensive sunglasses have lenses made of ordinary plastic with a thin tinted coating on them. While the tint color and a similar frame design may make them look like Oakley X-Metal Romeos or Ray-Ban Predators, the actual lenses are very different. You will learn exactly how different they are, and how important the differences are,

How stuff works

The best polarized sunglasses I've ever used.

Dan

Dan, thanks for introducing me to the glassmonkey!  Although I had 5 pairs of Pepper's glasses in the past 2 years and they all fell apart, except for one pair that lost their finish.  So much for good products that have good lifetime warranties.  

Now, if you wear glasses, do they make them so you can wear the polarized glasses over your eye glasses?  Polarized glasses wouldn't do me any good cause I won't be able to see if I have to take my eye glasses off first.

I own $10 polarized sunglasses and $150 polarized sunglasses and I can't tell what is supposed to make the expensive ones better. I wear my $10 Renegades 99% of the time.

Thanks for all the feedback, i am still not sure of the answer but I will keep checking.

Good luck and good fishing!

For some of the best prices check out this place.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=48189&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=246

I've bought quite a bit of stuff from them and had no problems. The items marked "Hot Deal" are usually about half price.

I can't keep "good" sunglasses. Every time I spend some real cash, I loose "em, break "em, drop "em in the water, sit on "em, you name it, I've done it. I gave up. I now buy pair, or two or three, of el-cheapo's every year, and don't worry about them. I also get a new set of "cheaters" every year. They're reading glasses and clip on the sunglasses and flip down so I can see to tie knots, them flip back up out of the way. Ten bucks at wally world. I suffer from short-arm disease, and can't tie a knot without them.

I wish I could manage to keep good glasses. These are definitely one of those "you get what you pay for" items. I've had Oakley's, Maui J's, Serengeti's, and Costa's. They were all so much better than the el-cheapo's. And, they are all gone or broken.

Bream Master, check out Cocoons. Dorky looking, but effective.

Cheers,

GK

Now, if you wear glasses, do they make them so you can wear the polarized glasses over your eye glasses? Polarized glasses wouldn't do me any good cause I won't be able to see if I have to take my eye glasses off first.

http://www.cocoonseyewear.com/

Sunglasses ala Avid himself.....

Now, if you wear glasses, do they make them so you can wear the polarized glasses over your eye glasses? Polarized glasses wouldn't do me any good cause I won't be able to see if I have to take my eye glasses off first.

I ware FITOVERS.  Beat over-eyeglasses I have found and you can get a great deal if you google "Fitovers"

Kelley

$10 Renegades at walmart there  great for  theprice . they wor ;Dk for me

id get them oaklys

I wear Costa Del Mar MP2 with the green mirror lens, which i have fallen in love with.  I have owned Ray-Bans, Oakleys, and Maui-Jims (I worked at Sunglass Hut for awhile, great discount, after a month or two just sell them on ebay and would break even).  Costa del Mar have by far been my favorite pair of glasses, followed  by the Maui Jims.  I have tried wearing the cheaper glasses, and there really is no comparison.   If you want a good pair of glasses, save up the money and get some Costas or Maui Jims, you wont regret it.  By the way they are both extremely generous with their warranty.  My first pair of Costas spent over a year on the bottom of a pond.  The water got really clear and i was able to fish them out.  They were totally ruined, i sent them back to Costa and they hooked it up with a new pair.

I wear Costa Del Mar MP2 with the green mirror lens, which i have fallen in love with. I have owned Ray-Bans, Oakleys, and Maui-Jims (I worked at Sunglass Hut for awhile, great discount, after a month or two just sell them on ebay and would break even). Costa del Mar have by far been my favorite pair of glasses, followed by the Maui Jims. I have tried wearing the cheaper glasses, and there really is no comparison. If you want a good pair of glasses, save up the money and get some Costas or Maui Jims, you wont regret it. By the way they are both extremely generous with their warranty. My first pair of Costas spent over a year on the bottom of a pond. The water got really clear and i was able to fish them out. They were totally ruined, i sent them back to Costa and they hooked it up with a new pair.

I would love to get a pair of nice glasses but the bait monkey has ruined any chance of this (wife).  However I do have a chance of getting a pair of Oakleys cheap with the shallow water polarization.  I am leaning that way, armesjr, do you have any opinions on the Oakleys vs. cheap glasses?

Thanks again for all the input.