So, I needed some new sunglasses. I got one Christmas gift this year, but it was a good one!

Costa Blackfin Sunglasses. Tortoise frame and Blue Mirror 580 lenses (glass). I'll give a little review.

These were a combo gift from my Aunt and Uncle and my grandma. They arrived early so that I could have them for our family trip to Florida. My aunt ordered them direct from Costa to ensure authenticity. Upon opening the box, I found a very sweet little case, a cleaning patch, and of course, my babies.

I opened the box at night, so all I could do was admire them and wait until next morning....

Next morning I go outside to have a look around with my new shades. The 580's are the top of the line and supposed to do marvelous things for your eyes. But at such a high price, are they really that much better than a pair of Strike Kings or Oakleys? Just by looking around in my back yard, it was hard to tell how good they were.

First day fishing in Florida, I was so excited to get them out on the water, especially around the flats. My expectations were pretty high for these glasses.

I am going to just say I have owned and used Oakley sunglasses as well as Polaroid, and used many others.

The Costa 580 absolutely blew away anything I had ever used before! No contest. Nothing even close! In my mind, they are totally worth every penny, and I'll never be able to look back. I brought along my old Polaroid glasses to compare. While flats fishing in 2 feet of water, I could see bottom out from the boat at least 4 feet farther with my Costas compared to my Polaroids. Incredible! The lenses are absolute perfection. I think many people (including myself) don't realize the distortion cheaper lenses cause. The Costas cut so much glare and make so much contrast... I just cannot say enough for them.

Fit wise, they fit beautifully. The grippy nose and temple really help keep them from moving around too much. And they have a lifetime warranty based in Florida, so that's good too.

Obviously, would highly recommend these glasses.

Ugh I had all these cool pics of them but they're too large to attach.  >

Wait till you get a pair with copper glass and you can see even better into the water!  They are hands down the best sunglasses IMO as well, but I will say the lenses crack easily and are not cheap to have repaired.

What kind of Oakleys did you have that these were way more expensive and better than?

What kind of Oakleys did you have that these were way more expensive and better than?

Oakley Half Jackets. I actually had two pairs of half Jackets, and thought they were the best...

Were they polarized?

Were they polarized?

Yep, they were polarized, authentic Oakleys. I was impressed with them until I looked at the world through 580!

Got my first pair of Costas in 04? I think.  My arsenal is up to 3 now.  My last purchase were with the 580 lens as well.  Don't see how it can get much better.

I have a pair of Costas with glass lenses but not the 580 lenses.  I like them alot but they are not worth the money in my opinion.  I have a $50 pair of polarized Bolle glasses that allow me to see just as well into the water.

They do stand behind their warranty, however, I have had to send them back to Costa twice and am about to send them in a third time.

The first time the Tortise finish bubbled up on the frame.  The second time I had a lense start to flake around the edge.  This time one of the nose pads has fallen off and one of the gold colored "C's" on the side has turned silver.

When you pay almost $200 for a pair of sunglasses you don't expect them to tear up and you sure don't want to have to turn around and pay a $11.95 processing fee plus my shipping and insurance each time they tear up.  After I send them in this time I will have spent and extra $60 total for them over a three year period of time.

Don't get me wrong, they repair them and stand behind their warranty but they shouldn't be tearing up to begin with at that price.  And I am not hard on my glasses.

I loved my costa 580's... But then I put on some Kaenons and have never looked back.  To be honest I like some of the costa styles better as far a looks, but the lens on the Kaenons surpasses anything I have ever seen for sight fishing.

Check this out. Oakleys test data in clarity with other glasses. http://www.oakley.com/innovation/optical-superiority/hdo/proven

Check this out. Oakleys test data in clarity with other glasses. http://www.oakley.com/innovation/optical-superiority/hdo/proven

Hmmm, against other brands they did nice, but they only did 1 of 3 tests with Costas.

I saw that and it wasn't the 580 lens. I went to sunglass hut to check them out but they didn't have them.

I put on a pair of 580's at some sunglasses store in the mall (Probably Sunglasses hut) and they felt really nice. They seemed to be glass lense instead of polycarbonate, but I couldn't test the polarization cause I was inside.

I wouldn't mind a pair of Permits or Gallos. 8-)