Just wondering what type of polarized glasses all of you out there are using.  What frame do you have?  What lens color?  What brand?  etc.  I am thinking of getting a pair of Costa Del Mar Brine sunglasses, but also am looking at Native, Smith, and Bolle glasses.  Maybe even Oakley's too.  Any and all input would be great.  Thanks.

I've been thinking about a pair of Solar Bats, wondering what the opinion is on those? Thanks.

Costa Del Mar Fathoms with Amber lenses.

Costa Del Mar Switchfoot 580 Polarized Glass Amber - great and good style

Costa Del Mar Fathom 580 Polarized Glass Grey - great and ok style

Ray Ban somthings Grey Glass Polarized - prety good and good style

Native somthings polycarbonate amber - most comfortable by far, i dont use them at all though due to how much better the lenses are in the Costas

Are the Amber Lens better than the blue?

I have a pair of Smith "Factor Max" sunglasses...nice overall sporting sunglasses since they come with 4 sets of lenses(not all polarized); I originally bought them for mountain biking but found that the polarized lense worked great for fishing.  One of the really cool things is you can order just about any color lens from them in polarized form.  I use them for everything from Golf to Skiing as well.

I have found that the maui jim kanapali glasses are the best at cutting glare and they are less than 2oz.  They are very expensive ($280). I got mine for free when I worked at Dick's sporting goods, but they are by far the most compfortable and best polarizing glasses I have found.  I also have a pair of oakleys and a pair of Wiley X, if you can't spend $280 I personally like he wiley X the next best followed by Costa Del Mar.  I think you just need to find something in the price range you want that you lik

i really like the costa del mar fathom green mirror

"I have found that the maui jim kanapali glasses are the best at cutting glare and they are less than 2oz."

I looked it up.  10 grams.  Wow.  That has got to be comfortable.

I am using a pair of solar bat sleeks right now with amber lens.  They were only like 60 bucks and are actually the most comfortable pair I own.

a buddy of mine has solar bat and likes them.

im using H30's and love them. they are around 100 bucks and included a case, lanyard and three different coloured lenses. great customer service and warranty also.

Solar Bat Amber on cloudy days, Grey on bright sunny days. Best glasses I have ever owned and I have tried many. H30 would be a close runner up, also very good glasses.

Maui Jims are hard to beat.  I have a couple pair.  Here's a good page on polarized glasses -

http://www.polarization.com/water/water.html

One key thing about polarization that most folks may not know

While just about all polarizing films work the same way, many manufacturers apply their polarizing film to the outside of the lens. Problem is, it's easy to scratch and will degrade quicker. The best sunglasses sandwich the polarizing film in between lens layers to protect the integrity of the film. Make sure you get a pair with the polarizing film integrated into the lens layers. Otherwise, you'll be buying another pair before you know it.

--SM

i had to have prescription so i got my optomistrist to order me some oakley monsterdog's with black iridium lenses havent gotten them yet but i found that coasta del mar use real glass lenses and well i didnt want somthing to hit them and put pieces of glass in my eye ball.. after hours upon hours upon hours of reading on the different makers i decided on the oakleys... youd be shocked at what i had to pay for these things.. but oh well... and also i know alot of people perfer the oakleys opposed to the maui jems, ray ban, and costa del mars...

Alex

i had to have prescription so i got my optomistrist to order me some oakley monsterdog's with black iridium lenses havent gotten them yet but i found that coasta del mar use real glass lenses and well i didnt want somthing to hit them and put pieces of glass in my eye ball.. after hours upon hours upon hours of reading on the different makers i decided on the oakleys... youd be shocked at what i had to pay for these things.. but oh well... and also i know alot of people perfer the oakleys opposed to the maui jems, ray ban, and costa del mars...

Alex

Not all Costa models use glass. You get to choose between the glass, CR-39, or Costa 580 lense materials.

One key thing about polarization that most folks may not know

While just about all polarizing films work the same way, many manufacturers apply their polarizing film to the outside of the lens. Problem is, it's easy to scratch and will degrade quicker. The best sunglasses sandwich the polarizing film in between lens layers to protect the integrity of the film. Make sure you get a pair with the polarizing film integrated into the lens layers. Otherwise, you'll be buying another pair before you know it.

--SM

to back this up read how oakley makes their polarized lenses...

http://oakley.com/innovation/optical_superiority/polarized/infusion_molding

Alex

i had to have prescription so i got my optomistrist to order me some oakley monsterdog's with black iridium lenses havent gotten them yet but i found that coasta del mar use real glass lenses and well i didnt want somthing to hit them and put pieces of glass in my eye ball.. after hours upon hours upon hours of reading on the different makers i decided on the oakleys... youd be shocked at what i had to pay for these things.. but oh well... and also i know alot of people perfer the oakleys opposed to the maui jems, ray ban, and costa del mars...

Alex

Not all Costa models use glass.

not all do, but most do... i still perfer the oakleys fit, finish, and quality...

Alex

One key thing about polarization that most folks may not know

While just about all polarizing films work the same way, many manufacturers apply their polarizing film to the outside of the lens. Problem is, it's easy to scratch and will degrade quicker. The best sunglasses sandwich the polarizing film in between lens layers to protect the integrity of the film. Make sure you get a pair with the polarizing film integrated into the lens layers. Otherwise, you'll be buying another pair before you know it.

--SM

to back this up read how oakley makes their polarized lenses...

http://oakley.com/innovation/optical_superiority/polarized/infusion_molding

Alex

Good information there, but if my research (and memory) is correct, pretty much all of Oakley's stuff is polycarbonate lens. They can put up all the resolution/focus charts they want, but poly just isn't as good as CR-39 or glass, according to the folks I've talked to. But really, when you get into the realm of Oakley and Costa Del Mar, it's hard to make a bad choice.

Still, for fishing, I'd pick Costa. Fishing is what they're all about.

I own the Kaanapali's also.  (Maui Jim)

They are tremendous in regard to the lens quality and the comfort level.  I love em!

i had to have prescription so i got my optomistrist to order me some oakley monsterdog's with black iridium lenses havent gotten them yet but i found that coasta del mar use real glass lenses and well i didnt want somthing to hit them and put pieces of glass in my eye ball.. after hours upon hours upon hours of reading on the different makers i decided on the oakleys... youd be shocked at what i had to pay for these things.. but oh well... and also i know alot of people perfer the oakleys opposed to the maui jems, ray ban, and costa del mars...

Alex

Not all Costa models use glass.

not all do, but most do... i still perfer the oakleys fit, finish, and quality...

Alex

all models offer a choice of glass, CR-39 or costa 580.

looks like you should have done a little more research

Alex maybe you should know what you are talking about before you report something on this forum.  There is always someone out there who knows more than you me and everyone else on any particular subject

it was my impression the lower priced ones had glass lenses and the 3$300+/- had the 580/cr-39?? i wasnt going to pay that so maybe thats why i didnt read any more into it....

Sorry for the false report, i do apologize...

Alex

Polycarbonate can't be too bad.  My regular prescription bifocals are made of polycarbonate.  

Poly isn't inherently bad, it's just not as optically correct as glass or CR-39. As with anything, your mileage may vary.

--SM