[Phil dingle]

I wore Smith Chromapops for about 3 years but a few months ago got some 580G Costas. I think they are significantly better.

 

[BC33]

I wore Smith Chromapops for about 3 years but a few months ago got some 580G Costas. I think they are significantly better.

I think glass is always going to have better clarity than plastic......Smith really pushes the Chromapop, meanwhile their techlite glasses haven't really changed much, but maintain a loyal following....I like my Chromapops, but this last pair that started de-laminating got me thinking I'll prolly move toward glass......I'd like to do a side by side comparison in a real life sight fishing sitch with say the Costa silver sunrise G and the Smith techlite polarchromic ignitors.

 

[Matey]

I wear prescription progressive glasses. I invested in durable titanium frames and for years insurance used to cover lens replacements for daily wear and Drivewear sunglasses with no out of pocket. VSP and now Medicare has changed that but they are not too expensive at Costco. I can't compare to Costas but I like them better than the glass Smith photochromic lenses I was using before.

https://www.drivewear.com/

http://www.drivewearlens.com/effect.php

 

[Nomad53]

I’ve worn the Guide’s Choice for years and had someone lift my last pair. I went with the new Trivex Polarized in progressives (trifocals). The clarity is better than my regular glasses. As for glass, I was told they were not offering prescription lenses in glass at this time.

 

[BC33]

It's not that easy (for me at least) to find any side-by-side comparisons on the web...

This one was informative I thought..

https://gorgeflyshops.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-smith-optics-changed-my-fishing-life.html?m=1

 

[Salmo_g]

Maui Jim in rose because, well, everyone knows things always look better through rose colored lenses.

 

[David Loy]

I’ve had some Smith amber polarized for 30+ years. Not in love with them, but I wanted glasses that are good in low light conditions, and they are that. Even though I have 6 other pair (for other uses (golf, pleasure and girling ;-), I’m too cheap to buy another for fishing.

(My Maui Jim Big Kahunas have the rose colored glass, easily my favorite lens, but the glass is a bit heavy for sports so I save them for special occasions.)

 

[g_smolt]

The best polarized glasses are the ones that fit your face best.

I know it sounds a bit simple, but I've seen more than my share of folks wearing "the best glass" in a frame that doesn't even come close to fitting, thus negating any benefits of good polarization.

Find the frame that prevents light leak while providing good, comfortable coverage. Those will be the best.

 

[clarkman]

Thanks for the feedback

Techlite is actually what Smith calls their glass...

I do love Chromapop lenses as well. I have a polarized copper pair that are sweet in full sun......they are definitely a bit dark in low light conditions........insert ignitor

ah, gotcha, I didn't know that....well then mine definitely aren't that....haha! As thick as they are, they wouldn't be light.

 

[Jockurr]

I've had Costa glass, Smith glass non prescription and wasn't that impressed with them overall. That said it was back when dinosaurs still roamed the earth. Think it had to do more with the lighter weight frame vs heavy glass. I have Maui Jim prescription rose in glass and they are great for contrast in dark water redfish locales. Currently all around everyday ocean/ river daylight is full prescription Oakley. They fit perfectly don't slide when the humidity is up and I don't need a retainer for those times when you lean over the side for a release in 2000' of water. None of them float for crap.

 

[Deceased]

The best polarized glasses are the ones that fit your face best.

I know it sounds a bit simple, but I've seen more than my share of folks wearing "the best glass" in a frame that doesn't even come close to fitting, thus negating any benefits of good polarization.

Find the frame that prevents light leak while providing good, comfortable coverage. Those will be the best.

I'll add to that in the fact I prefer real glass lenses. As well as a good fitting frame that can be lowered down the nose to alleviate fogging.

 

[Matey]

I've worn the Guide's Choice for years and had someone lift my last pair. I went with the new Trivex Polarized in progressives (trifocals).

The best polarized glasses are the ones that fit your face best.
Find the frame that prevents light leak while providing good, comfortable coverage. Those will be the best.

I bought the cool looking Ray Ban Predator frame that Will Smith wore in MIB. The moderate wrap around frame was the most curvature the optician said would work for progressives. For general use they were great and covered my eyes well. However trying to thread a small fly with the refraction caused by a curved lens was very frustrating. Occasionally I use tinted safety side shields with my Ti wire frames.

 

[Northern]

The best polarized glasses are the ones that fit your face best.

I know it sounds a bit simple, but I've seen more than my share of folks wearing "the best glass" in a frame that doesn't even come close to fitting, thus negating any benefits of good polarization.

Find the frame that prevents light leak while providing good, comfortable coverage. Those will be the best.

I second that!

I have high cheekbones and almost no bridge on my nose, so most standard frames touch my face/eyebrows. Costa and a few other brands make some models in what they call Global Fit - meaning wrap-around type lens and frame shape, but with extended rubber nose pads to sit further out on my type of profile.
It helps to prevent fogging, sweat, and shifting up when I smile over a big fish

 

[No longer with us]

Quadruple on the glass, don't care what they say about the scratch resistant plastic, they scratch waaaay too easily and clarity is quickly lost.

cheers

 

[4357]

Would you mind sharing the online information about the less expensive options?

I have both the amber and gray lenses, they're great if you wear prescription glasses or have other eye issues like detached retinas like me - I even wear them while driving... here you go;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0061RUKBA

edited to add; these are guaranteed to not meet Swimmy's fashion approval...
and I don't care.

 

[Mems]

I like blue flash for offshore. The mirror cuts the glare off the water. For flats I use amber for low light and rose for bright days. I have Costas and Habervisions. I wear Raybans for driving. All have retainers on them don’t like swimming for sunglasses.

 

[Mems]

Oh yeah don’t get green lensed Costas you won’t be able to see bonefish.

 

[Old Man]

View attachment 277027
great anywhere, really

Stupid question time. Your eyes see through the top inch of the glasses If you visualize where your eyes are in regard to the lens. Why do you need that much glass on your face? I used to get the bigger lenses and I came up with the same question. I switched to a smaller frame about 6 years ago and I can see just as good as I did with the bigger frames.

To me that's a waste of glass. And glass lens weigh more than plastic. The smaller frame takes pity on my nose.

 

[Batt B]

Stupid question time. Your eyes see through the top inch of the glasses If you visualize where your eyes are in regard to the lens. Why do you need that much glass on your face? I used to get the bigger lenses and I came up with the same question. I switched to a smaller frame about 6 years ago and I can see just as good as I did with the bigger frames.

To me that's a waste of glass. And glass lens weigh more than plastic. The smaller frame takes pity on my nose.

Don't ask me, ask Snake Eyes!
I guess your theory may make sense if you always look straight ahead. But if you're trying to see into the water with polarized lenses you need to block as much incidental light as possible from coming through the sides, bottoms or tops.

 

[phuck this]

The PNW Smith rep says the the best glass made is Mui Jim's, rose for the flats and amber low light.