Whether it’s fishing, canoeing, kitesurfing, windsurfing or SUP, your performance and enjoyment can be greatly enhanced with the right pair of sunglasses. Eye-strain is reduced, glare is eliminated, and most importantly, eyes are protected during days spent outside! That’s why, as eyewear specialists at Edel-Optics, we thought it important to put all our tips for the best fishing sunglasses and watersports eyewear onto one page. In selecting our top 10 favourites that are available in 2020, we’ve looked for models with the following criteria:
- Polarisation and anti-glare
- UV 400 protection
- Wrap around lenses or side guards
- Shatterproof or scratch resistance
- Floating or lightweight
- Hydrophobic coating
- Durable frame material
- Grey/blue base lens for deep/sea water
- Brown/amber base lens for shallow water
- Suitable for saltwater and/or freshwater
So without further ado, here are our 10 best sunglasses for fishing & water sports:
Oakley
Oakley Split Shot Shallow Water for £174.09 and Deep Water for £174.09
Around the world fishermen and water sports people alike rave about Oakley and their Split Shot sunglasses with Prizm polarized lenses, so this had to come first in a list of best polarized sunglasses for fishing. Available in two lens variations for water sports, one for deep water and one for shallow water, the Split Shot frame was specifically designed for fishing. The high wrap frame made of Lightweight O Matter™ was made to fit under a cap and comes with a detachable, lightweight leash so you don’t have to worry about them falling off. Oakley’s signature no-slip Unobtanium™ nosepad, which increases grip with perspiration, also achieves this end.
As for the polarized lenses, a combination of Oakley’s own technologies, (PRIZM™, Iridium™ and HDPolarised coating) removes glare reflected off water and enhances colour and contrast. They are made of Oakley’s Plutonite™ material, which offers top UV 400 Protection against UVA and UVB rays. For those heading out onto more lively waters, it’s good to know that the lenses meet or exceed ANSI Z80.3 optical and impact standards so are shatterproof. Very importantly for sports, the Oakley lens ensures accurate vision and marks itself out from the crowd with HDO™ Optics.
Which lens should I choose? The Shallow Water lens consists of a green mirror front with a brown base and enhances colour and contrast, which is important when in murky shallow waters. The Deep Water lens has a blue mirror front with a grey/rose base and is designed for use out at sea and in full-sun.
Oakley Flak Draft Deep Water for £181.65
The Oakley Flak Draft are great for active sea sports due to the integrated ventilation and wrap around lenses, which protect the side of your eyes from splashes and glare. The frame has removable lenses and so can be used for other sports such as cycling or changing light conditions when you swap in the right lenses. Also includes the signature Unobtanium™ nosepad and is available with Deep Water lenses.
Polaroid Sports
Polaroid Floating Sunglasses £39.88
Polaroid Sports offers a range of very practical and stylish polarized sunglasses with full UV protection. Our top pick are the floating sunglasses that are perfect for water sports thanks to their polarized lenses, rubber strap and light-weight floating material. Perfect when kayaking if you don’t want to worry about being blinded by the sun or losing your sunglasses in the depths of the ocean. Not to mention, they’re pretty budget friendly!
Gloryfy
Gloryfy G13 £144.09 and Gloryfy G2 £116.58
The Austrian brand Gloryfy has been making a name for itself thanks to its quite literally unbreakable sunglasses. From firing at the lenses with bullets to driving over the frame with a car, YouTubers and Instagrammers alike have found any reason to put these glasses to the test, and they’ve come through with flying colours each time. It almost goes without saying that Gloryfy lenses are shatterproof and scratch-resistant. For this reason, these sunglasses have found popularity among many famous sports people including wakeboarders and windsurfers.
For fishing or any other sport on water, we recommend the Gloryfy G13, G2 (or G2 Air with extra ventilation) with NBFX TRIPOL Polarised lenses. The lens material is Gloryfy’s own NFBX, which has high optical clarity at an Abbe number of 45 (especially when compared to typical polycarbonate lenses with an Abbe number of 31). They also enhance contrast, reduce eye-strain and eliminate glare with their TRIPOL polarisation technology.
The flexible frame allows you to easily swap lenses depending on your environment or light conditions, making it suited to a range of sports. Wide lenses protect the eyes from all angles, especially when you are fishing and don’t want a lead smashing the lenses and flying in your eyes!
Maui Jim
Maui Jim Peahi £201.54 and Maui Jim Local Kine £213.21
The Maui Jim brand is a favourite among fishermen and watersports people alike. They have a range of beautiful mirrored lens colours that vividly bring to life the Hawaiian sunsets and clear waters of the island they were designed on.
Suited to a range of sports, the Peahi frame is a classic and, with its large, protective wrap lenses, is probably the most popular Maui Jim style among anglers. The new Local Kine frame is also designed for fishing and is very similar in style but comes in the new Maui Green lens colour. Rubber nose pads on both models ensure all-day wearing comfort.
When choosing lens colour, go for natural grey, Maui Green or Blue Hawaii if you’re going to be out on deep blue water, i.e. the sea, or the HCL Bronze if you are going out on murky or shallow waters. Finally, go for the Maui HT for lower light conditions. What also makes these sunglasses so popular is the high clarity offered by SuperThin glass lenses and their patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technology. This also enhances contrast, reduces glare and alleviates eyestrain.
SMITH
SMITH Redding for £165.57, SMITH Barra for £122.19 (or Longfin for a smaller version) and SMITH Hookshot for £122.19
SMITH has so many great polarized fishing sunglasses and sports eyewear that it’s hard to pick just one. Their impact-resistant, ChromaPopTM lenses with hydroleophobic coating and colour enhancing polarisation are hard to beat, especially at this price range!
First off, check out the unisex style Redding for medium sized faces. Barra (for large faces) and their sister style Longfin (medium) are flatter glasses but have a shield at the sides. This design makes them both a lifestyle accessory that can be worn everyday and a practical item that protects you well from wind and light. Finally, check out the Hookshot for a wrap around frame in beautiful colours and some striking lens variations.
Of course, there are many other honourable mentions, such as the Transfer XL for extra large faces or Highwater for classic rectangular sunglasses. When looking for good watersports sunglasses by Smith, just look for a frame that wraps around or has side guards, has polarised lenses and comes in either an amber/brown lens for shallow water or a grey/blue lens for deep water.
Final Tips for the Perfect Pair of Watersports/Fishing Sunglasses
- Add a floating chord to your polarized fishing sunglasses / water sports sunglasses to make sure they don’t sink down below by accident!
- To choose the right size when ordering online, measure the lens and/or bridge width of your current sunglasses (if they fit well) and look for the same lens size.
- Photochromic lenses if you are spending your whole day outdoors from dawn till dusk
- Anti-fogging lenses/ventilation for more humid/hot climates
- Sunglasses with prescription lenses for glasses-wearers
So what are you waiting for? Check out the links above or head to our online shop to view our entire range of sunglasses and get your perfect watersports sunglasses while stocks last. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm (or the fish, in this case)!