How To Choose Polarized Fishing Sunglasses and Their Benefits

Polarized sunglasses allow a better and sharper vision and are a must-have accessory for any fisherman.

This may sound surprising for those who are new to fishing, but a good pair of polarized lenses are essential to protect your eyes and to enhance your vision when you’re out on the water

With the right pair of sunglasses, you’ll be able to fully enjoy fishing without being annoyed by the intense light and its reflection off the water surface.

There are many great brands out there, so choosing the right lens is crucial to have a successful fishing trip. In this article, we’ll see how to pick the perfect pair and the right lens color, which is important too.

Table of Contents

What is a polarized lens?

Polarized sunglasses allow a better and sharper vision and reduce glare. Glare is caused by light that is too bright, making it harder to see.

The normal three-dimensional movement of light, in fact, can collide with flat and reflective surfaces (such as water) generating glare, which disturbs your eyes and reduces your vision, because the hitting surface will appear self-luminous.

Having polarized sunglasses is essential for those who practice fishing and other outdoor sports in order to have a clear view of the surface and the bottom, but also to protect the eyes from intense light.

Polarized lenses are different from traditional eyewear because they contain a laminated filter that allows only vertically oriented light to pass through. This blocks the horizontally oriented light (the one causing glare) so that eye strain is almost eliminated.

How to tell if your sunglasses are polarized

So how to tell if the sunglasses at the store have a polarizing filter? There are a few tests you can do.

Try on the sunglasses and tilt your head while looking at your cellphone. If you’re wearing glasses with a polarized filter, portions of your screen will become blank or go dark.
If you have a pair of sunglasses which you’re sure you’re polarized take it to the shop to test the pair you want to buy. Take the two pairs and hold them facing in the same direction. Hold them up to the light so one lens overlaps the lens of the second pair. Then rotate one pair to a 60-degree angle and observe what happens. If it gets darker then it means both of them are polarized.

Try on the sunglasses and look at a bright, reflective light source (such as glass, water, or metal). If the light increases in intensity when you tilt your head, you’re wearing polarized sunglasses. If there’s no change in quality, they’re just regular lenses.

Benefits of polarized sunglasses for fishing

Polarized sunglasses will make a big difference when fishing as they can offer many benefits. The first and most important advantage is that they provide superior protection for your eyes and vision.

They will do so in many ways. Polarized lenses will protect your eyes from harsh rays reflecting off the water and they will filter out certain dangerous lighting, reducing eye strain and fatigue.

As a result, you will have a better-contrasted vision, which means you’ll be able to actually see what’s going on under the water surface and spot your big catch of the day.

Glare is also known to cause headaches, so that’s another problem solved. Your eyes will never feel tired and you will have over-the-top protection for the whole trip.

Polarized eyewear is an absolute necessity in intense light environments, but you’ll need them even when the sun is not shining. In these conditions, glare will bounce off the water too, harming your vision and preventing you from seeing below the surface.

Polarized sunglasses can also reduce the harmful effect of UV rays, filtering out 99% – 100% of UVA and UVB lights.

Source:
https://best-fishing-sunglasses.com/polarized-fishing-sunglasses-benefits

Disadvantages of polarized sunglasses

While the benefits of polarized fishing sunglasses definitely outnumber the disadvantages, there are a few drawbacks too.

Polarized lenses will make it difficult, if not impossible in some cases, to see displays such as your cell phone or the GPS screen.

They are also more expensive than regular sunglasses. A good pair of polarized eyewear, however, is an investment and a must-have tool for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts.

How to choose the lens color

Each lens color serves a different purpose, so it’s important to pick the right shade according to the fishing environment.

Blue, green, and grey lenses are appropriate for moderate to bright light conditions. Darker shades work best during sunny days and gray and green lenses won’t distort colors too. Green can also be used on partly cloudy days because it provides increased contrast and better depth perception.

Amber/Brown lenses are good for hazy and cloudy environments and for variable conditions as well.

Yellow is often worn at night or in low-light conditions. Yellow will make everything appear much brighter. However, yellow doesn’t provide more contrast than a clear lens. They work well during cloudy days as well.

Light Rose or light rust shades are also useful to get the best contrast in low-light conditions. Choose a tint that is light enough to get the best out of your lenses in dark conditions.

If sight fishing is your passion, we suggest you opt for yellow color lenses, as they make it easier to spot the fish underwater. For shallow waters, amber is the best choice, as it provides you with the best contrast.

If you’re fishing in rivers or streams, it really depends on which fish you’re after. Use yellow shades if you target trout, otherwise, grey lenses will do just fine.

If you plan to go offshore, choose a gray lens with a mirror coating, as light in the open ocean can be especially harmful to your eyes.

Conclusions

Polarized sunglasses are must-haves in any angler collection. They are exactly what you need when traveling under a glaring sun. Due to the manufacturing of increased costs, they can be pricey, but it’s a great investment to protect your eyes and increase your comfort during your fishing trip.

Relevant Resources:

Best Fishing Sunglasses Under $100
Best Polarized Sunglasses for Fishing

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