Anyone who spends time in the outdoors knows the value of quality sunglasses
They provide protection from ultraviolet (UV) light that can damage eyelid, cornea, lens and retina. While most people see their importance for bright sunny days, they are also important when the sky is cloudy as UV exposure is still occurring – as anyone who has suffered sunburn on a cloudy day can attest.
The problem, of course, is that wearing the same pair of sunglasses for both bright sun and clouds, while common due to economics or as a fashion statement, can lead to vision problems. Try wearing your sunglasses that work so well on a bright sunny day during an early morning or on a dark cloudy day; it’s like walking through a dark room. That can be a major issue if you need to be paying attention to where you put your feet on a beach or if you were driving a car.
In fly fishing, eye protection – along with a hat – are important not only for UV protection, but also for protecting your face and eyes for the hook on the fly. A fly shooting past your face has a hook that can impale itself with a bad cast or with the wind blowing from your casting side. It’s never happened to me – so far, but it’s always something I need to consider.
I have very good sunglasses for bright sun on our local beaches – a well-maintained pairs of Oakley’s that have lenses intended specifically for bright sun. One of the keys for good fishing glasses is not just being dark, it’s providing contrast and glare protection to see what’s under the water; both are important if you’re looking for fish, the bottom structure, or where to put your next step when wading.
The problem has been finding a good pair for the pre-dawn hours and cloudy overcast days. I’ve tried different glasses – including clear eye glasses from Home Depot. One pair of high advertised glasses had a yellowish tint that made me queasy every time I wore them – they have gone buh bye.
Then this past April, I heard Joe Rotter, co-owner of Red’s Fly Shop and a good guy, talking about his experience with Baijo sunglasses with a violet mirror lenses in low light conditions.
Just on his recommendation I got a pair – in the same Stiltsville frame. They are incredible on dark cloudy days. The bottom is clearly seen in a foot or two of water (typically don’t wade Puget Sound deeper than that).
I didn’t know much about Baijo at the time. But I since learned they were founded by former employees of Costa Del Mar (another premium sunglasses company) who left when Costa was taken over by Luxottica (an Italian company that owns Costa Del Mar, Ray Ban, Oakley and many others). They were determined to serve the fishing community with better technology and recycled materials.
From what I’ve seen and worn – they’ve succeeded.
Check them out; While not inexpensive, they are available in polycarbonate or glass lenses, with various lens colors for your vision needs. And they have multiple frame styles.
Highly recommended.
