“Taking your eyewear to the next level…”
Good sunglasses are an essential piece of equipment that every angler should have, however sorting through the list of features can be daunting.
In the market for a new pair, I knew I wanted:
Protection from UVA and UVB rays
Why? Frequent exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun contributes to eye diseases, including cataracts, growths that can lead to cancer, and macular degeneration.
Polarized lenses
Why? Light waves are reflected off of water (or any shiny surface) in a horizontal pattern, which creates a blinding glare and can result in eye strain. Polarized lenses contain filters that block horizontal light waves. Removing that glare can also help with everything from spotting paddies offshore to being able to see structure under the water, and identify where an underwater kelp line runs.
Lens Color
Recommendations are generally grey (or “smoke”) for bright offshore conditions, and brown for overcast conditions. For all around saltwater fishing, brown works in most conditions.
Wrap Around Style
Why? This semi-round frame style allows a panorama view of your surroundings, offering greater peripheral vision, while providing additional protection from exposure to UV rays from the sides, essential elements for those of us spending a lot of time in sun.
I had the opportunity to “test drive” a pair of Bomber Sunglasses, and the Butter-Bombs I picked satisfied all of the features listed above.
For me, the biggest problem with wrap around style glasses is that they always seem to fit too close to my eyes, and my eyelashes brush against the lenses. It’s not really uncomfortable, but it’s annoying. This was the first pair I’ve found that I did NOT have this problem with!
I found these glasses to be very comfortable. The lenses block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. The wrap around style prevents light and damaging rays from coming in from the side, top and bottom, and also minimizes the effect of the wind, both of which can be irritating on your eyes. Plus they have a few extra features that I wasn’t looking for (features vary by models):
They float!
Bomber Floating Sunglasses include patented foam linings that not only make these glasses float, but also provides for a snug fit and extra comfort for longer wear.
Anti-fog
It’s been a warm season. Glasses that fit snug to your face and sweaty conditions can conspire to make glasses fog and impair your view. These lenses are specially treated to resist fogging.
Safety glass
While I don’t plan to get hit in the face with anything, it could be a nice feature with jig fishermen around! Better yet, if you work in an environment that requires safety glasses, Bomber Eyewear’s safety glass is impact tested, OSHA approved and meet ANSI Z87+ standards.
All in all, these are a great pair of sunglasses, and at a great price!
Check out Bomber Eyewear web site for a huge selection of styles and colors!