Fly fishing sunglasses – one of the most important items when hitting the water. We share our opinion on the best polarized sunglasses for fishing on the market.Disclaimer: All products in this guide are independently researched by our team. We only recommend products we believe in and never get paid for the reviews. Learn more about our review process here.? When choosing a pair of fly fishing glasses there is a number of factors to consider: the most important one being the fit of the sunglasses. They need to match the shape of your face and rest firmly on your nose. Otherwise you won’t have a lot of fun on the water.Secondly, your fishing glasses should definitely be polarized. We will explain this technology in more detail later. It basically means that certain rays of light are filtered which takes the glare off and enables you to see fish you otherwise wouldn’t see. In our review, the ticked both of these boxes to our fullest satisfaction.
In this article we want to share our experiences and introduce you to a number of different options concerning lenses and shapes of the polarised sunglasses for fishing. For our test we selected multiple high quality lenses from well known brands such as Costa, Oakley and Smith Optics but also included sunglasses that cost a fraction of the well known brands to see how they can keep up.?We chose different shapes, glass technologies and glass colors. The reason behind this was to give you a better overview about what options for sunglasses for fishing are out there.?Polarized glasses are the standard in fishing glasses nowadays. Let’s jump right into the best polarized sunglasses on the market.Here’s an overview of our top 12 favorite polarized fishing glasses, ranging from entry level products to mid range and high end.Disclaimer: The Wading List is reader-supported: If you click one of the links and end up purchasing a product we might earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. We only recommend products for purchase that we tested and believe in. Thanks for your support!Specs: Lens Height: 42mm – Lens Width: 62mm – Bridge Width: 17mm – Temple Length: 120mm:Smith Optics is a manufacturer that has a long tradition in producing some of the best polarized fishing sunglasses. They praise themselves to add another dimension to polarisation through their ChromaPop technology. As the name of this model suggests, the are the go to lenses for many professional fly fishermen and women around the globe.Here is what I like about the : With the help of a special?lens technology, you can see detail and color beyond normal capabilities.?ChromaPop?filters two specific wavelengths of light that cause color confusion. By doing this the lens delivers greater definition, more natural color, and unmatched clarity to allow you to see more detail.The come in a variety of color options as for most quality manufacturers. I found the Green Mirror Lens (pictured above) to be a fantastic all-around lens color. I think the Blue Mirror variant is a great choice for bright days on the water. If you want the utmost in low light qualities which can be especially helpful during the colder months when it’s less bright, the ChromaPop Plus Polarchromic Ignitor is the way to go.SPECS: Lens Height: 40mm – Lens Width: 60mm – Bridge Width: 19mm – Temple Length: 122mm:Here’s another great quality pair of polarized fishing sunglasses: the . What I like in particular about this pair of fishing glasses is their snug fit. No matter how hard you are fishing, these shades stay where they are supposed to. The Captivate Polarized Green Mirror lenses (pictured above) are a great choice for bright days out on the water.If a lot of your fishing happens in low light situations you should check out the Captivate Bronze Mirror option of the . These lenses shine with their low light capabilities. If you are looking for an allrounder that will serve you well no matter the light conditions, the Captivate Polarized Gray are the way to go. No matter which lens color you go for, you will surely get a quality pair of polarized fishing sunglasses with the . Black Zippered Clamshell Case, Cleaning Cloth with Wiley X Logo, Leash Cord with Rubber Grips.SPECS: Lens Height: 43.5mm – Lens Width: 64mm – Bridge Width: 17mm – Temple Length: 132mm:I wore the during bright days on the water since that is the environment that these lenses are designed for. If you want a higher light transmission you should opt for the lens option. This makes the?Oakley Split Shot a better option for cloudier days and the time during dusk and dawn.Oakley has been known for building high performance fishing sunglasses for a while. In my eyes, the have a great, close fit that shields your eyes from the sun completely. Another lovely feature is the detachable leash that holds your shades when you take them off.?These lenses are a great choice if you are into other outdoor sports besides fly fishing such as skiing or biking. Their tight fit protects you against air stream when executing these sports.SPECS: Lens Height: 44.9mm – Lens Width: 62.9mm – Bridge Width: 15mm – Temple Length: 120mm:Costa has made a name for themselves amongst fly fishermen. Their polarized fishing sunglasses are amongst the best on the market. Brand new for the season is the . Made from Bio Resin material, it features a lens width of 62.9 mm and a frame width of 138 mm. This makes this model a great fit for wider, bigger heads.In my opinion, the grey 580 lenses are a great all around choice and perform well in all light situations. Costa praises their glass as lighter and thinner than other brands and we found the very comfortable to wear all day. The adjustable nose pad adds to the comfort.What I like in particular about the Costa’s is the clarity of the colors. T depending on the environment you fish in. As with the?Oakley Split Shot Prizm we chose for the test, is a great choice if you fish in a lot. For the utmost in low light qualities the is the way to go. The is also available with RX lenses.SPECS: Lens Height: 41mm – Lens Width: 65mm – Bridge Width: 19mm – Temple Length: 120mm:The Hawaiian manufacturer Maui Jim is another premium brand when it comes to fly fishing sunglasses. The has a tight fit similar to the?Oakley Split Shot Prizm?but is a little bigger. It has a rubber insert on the inside where the glasses meet the nose. The very thin glass lenses provide excellent polarization and take stress off the eyes on a long day of fishing.The comes in a wide range of colors to provide a solution for any possible fishing situation. I found the bronze polarized lenses to be great for low light situations and fishing during dawn. For really bright conditions the Blue Hawaii Polarized version is my favorite lens color.The rubber inlay where the glasses sit on the nose is a neat little feature as the nose pad ensures the lenses stay on your nose even on hot days when you sweat.:The are another great pair of sunglasses for smaller budgets. At around $50 they provide 100% UV protection, polarisation and water repellent lenses. HUK is well known for producing quality gear at affordable prices – make sure to check their fishing shirts and shorts as well.I found the to have a snug fit that makes them comfortable to wear all day and prevents sunlight from hitting your eyes. The come in a variety of colors for all kinds of different fishing situations. The Blue Mirror lens (pictured above) is great for bright days fishing in saltwater. If you are looking for good lowlight capabilities, go for the brown lens. If you are looking for an allrounder, the gray lens is my favorite choice.SPECS: Lens Height: 35mm – Lens Width: 64mm – Bridge Width: 17mm – Temple Length: 125mm:The French manufacturer Bollé has been known for decades for the high quality of its sports sunglasses. The in polarized offshore blue offers an entry into high-quality polarized glasses for well under $100. It’s also available with , which is the perfect choice if you’re looking for an all-rounder.I like the ‘s snug fit which makes them a good fit for other outdoor sports such as skiing or mountain biking as well. All Bollé sunglasses come with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. If you’re looking for a very good pair of polarized glasses for fishing that won’t take the hair right off your head, the is an excellent choice.:Most importantly, the??provide 100% UV protection and polarized glasses. I tested them in different environments, fishing a river in low light conditions and during bright sunshine in the Mediterranean. The polarisation capability is flawless and gives you a good look into the water. Their greyish glas makes them a good overall choice if you don’t want to spend hundreds of $ for a pair of sunglasses or if you just picked up fly fishing and want to find out if you stick with it.The fit is less snug than the or the and can be better compared to the . Due to the shape it does not block out glare as well. On the other hand, the looser fit makes it a great allrounder and a pair of sunglasses that you can easily wear around town without looking like a hardcore sports enthusiast.The glass works well in low light situations although it cannot keep up with the for example which plays in another league. On very bright days you should opt for a darker glass.: are a great entry level pair of polarized fishing sunglasses if you are looking for brown lenses. Brown lenses are a great all round choice for fishing glasses and work well in low light situations as well. Of course, the also provide 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays.The are a good choice for women as well since their frame is not too wide (dimensions of the frame: 137mmLens: 43mm high x 58mm wide). They are also available with which work really well in bright environments like when fishing in the sea. The fact that the come with a warranty against manufacturer defects is a plus.SPECS: Lens Height: 48mm – Lens Width: 65mm – Bridge Width: 14mm – Temple Length: 122mm:The are a solid entry level choice if you are looking for some polarized fishing sunglasses for your first days on the water. They come with highly scratch-resistant glasses and in a variety of colors to cover all light situations you might encounterI found the no-slip nose pad to work well and holes at the end of the temples allow you to attach a strap that comes with the are features you would not expect from an entry level product – great! They also come with a lifetime warranty. You can’t go wrong with these fishing glasses – great value for money.SPECS: Lens Height: 42mm – Lens Width: 51mm – Bridge Width: 14mm – Temple Length: 137mm:Here is another quality pair of polarised fishing sunglasses for under $50: the . The American brand has gained many outdoor fans who are looking for a solid pair of shades for sports such as cycling, golf or fishing.The feature a shatterproof polycarbonate lens that reduces glare and provides 100% protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. In the test, I found that the hydrophilic nose pads make sure your shades stay where they are supposed to. Weighing in at only 23g, the are lightweight and available in a wide range of color specifications.:The are specifically designed for more slenders faces of women. Costa is known for producing some of the best fishing glasses on the market. Their. are equipped with their latest 580p lens which offers supreme protection from UV rays and a fantastic polarisation.The are available in a wide range of colors for all situations. If you are mostly out on a boat in bright conditions go for the Blue Mirror Polarized or the Green Mirror Polarized glasses. If you are looking for an allrounder, the Grey Silver Mirror Polarized are an excellent option. If you are mostly out on the river in low light situations go for a lens that offers the utmost in low light qualities such as the Copper Polarized 580. :I just tested another great pair of fishing sunglasses that cover a special situation when out on the water. Oftentimes one of the best times to fish is when dawn comes. The problem with regular sunglasses is that they get “too dark” when the light fades: enter the photochromic.The with the Clear To Black Iridium Photochromic lenses features lenses that “get darker” when the sun’s out and “brighter” when the light fades. This means your eyes are protected even when it gets too dark to see with regular glasses. The are available in many variations and also with polarized lenses.Polarized fishing sunglasses emphasize certain parts of the light and provide stronger contrasts. They are important when fly fishing because their special lenses prevent or reduce light reflexes and reflections for example on the water’s surface.Your eyes get less tired because they don’t constantly have to adapt to new lighting conditions. First and foremost they enable you to literally look into the water. Spotting fish gets easier no matter whether you fish in fresh or . Polarized fishing glasses also help you to figure out underwater structures more precisely or can support your vision when wading.This image from Smith Optics’ website neatly explains the advantages of using polarized sunglasses for fishing:Last update on 2023-01-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising APIThe time of day and the environment you’re fishing in make a difference in the lenses and frames you should pick. When you’re mostly fishing in saltwater you will often encounter bright days that will come with a lot of glare. For these circumstances, a snug fit and lens colors such as blue or green are ideal. In that case, also make sure to choose a pair that doesn’t feature any components that could corrode.If most of your fishing happens on rivers or inshore water bodies a snug fit is not as crucial but still highly recommended. A lens color of yellow, orange or light brown is ideal if you you’re often fishing into the night or in other low light conditions.Sunglasses for fishing are essential for any kind of fishing. To protect yourself from the sun, you can use additional pieces of gear such as a hat, face masks (neck gaitors) and fishing shirts with UV protection.10 Best Wading Boot for Fly FishingBest Fly Fishing Waders – Buyer’s GuideBest Fly Rod CombosBest Fly Tying ViseBest Fillet Knife for Preparing your CatchNote: If you click one of the links and end up purchasing a product we earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. We only recommend products for purchase that we tested and believe in. Thanks for your support!