sunglasses for sailing

[chergui]

Does anyone have some tips on what good sunglasses are for sailing? Should I go with polarized lenses? I need a light prescription so my options are somewhat limited. Looking around in town everyone is telling me a polarized lens is $250 and min. $150 for a frame. Are they worth it? Seems a bit much for something that could overboard easily. My eyes are often fried at the end of a day on the water and I get a headache.

[Jim Ledger]

I recommend the polarized ones as they do a much better job of cutting down reflected glare. I stepped on a pair left on the cabin roof, last year, and am much more careful where I put the new ones. Maybe you can benefit from my carelessness A lanyard can help to keep them around your neck.

[Chris Setzler]

Check out these people. I like them.

http://www.39dollarglasses.com/

Chris

[Thorne]

There can be problems with cheap sunglasses, particularly those with less than 100% UV-absorbsion rating

I'd say go with VERY dark lenses -- as dark as they can dye 'em, plus one or more UV coatings. Another problem with plastic lenses is the UV that passes through, as the old glass lenses blocked most of this damaging radiation.

See if you can get sport-style sunglasses that are designed to stay on your face (what a concept!) instead of just looking sexy. I have some with wrap-around cable temples that hook over the ears -- another strange concept for modern stylish frames...

;0 )

Cheapest and most effective glasses for sailing -- welding/glacier goggles/glasses. But it can be hard to find an optician willing to make lenses for 'em, or dye 'em as dark as they should be for sailing. (take the sideshields off, OK?)

http://media.rei.com/media/j/1101455.jpg

[Ron Williamson]

I bought a pair of prescription glasses with amber coloured magnetic polarised sunglasses included.$250CDN all in.
I don't like really dark lenses in a presciption because they need to be removed and switched for clears when you go below.
Talk to your eyecare professional.
R

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

I recommend the CHEAPEST pair of polarized sunglasses you can find. I'm still hurting over the $360 Persols I LOVED ( NO NO NO LOVED ) that slipped off my nose as I was pulling up the motor on Tidbit. Splunk I dove in after but they just missed my grasp. OUCH it still hurts to talk about it I need to call my therapist ;)

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

I'm with Joe - I have bought several pair for around $25.00 each. Always at a marine store like West Marine who is closing out last years models at half price. Make sure they are polarized. It makes ALL the difference when dealing with the glare out there.

[Ian McColgin]

Even before I needed bicfocals, I went with polarized tempered glass in a shooters'-aviators' frame with comfort spring temples. They don't get lost even if I dive overboard with them on. They are seriously pricey. And they totally protect my eyes from broken drill bits, blow-back, and other modern eye hazards.

My brother has the change with the light glasses. They are great for his use. But he cannot see shallows in the water as well as I can with polarized glasses. I also resent the expense but like the security of having two pairs, not just one. I lead a hard life and break things. It's nice to see in between.

[JBreeze]

I may be misunderstanding the situation....you already have prescription clear glasses? If so, you might consider polarized clip-ons.

http://www.polarizedoptics.com/clip_on_sunglasses.html

Back when I needed Rx glasses, I found a bunch of polarized clip-ons at a clearance sale for practically nothing. Used them frequently for fishing, and didn't care if they became scratched or broken.

You might try them, if you don't care about making a fashion statement, and don't want to invest a lot of money in Rx polarized glasses.

(Besides, when other fishermen saw what I was catching and moved into my area, I just gave them the "stare" with my ugly glasses..... they usually took off soon after):D I was too lazy to trim the plastic lenses to approximate the shape and size of my Rx clear glasses.http://www.polarizedoptics.com/catalog/images/P900-CL-Series.jpe

PS ....usually discount fishing departments have some polarized clip-ons, so you could try them for a while.....like the fishing section in Walmart, maybe Cabela's, Bass Pro, etc.

[Ian McColgin]

Cheap polarized clip-ons work great. My problem is they are hard to find in sizes large eough for my basic glasses.

[rbgarr]

I've got polarized things that grip the perimeter of safety lens bifocals. They're cheap and work fine. No eyestrain or headaches. A string on the earpieces keep me from 'seeding the mooring field' with eyeglasses.

Of course, I don't look cool or intimidating, but I'm a doofus anyway and glasses wouldn't fool anyone. :)

[Nanoose]

I always wore polarized with my contact lenses, then got a pair of Maui Jims at Costco. Amazing. A bazillion times better than my polarized, which were absolutely fine mind you.

[Don Z.]

I think an issue that needs to be discussed with polarized is the inability to see some LCD screens with them on. Once, I did not find that to be a big deal. After all, I did not have to stare at my GPS screen, and did not mind twisting it around when I needed to glance at it...

Then I bought a car with LCD on the dash board, and...

[jollymon]

What ever you do, make sure you have 100% UV protection, or you wont need sunglasses 'cause you will be blind!

[Ian McColgin]

Yeah. Reading LEDs. How come a technology born and bred is California is invisible through polarized lenses? Fortunatly for me, the numbers on my VHF and GPS are big enough I can lift the glasses and still read, and the phone - I just answer it.

[Rick Starr]

I'm in sight of the water daily and on it most days.

Maui Jim will happily put most perscriptions in most of their glasses, including many of the more dramatic wrap styles. Considering the quality of their work, and the value of your eyes, the $500. seems like a small price to pay, particularly when you read about the shortcomings of cheaper solutions, as here.

Polarization has everything to do with orientation. From high school physics you should recall that polarization is directional (hence the name), and if you rotate the polarized film 90 deg in front of an lcd screen (also by nature polarized) it will at some point block out the image. Better sunglasses (eg my maui jims) will account for this and no loss of image will occur. I never have difficulty with autos, gps's, computers, watches, phones etc.

[BillyBudd]

For those readers who have normal long distance eyesight but need magnifying lenses for reading/upclose work, and want sunglasses for sailing, here goes. I've found UV protected sunglasses that have a bi-focal capability -- normal upstairs and the magnification of choice downstairs. Unfortunately for me, the lower portion of the glasses are also tinted, yet my wife found a pair that were untinted below. That's best if you find it. These glasses were found in an upscale foodstore and the cost was US$20-30. Moreover, I'm an adept at losing things, learned the hard way that those purchased strings with rubber ends to keep glasses around your neck don't work. So I've taken to drilling small holes at the ends of the glasses (behind the ears) and threading marlin twine through...even spliced it since I've lost some when the knot came undone.

[Don Z.]

I'm in sight of the water daily and on it most days.

Maui Jim will happily put most perscriptions in most of their glasses, including many of the more dramatic wrap styles. Considering the quality of their work, and the value of your eyes, the $500. seems like a small price to pay, particularly when you read about the shortcomings of cheaper solutions, as here.

Polarization has everything to do with orientation. From high school physics you should recall that polarization is directional (hence the name), and if you rotate the polarized film 90 deg in front of an lcd screen (also by nature polarized) it will at some point block out the image. Better sunglasses (eg my maui jims) will account for this and no loss of image will occur. I never have difficulty with autos, gps's, computers, watches, phones etc.
Oh, I remember my physics, and my Serengettis do account for this.

Works great until you tilt your head. I can move the GPS on the boat to where I need it... but it noticed it in the car, because the fan/temp/ac is also LCD. Tilted my head to see it in the sunlight (ducking behind the sun shade), and it washed out completely...


One of my several reasons to prefer my 1974 car...

[Milo Christensen]

. . . My eyes are often fried at the end of a day on the water and I get a headache.

The damage you're doing to your eyes is permanent and cumulative.

Polarized lenses have worked well for me for 40 years on the water and once enabled me to see a submerged group of pilings that would have taken the keel off. So my questions to you are: How much is perhaps saving the boat and definitely saving your eyes really worth?

[pipefitter]

Amber is best for cutting horizontal glare off of the water enabling one to see subsurface in great detail within reasonable depth.There is also glasses called cocoons that slip over most prescription glasses and can be found at www.cabelas.com.

I have black colored ray bans that enable me to see in the driving florida rain while most people have to pull over and I can stare at the sun without squinting or sneezing. Only thing bad about them is that they are too soothing to the eyes and you will find yourself wanting to cat nap at traffic lights. :)

I like dark polarized for land and amber for the water.Get the strap that snubs on the ear pieces to keep from losing them overboard. Costa Del Mar is a popular brand as is Maui Jims but i'll be damned if I am going to pay 200.00 for plastic shades. Better yet is to choose the ones that are most comfortable and add a Tilley hat for ultimate UV protection.

[Joe Lambert]

I have a pair of these that work well; http://www.landfallnavigation.com/sunglasses.html

[ingo]

I have $50 glasses from Gill (www.gillmarine.com (http://www.gillmarine.com)). What is most important: THEY FLOAT! Really, I testet it :)

http://www.gillmarine.com/productImages/9473_Blk_BG.jpg

[Bruce Taylor]

If you wear glasses, consider polarized "Fitovers" instead of prescription lenses or clip-ons. Wear them on a strap, and you can easily take 'em off when you go below. I use mine for whitewater canoeing, and so far they've stayed snugly attached even during capsizes in big water.

http://www.fitovers.com/

http://img.shopping.com/cctool/PrdImg/images/pr/177X150/00/02/6b/72/3f/40596031.JPG

[chergui]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Sounds like polarized is worth it. I wasn't able to do anything before a couple weeks out on the boat but I'll have something to go on for next year!