Polarized sun glasses (different colors)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on December 28, 2009 at 5:41pm

I am not sure on the specifics behind this but I learned years ago from skiers and snowboarders that Amber colored lenses will cause objects to stand out from their surroundings better. I think this can be an asset in shallow water. I know there is a time and a place for each lens color based on the conditions, I just am not too sure which lens is better at which time.

Permalink Reply by Jake Bean on December 28, 2009 at 6:10pm

Ya thats what im trying to figure out. I really believe in being able to see what your fishing in shallower water. I like to be a high percentage angler with pin point accuracy and these lenses can be really helpful. I just need to know what the different colors do haha.

David Parnicky said:

I am not sure on the specifics behind this but I learned years ago from skiers and snowboarders that Amber colored lenses will cause objects to stand out from their surroundings better. I think this can be an asset in shallow water. I know there is a time and a place for each lens color based on the conditions, I just am not too sure which lens is better at which time.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on December 28, 2009 at 6:11pm

David is right, amber is best in low light conditions (early morning, fog, overcast/rain days) and mossback (green) is best for sight fishing in sunlight. These are the two best colors overall for sight fishing, though vermillion is also good as a compromise color.

Gray is the best "color" for bright sunlight where you want glasses that don't change the color of the objects you are viewing, and that is why they are popular for general, nonfishing use. Mirrored lenses are best in extremely bright sunlight since they cut down on light transmission, but are not as well-suited for normal or lower light levels.

Solar Bat makes a Mossback Amber gradient lense that I just ordered on my new prescription sunglasses. The lower half is amber, and it transitions into mossback green in the upper half, giving you the best of both worlds. Gary Stiles at Northwest Bass is the Washington dealer for Solar Bats.

ciao,
Marc

Permalink Reply by Jason Brown on December 28, 2009 at 8:06pm

I would not recommend buying the mossyback Solar Bats. I love my Solar Bats, but when I bought the two tone moss back gradient, they were horrible. I sent them back and had amber lenses put in. Makes a world of difference when fish are on beds.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on December 28, 2009 at 9:12pm

Jason, are you saying the Mossback are terrible, or the gradient's are terrible? I have used the Mossbacks for years, and they are super for largemouths on beds. I also have used the amber Solar Bats for years, and I switch between the two pairs. The amber works better for smallmouths usually, but why didn't the gradients work well for you since the amber portion is the lower half which you use when spotting beds. Other guys I know swear by the gradients; guess I will find out as mine are on order.

ciao,
Marc

SJason Brown said:

I would not recommend buying the mossyback Solar Bats. I love my Solar Bats, but when I bought the two tone moss back gradient, they were horrible. I sent them back and had amber lenses put in. Makes a world of difference when fish are on beds.

Permalink Reply by Joel Alinen on December 29, 2009 at 10:12am

I agree with Ron about the yellow lens, I recently switched that that color of Oakley goggles for night skiing and it makes a world of difference. Everything stands out that much more, I'm going to have to try the lenses for sight fishing. Thanks Ron.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on December 29, 2009 at 12:12pm

The lens color I was referring to as "amber" is the High Contrast Yellow in the Solar Bats (that is their name for their version of amber). My glasses are prescription bifocals and cost over $300, so I hope the gradients work better for me than they did for you guys. They are the mossback green for the upper 55% of the lens area, and the bottom portion is the HCY color.

I still have a separate pair of HCY bifocals also in the Pana frames, which are my frame of choice since they stay on well at high boat speeds.

ciao,
Marc

Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

If you are sight fishing I think you need two colors hiconY and mossback. I love my High Contrast Yellow solar bats they make all colors seem more vibrant, on really really sunny days I have to go to my mossbacks they are a green, they are awesome as well but as far as definition of colors HiconY is the way to go. Lets face it when you are sight fishing you are not really looking for the fish you are looking for a hint of fish the flash of a white underbelly or a bright spot on the bottom the size of a half dollar to give away the location of a hidden bed! If I was told right now I was going to fish a tournament and all I could do was sight fish and I got one pair of glasses only they would most definetely be Solar Bat Cool Eyes with HiConY lenses.
I prefer the solar bat cool eyes and I have the two pairs. I would also not recommend the gradients, I did not like them either, you'd be better off just buying the mossback lense. I am a sight fishing freek and a am animate about my glasses from the frames to the lenses, I have used every make, I have spent up to $300 on glasses yet the more moderately priced solar bats are what I wear beause IMHO they are the best match for me.
Lense description- www.solarbat.com/polarization.html
The Frames I like- www.solarbat.com/pnvx.html

Permalink Reply by J-Dawg on December 31, 2009 at 1:11am

I usually like Amber lenses for shallow water and darker lenses for deeper water. You will have to experiment around with these a bit, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Also, I like amber lenses for cloudy days and darker lenses for sunny days!!!

Permalink Reply by Mike Floyd on January 2, 2010 at 4:05pm

Any of you guys ever tried Habervision glasses? They look to be nice and reasonably priced. I'm looking for a decent pair of Amber len's polarized. Mike.

J-Dawg said:

I usually like Amber lenses for shallow water and darker lenses for deeper water. You will have to experiment around with these a bit, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Also, I like amber lenses for cloudy days and darker lenses for sunny days!!!

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on January 5, 2010 at 1:06pm

I like the Offshore Blue lenses because I look so good in them.

Permalink Reply by Buck Brunner on January 5, 2010 at 7:35pm

Wasn't there a special purchase price for TBF members a while back on the Solar Bats?