Article: Shades of Glory
- This topic has 4 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated Jun 8, 2014 at 7:40 am by
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Looking at a new pair of costa or smiths. Can’t really decide which ones to go with. I get a discount on both so they come out just about the same price overall. Any ideas out there guys? I will be going with plastic lens and most likely in a copper to amber shade.
Eric
I have a pair of Costa’s which I got in 2008. Still use them every day.
Can’t say much about Smiths as I’ve never used them.Eric, this is my opinion based on having reviewed and used most of the sunglasses on the market.
I think the 580G (glass) lenses from Costa are the best of the breed.
I think the Costa 580P and Smith Chromapop lenses (both plastic) are rough equivalents and would come in at number 2.
I think the Costa 400, Oakley, Smith “standard” lenses, Kaenon and Maui Jims, which are all plastic, would be the next step down.
Below that you have Suncloud, which is owned by Smith.
And then at the bottom of “acceptable” fishing lenses you have Fisherman Eyewear and a few $25-30 clones. Those are pretty bad but they’re not quite the off-the-rack gas station specials we used to buy in college and throw away after three weeks.
Note: this doesn’t take into account Smith’s silver-based photochromic technology, which cuts light transmission as the sun gets brighter and which is unique to them. That’s kind of a side spur on the chart but it’s a useful feature.
Hope that helps,
ZachZach,
I have or say had a pair of costa which have disappeared to points unknown. My sunglasses line up Is as follows, suncloud for every day wear and driving, native as a back up pair for fishing and now I ordered a pair of costa fan tails in the 580P. Last pair of costa were the 580G and the weight did bother me to an extent. Hopefully I’ll find my 580G’s and will be set for years to come.
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