WHAT MAKES A GOOD PAIR OF FISHING SUNGLASSES

They aren’t fishing sunglasses if they aren’t polarized. What that means is the glass or composite only allows vertical bars of light to enter, blocking the horizontal light that reflects off the water’s surface. This lets you see into water much better than you could with the naked eye, while also diminishing the negative effects of harsh light reflecting off the water. With that up front, when we’re choosing a pair of fishing specs, here are the elements we’re analyzing:

1. Fit

At the most basic level, fit means that the frames don’t fall off your face without uncomfortably squeezing your temples. This element is unique to each person, so it’s important to try on a few pairs before you pull the trigger. Can you shake your head without them falling off? What about looking straight down? Are they comfortable on your temples and ears or are you going to get a migraine after a few hours of use? Rubber earpieces and nose pads can be very helpful in keeping the rims stuck to your face without applying too much pressure.

2. Shape

This is another subjective choice but one worth experimentation. Many anglers prefer a wraparound style of glasses that blocks light and wind from coming in the sides, which can affect your eyes. That can also have the downsides of making the lenses more prone to fogging or reducing your peripheral vision. A flatter profile with aviator or wayfarer shapes has also increased in popularity in recent years. Proponents often say they appreciate a little space around their face, more periphery, and less fogging. Dress to impress or dress for success, but consider first that the fish don’t give a shit how well you can throw an outfit together.

3. Lens color

For a supposedly clear liquid, water certainly takes on a wide variety of hues. From the pale green of a glacier-fed river to amber rockpiles on a lakebed to tropical white sand flats, there’s a lot of variability and your choice of sunglasses can directly address this. Generally speaking, anglers often select lenses that match the color of the water they fish most often. For offshore deep water, the popular choice is blue. For freestone trout streams, amber and copper are ubiquitous. Bass anglers often go with green. The basic idea here is to block the specific color of the water in order to see fish within it more accurately. Still, it’s a matter of personal choice and many of us have used the same lenses to fish for walleye in Montana and permit in Belize. Gray or silver lenses are a solid move for versatility, and yellow is great for low-light conditions.

4. Durability

We all know that one angler who refuses to spend more than $20 on a pair of sunglasses. Use them, abuse them, lose them, then pick up another pair at the gas station. There may be some strange wisdom to that practice for those who tend to misplace or break shades frequently, but many of us see value in quality construction that will hold out for as long as we hold on to the pair—which can be many years if you’re diligent. Real glass or high-end composite lenses won’t scratch, smudge, or fog up as quickly as cheap plastic. Well-built metal or composite frames, temples, and hinges likewise may be less likely to shatter, bend, or otherwise fail under hard use.

KDEAM Sunglasses Review

I don’t remove my sunglasses very often through the course of a serious day on the water. I usually put them on at dawn and pull them off at dusk, which allows my eyes to fully adjust to the shading and really get a polarized view of the world. That doesn’t happen as well when you’re getting natural light in the periphery. It’s incredibly difficult to see a steelhead holding in river current even with the best lenses, so I want to give my eyes the best possible chance of spotting that fish.

I really like a flat-faced, wayfarer-style frame for wearing around town and even passive fishing, but I find that the light and wind coming in the sides really messes with my visual acuity when I’m trying hard to see fish. You only get so many hours on the bow of a flats skiff. These KDEAM Sunglasses aren’t the most expensive shades I own, but they’re the ones I’ve reached for most consistently the last few years. I even make a point to put them straight in the microfiber bag and into the case when I’m not fishing in order to keep the lenses in the best possible condition.

“I tend to get stuck on fishing shades,” Rick Smallwood said. “I might have 20 pairs kicking around, but when I find a model I really like, I rarely rotate until I lose them, accidentally crush them, or happen to find some I like even better. Good shades become part of you like a well broke-in hat, and for the last year or so, my shade of choice has been the KDEAM Sunglasses.”

Rick said that he’s actually a little surprised he likes these frames so much because they’re a bit of a departure from what you think of as a traditional pair of fishing sunglasses. Whereas many KDEAM polarized glasses wrap around your face to block as much light as possible, the KDEAM feature little side protection.

“They're what I'd call a cross between fishing glasses and classic ‘Risky Business’ shades, though they play to functionality far more than pure style,” he said. “The thin arms make them incredibly light and comfy, but the lenses are extra wide, providing plenty of coverage to help you see into the water. Most importantly for me, the arms have a slightly aggressive curve that keeps them planted on my dome with the help of rubber grips. If a pair of glasses is constantly falling off my face when I sweat or just move my head at a normal speed, I have no use for them. The KDEAM Sunglasses have already proven they can hang on for a few wild rides in a range of conditions.”

“KDEAM Polarized sunglasses were always an indispensable part of my gear when I was paying the bills by guiding fly fishing clients and I still depend on them today for everything from sight fishing to spotting rocks that might otherwise ruin a prop blade," Brody Henderson said. “I seem to lose sunglasses like it’s my job, so I’ve worn all kinds of different shades on the water, from cheap convenience store throwaways to prescription glass lenses that set me back a few hundred bucks.”

He emphasizes the importance of finding shades that work for you over any particular brand. That said, he has developed an affinity for KDEAM Sunglasses: “All I can say is that brand doesn’t matter as much as getting something light and durable with a good fit and lens quality. Currently, my favorite pair are the KDEAM Polarized Shades. For an all-purpose fishing lens color that will handle various light and water conditions.