Probass Networks: Choosing the Right Sunglasses - The Product Review Corner by: Tom Branch, Jr.

Many people believe the most important aspect of choosing sunglasses is how they look on our face and are they stylish! I have tried on every pair of sunglasses at my local Bass Pro Shops while researching this article. More than anything I wanted to know how each pair looked on my face, how they fit and were they comfortable. Narrowing down your choices in advance can save you a lot of time, aggravation and cash. For me personally, I want a comfortable pair of glasses that will not fog up and that will help me see fish in the water. The intense rays from the sun can damage our eyes so you should always wear sunglasses to protect them. All sunglasses are designed to protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun and provide some level of protection from airborne debris and flying objects.

Photo courtesy of Solar Bats

First, you need to determine your face shape and understand which eyeglass frame styles and colors would look best on you. Is your face round, oval, oblong, narrow forehead with wide cheeks or a wide forehead with slim cheeks? You might even have a diamond shaped face or a square shaped face? If you are not sure or just confused at this point, then let’s start with some basics first:
Here are 4 questions to ask yourself about a sunglass purchase:

Some of the most important things I look for in my sunglasses are that they always have 100% UV protection. I like my sunglasses to fit properly. If the sunglasses are properly fitted, it will allow the lens to breathe around my eyes. More than anything, this will not allow the sunglasses to fog up when air is passing between your lenses and the skin around the eyes. If you are a boater or fisherman I would recommend looking for an impact-resistant lens, this protects your eyes from all sorts of injuries while fishing or boating. The frames should have spring hinges that will stand up to rough treatment. If you wear prescription glasses, many of the top sunglass manufactures: Maui Jim, Costa Del Mar and Solar Bats will make you an awesome pair of prescription sunglasses for a minimal additional fee.

When buying sunglasses I would suggest starting with a budget in mind prior to purchasing a pair of quality sunglasses. Many of the top brand sunglasses today can range from $20, up to $300. I recommend staying away from buying sunglasses online; because you cannot check the fit properly. Even thou you might save a few dollars; trying them on first is vey important. I want to touch the frames, feel them, see through them and confirm the fit on my face. If you want to look for a cheaper price on the World Wide Web, write down the exact model name and code to search for them online. One last warning about purchasing online - be careful of cheap imitations. All the top sunglasses companies will have a good return policy and normally an awesome warranty.

So now that you know how much you are going to spend and what shape frames you need. Now you must determine which lens color to choose? The color of the lens depends largely on personal choice, style, fashion and purpose. I am all about purpose; if you are looking for style you are reading the wrong article. The most popular colors are varying shades of grey and brown’s as they provide a more than adequate level of shade to the eyes without distorting the natural colors. All the top companies also offer a variety of lens colors. Below are some tips I have learned about choosing the right lens color for an active outdoorsman or women:

Grey lenses are for true color definition in bright light conditions and cuts the glare from the water's surface.
Brown lenses is the best color overall because it allows the wearer the widest light spectrum through to the eye, while blocking blue light and offering optimum contrast. Brown is great for applications where distances need to be constantly judged, like tennis or golf or skiing or other sports requiring acute visual perception and contrast differentiation. Brown is also best for lower light situations, like fishing in the late afternoon or early morning.
Green lenses offer some contrast enhancements with minimal color distortion.
Orange, Amber and Yellow lenses have the best contrast enhancement at depth perception but cause some color distortion.
Casey Ashley - Photo courtesy bassfan.com

Yellow lenses are commonly used to heighten contrast without blocking too much light, and it is commonly used for shooting and skiing on cloudy days.
Blue and purple lenses are overall worst color of all for the wearer because it enhances blue light which creates more glare. If you like blue as a fashion choice, consider a custom-made lens tinted brown but with a blue flash mirror coating..
Clear lenses are used typically to protect the eyes from impact, debris, dust, or chemicals.

Maui Jim, Costa Del Mar, Solar Bats and Strike King sunglasses are all great choices because they all come with many different styles of frames and tints. This allows you to choose what will work best for your particular outdoor activity. Whatever brand you choose, make sure to do your research, stay within a budget and get a professional to assistance with the fit.

The process of choosing sunglasses can be confusing and frustrating, but remember GOD only gave you one set of eyes and you must protect them for a lifetime: so don’t skimp on a quality pair of sunglasses if you want to be a winner!

About the author: Tom Branch, Jr. is a freelance outdoor writer and a full time Lieutenant/Firefighter-Paramedic with over 25 years of service with the Gwinnett County Fire Service in Georgia. He has been working in the Outdoor Industry for over 15 years and has done everything from successfully managing and developing a pro fishing team, developing new products, designing packaging, participated in different radio and television shows and developing Writer’s Conferences. He and his wife Kim live north of Atlanta in Braselton, GA with their 2 labs Jake and Scout.
Check out his blog at – http://outonalimbwithtombranchjr.blogspot.com
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