Why NINES® with NIRTECH® Lens Just Took the Crown from Costa 580
Dec 11, 2025
Why NINES® with NIRTECH® Lens Just Took the Crown from Costa 580
(The new king of fishing sunglasses, hiking sunglasses, and all-day outdoor glasses)
If you live on the water or the trail, you already know Costa 580 lenses have been the go-to for years. They kill glare, make reds and greens pop, and have earned their spot on every serious angler’s face.
But there’s a new sheriff in town.
NINES® sunglasses with the patented NIRTECH® lens just changed the game. They don’t just match the 580 — they beat it where it matters most: keeping your eyes cooler, calmer, and sharper from first cast to last light. [Learn more about how NIR protection works in our guide to Near-Infrared Protection Explained.
Here’s the no-BS comparison:
|
100% UV block? |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Glare-cutting polarization? |
Elite |
Just as good (or a touch better) |
|
Blocks the invisible heat (Near-Infrared)? |
Don't think so |
Patented NIRTECH® blocks 85% above IR rays |
|
Lenses stay cool on your face? |
They heat up after a few hours |
Stay noticeably cooler all day |
|
Eye strain & headaches in bright sun? |
You feel it by the afternoon |
Eyes stay fresh — a lifesaver for sensitive eyes |
|
Fish or hike 10 hours without fatigue? |
You’re beat by the end |
Still seeing bites and reading the trail at sunset |
View Our IR Testing Video:
So what is this Near-Infrared heat everyone’s talking about?
It’s the invisible part of sunlight that carries most of the heat. You can’t see it, but you feel it — it’s why your eyes get fried and regular lenses turn into little hot plates on your face after a few hours. [For tips on spotting the signs of eye strain during long days outdoors, check out our post on Spotting Eye Strain on the Water.
Even the best regular polarized sunglasses (yes, including the 580) let most of that heat energy slide right through to your eyes. That’s what causes the squinting, headaches, and bloodshot look when you finally pull the boat in.
The NIRTECH® lens in every pair of NINES® polarized sunglasses is the first (and only) lens with patented tech that blocks over 85% of that heat before it ever reaches your eyes.
The result?
- Cooler lenses
- Way less strain and squinting
- You can fish, hike, or just hang outside literally all day and still feel good when the sun drops.
Straight talk from the water and the trail
“Ran Costas for over a decade. First trip with NINES® and the NIRTECH® lens, I fished 11 hours in full July sun — eyes weren’t even tired. I’m never going back.”
– Capt. Mike, Key West
“Bright light triggers migraines for me. These are the first fishing sunglasses AND hiking sunglasses I can wear from dawn to dark without ending the day on the couch with an ice pack.”
– Jake, weekend warrior
Bottom line
The Costa 580 is still a great lens — no hate.
But if you want the absolute best fishing sunglasses, hiking sunglasses, or outdoor glasses you can buy right now, NINES® with the patented NIRTECH® lens is the new king. [See real-world testing in action with our review of NIRTECH® vs. Traditional Lenses.
Swing by the shop or grab a pair online. Wear them for 30 days on the water or the mountain. If your eyes don’t feel the difference on trip #1, send them back, and we’ll buy you lunch.
See better. Stay out longer.
NINES® — Built for the ones who refuse to come in early.
