Nines Optics Blog
Which Polarized Sunglasses Color is Right for Different Situations?
by Nines Optics on Nov 14, 2018
Choosing Polarized Sunglasses Color Under Various Conditions
Performance fishing sunglasses are not an accessory but necessity on the water. Sunglasses, in general, protect your eyes and increase visibility both on and off the water. They are, however, not all equal when it comes to technology and performance. A pair’s ability to spot fish underwater, minimize eye strain, and cut through glare are all dependent on what technology goes into them. Polarized sunglasses color specifically has an impact on how well you see in different situations.
What’s Behind the Best Sunglass Lens Technology
Although polarized sunglasses are commonly attributed to the angler community, they offer advantages to almost every outdoor enthusiast. The reason why is the technology that goes into the best performance sunglasses. Lens colors is only one aspect of a pair of sunglasses. The other technologies embedded in each pair only enhance the benefits different lens colors provide in various conditions.
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Polarized Lenses
Lens tint only goes so far to reduce glare but polarization will effectively eliminate it. Glare does not only occur on the water, but rather it can be produced from reflected light off of buildings, sand, roadways, or snow. So even if you are not fishing, polarized lenses are critical to maintaining visibility and reducing eye strain. For the angler, polarized sunglasses reveal an underwater environment full of structure and fish perfectly contrasted against each other. Something the normal eye and non-polarized sunglasses are unable to do.
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Reflective Light Reduction
Light can enter your eyes from all angles, including from reflecting off of your lenses. An Anti-Reflective (AR) coating prevents reflective light from hindering your vision and potentially damaging your eyes. Regardless of your polarized sunglasses color of lenses, unwanted reflective light can make it difficult to see without an AR coating design to prevent reflective light.
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Blocking Near Infrared Light
Most sunglasses, whether polarized or not, come with some form of eye protection. They generally block ultraviolet A/B (UVA/UVB) light, which can cause damage to your eyes. However, no polarized sunglasses company other than Nines® Optics is eliminating near Infrared light (NIR). The Nines® NIRTECH® NIR patented technology blocks these invisible harmful infrared rays. The eye can’t detect these rays that can cause cornea and retina damage from long-term exposure. The NIRTECH® lens technology prevents these infrared rays from getting to your eyes while also maintaining exceptional lens clarity.
Video: Bassmaster Elite Series and Nines® pro angler Josh Bertrand explains the benefits of the new generation of polarized technology.
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Keeping Lenses Clean
Finally, performance fishing sunglasses need to be able to perform in variable conditions. Moisture, either from sweat or water, has always been a challenge in keeping your lenses clean. A hydrophobic coating eliminates water marks from rain or smudges from sweat. This coating maintains the droplet of any moisture, which lets it run harmlessly off your lenses. This means less cleaning and better visibility in all conditions.
Sunglass Lens Color Guide
There is a lot to be said about the technology behind a pair of sunglasses. Lens color, similarly, matters just as much if not more depending on the situation. Polarized sunglasses color lenses perform differently. It is important to understand how lens colors relate to performance when fishing and during other outdoor activities.
There are three main polarized sunglasses color lenses.
Video: Mike “IKE” Iaconelli talks about different polarized sunglasses color lenses for different light conditions and water types.
Gray Tint Sunglasses
Gray tint sunglasses are ideal for most outdoor activities. They provide good clarity in bright, high-sky sunny conditions. Gray lenses will not distort colors while providing light reduction like other colors of lenses. When picking sunglass lens color, gray is the choice for all-day wear for both land and water applications.
- Perfect for everyday and general use
- Provides true color perception
- Great at reducing eye fatigue during day-long use
Amber Polarized Sunglasses Color Lenses
Amber color lenses excel during variable light and overcast conditions. This lens color increases depth perception and enhances contrast with a high field of vision. Amber is a great lens choice in variable conditions and versatile for many different fishing situations.
- Most versatile lens color
- Work well in variably light conditions
- Provide a high-level of contrast for increased visibility
Yellow Polarized Sunglasses Lenses
Yellow is the best color lenses for sight fishing. Yellow tint lenses perform the best in low light conditions such as dawn and dusk because of the amount of light they transmit. They provide excellent flat light visibility during cloudy days as well.
- Light transmission is near the top of all color of lenses
- Best color lenses for sight fishing applications
- Perform the best at sunrise and sunset
Situational Polarized Sunglasses Color Guide for Fishing
Ideally, you want to have performance fishing sunglasses in all three lens colors. This will allow you to choose the color lenses that will work the best for the situation you expect to be fishing in. Below is a basic sunglass lens color guide for fishing in different situations.
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Sight Fishing
Yellow color lenses are best for sight fishing. They transmit a high level of light and combined with the level of contrast they provide make it easy to see fish underwater.
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Shallow Water
Amber provides anglers with high contrast when shallow water fishing. They increase the ability to see bottom relief and definition while also providing all-around visibility in various light conditions.
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Stream and River Fishing
Here it depends on the type of fishing you are doing. If you are sight fishing for rising trout, you want a yellow color lens to make precise casts. Otherwise, a gray lens works well fishing streams and rivers for different species.
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Mornings/Evenings
Yellow lenses allow a high level of light to your eyes. This is critical in early morning and evenings when the light is at its weakest and you need sunglasses that provide enhanced visibility.
Offshore Fishing
A gray lens with a mirror is important offshore. Reflective light from the open ocean can be intense and extremely straining on your eyes. A gray lens will keep light transmission to a minimum and the mirror helps to reduce reflective light.
Deciding which polarized sunglasses color lenses are right for your situation depends a lot on weather conditions, light conditions, and the activity you are doing. A good pair of sunglasses will have the latest technology as well as the right lens colors to meet whatever situation you find yourself in.
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