Polarizing lenses all they're cracked up to be?

[melanie]

Hi guys,

I need a pair of good sunnies now I'm getting into the whole outdoors thing with shooting, if I'm going to spend $250 on a pair of sunnies though they damn well want to be worth it!

Polarizing lenses are what the store guys talk up, but they're not cheap like I said. Looking at them in the shopping centre isn't much of a test either which made decisions hard.

What's the experience in the field?

[tom604]

you dont need to spend that much on sunnies i wear my work ones,polarized, and they seem to do the job, remember that sooner or later they are going to fall off and $25 is better than $250

[handofcod]

Grab some from the chemist, as long as they have the Cancel Council tick of approval you are good to go.

[headspace]

Polarised lenses are great if you're fishing, not really needed for hunting. The polarised lens break up the surface glitter of water and allow you to see better there, but as far as shooting goes you'd be just as well to get some good safety sunnies from Bunnings. That way you'll have good eye and glare protection.

[cavok]

Some great shooting glass on ebay, suitable for shooting, my last pair came with 4 interchangeable lenses, clear, yellow, pale blue & pale bronze, fir great, style, easy to changes lenses, paid $ 68.00 delivered. A few cost more, a few less, depends on what you like. Heaps out there MOST under $100. I tend to loose mine or they break when sat on.

[Mattj82]

I spend good money on sunglasses, I wear them all day, every day and because of my work they are tax deductible. I reackon it's worth it as cheaper ones seem to fall apart quicker. I love Raybans and just got a new pair, last one lasted 5 years! Most now seem to be polarised, which I can't wear for work, so I struggle to find ones that are not. As always, prices are much better online.

Matt

[Westy]

I wear these hunting a lot but when I do the only thing I seem to find is Bloody Camels????

Any answers why???

I also wear them when I'm poaching in Queensland National parks

Bugger me where have I left my keffiyeh

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Novelty-Blac ... 5d51b4baab

[sbd3927]

Work safety glasses. Grey tint for strong sun, yellow tint for pretending its a sunny day but actually miserable.
Australian standards for safety glasses assure far more impact protection than any "sunglasses" will provide and only cost $10-$20 typically.

Ooops I left them on a tree stump when I gutted that critter, oh well stuff it. Ditto scratches and whatever else. I've a pair of Raybans in my wifes car, everywhere else its safety glasses. At that price you can have a few pairs all over the place, shooting bag, nice car, paddock bomb, workbench etc (still have trouble finding a pair when i need them though )

[Lorgar]

On the subject of cost, check your private health cover if you have it.

I'm with Bupa and on my plan I get something like $220 towards a pair of sunnies once per year.

Going from memory, could have the exact $ wrong but it's significant.

[kritch]

One small thing and it's just a bit of a gripe...

They let you see the coatings on some other glass. Some car windows, building windows, whatever... What looks clear with your eyes gets a mild rainbow pattern through it with the glasses.

[cooker]

Trippy colours maaaaan

[Oldbloke]

you dont need to spend that much on sunnies i wear my work ones,polarized, and they seem to do the job, remember that sooner or later they are going to fall off and $25 is better than $250

Try standard tinted safety glasses first. They also have a higher impact resistance than sunnies are abliged to have. IMO the majority of sunnies and shooting glasses are a rip off..

[Oldbloke]

More info here on another thread.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2450

[hiyoh]

you dont need to spend that much on sunnies

I knew who a girl who had 2 pairs of $500 sunnies but some designer brand.

Just looking through plastic, put one the wrong way down and scratched it straight away. Stood on another.

Money well spent.

[melanie]

Try standard tinted safety glasses first. They also have a higher impact resistance than sunnies are abliged to have. IMO the majority of sunnies and shooting glasses are a rip off..

In this instances I'm actually just looking for regular sunnies to protect from the sun etc. Not shooting.

I'm going to need a pair of those 2 though I suppose. Will check them out and the link, thanks

[mausermate]

An interesting piece of info from net.

Sunlight can be absorbed or reflected in several different directions. Sunlight that is bouncing off horizontal surfaces such as water, land or the hood of a car is usually reflected back in a similar horizontal direction. This reflection produces an agitating source of glare that cannot only create visual discomfort but can also cause a potentially blinding glare. Glare has the potential to create a very dangerous situation, especially while driving. Polarized lenses contain a laminated filter that allows only vertically oriented light to pass through. This blocks the horizontally oriented light so glare is almost eliminated.

Most sunglasses lenses are simply tinted with a single color. Some high-quality sunglasses manufacturers provide different tinted lenses that are often made of polycarbonate or high quality glass and are very appealing to some wearers, even more than polarized lenses. The drawback to plain tinted lenses is that although they reduce brightness, they do not remove glare as a polarized lens does. Also, depending on the color, certain tints can impact how you perceive and differentiate colors. Some researchers question the fact that a tinted lens will allow the pupil to dilate, which may provide visual comfort, but can actually allow more UV radiation to enter your eye if the lens does not have built-in UV protection.

Most high quality polarized sunglasses lenses offer UV protection . However, it is wrong to assume that just because a lens is polarized that it will also protect against UV radiation from the sun. You should always verify by the label or the seller of the product that the lenses protect against UV sun rays. Many polarized lens products are made of an impact-resistant material called polycarbonate, which contains UV protection.

[greyghost]

Polarized lenses contain a laminated filter that allows only vertically oriented light to pass through.

How many people read this then turned their head sidewards wearing their glasses

[Oldbloke]

Fyi, 1mm thick polycarbonate lenses provide 99% reduction in uv a & b, but as u mention do not reduce glare significantly. Almost all safety glasse are 1 mm thick polycarbonate. It is primarily this factor that provides the impact resistance required under the australian standards for safety glasses. Sun glasses are only reguired have about half the impact resistance yet they cost much more. Why, the answer is smart marketing not a better product,

[Khan]

Polarized lenses contain a laminated filter that allows only vertically oriented light to pass through.

How many people read this then turned their head sidewards wearing their glasses

I haven't tried this but it would/should make a difference actually.

If you were looking at a flat surface like a lake reflecting towards you, the polarizing would be filtering out a large amount of the glare.

If you turned your head sidewards it would let in that additional glare so there would be a difference.

That's situational of course, if you did it inside or in an evenly light day without any glaring objects reflecting in view there wouldn't be a difference.

[Gwion]

Melanie, sunnies are awesome. Buy good ones.

Lent a pair of sunnies to a mate last week, paddling down a local river after trout. He lost them.

Anyway, it didn't bother me too much. I bought them in 2004 and they were still perfectly usable. They cost me $290 but had well and truely done their service! I wore them at work every day for 5 years, they took the impact of stone chips while shaping stone, dust from all manner of crap (structural landscaper so plenty of abuse). They were glass, polarised and photochromic (adjust to light intensity from bright to dull).

After about a year they flung off my head, folded themselves up and landed on there end, folding them in half, like, lens to lens. I folded them back out and kept wearing them. The pretty colour had come of the nose piece and i was devastated but the glass lenses had not a sign of damage. Good excuse to by some more for "out and about" and down grade those to the "hack" pair. I have dropped those glasses, lens first, on rocks in the river and not a scratch or mark on them. SInce that first pair i have bought 5 other pairs of the same brand. They are one of the most optically correct lenses you can buy with no peripheral distortion what so ever, which is something that will give you eye strain from long use. As mentioned before, polarised glasses are great for glare reduction. No doubt about it. When you wear sunnies all day, staring at water for fish and forget you're wearing anything at all it is fantastic!!!

These glasses do not come cheap. The brand is Serengetti. Full retail is between $250-400. I used to buy them from a clearance outlet in Melbourne. Cheapest i payed was $120 for polycarb/polarised/photochromic, most expensive is my current pair at $360. The only pair of these glasses that hasn't lasted me more than 6 years is a pair that were 2 years old when my puppy ate them (another set of polycarb lenses), oh, and a pair i left behind somewhere once (d'oh!).

Your eyes are worth looking after and good glasses last as long as you look after them (wouldn't leave your rifle behind, would you???).... doesn't hurt to have a bit of style while you're out and about as well.

Have fun shopping.

Cheers from the sunglasses fanatic.

[Pom]

Lent a pair of sunnies to a mate last week, paddling down a local river after trout. He lost them.

Anyway, it didn't bother me too much. I bought them in 2004 and they were still perfectly usable.

Geez you're easy going.

I'd be livid.

[Gwion]

Well, i looked at him getting snagged and casting his heart out about 1/2 into the trip (he is new to trout fishing, really a free diving spear fisher) and thought to myself; "there's a good chance those sunnies are going to the bottom of the river".

I'd still prefer him not to have lost them but sort of accepted it before it happened. He has offered to give me money for them but at 11 years old and having taken so much abuse i couldn't really ask for replacement cost.

He'll make it up some how. Maybe he can buy me another keg for my home-brew set up or something. He has also helped out a lot on the property, so....

Ordinarily I work under the principal of "you broke it you bought it".

Cheers.

[teedo]

For real protection get 2 lenses and put them over each other at a 90degree angle

[bigfellascott]

Work safety glasses. Grey tint for strong sun, yellow tint for pretending its a sunny day but actually miserable.
Australian standards for safety glasses assure far more impact protection than any "sunglasses" will provide and only cost $10-$20 typically.

Ooops I left them on a tree stump when I gutted that critter, oh well stuff it. Ditto scratches and whatever else. I've a pair of Raybans in my wifes car, everywhere else its safety glasses. At that price you can have a few pairs all over the place, shooting bag, nice car, paddock bomb, workbench etc (still have trouble finding a pair when i need them though )

I like wearing my safety glasses everywhere too they are tinted and cost me $1 from a Garage Sale

[BBJ]

For real protection get 2 lenses and put them over each other at a 90degree angle

It'll definitely filter the light.

Expect to trip over often but your eyes will be well cared for