Seeing is Believing: Are Mirrored Sunglasses Good for Fishing?

With how many types of sunglasses are available for anglers on the market, it can be confusing and challenging to choose which ones are best. Most anglers are aware of the importance of UV protection and polarization, but there are small details like choosing mirrored or non-mirrored lenses that can cause some more confusion.

Mirrored lenses can be greatly beneficial for many anglers. They do a great job of reflecting sunlight and harmful UV rays, but they don’t do as good of a job as polarized lenses of reducing glare. However, you don’t have to choose between one or the other.

Mirrored Lenses

Diehard anglers are very familiar with mirrored lenses and likely have sunglasses with mirrored lenses. The lenses come in a variety of colors and do a good job overall of helping you while you’re out on the water.

The Good

Mirrored lenses are covered with a reflective coating on their surface. This reflective coating is in place to prevent any harmful light from getting through the lens. If you’re outside, sunlight can greatly impact your ability to see, and mirrored lenses do a great job of preventing that harsh light from impacting your activities.

Mirrored lenses do give anglers UV protection, so those bright days on the water don’t have to be a concern. You can fish on the ocean, an alpine lake or a small stream and have your eyes fully protected from harmful UVs.

You’ll also have plenty of privacy with your mirrored lenses. Most mirrored lenses are impossible to see through!

The Not So Good

Mirrored lenses also do have the ability to reflect some of the glare that comes off the water. However, this is where they often lack in comparison to polarized lenses. Since mirrored lenses are created to be more protection from harsh light and UV rays, they don’t do as good of a job reducing the glare. They aren’t able to control that horizontal light as well as polarized lenses can.

Another downside of mirrored lenses is that they can scratch easily. Since mirrored lenses are covered with a protective coating, one drop or scrape against a tree branch can begin to remove the coating. Once it begins, it’s hard to stop the rest of the coating from scraping off. You need to make sure you clean them after each use.

Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses are a bit different from mirrored lenses primarily in their ability to reduce glare. When most anglers think of sunglasses, the first thing that comes to mind is polarization because of how important it is.

The Good

Polarized lenses are great because they block all of the light that reflects off of the water. They help greatly, especially in fishing. When anglers are fishing clear water that should be easy to see through, direct sunlight can make that almost impossible. However, with a pair of polarized lenses, the horizontal light that’s reflecting off of the water is stopped by the polarized lens formula. You can see below the surface and monitor fish activity with no problem whatsoever.

Polarized lenses also do a great job of protecting you from harmful UV rays. You won’t sacrifice any of the UV protection for polarization.

Polarized lenses were essentially made specifically for water activities! As a result, most anglers prefer them over any other type of lens.

Mirrored and Polarized Lenses

Companies quickly realized the benefits of mirrored as well as polarized lenses and decided to combine the two for anglers who desire both types of lenses. You’ll get the best features of both types of lens without having to sacrifice.

These mirrored aspects of these lenses will reflect sunlight, protect you from harmful UVs, allow you to choose the exact type of color you would want and have a versatile pair of sunglasses for all of your outdoor activities. The polarization aspect of these glasses will reduce your eye strain, make whatever you’re looking at extremely clear, remove the glare issue and make your lenses perfect for time on the water.

Best Mirrored and Polarized Sunglasses

Smith Basecamp- Smith sunglasses are well-known in the fishing industry. Many anglers will only fish Smith sunglasses. The Basecamp edition comes with Smith’s ChromaPop lens that is equipped with both mirrored and polarized technology.

Guide Pro Tip: If the you’re searching for the best sunglasses that combine style and polarization seriously consider the Smith Basecamp. Read more and checkout the 5 star reviews with this shortcut link to Amazon 👉 Smith Basecamp Sunglasses

Plus, they were created to be durable. The mirrored coating doesn’t begin rubbing off after one drop or run in with a tree branch. They do everything you need for those extremely bright days. These glasses are going to cost you around $200.

INFI Polarized Mirrored Sunglasses – INFI is quickly becoming one of the more reputable affordable sunglass companies. Their mirrored polarized model is ideal for any angler spending quite a bit of time fishing in the sun. These glasses are fully polarized as well as mirrored, so you can combine all of the best features into one pair of sunglasses.

Plus, at under $50, you’re getting a great deal. Read the reviews and check current prices at Amazon with this shortcut link 👉 NIFI Polarized Sunglasses

Last Cast

The smarter anglers can be about purchasing their sunglasses, the more fish they’re going to catch. A quality pair of sunglasses is not only going to keep your eyes protected during many days on the water, but they’re also going to allow you to see into areas that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. So, be sure to purchase a pair of mirrored and polarized lenses for your fishing trips. The two technologies combined are necessary to be successful on the water.