Shades of hardwater glory

I was reading the article in the in fisherman tactical ice guide as the cold weather starts to get me thinking about ice fishing. I noticed they talk about Costa, Maui Jim, wiley x, and solar bat sunglasses but they don’t even mention Oakley. I get that there is probably a sponsorship involved but I gotta ask it kinda feels like talking about crankbaits without mentioning rapala. They all make good sunglasses and I have tried Oakley wiley x and costas and they all have advantages. I just thought it was a little weird not including a huge player in the market.

Like you mentioned……….follow the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

What about Smith?

Like Dutch said. Follow the money.

Smith makes great shades also. Ya I figured as much. Sunglasses are one of those things you get what you pay for.

Is it as weird as sticking the word tactical in an ice guide?

To the original question, could be sponsors or could just be can’t name everyone. Lots of great companies out there.

I really like my Oakley’s, but it seems like they don’t offer many styles with polarized lenses.

Oakley has some of the prism line that are also polarized and some that are fishing specific.

Speaking for me… There were so many Oakley advertisements these last two years that when I was was looking for glasses for the Christmas Island trip, I never considered them. I’m sure many if not all of those were cheap china knock offs but they ruined the name for me.

They maybe fantastic glasses but the name turns me off.

If you buy a set of cheapos you’ll never lose themfancy ones boomgone

Oakley has come a long way from being the fancy, cool shades to actual good functioning sunglasses. I have posted in the past my distaste for Oakley shades, but after checking out some of the newer polarized versions, they seemed to have really stepped up the functionality of their lineup. I do not think I would make the switch from Costa, but I do understand that some of the newer Oakleys are very well made and functioning sunglasses.

Smith is another company who has come a long ways in the sunglass market. I have a pair of polarized Smiths that are about 10 years old they are pretty cheaply made with very generic polarization. I have worn a new pair of Polarized Smith’s and they seem to be much better. 5-10 years ago, Costa was one of the only widely sold sunglasses with quality lenses. Not necessarily the case anymore.