What Are The Best Sunglasses For Sailing?

David Harding has compiled a list of the best sailing sunglasses, emphasizing the importance of quality and affordability. The sunglasses should be non-bulky, lightweight, enhance visibility, and be comfortable to wear for extended periods. They should also offer UVA protection, with polarization and magnification strengths of 1.5X, 2.0X, 2.5X, and 3.0X. These sunglasses are suitable for sailors, whether they’re relaxing on the deck in the Caribbean or on the deck in the Caribbean.

The top sailing sunglasses include the Oakley Clifden, SeaSpecs Stealth, Sungait Sailing Sunglasses, and Torege Polarized Sunglasses. The Revo Otis sunglasses provide good definition with little distortion, and are extremely light with blue lenses. Gill Corona Sports Sunglasses is another top choice, offering high-quality sailing sunglasses at various price points.

Sailors need wraparound styles that protect their eyes, and the best floatable sunglasses offer polarized lenses with certified total UV ray protection, as well as hydrophobic and oleophobic lens coatings. Some of the best sailing sunglasses for men include the Velans™, Maui Jim Hookipa, ONeill Zepol Sailing Sunglasses, and Richard B. Ocean Racings polarized sport performance sunglasses.

Top brands for sailing sunglasses include Good Citizens, Ray-Ban, Costa Del Mar Blenders, Gill Essential Gear, and the Sierras and Tempests™. These sunglasses are the go-to choices for both Emirates SailGP GBR and INEOS.

In summary, the best sailing sunglasses are essential for sailors, offering non-bulky, lightweight, and effective UVA protection.

What sunglasses are good for sailing?

Our pick of the best sailing sunglasses available nowGill Corona sailing sunglasses. Best sailing sunglasses from a big-name yachting apparel specialist. … Tribord 100 Floating Sunglasses. Best budget polarized sunglasses. … Oakley Clifden sailing sunglasses. … Gill Race Vision Bi-Focal sailing sunglasses.

David Harding picks out 8 pairs of the best sailing sunglasses and explains why good quality sunglasses are so important for sailors…

Those of us who go afloat expose ourselves to a lot of ultraviolet (UV) radiation – even on cloudy days in northern Europe. We all know that too much UV is bad for our skin, but it can damage our eyes too: over-exposure can cause cataracts, macular degeneration and photokeratitis (a type of sunburn of the eye) among other conditions.

That’s why we need good quality sunglasses. Any that you buy should filter out UV rays – carrying the CE mark in Europe to show that they meet the required standard – but the best sailing sunglasses will do more besides.

What is the best color lens for sailing?

One Tajima Polarized lens tint in Gray, Brown or Copper will easily perform visually and take you through the variety of light and water conditions you’ll encounter. For those that like to specialize, consider one dark tint for bright sun and one contrast tint for low / flat light days. Most common – Gray and Brown.

Leading polarized lens maker Tajima-Direct.com, speaks to Pete Burling, Steve Benjamin, Ken Read, Dave Hughes, Brian Porter and Cam Lewis about their favorite polarized lens tints and technologies.

All polarized lenses are not created equal. Nor are sunglass and prescription lens technologies. Like any product on the market, once you know the facts, educate yourself, seek expert advice, you’ll be informed to make the best decision for you. After all, everyone is different…just as weather changes and bodies of water vary, lens tints are a matter of what works best for you. Long time polarized lens developer and Tajima Direct co-founder Steve Rosenberg, a former champion sailor himself, speaks with some of the very best sailors in the world about their lens tint and technology preferences.

America’s Cup champion and Olympic Gold MedalistPete Burlingdoesn’t want his polarized lenses too dark. Olympic Silver Medalist and multiple world championSteve Benjaminwants his lenses dark in bright conditions, yet also likes options. OlympianDave Hughesprefers a Gray tint with a Blue Mirror for his go-to all-purpose pair. While prescription progressive polarized lens wearers, Melges World ChampionBrian Porterand off-shore multihull record setterCam Lewis,prefer a dark Blue Mirror as their go-to everyday prescription lens. World Champion and all-time greatKen Readsimply asks the question: “What’s best for me to read puffs?”

When should you not wear polarized sunglasses?

• If you’re looking at instrument panels or LCD screens, it can be hard to see information. For example, pilots or those who operate heavy machinery shouldn’t wear polarized sunglasses.
• If you’re driving at night or in low-light situations.
• If you want to be aware of glare. For example, snowboarders and skiers want to be able to avoid icy areas.

Which glasses are better: polarized or non-polarized?. So, are polarized sunglasses worth it?

It all depends on how you’ll wear your sunglasses. If you’re outside a lot, it may be the better choice, as polarized lenses offer more benefits than non-polarized. But it’s all about personal preference.

What are the best color sunglasses for boating?

Sunglasses with polarized lenses have been an important piece of navigation equipment since they came on the market 40 years ago. With polarized filtered lenses, side glare from windshields, water and shiny surfaces is eliminated.

In more recent years, popular thinking says blue-mirror and gray-base lenses are best for offshore, and copper or amber-base lenses with green, gold or copper mirror are best inshore in brackish, brown or green water.

Lens density is a critical choice if you can only own one pair. And for as much as $300 a pair, the trick is selecting the right one for most situations.

Frame style plays a big role in glare reduction. Light leaking in around the sides can cause lens flare, making glasses a liability in some cases. You’ll need to choose frames that wrap closely around your face, leaving as few gaps for light as possible.

Are polarized sunglasses better on the water?

Polarized glasses help to reduce the glare created by the sun when it hits the water. With this glare eliminated, it enables you to be able to see into the water.

This is a huge advantage to any angler who fishes shallow water in lakes or likes to fish in the flowing water of rivers and streams.

They selectively reduce other reflections from objects above water, including clouds and even the sky (the reflected sky gives most of its blue colour to the sea). Finally, light coming from under water is slightly polarized in the vertical plane (polarized on transmission). The end effect is that the water seems darker but more transparent! It only works however if you look at the water at some angle and not straight down.

When the sea is choppy the sun reflection becomes the familiar glitter, an elongated pattern of shimmering water stretching towards the sun. Because different parts of the glitter are reflected from different wave slopes, the degree of polarization varies from place to place. In those conditions the sunglasses will also help for high or low suns and the benefit will depend on where you are looking.

What camera lens is best for sailing?

1. Get the settings right. Our longtime racing photographer, Dan Phelps, advises, “Check your camera to make sure that you have the right settings for the day. The worst thing you can do to yourself is shoot a regatta on a bright sunny day only to go home and find that your camera was set up for night fireworks.”He recommends long lenses: 200mm, 300mm, 400mm-plus. “A longer lens allows you to be away from the action and gives the racers the room to do their thing. It’s less stressful on you and on them, and it still enables you to stay connected with the action.”

• Make a plan. Dan pages through Instagram or magazines to see what the pros are up to, gets some inspiration, and then comes up with a plan. “I find that going out with a plan for myself to get a certain angle on a boat helps to give the session some purpose. I get to learn a new angle or style, and (hopefully) the shots live up to the art.”
• Get up close! “Close ups and faces are the key,” he says. “Don’t worry about getting the whole boat. If you look at the top pros, they often only have a very small section of the boat in frame, but their focus is right where the action is happening.” Photographer Shannon Hibberd captured this sailing image. Always great to capture sailors’ expressions.
• Horizon job. Shannon Hibberd chimed in: “Try to get a straight horizon. Nothing ruins a great photo like having the horizon slightly tilted (if it’s dramatically tilted, you can claim artistic license)…”
• When shooting boats… Hibberd says, “Don’t just shoot boats
• try to get the expressions of crew and action onboard. If there’s a lot of wind/wave action, bring foulies, a towel, a lens cloth in case of splashing, and a waterproof bag or case for expensive cameras and equipment.” You do not need to get the entire sailboat into the frame to capture the essence of what’s happening onboard. Photo by Al Schreitmueller
• Find the moment. Mark Duehmig says, “My favorite weather is after a storm has passed. The sun is lighting up the boat, but the background sky is dark.When shooting onboard the boat, go for people shots and look for big emotion. The effort shown when grinding a winch or hoisting a sail. Concentration on a helmsman’s face. Even boredom by the rail meat, or the excitement while reeling in a fish.If you are racing and someone is down below pulling in the spinnaker, don’t forget about him or her…The golden hour really works for boats
• noontime is the most boring,” Duehmig adds. “Boats at rest can be wonderful.” For many years almost every weekend in season, Dan Phelps captured photos of Annapolis sailors on the Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Dan Phelps
• Go for shutter speed. Al Schreitmueller kept his advice short and sweet: “Forget tripods and monopods. Go for shutter speed—twice the usual 1/mm’s, ie. 300mm lens use 2xmm = 1/600 minimum speed. Try hard to keep the sun at your back. If it’s really rough, don’t use your camera bag as a barf bag or for fish.”
• Better selfies: My nieceMiacompleted the pro advice with a tip on the best way to hold an iPhone for a selfie: “Put your two middle fingers on the back of the phone, and the pointer finger and pinky hold it in place. The thumb takes the photo.” Of course, some phones, such as an iPhone, have buttons on the side to make it easier. Find some great iPhone photo tips here.
• Enter the SpinSheet Summer Cover Contest.Enter here by August 1. Also remember that anytime of the year, we welcome racing, cruising, sailing party photos, and anything showing Chesapeake sailors (or yourself!) having a great time on or along the water! Send allto (emailprotected).

This article first appeared in SpinSheet in 2018 and was updated in July 2024. Find SpinSheet’s photo gallery.

What color lens is best for the ocean?

Best Fishing Lens Colors. Offshore Fishing: Neutral. Neutral lens tints like gray are best for offshore fishing, where the sun is most intense. Deep sea fishing or any fishing that is miles from the coast requires the utmost sun protection. Dark gray polarized lenses give the best brightness protection on open waters, which act like a mirror even on cloudy days. Since these tend to be longer trips that require more travel time, you’ll need the extra protection to prevent eye strain or fatigue. Neutral tones keep your surroundings true-to-color, but a blue or green mirror coating can add slight contrast and increase definition.

SportRx Saeger in Matte Black with Grey Polarized Lenses.

Inshore & Freshwater Fishing: Contrast-Enhancing. Warm tints like copper, rose, and brown are best for inshore and freshwater fishing where water is shallow and lighting varies. This includes coastlines, flats, bays, rivers, lakes, and streams. These tints adapt to a wide range of lighting conditions for excellent coverage while also boosting color. Inshore and freshwater anglers can use contrast-enhancing tints to their advantage to better spot and track fish underwater. Polarization is also key for cutting glare and increasing visibility.

What color sunglass lens is best for ocean?

Best Fishing Lens Colors. Offshore Fishing: Neutral. Neutral lens tints like gray are best for offshore fishing, where the sun is most intense. Deep sea fishing or any fishing that is miles from the coast requires the utmost sun protection. Dark gray polarized lenses give the best brightness protection on open waters, which act like a mirror even on cloudy days. Since these tend to be longer trips that require more travel time, you’ll need the extra protection to prevent eye strain or fatigue. Neutral tones keep your surroundings true-to-color, but a blue or green mirror coating can add slight contrast and increase definition.

SportRx Saeger in Matte Black with Grey Polarized Lenses.

Inshore & Freshwater Fishing: Contrast-Enhancing. Warm tints like copper, rose, and brown are best for inshore and freshwater fishing where water is shallow and lighting varies. This includes coastlines, flats, bays, rivers, lakes, and streams. These tints adapt to a wide range of lighting conditions for excellent coverage while also boosting color. Inshore and freshwater anglers can use contrast-enhancing tints to their advantage to better spot and track fish underwater. Polarization is also key for cutting glare and increasing visibility.

What are the disadvantages of polarized sunglasses?

DISADVANTAGES OF POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. The biggest disadvantage of polarized sunglasses is their effect on LCD screens. Polarized sunglasses can make LCD screens hard to view due to the way that the lenses filter light. Screens can become extremely dark or even completely blank at some angles when viewed through polarized lenses. This is an important fact to keep in mind when considering buying a pair of polarized sunglasses.

If you want an experience closer to the naked eye when looking through a pair of sunglasses, then non-polarized lenses will be your best option. Polarized sunglasses will produce a much darker view of the world, and some colors will look different compared to the naked eye.

If you are required to operate machinery or vehicles outside and you have to constantly monitor a screen, polarized lenses can impede your vision and cause more safety issues than they alleviate.

What color sunglasses are best for water?

Rose Lenses. While copper, rose, brown and gray tinted lenses are best for strong daylight, rose lenses are intended for lower light conditions on the water, such as in the early morning, evening, or when it’s overcast. They work to reduce glare without darkening the field of vision.

Blue Lenses. As the name might suggest, blue lenses are best suited for environments with strong blue hues, such as somewhere tropical. This occurs because of the mirroring effect of the blue lens, which refracts any incoming blue light rays.

There’s a lens color for everyone. It’s important to note that polarized sunglasses and tints are two different mechanisms. Polarized sunglasses cut glare in harsh outdoor lighting, while tints can be either light or dark and customized to fit the wearer’s desired view. That said, experts assert there’s no “wrong” choice when it comes to choosing lens color or shade, and it’s very much a personal preference. Whether you’re a Costa del Mar fan or opt for the Oakley flak jacket style, Revant’s got you covered with the best interchangeable lenses for sport sunglasses. We can even help you pick out the perfect pair of sunglasses from well-known brands orcustom replacement lenses to suit your lifestyle.

Do I need polarized sunglasses for sailing?

Polarized lenses are a really important feature to have for sailing sunglasses. This is because when you’re out on the water there can be much more glare than there is on land because of the extra glare reflecting off the water and the white sails, even on overcast days.

Can you wear polarized sunglasses in the ocean?

Fishing and BoatingFind fish, currents and underwater structures with greater clarity when wearing sunglasses with polarized lenses. By cutting down on glare, these shades give you a direct view beneath the water’s surface.

Surfing and PaddleboardingAvoid distractions from glare and eye fatigue when surfing your favorite break or paddleboarding at your preferred spot. Polarized glasses help reduce the sun’s blinding glare to help you achieve peak performance.

Kayaking and CanoeingSitting at water level can make it more challenging to see into the water, especially when the sun hits the water’s surface just right. With polarized lenses, you have better visibility to see what’s around and beneath you, whether you’re whitewater rafting or gliding peacefully down your local river.