Best polarized sunglasses are indispensable for fishing in Alaska’s bright and reflective waters, providing clear vision and reducing glare. The editors at Fish Alaska have handpicked these exceptional polarized sunglasses as their top choices.
Best Polarized Sunglasses
Smith Hookset
The pair Editor George Krumm tested had matte-black frames, ChromaPop Glass Polarchromic Yellow Blue Mirror lenses, which have visible light transmission of 11- to 23% depending on light conditions. This wide range of light transmission makes these glasses, with these particular lenses, an outstanding choice for anglers. The Hookset has many of the Smith features you’re probably already familiar with such as Megol temple and nose pads, and spring hinges that self-adjust for a comfortable fit. The Hookset frames fit medium to large faces. Publisher Marcus Weiner has worn many pairs of Smith sunglasses over the last 25 years.
They fit well, look good, give him the ability to see fish in the water and hold up to years of wear. This year he tested the Hookset frame (matte black) with ChromaPop Glass Polarized Low Light Yellow. It enabled him to spot schools of salmon from a fair distance away in low light, which translated to knowing where the rainbows would be sitting—right behind the salmon school. Smith says these low-light yellow lenses are best for cloudy conditions (33% visible light transmission) and for fishing, and with many lens-color options available, you’ll pick the conditions you most often encounter and choose the lens that best fits.
Bajío Vega
The pair Editor George Krumm tested had brown tortoise matte frames, a progressive prescription, and purple mirror lenses. In Bajío lenses, purple mirror offers the most light transmission, with rose mirror lenses a close second. The Vega Rx with purple lenses are very good fishing sunglasses, especially for periods of low light. One of the really cool things about Bajío is that you can get almost any frame, and most lens colors, in Rx or readers. That is significant.
Wiley X Peak
Wiley X Peak sunglasses have a high-wrap frame that helps block out peripheral light which enables you to see into the water better. The pair we tested have matte-black frames, a progressive Rx in polycarbonate Captivate polarized blue mirror lenses, and the lenses are Z87+ safety rated for optical clarity and high mass/high velocity impact protection, so these will help protect you in combat fisheries like the Russian and Ship Creek. 100% UVA/UVB protection, Wiley X Peak is also available with grey silver flash lenses and Captivate polarized copper lenses. Wiley X makes excellent sunglasses for outdoor enthusiasts.
Wiley X Founder
These shades are available in 5 different combinations of frame and lens color, polarized or non-polarized, and are prescription ready. The styling is a blend of traditional and trendy that will look good for years to come. Publisher Marcus Weiner tested these glasses with Gloss Crystal Grey frames and Polarized Progressive Blue Mirror lenses. He said they were comfortable and easy to wear.
Bajío 12 South RX
Publisher Marcus Weiner tested these frames with grey, progressive, polarized lenses built to his specs. The frames are comfortable and provide a large fit and lots of eye coverage with the large lenses. Marcus preferred them on brighter days, and he used them to spot sockeye, amid the other salmon species, when fishing in the Togiak River.
Smith Guide’s Choice
Same great Guide’s Choice frame in matte black, but with the new ChromaPop Glass Polarchromic Yellow Blue Mirror lenses, which have visible light transmission of 11- to 23% depending on light conditions. This wide range of light transmission makes these glasses, with these particular lenses, an outstanding choice for anglers. The Guide’s Choice frames fit medium to large faces best.
Wiley X Kingpin
The WX Kingpin is a traditional style with many of the same features as the WX Peak has, but in a different look. The pair we tested has matte-black frames, progressive Rx polycarbonate polarized Captivate bronze mirror lenses. Z87+ safety rated for optical clarity and high-mass/high-velocity impact protection, so these are a good choice for combat fisheries. They are also available with Captivate polarized blue mirror lenses and Captivate polarized green mirror lenses.