Outside of terminal tackle, sunglasses are one of the most important pieces of gear in fly fishing. You see the fish, see structure, and see the bottom. You get eye protection from the sun and from flies. I personally advocate for spending as much as you responsible can for a good pair of polarized lenses.
I get a lot of pushback. Why? People break, scratch, lose, and otherwise kill their sunglasses.
It isn’t ridiculous to think that something like that might happen. Catastrophic drops, errant weighted flies, and loans to a careless friend all have their inherent risks. But that doesn’t mean that general, routine thoughtfulness isn’t the ounce of prevention that can keep a premium pair of sunglasses working for you for season after season.
I justify my preference for good sunglasses at the bottom of the post. But here are four simple things any and every angler should do to keep their shades alive, regardless of the price they paid:
Retainer
When I was younger, the only people who wore sunglass retainers were SEC frat boys and grandpas (there are actually a lot of shared fashion sensibilities between those two demographics). But if style is a high priority for you, you better reconsider your participation in an activity that requires you to wear pants that terminate under your armpits.
A retainer, be it neoprene or cord, is going to keep your shades from hitting the ground. If you aren’t using them, they’ll be much safer on your head than stashed in your vest. And if you must keep them on the brim of your hat, a retainer that you can cinch tight can hold them steady even if you carelessly flip your cap off.
Storage
Most pairs of sunglasses come with some sort of case. Why? They don’t want them to get damaged as they’re on the way to you. Chances are, you’re going to be rougher on them than some freight company. Your dashboard and kitchen countertop seem like convenient options for storage. However, those places are also where life happens. Life and scratchable lenses or breakable hinges don’t mix.
Bear minimum, keep them in a little sack. Better yet? A hard or semi-rigid case. This can live in your glove box or in a gear bag. A place for everything; everything in its place.
Lens Cleaning
Your shirt will work in a pinch. When you’re deep in the woods and you’ve just accidentally put a greasy thumbprint on your lens, your shirt will be just fine. However, a dedicated and clean cloth will work a lot better. A smudge in your field of vision is frustrating, but a scratch from debris on whatever you used to clean your lenses is infuriating.
If you do have that storage option lined up, it is also a great place to keep a little microfiber cloth. Prior to rubbing, give a quick blow to each side of each lens to clear any abrasives. If you need to, splash a little water on each side of the lens before you wipe.
General Cleaning
Your sweat is one of your sunglasses’ worst enemies. Metal parts will corrode. Those are usually found at the hinges or the springs holding the nose pads on. A failure in either place will result in a useless pair of shades. Especially in the summertime, give your frames a good rinse and dry. There is a surprising amount of gunk that builds up where your face makes contact with sunglasses. Once you see it, you’ll want to clean it.
Why do I fish with “expensive” sunglasses? Here are a few reasons:
Sunglasses – Don’t Fish Without Them