As an avid fisher, I know how essential it is to have the perfect pair of sunglasses. Not only do they shield your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays and glare, but they also improve your vision, making it easier to spot fish. With countless brands and models on the market, choosing the ideal pair for your fishing style can be daunting.
In this article, I’ll compare two of the most popular fishing sunglasses brands: Maui Jim and Costa. We’ll examine their features, benefits, drawbacks, and prices to help you determine which one best suits your needs. Whether you’re fishing in saltwater or freshwater, sunny or cloudy conditions, shallow or deep waters, I’ve got you covered. Read more about these stylish, polarized fishing sunglasses: Maui Jim vs. Costa.
Brand popularity
Both Maui Jim and Costa are well-known sunglasses brands in the USA and around the world. They boast loyal customers who vouch for their products and quality. On Instagram, Costa has approximately 571k followers, while Maui Jim has over 180k followers¹. Both brands also receive hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon from satisfied customers.
Costa is famous for its affordable, high-performance fishing sunglasses. They offer a broad range of polarized lens colors and materials to suit various fishing conditions and preferences. Costa provides two types of lens materials: glass and polycarbonate, along with seven different lens colors: blue mirror, green mirror, gray silver mirror, copper silver mirror, sunrise silver mirror, gray, and copper.
Maui Jim, on the other hand, is renowned for its polarized sunglasses with outstanding clarity and color enhancement. They utilize patented PolarizedPlus2 technology, which surpasses standard polarization and delivers a clearer, more vivid view, and also offer prescription-ready frames. Additionally, their sunglasses block 99.9% of harmful HEV light, potentially providing extra protection for your eyes.
Polarized lenses technology
Polarization is a vital feature of fishing sunglasses, reducing glare and reflections from the water surface for more comfortable and easier viewing. Maui Jim and Costa offer polarized lenses in seven colors for their sunglasses, but they employ different technologies to achieve this effect.
Costa has been a leader in polarized lenses for over 30 years and continually innovates and improves its technology. Their lenses are designed for fishing and outdoor activities, enhancing colors and contrast, blocking harsh glare, and providing 100% UV protection. They also feature a unique mirror coating that minimizes glare and heightens color contrast. One popular mirror coating is the blue mirror, ideal for open water and bright conditions.
Maui Jim uses their patented PolarizedPlus2 technology in their sunglasses, which exceeds standard polarization and provides a clearer, more vivid view. Their polarized lenses enhance color, reduce glare, and offer 100% UV protection. Additionally, they use bi-gradient mirrors to lessen glare from above and below. These are gray silver mirror coatings on the top and bottom of the lenses that reflect harsh yellow light and glare.
Lens materials
Glass lenses are more scratch-resistant and offer superior clarity compared to polycarbonate lenses. However, polycarbonate lenses are lighter and more impact-resistant than glass lenses. Both Maui Jim and Costa provide prescription lenses made from glass and polycarbonate.
Costa offers two types of glass lenses: 580G and 400G.
- The 580G lenses are premium lenses that offer exceptional clarity, contrast, and color enhancement.
- The 400G lenses are standard lenses that provide good clarity and polarization.
Maui Jim offers four types of lens materials: SuperThin Glass (STG), Maui Evolution (ME), Maui Brilliant (MB ), and MauiPure LT.
- The STG lenses are their thinnest and lightest glass lenses, offering excellent clarity and durability.
- The ME lenses are mid-range polycarbonate lenses that provide good clarity and impact resistance.
- The MB lenses are their most advanced polycarbonate lenses, offering exceptional optical clarity and color enhancement.
- The MauiPure LT lenses are their lightest and most comfortable polycarbonate lenses, providing great clarity and durability.
Frame materials
Maui Jim and Costa offer a range of frame designs, from classic to modern styles, using high-quality materials such as acetate and nylon for durability and comfort.
Costa provides high-quality sunglasses with various frame materials and styles. You can choose from acetate, bio-based resin, metal, or co-injected nylon frames, depending on your preference.
- Acetate frames are smooth and comfortable and made from plant-based materials.
- Bio-based resin frames are light and durable, made from renewable and biodegradable materials.
- Metal frames are sleek and stylish, made from titanium or Monel, a corrosion-resistant alloy.
- Co-injected nylon frames are flexible and comfortable, made from a blend of nylon and rubber.
- Maui Jim offers sunglasses with frames made from acetate, nylon, metal, and MauiFlex.
- Acetate frames are handcrafted from plant-based materials, offering a smooth finish and comfortable fit.
- Nylon frames are made from lightweight and durable materials, providing a flexible and comfortable fit.
- Metal frames are made from titanium or stainless steel, offering a sleek and stylish look.
MauiFlex frames are unique to Maui Jim, as they can withstand extreme temperatures and “remember” the wearer’s original fit.
UV rays protection
When searching for the best fishing sunglasses, you might wonder which brand is superior: Maui Jim or Costa. Both brands offer high-quality sunglasses that protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, which can lead to eye problems such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and eye cancer. Both brands also provide polarized lenses, reducing glare and reflections from the water surface, allowing for clearer and more comfortable vision. However, there are differences between them that may make one more suitable for you than the other.
Maui Jim’s lenses come in seven different colors, including Maui Rose, and are specifically designed for optimal UV protection, reducing eye strain, and offering optical clarity in low light conditions. Their lenses also employ bi-gradient mirrors to reduce glare from harsh yellow light, creating a comfortable, clear, glare-free vision.
Costa claims their lenses have the best lens technology for fishing sunglasses, providing ultimate UV protection and reducing glare for optical clarity in all light conditions. Their lenses are comparable to regular lenses but with added lens protection.
Price
The cost for fishing sunglasses in both brands may vary depending on the model, lens type, frame material, and other features. Both brands are considered premium and offer high-quality products. However, their price ranges differ.
Costa sunglasses are generally more affordable than Maui Jim sunglasses. The average price of Costa sunglasses on Amazon is around $200.
The average price of Maui Jim sunglasses on Amazon is around $250. Of course, prices may vary depending on the model, lens type, frame material, and other features.
Warranty and Customer Service
Maui Jim and Costa offer warranties for their products, but their terms and conditions differ.
Costa provides a limited lifetime warranty for their sunglasses, covering defects in materials and workmanship for the product’s lifetime. However, this warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, lens scratches, accidental damage, or misuse. If you need to repair or replace a lens or your sunglasses, you will have to pay a processing fee of $11.95 plus applicable taxes.
Maui Jim offers a two-year limited warranty for their sunglasses, covering defects in materials and workmanship for two years from the date of purchase. However, this warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, lens scratches, accidental damage, or misuse. If you need to repair or replace your sunglasses, you will have to pay a processing fee of $10 plus applicable taxes.
Both brands offer customer service through phone, email, chat, and social media. You can contact them if you have any questions or concerns about your sunglasses.
Maui Jim vs. Costa Reddit
Reddit users have varying opinions about Maui Jim and Costa sunglasses, depending on their preferences and needs. Some common themes that emerge from their comments are:
Good things
Maui Jim: Superior optical clarity and color enhancement, high-quality and comfortable frames, longer warranty, and lower repair fees. Costa: Specific lenses for different environments, sporty and rugged frames, cheaper price, and lifetime warranty.
Bad things
Maui Jim: More expensive than Costa, not available in some styles, not ANSI rated for shooting. Costa: Less color-enhancing than Maui Jim, cheap feel and sharp edges of frames, variable repair fees, and limited warranty coverage.
Conclusion
So, which brand of sunglasses is better for fishing: Maui Jim or Costa? The answer depends on your personal. Costa Del Mar sunglasses primarily focus on fishing, while Maui Jim seems to cater more to casual wear. However, you can’t go wrong with either brand, as both offer quality polarized sunglasses that can protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays and enhance your fishing experience.
In terms of lens technology, Maui Jim is known for its superior optical clarity and color enhancement, while Costa offers specific lenses tailored for different fishing environments. Frame styles and materials are quite diverse for both brands, allowing you to find a comfortable and durable fit that suits your personal taste.
Price-wise, Costa sunglasses tend to be more affordable than Maui Jim sunglasses, which may be an important consideration for some. Both brands offer warranties for their products, but Maui Jim provides a longer warranty period (two years) compared to Costa’s limited lifetime warranty which doesn’t cover all types of damage.
When considering other factors such as customer service, both brands offer responsive and helpful support through various channels.
Ultimately, the choice between Maui Jim and Costa sunglasses comes down to your needs, preferences, and budget. Both brands offer high-quality fishing sunglasses that can help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, reduce glare, and improve your overall fishing experience. We hope this article has helped you compare Maui Jim vs. Costa sunglasses and make an informed decision. Happy fishing!