| Name: Brian Griffith |
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| E-mail: traydog@enter.net |
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Experience:
I have been fishing for more than 45 years, fly fishing for 38. I have fly fished in New Zealand, Kamchatka, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil and throughout the northern Rockies as well as the Mid Atlantic States area. I fish both salt and fresh water. |
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Product Being Tested:
Costa del Mar Blackfin sunglasses |
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Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I have used many brands of polarized sunglasses, including Ray-Bans, Maui Jims, Oakley, Bolles and multiple no-name brands. |
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Date of Test:
May 19-26, 2008 |
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Place of Test:
Northwestern New Jersey. I fished a freestone river for trout as well as spent time on a good sized reservoir (kayaking not fishing). |
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Test Condition:
Throughout the week the conditions varied from bright and sunny to overcast and rainy. The wind varied from perfectly still to quite breezy. Temperatures ranged from the mid-40s to the upper 70s. |
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Relevant related equipment or products:
N/A |
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Your experience with the product:
I have never been a big fan of wraparound sunglasses despite owning several pairs. They always seemed to be too bulky or did not fit my head. The first time I put these on I was impressed by the fit. Totally comfortable. Light and snug without being too tight. The lenses were good with no discernible optical or color distortion. The field of vision is wide. There is a rubber-like material that surrounds the lenses and prevents them from sliding around on your face even when wet. Bold styling that I might have passed over but found appealing, as did my wife. |
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Qualities you liked about the product:
I liked the fact that the lenses were not so dark as to preclude wearing them on cloudy days. They are light on your face, and the styling is pretty cool. The side-shields completely blocked out the light and kept out wind as well as debris. |
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Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
I have always preferred amber lenses, but the samples came with gray. This is an available option, so it should not prove an impediment to anyone buying these glasses. The only flaw I could find is that on one of the cooler mornings the inside fogged up since there is not much exchange of air between the atmosphere and the space between your eyes and the lenses. |
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Summary Comments
These are a really nice pair of sunglasses. They allow you to see through glare as well as more expensive brands and have no distortion that I can detect. The fit is great for wraparounds, and they seem pretty sturdy. (I'm not always the most careful guy with sunglasses.) I have no reservations about recommending these glasses highly. |
