Smith Action Optics Passages Sunglasses

Name: Keith Calhoun

E-mail: dkcalhoun@mindspring.com

Experience:
25 years of fly fishing experience; at least 20 years fly fishing in salt water, for a variety of species

Product Being Tested:
Smith Action Optics, Chamber frame, Photo Polar Brown lens

Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I have used polarized sunglasses ever since I started fly fishing 25 years ago, including glasses manufactured by Costa Del Mar, Ocean Waves, Action Optics & Specialty Eyewear

Date of Test:
Dec 30-31, 2006 & Jan 19-21, 2007

Place of Test:
Two saltwater fly fishing trips - once to the Georgia coast for two days and then three days in the Everglades.

Test Condition:
Georgia coast - overcast conditions, at times very heavy, with rain Everglades - varying conditions, including some overcast conditions as well as very bright conditions

Relevant related equipment or products:
N. A. Of course, I wore a hat which helped with some sun/glare reduction

Your experience with the product:
These are good glasses. The conditions encountered on the Ga. coast were so overcast that any sunglass was almost too much at times. However, these were great lenses for most of the time, since it was relatively low light conditions, requiring more than the "early morning/sunrise" lens but not much more. In the 'Glades, these glasses excelled in the morning and later afternoon. Polarization was excellent, allowing distortion free vision into the water. And the glasses provided true color vision, unlike many brown lenses, which sometimes distort color. As the morning sun rose, the glasses would darken and in the afternoon, the lenses would lighten as the day waned. During the high, bright mid-day sun, the lens allowed too much light transmission for my taste and unfortunately, the lenses did not get dark enough for my presonal preference in the middle of the day. I would have preferred a darker lens for the mid-day sun, but I think this is a personal preference issue. In summary, these are very good glasses.

Qualities you liked about the product:
These glasses performed as well as, if not better than any other pair of glasses I have ever tried from a polarization standpoint. The photochromatic feature is really nice. As the morning light came up, the lens darkened as it got brighter. Good, true color transmission. It should be noted that these glasses are offered in a variety of frames to fit different face sizes, appearance preferences, etc. Likewise, the photochromatic lens is offered in different base color choices, depending on personal preference, such as gray, copper, yellow as well as brown.

Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
The frame did not fit my face very well, but the photo polar lenses come in a variety of frames and these glasses are available at most fly shops - hence, this objection can be easily overcome by simply selecting a frame that is more comfortable Similarly, I think I would prefer the photo polar copper lens, which provides the photochromatic feature while getting a little darker during the mid-day. However, as noted above, this is a personal preference issue which each individual should test. Likewise, the photo brown lens was preferable dring more the more overcast conditions encountered on some occasions, since the brown allows more light transmission. I also wonder whether the copper would provide the same "true color" transmission as I experienced with the brown lens.

Summary Comments
These are excellent sunglasses. The photochromatic feature works very well and it is a nice feature to have when faced with variable light conditions - a condition faced in virtually every fishing situation. Likewise, the polarization (glare reduction) with these glasses is excellent. These glasses are competively priced with other good fishing glasses, and certainly perform quite well. The only complaint I had (frame fit) can easily be addressed by getting a different frame. Likewise, while I might prefer a copper to the brown lens tested (again, personal preference since I prefer a darker lens), these are available. For fishing all but the brightest conditions, the brown lens was quite acceptable. I have no hesitation in recommending Smith Action Optics sunglasses, as they are available in a wide variety of frame and lens choices.

Name: Thomas Johnson

E-mail: twjmd@comcast.net

Experience:
Fly fishing from shore/kayak for striped bass and bluefish. Nahant to Rockport. I share the coast of Cape Ann in Massachusetts with a growing posse of long rodders. Before and after work usually, I have to save the high sun fish time for the weekend, as work pays for the tackle.

Product Being Tested:
Smith Action Optics: Passage polarized sunglasses. Amber carbonite type lenses. Sweat grips on nosepiece and end of the arms. Dark ale-colored frames. The frames appear to have some "wrap around" aspect to them without the sideshields. One year warranty for defects only.

Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
Polarized Sunglasses add so much to fly fishing. Eye protection is a must for safety, no exceptions. I wear corrective lenses at work and on the water. Ever since my $350 pair of prescription sunglasses went to Davy Jones Locker, my quest for reasonable replacement eye wear has persisted. I have seen my fly refused with Costas, Clic's, Fitovers, as well as a few impulse decisions at the knockoff racks in the malls.

Date of Test:
9/2/5-9/7/5

Place of Test:
Ledge rocks off Magnolia point. Casting from shore into foam swell with bass and blues underneath.

Test Condition:
partly sunny with am rain and fog. 70-90 degrees with triple H forcast.

Relevant related equipment or products:
Casting into clear water with depths 2-15 feet, foam and breaking waves at my knees to above my stripping basket.

Your experience with the product:
I used my contacts during the test to allow for fair comparison, as lately I have been using fitovers. Frames are generous enough to nearly cover my range of view. Close enough to my face to let in little light and see periphery very well. They are lighter than most of equal size and structure. They look better than most, and could be worn on the beach, as well as under a long-brimmed, lucky hat. Lens color a little dark in ealier light, but eyes adjusted without feeling of being too dark and wanting to take them off. I remember feeling relieved to shield the sun during high part of day. They did not budge on my face during casting and only needed to remove them after salt from waves began to dry and smear the lens. Best feature was that they did not slip from nose bridge during high periods of perspiration. Polarizing effect seemed adequate although I did not appreciate the checkerboards on my car windshield with the same intensity as I have with other polarized lenses. When fish were close, they were easily seen. Limitations of my height and fishing conditions did not allow me to test discrimination from further than 10-20 feet, but clarity remained excellent until my right contact lens started to dry up. The glasses never budged from my face with 90 degree temps and the perspiration of an overweight, out-of-shape, average-efficient fly caster. My eyes never squinted or shunned from the light let in during the day, but I took them off an hour or so earlier than my usual pair as they seemed a little dark for sunset. By then, my contacts were behind my eyeballs and rather irritating anyway.

Qualities you liked about the product:
Good periphery vision with very little side glare. Clear images noted. They essentially glued themselves to my face and needed no adjustment after 8 hours of flailing at bass. My nose felt fine and I did not need croakies to pull tight to my face and crush my bridge. They almost float as I intentionally dropped them at my feet into the water. They are more stylish than other fishing specs. They never steamed up even when I was.

Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
Little too dark. Fine for bright days. They may not be best for overcast or steelhead weather. Salt seemed to build up on lenses from breaking waves. They needed two good cleanings in 8 hours of fishing wet. They are not designed as fitovers, they dont fit over even my smaller corrective specs.

Summary Comments
Very acceptable pair of fishing glasses. Plenty of protection with good aesthetics. They will seem to glue themselves to your face with very effective nose and arm sweat guards. Excellent shielding of outside light, which is important factor in limiting eye strain, as well as seeing more fish. If I didn't hate wearing contacts so much, I would buy them with my next fly fishing tackle allowance.

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