Sam's is your source for Hatteras and Cabo Yacht parts.

Enter a part description OR part number to search the Hatteras/Cabo parts catalog:

Email Sam's or call 1-800-678-9230 to order parts.

Maui Jim vs Costa Del Sol

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bill Root
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 20
  • Views Views 19,360
B

Bill Root

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 26, 2007
Messages
817
Status
  1. OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
Hatteras Model
54' MOTOR YACHT (1985 - 1988)
Not sure this belongs under tech talk, but what the heck.

I need to replace my prescription sunglasses. Do any of you who are on the water frequently and use prescription sunglasses have an opinion on the brand with the best lenses? I'm most interested in glare reduction, minimum color/image distortion and image clarity. Because I need progressive prescription lenses, I think I'm pretty much restricted to Maui Jim, Costa or Ray Ban.

Any feedback on your experience would be appreciated. If I'm going to shell out $600-$700 for a pair I'd like to be sure I'm getting the best ones.

Thanks
 
Love my Maui Jim's but I can't speak for the others as I've never tried them.
 
Costa is a great company and they are local.

I has the rubber on the temples failing and the asked me to send in the glasses fo rthem to see and fix. I asked what I would do while they were out for repair and they sent a pair out for me to use and keep. granted the original pair was their top of the line and the loaners were 1/2 or so the price but did I mention I got to keep them for free?


I broke the temples on one pair ( my fault) and ordered replacements Thursday afternoon and had the Fri. $35 plus frt.


Again grerat service
 
I have Costa Del Mar (not sol). I have had them for 8 yrs. The kind I have is the triple tail model with amber glass lenses. They say glass is better with less distortion. The only thing is they are real heavy on the nose. I wear them about 6 hrs, then switch to the cheapo walmart glasses. The Costas go back in the hard case. They also have a warrenty they say if you break them, send them back for a new pair. Also if you scratch them up bad, send them back and they'll install new lenses. I wouldnt hesitate to by another pair.
 
I've got a pair of Jacksonville glasses. Visually perfect lenses (glass, not plastic). But they are much heavier than my previous pairs of Maui Jim's. Going back to Maui Jim's, since the weight doesn't cause them to slide of a sweaty nose!
 
Costa has both glass ( my good ones ) and plastic ( everyday pair)
 
You might look at Kaenons, which are very good indeed out on the water, and see if they can be supplied in Rx/progressive.
 
Ocean Waves is the Jacksonville maker.... I had a pair back in the 90's and loved them.... My problem with them is, most only come in single prescription lens... They tell you to go to CVS or Walgreen and get the 'stick on' magnifying lens they sell if you want bi focals...
They do now make the progressive lens I need but are VERY proud of their prices...
I simply bought a pair of "Solar Shields" that fit over my glasses... Work great, are light weight and only cost $24.
 
Well, thanks guys. I've had a pair of Maui Jim's for about 5 years, but the prescription is old and I have to replace them.

When I started shopping around I found that I really liked the Costa del mar frames better than the Maui Jims; a much tighter fit and overall more comfortable. There's a lot of negative stuff on the internet about their warranty, however. On the other hand, the temple and hinge broke on my Maui's a couple of months back. They replaced both temples for only the $10 shipping charge and threw in a new hard case. Can't beat that.

Sounds like aside from the warranty issue both brands would be a good choice. What lens color would you recommend for general cruising, not fishing?
 
Maui Jims do have a good warranty... for most people. I found they wouldn't service the sunglasses I got from them. I haven't had a problem with the Costas I have, so I don't know.

My new favorites are Kaenons- they are very ruggedly made, and they are not part of Luxottica, which seems to own all the other sunglass brands.
 
I'm a Costa fan. Have owned Kaenons also-did not fit my face as well, but 2 of my sailboat racing friends preferred those while I used Costa for years. I prefer the blue glass lens because they do the best job for seeing light/shoal/waves in the water. I have sent more than a few pairs back and have always been very pleased. The last pair came with a call- "In addition to the lenses, we would rather replace the entire frame and temples." I keep 2 pairs always. Tried the green and amber lenses. Amber doesnt work at all. Green not as good on the water. The blue were originally designed for offshore fisherman, and have worked as well or better anything else. Kaenons lens and design are definitely worthy. I always buy the models with the nylon frames FWIW

If you leave them inside with the AC on and go outside in the humidity - they will fog for a minute on your face, like any glass.
 
I had a pair of Costas that had some sort of soft nylon blend on the nose and temple portions. They caused a pretty bad rash. Costa replaced them with a different model which I still have but rarely use. My favorite are non-prescription cheapies from the flea market which have a built in reader.... $10.00 Neutral grey/green. Works for the AICW.

Bobk
 
For what it's worth, a friend of mine turned me on to the Silverfish brand of prescription sunglasses for in-water use (surfing, windsurfing etc.). Could be a great second pair that isn't afraid to get salty. Here is the link.http://www.silverfish.com/cp-prescription.html
 
Thanks again to all. Great feedback.
 
Where's a good place to buy and try on legit offshore sunglasses. I got PRK eye surgery a few months ago (I should've done it years ago) and now I don't need prescription anything. I want to buy a good glass lens pair of sunglasses. All the silly mall stores just have poser stuff.
 
Top end marine and tackle shops usually have them. Usually they cary a decent selection of 3 or 4 brands.
 
If you find a good opticians (I have purchased several sets of sunglasses at Annapolis Opticians) they will have a serious selection of them and really fit them right. The downside is that you will pay more. But they will fit right and they won't be a Chinese knockoff of the real thing.

For out on the water use, I really like the Kaenons. I have a set I keep on the boat, they are by far the best. And I got the blue lenses, like he said above. They also have a Driver model similar to Serengetis but better, and in a few different colors.
 
Maui Jims, accept no substitute.
You can get them in prescription lenses, and they are also available over the counter in "readers", standard lenses with bifocals.
 
I had a pair of the Costa tripletail (blue mirror lens) for 10 years! Loved them! Used them every day, from the boat in the summer to those bright days in the snow in the winter.
 
Have owned Maui,Costa and just discovered Pilla brand...available in prescription developed for rifle and range shooting ...vision enhancing...amazing, the best out there.[/COLOR]
Bill Root said:
Not sure this belongs under tech talk, but what the heck.

I need to replace my prescription sunglasses. Do any of you who are on the water frequently and use prescription sunglasses have an opinion on the brand with the best lenses? I'm most interested in glare reduction, minimum color/image distortion and image clarity. Because I need progressive prescription lenses, I think I'm pretty much restricted to Maui Jim, Costa or Ray Ban.

Any feedback on your experience would be appreciated. If I'm going to shell out $600-$700 for a pair I'd like to be sure I'm getting the best ones.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
38,156
Messages
448,741
Members
12,482
Latest member
UnaVida

Latest Posts

Trending content

Back
Top Bottom