Wiley X Gear Guide
For several years now, Wiley X sunglasses have been accompanying me on every fishing trip, far or near. They offer lenses with polarization allowing for better vision under the water surface and of course, 100% UVA/UVB protection. This past December, I was able to trial a couple of pairs in Louisiana that I hadn’t had any experience with. As has been the case in the past, they performed fantastic and made for a very enjoyable adventure.
Knowing long boat rides would be in order, I wanted something with wrap-around protection to keep the wind from drying my eyes as well as offer good peripheral sun protection for extended days on the water. The JAKL offered just those two key aspects plus a whole lot more. Dual-injected rubber temples and nose pads get the glasses in place when things got choppy and remained comfortable for the duration. The arms of the frame easily slid under my hat and gaiter allowing me to wear both for optimum sun protection. Wiley X’s patented CAPTIVATE lenses in polarized blue mirror did a fantastic job of reducing glare and dampening the effects of the bright sun.
Wanting to experiment with a more “casual” look, I opted for a pair of the WX Alfa. With a slight rectangular design, the lenses were big enough to offer good forward coverage without a gaudy look. Mixing it up with gloss crystal light olive frames, this pair of Alfa’s would be at home on the boat, at the beach, or at the local tiki bar. At first, I was a little hesitant to go with the CAPTIVATE polarized bronze mirror lenses wondering if they would be dark enough for cloudless days. Now that I’ve put some sunny days on them, there was nothing to worry about. Glare was reduced and they blocked any unwanted brightness with no issue. The Alfa’s remained comfortable for the duration of the trip and they will undoubtedly be making the voyage South to Florida later this Spring.
Wiley X continues to pump out great new shades for the fishing crowd. Don’t forget most (if not all) their glasses offer ANSI-rated safety protection which makes them just as valuable at the range or on the job site.
