“Things that float” must have been the unofficial theme this year at ICAST 2012. From landing nets to iPhones, it seemed that everywhere you turned, someone had something for kayak fishing that floated. Polarized sunglasses were no exception. I found several companies that offered polarized floating sunglasses at very reasonable prices. Only one was willing to contribute a pair for review. Those came from Floats, Inc. Located in Miami, FL, they have been in the fashion eyewear business for over 26 years.

I was a little skeptical of these polarized sunglasses, as the last pair I got from another company has already warped so badly I can’t wear them anymore. After talking with Rafael Egozi, owner of Floats, Inc., I decided that the construction on these was much different, so I thought I would give them a try.

“Things that float” is a great concept when it comes to kayak fishing. Our close proximity to the waterline makes dropping something in the water a very high likelihood, especially during that early-morning launch. It’s not light enough yet to wear your sunglasses, so you wrap them around your neck or place them on top of your head. Before you know it, “plop” they are overboard, never to be found again. Not with a pair of “Floats”.

“These 100% polarized sunglasses feature TRC scratch resistant lenses that eliminate glare for vivid, comfortable clarity, even under the brightest conditions.”

I found the fit on these sunglasses to be snug, without being too tight. There is no problem wearing them all day. They blocked out any light coming in from the sides, either under the frame or lens. In my opinion, this is very important when sight casting to laid-up fish. My pair had grey lenses - not the best for the flats or mangrove edges (I prefer amber lenses), but these did a good job cutting down on the glare. Just the other day, I was out with my good friend Greg Becker and wouldn’t you know it, he forgot his sunglasses. I told him, “Don’t worry - ol’ Uncle Heywood’s got you covered.” I’ll let him tell you how much he likes the Floats:

“After an early-morning start to a kayak fishing day, we were well away from the launch when I realized I had forgotten my sunglasses. My fishing buddy Bill Howard had a spare pair - "Floats", which he'd been sent to test - and he passed them over.

These were probably the most comfortable inexpensive sunglasses I've worn in a long time. There was no temple pinch or behind-the-ear bite. This is important, because although I don't have a cranium that affects gravity like others I know, I still have a pretty big noggin and it's tough to find hats and glasses that fit.

I was similarly impressed with the optics. It's been my experience that less expensive sunglass lenses tend to distort, especially at the edges. Not the Floats - they were clear and consistent from top to bottom and edge to edge.

For me, the true test of sunglasses is how much I notice them. These? Not at all. I forgot about them shortly after I put them on, and only when I was consciously thinking about an aspect of the review did I really notice they were there. Although I didn't test it, I have no reason to doubt that the name is correct, and that Floats really float.

I'd recommend Floats to anyone looking for a decent pair of polarized fishing sunglasses that aren't going to break the bank, or cause you to take a second mortgage if they drop off your head in the bay. If they do, you can pick them up off the water, shake off the water, and get back to fishing.”