Guideline "Eclipse" Polarized Glasses Hot

I had the opportunity to give a couple of pairs of Guideline Sunglasses a try for the last several months. Glasses like these are important to the kayak fisherman because they fill a spot between the ultra cheap glasses that can damage your eyes and the super expensive ones that require a 2nd mortgage. I am rough enough on glasses that I can’t see spending 3 figures on them but also my aging eyes have started telling on me for wearing cheap glasses with low optical quality.

The first pair I tried out was the Guideline “Eclipse”. They came in shiny black and a blue mirror finish that Guideline calls “Deep Six”. I have to admit a bias toward green mirror and amber over a grey base lens but I wanted to give these a fair shake. Thankfully the grey was not too dark to wear on overcast days and it was very nice on bright sunny ones.

Optical quality was nice and it carried all the way to the edge of the lens, after long periods with them on I noticed no eye fatigue. Build quality is very nice; they seem sturdy enough to hold up to the rigors of kayak fishing. After multiple trips and cleanings they are showing no signs of wear and are still scratch free.

They are sized for a medium to large face and were plenty large for my oversized melon. The Eclipse glasses are heavy framed and built strong but this made them a bit heavy for my taste. They are in the “bold performance” line and are built to show it. There was not enough weight to create discomfort, just more than I like after several hours on the water.

Overall I was very pleased with them and for the price I consider them a great value. There are lots of frame styles and lens colors to choose from to fit preferences and needs. Whenever I or one of my crew is in need of a new pair of glasses I wouldn’t hesitate to give Guideline a look. The second pair I had the chance to try will be in another review, look for Guideline “Cabo” in my reviews.