I'm looking at a pair of Costas. Trying to decide between the green and blue lenses (glass). Their website describes the green ones as best for variable light and sight/inshore fishing and the blue ones as best for very bright light and offshore fishing. I don't get to fish often and expect to use them for general outdoor activities including golf, as well as for driving.

Any recommendations from the Costa fans here?

Bright sun = Blue

Morning/cloudy/evening = green

Pretty simple.

I've heard that you don't want polarized lenses for golf as it relates to reading greens

Costa is not what it used to be. Take a look at Maui Jim. I converted and have been very happy.

I tried a ton of Costas, but ended up deciding on some Maui Jim Kanaio Coast frames. Couldn't be happier

Green 580G. Highlights greens & reds. Gives color to your drive instead of graying everything out with the blue. Personal preference but my blue mirrors stay in the case until blue water fishing trips. Greens are my daily drivers.

lazuras_dc said:

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I've heard that you don't want polarized lenses for golf as it relates to reading greens

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…you take them off to putt

Objectively MJ glass is lighter and more comfortable than Costa. I think their glass is superior as well and my experience is better Customer service.

I have Local Kines in Maui Green (neutral gray) as my favorite go-to and Barrier Reefs in Maui Blue (also neutral grey). There is a subtle difference between the two, but that may be from different light coming through the sides. Slight edge to the Green

I like Maui Rose and HT best for driving and bright but grey skies. I don't have Maui Rose in a fishing frame, but that may be my next pair.

I have Kaino Coast in HCL Bronze and Equators in Hawaii Lava (also HCL Bronze). HCL Bronze I wear when the water is dirty, but skies are bright.

If I were forced to chose a single pair, it would be Local Kines in Maui Green or custom ordered in Maui rose. My green Tuna Alleys are probably my favorite Costas.

I've got 580g blue lenses on my costas as daily wearers. Granted I spend more time offshore than on land, they work out fine. However, I wouldn't recommend getting blue lenses if your main use is on the golf course. I find myself having to pull them down when trying to see a ball bounce.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Copper/amber, not sure what it's called in Costas lineup. I use that color for all types of weather. I also recommend Smith over Costa. I had Costa's for years, and got tired of sending them back. Smith glasses have held up much better and the glass is a little lighter than Costa's glass.

I like the gray lenses for everything but fishing. Then green mirror amber for fishing.

Smith >>> Costa

rather be fishing said:

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Smith >>> Costa

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Only if you're a flat-bill hat guy

I don't play golf but I wear my green mirror 580G Costas 90% of the time. I have the sunrise silver mirror for low light conditions and the blue mirror for offshore fishing.

I've been wearing Costas since 1998 and haven't noticed any decline in quality since being bought by Luxxotica.

I prefer grey base lenses for everyday/driving use. I also use them in the winter.

For everything else I have blue, which are Amber base I believe.

TarponChaser said:

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rather be fishing said:

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Smith >>> Costa

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Only if you're a flat-bill hat guy

I don't play golf but I wear my green mirror 580G Costas 90% of the time. I have the sunrise silver mirror for low light conditions and the blue mirror for offshore fishing.

I've been wearing Costas since 1998 and haven't noticed any decline in quality since being bought by Luxxotica.

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Costa makes white frame glasses now, so I'm not sure that argument is valid.

I think I got my first pair of Costas around '06 and my first pair of Smiths about 2 years ago. Smith is significantly lighter and the lenses are better. Plus, they aren't owned by Luxotica.

I'd go else where, Costa was bought out and the service sucks. Had a nose piece rip off and I just wanted it repaired, they told me no more repairs (after 3 weeks of trying to get ahold of someone) and that i could get 5% off my next pair. Mind you they were prescription costas.

Us poor folks prefer the Amazon…surprising quality for the price

KastKing Huzzah Polarized Sport Sunglasses for Men and Women, Ideal for Driving Fishing Cycling and Running,UV Protection https://a.co/d/7Obvu1N

TarponChaser said:

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rather be fishing said:

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Smith >>> Costa

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Only if you're a flat-bill hat guy

I don't play golf but I wear my green mirror 580G Costas 90% of the time. I have the sunrise silver mirror for low light conditions and the blue mirror for offshore fishing.

I've been wearing Costas since 1998 and haven't noticed any decline in quality since being bought by Luxxotica.

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He said Smith not Oakley's.

https://bajiosunglasses.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqOucBhDrARIsAPCQL1ZIwmsq_8YfrrrRGwheCqWKPD8pXE5QVcfZudOf8YyKunsVM0uSq18aAnuEEALw_wcB

Check these out. From the originators of Costas

Just got my first pair of smiths after many pairs of costa. We'll see how they hold up long term, but my initial impression is better glass, better construction, and I doubt I'll be going back.

MillerLatte said:

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https://bajiosunglasses.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqOucBhDrARIsAPCQL1ZIwmsq_8YfrrrRGwheCqWKPD8pXE5QVcfZudOf8YyKunsVM0uSq18aAnuEEALw_wcB

Check these out. From the originators of Costas

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The general conjecture I've heard about Bajio is it's just a marketing campaign and the product is not worth the price point. I don't have any experience with them other than that.

I have bajio's, big fan.

Smith's for the last 5 years after costas for 15 before that. Never going back.

Ihatefallscounty said:

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I'd go else where, Costa was bought out and the service sucks. Had a nose piece rip off and I just wanted it repaired, they told me no more repairs (after 3 weeks of trying to get ahold of someone) and that i could get 5% off my next pair. Mind you they were prescription costas.

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You could've had new frames replaced under warranty had you not stated they were prescription. I just buy a pair of non-prescription and have lenses made for them. I keep the original lenses and if I have issues with the frames I just pop the prescription frames out and pop the originals back in before I ship them to Luxotica. Their current warranty program is excellent after the buyout

Also OAKLEY has ZERO warranty

I'm not sure I could disagree more with the folks recommending Maui Jim's over costa. In every single facet.

Their "service" to me when I called after a piece broke off was to advise me to purchase new ones. The glass had deteriorated on them in a matter of a couple of years as well.

Costa has replaced three pairs over 22 years with zero questions. Most recently 6 months ago. The glasses they replaced were 18 yrs old.

Costas are more comfortable for me as well, although that could be strictly due to my head and the frame types i had with the Maui's.

I'm calling BS. Between my wife and I I've sent my Mauis in at least half a dozen times. When you fill out the repair form prices are clearly marked. Nose pieces and temples are free and true warranty items have been free. Scratched and broken lenses aren't free, but replacement costs are reasonable. Twice I received brand new glasses for the repair cost because the glasses were discontinued. Are you the same guy that left his glasses on the floorboard bouncing around the lease and then got mad they wouldn't fix them free?

Costa won't give you a price up front on repairs. You send them in and then they tell you how much it will cost to fix. I walked away from Costa after they quoted a repair cost for 1 lens and some frame damage within $20 of a new pair.

If you find heavier lenses more comfortable, more power to you. That's subjective. Maui Glass is thinner and lighter. That's a fact

You can call it what you want. The Maui situation was quite a few years back. I swore off of them the. And haven't even considered them since. Maybe something changed.

As far as costa, I've never had to pay a Penny. Don't care if their "warranty prices" are posted…as a warranty isn't a cost item.

By the way, costa replaced a pair that I very obviously broke due to negligence…the same 18 yr old pair I mentioned above. Zero cost zero questions. 6 months ago.

In the Maui's it was a hinge piece on the frame that they wanted me to pay for. They weren't bouncing around in the truck at the lease…but even if they were, costa covers that type of thing.

My costas are also lighter. Granted, Maui makes those little featherweight frameless or tiny framed glasses, but those won't work for me as they won't hold up. I'm sure there is a more comfortable version of Maui than what I have.

Again, you can have your opinions. I think they're all way off base. You can also question my input, as you don't know me. Just giving my input per my actual experiences over the last 22 yrs.

Maui Jim has been bought out by the French fashion conglomerate that owns brands like Gucci and Balenciaga. Expect their service to deteriorate the same as Costa's did.

The last pair of Costas that I sent in for repair they replaced the 580G lenses with poly lenses and charged me for glass. I have had good luck with Maui Jim stingrays but my next pair is going to be Smiths based on trying my guide's pair in the Everglades.

GinMan said:

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Ihatefallscounty said:

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I'd go else where, Costa was bought out and the service sucks. Had a nose piece rip off and I just wanted it repaired, they told me no more repairs (after 3 weeks of trying to get ahold of someone) and that i could get 5% off my next pair. Mind you they were prescription costas.

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You could've had new frames replaced under warranty had you not stated they were prescription. I just buy a pair of non-prescription and have lenses made for them. I keep the original lenses and if I have issues with the frames I just pop the prescription frames out and pop the originals back in before I ship them to Luxotica. Their current warranty program is excellent after the buyout

Also OAKLEY has ZERO warranty

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Where do you have the prescription lenses made?

Smith parallel max 2. I have had these for over 3 years after years of MJ and Costas. I like the lightest glasses available like Fidos MJ pair in photo above. But over the years I broke several pairs and the MJ nose bridge is not near as comfortable as the Smiths. Costas are just too heavy. Smiths are the most comfortable and nearly as light as the MJs.
Discovered Smiths by accident on a ski trip after breaking MJs. Ski shop recommended the Smiths over other brands and that's all I've had since. They come with an extra set of lenses which can be popped out and in. The Cromapop lenses are better than all other brands imo.

MikesFamousJava said:

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I'm looking at a pair of Costas. Trying to decide between the green and blue lenses (glass). Their website describes the green ones as best for variable light and sight/inshore fishing and the blue ones as best for very bright light and offshore fishing. I don't get to fish often and expect to use them for general outdoor activities including golf, as well as for driving.

Any recommendations from the Costa fans here?

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to actually answer your question....Green mirror (copper lenses) will be best for golf and driving. Since you plan on golfing in them I'd go plastic lenses because they are lighter.

Thanks…and thanks everyone for your responses…although I hadn't intended to stir up such a passionate debate It was starting to feel like the fight scene from Anchorman was about to break out…things escalated quickly.

Costa 580G Silver Mirror. Slight amber with slightly more light transmission. Exceptional for early/late day, and good when bright, with almost a HD image look.