My Oakleys are scratched so looking for some new sunglasses, specifically the Costa Cat Cays. Are Costas worth the hype?

Better options out there

I like them especially for fishing but the rubber will fall off soon. The secret is getting then cheap off woot.

slammerag said:

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Better options out there

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This. I prefer Smith over Costas. The Smith glass is considerably lighter than the Costa glass. At least it was when I bought mine a few years ago.

I am a fan. The rubber nose pieces come off after 3 or so years due to heavy sunscreen. I wear the rincon 580g for a big head.

Had mine for 12 years now so I'd say they were worth it.

no. it's just expensive sunglasses. a status symbol.

DargelSkout said:

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slammerag said:

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Better options out there

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This. I prefer Smith over Costas. The Smith glass is considerably lighter than the Costa glass. At least it was when I bought mine a few years ago.

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Smith Riptide. Can choose between glass or plastic. Best all around I have found after years of MJ and Costas.

I've had three pairs of Costas over the last 20 years. My next pair of sunglasses will be lightweight Maui Jims. I will still wear the Costas for fishing/outdoors but will the MJs daily.

Not any more. Like a lot of things, they just don't make them like they used to. I switched over to Smith a couple years ago and not going back.

I really like the glass lens ones. I have two pairs of Reeftons that I wear almost everyday. Only replaced the first pair because the rubber pieces started to peel off after 4 years and I wanted to try the green lenses. Will probably try something else once these wear out since the prices have gone through the roof.

Smith and Bajio.

Frames are crap.

Gets Smith. Guide's Choice. They're awesome.

WaldoWings said:

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no. it's just expensive sunglasses. a status symbol.

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have you ever actually owned a pair? I was of the same opinion, but I got a pair in a raffle and it's noticeably different on almost every level.

Buy Fuse lenses for your frames. I'm on set number 3.

Worth noting on Costa that their warranty is now only 2 years.

I've gone through waves of love/hate with their warranty over the last ~2 decades, but I won't buy another pair and I expect to have warranty coverage issues going forward because I don't have receipts for everything going back that far.

They're not the lightest or most comfortable glasses to wear.

Costas with readers built in is an important part of my fishing gear.

Love em

No! Costa Del Mar sold out to a foreign company and the customer service sucks now! The old Costa Del Mar guys started a company called Bajio! I just got a pair and love them!

aftershock said:

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WaldoWings said:

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no. it's just expensive sunglasses. a status symbol.

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have you ever actually owned a pair? I was of the same opinion, but I got a pair in a raffle and it's noticeably different on almost every level.

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yes. i had some glass lens ones. spent like $250 on them, broke the lens then something happened where it was going to cost quite a bit to fix them. don't get me to lying because this was probably 8 years ago. but i do remember thinking i would likely break them again and didn't want to spend that money. so they sent them back and i bought my nike's for $40 and love them. but I am not overly picky, so it just wasn't worth the money for me. i was also typing after drinking miller lite all day yesterday or i probably wouldn't have even responded. no offense meant to anyone that owns and loves them.

No but Maui's are

Another vote for Maui Jim's.

The casual sunglasses wearer should focus on a core group of brands and pick what looks good / what they like looks wise vs going down the rabbit hole of "glass clarity". The majority of us will not be able to tell the difference in practical situations if you go with a good quality glass lens. So pick your poison of the usual glass lens providers. They will all me far more scratch resistant than plastic Oakley lenses.

For quick reference, my plastic Costas are 3 years old and have one scratch and I haven't babied them near as much as my old oakleys with tons of scratches. My 5 year old glass Costas have one gouge in them that would have shattered any plastic lens and no other visible scratches outside of insignificant hairline stuff.

Good to know! Thanks

Missouri Boat Ride said:

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I am a fan. The rubber nose pieces come off after 3 or so years due to heavy sunscreen. I wear the rincon 580g for a big head.

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This is my experience as well. Warranty has replaced mine twice in 6 years. I'd love to get a different pair or some Maui Jims, but it's hard to justify when Costa's warranty gives me brand new glasses without hassle.

I second the Fuse Lens recommendation. You can replace your Oakley lenses with new polarized for about $50. I've owned a lot of the expensive brands over the years and i am picky about lens clarity, the fuse lenses are just as clear as the original plastic lenses.

If you want to buy a new pair of glasses, I think Maui Jim is the best.

I really like my Costas. They are great glasses that can take some abuse. I am pretty hard on them. With that being said, my ophthalmologist has told me that they will no longer be selling Costas. They apparently have been bought out and the quality is no longer as good. The guys that started Costa have started up again as Bajia. They look great but the word is not out yet on how good they really are. Her recommendation is that I go back to MJ's. They have been bought out as well but the quality does not seem to have suffered. The last pair of MJ's I had could not stand up to my abuse.

Figured I would throw this thought out there about glass. Clarity is a pro. However, in an impact scenario (shotgun pellet, airbag, etc.) aren't poly less likely to shatter?

Here to say after being a loyal MJ guy forever, when I lost my last 2 in the water I replaced them with a pair of Columbia's. I think they were $50, and now I won't feel so bad when I lose these. I've had them for over a year and have had zero complaints.

MJs are the most comfortable for me, but the integrated retainers on Smith have put them as my go-to for fishing. Once you get used to the lighter glass of Smith and MJs it becomes hard to wear Costas