Tag Archives: Popticals

Fishing Tips

Picking the Right Fishing Sunglasses to Save Your Eyes On the Water

Popticals Popgun fishing sunglasses on the water. – kayakfishingfocus.com

Today is National Sunglasses Day and the date not only recognizes the important of looking good in a stylish set of frames, but also of the attention needed to protecting one of the most important assets to a sportsman – the eyes. For a safe and enjoyable summer outdoors, what do you need to look for in a pair of fishing sunglasses?

Not all eyewear is created equal when protecting your eyes from the harsh UV rays from the sun. For kayak fishermen and boat fishermen alike, there are some key consideration in choosing the right pair of fishing sunglasses for a day on the water.

Adequate UV Protection

Spending a lot of time on the lake not only means the sun hitting your eyes from above, but also reflecting off the water all day long. Your fishing sunglasses need to have appropriate UV protection. According to the American Optometric Association, any fishing sunglasses you are considering need to have these factors:

  • Lenses that block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays
  • Should screen out at least 75% of light
  • Frames should fit closely to your eyes and the shape of your face
  • Lenses should have a uniform tint, not darker in one area from another.
  • The AOA suggests a gray tint, which is particularly helpful in color recognition.

If eyes go unprotected or are exposed to periods of time without proper UV protection, it can create an effect called photokeratitis, which is also known as the sunburn of the eye. This can cause red eyes, excessive tearing, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Long-term exposure without UV protection can lead to more serious conditions including cataracts, macular degeneration, and cancer in the eye and around the eyelids.  Protect yourself with the right pair of fishing sunglasses!

Fishing Sunglasses Tech
Popticals fishing sunglasses made a difference on the clear water of Beaver Lake – kayakfishingfocus.com

For fishing sunglasses you are not only looking for UV protection but also performance. I’ve written about Popticals sunglasses previously, and how they easily fold into a compact case for easy storage when not in use. Popticals fishing sunglasses are equipped with Ri-Pel anti-smudge technology which completely repel water, oil and dust. This keeps substances such as dust, sweat, sunscreen and other oils from getting in the way and obscuring your vision. Their polarized lenses are phenomenal in seeing down into the water, reducing glare from the surface. Recently I was fishing down by the dam on Beaver Lake in clear water and it was amazing how much of a difference the lenses on my Popticals Popgear shades made. Really helped me spot the bottom structure, including a deep pool from which I lured a 17” largemouth bass with my clear Heddon spook. Wearing the right fishing sunglasses can not only help protect your eyes, but can also improve your performance on the water.

$40 Popticals Discount

As an advocate for eye safety and UV protection, I would encourage you to make sure you have a terrific pair of fishing sunglasses protecting you. Choose any brand that works best for you that meets the safety requirements listed above. If you have an interest in Popticals, contact me using the Contact link and I can give you a discount code to save $40 off of a pair. I suggest checking out the models specifically for fishing sunglasses, but they have all types of sunglasses available.

Reviews

Popticals Popgun Sunglasses Review

Previously I had written about Popticals, a brand of sunglasses made for active outdoor adventures which fold down to a compact size for easy storage. You can read more about the concept in this previous article about Popticals. I’ve been able to try out some Popticals Popgun sunglasses – and how do they perform?

A really interesting concept, but how do they perform?  I’ve been able to use my Popticals Popgun pair now on several fishing outings and so far the results have been really good.

The Popticals Popgun sunglasses are a comfortable fit on the water when chasing largemouth bass.
The Popticals Popgun sunglasses are a comfortable fit on the water when chasing largemouth bass.
 Popticals Popgun Fit and Finish

For sunglasses that fold in on themselves using the FL2 Micro Rail system, I was concerned they wouldn’t be sturdy and would wiggle or wobble at the hinges. When you unfold the glasses and lock them into place, you notice it is a sturdy result, you wouldn’t even know they fold up.  The same applies to folding, the hinges sort of “release” when you fold it and make it pretty easy to make sure you fold them properly.

Popticals Popgun in White/Black color scheme.
Popticals Popgun in White/Black color scheme.
Lens Performance

The Popticals Popgun comes with NYDEF lens technology which is billed as being significantly clearer and 18% less lighter in weight than polycarbonate lenses. These polarized lenses provide UV protection, are scratch and shatter resistant, and are sweat and oil resistant to keep the lenses clear. So far it seems to me the lenses are high quality and sharp. The gray lenses are not as dark as gray lenses I have worn, which may or may not be a positive attribute depending on your personal taste.

Popticals Popgun folds up using hinges and a slider in the bridge.
Popticals Popgun folds up using hinges and a slider in the bridge.
Folding and Storage

Storing the Popticals Popgun is one of the things that makes these great for kayak fishing. They fold down into a compact size and fit into a hard shell case that comes with the glasses. This hard case is great for throwing into the bottom of a kayak hatch, clipping to your crate or seat, or even slipping into a pocket on your life jacket or clothing.

Popticals Popgun stores away in a small hard case, measuring 3.25" long by 1" wide. The case can be pocketed or can clip to a backpack, tackle crate or other space saving location.
Popticals Popgun stores away in a small hard case, measuring 3.25″ long by 1″ wide. The case can be pocketed or can clip to a backpack, tackle crate or other space saving location.
Popticals Popgun Overall

I really like the Popgun for some lightweight sunglasses that don’t have full frames around the lenses. It comes in 13 different colors and several lens styles.  These sunglasses are not cheap, the polarized versions are $199, which puts them in the high-end, high performance category.  If you are looking for top-quality lenses and frames which also fold down into a compact package for easy storage – give Popticals a look, they have worked out great for me.

 

News

Thank You to 2018 Partners

A big shout out and THANK YOU to the various companies and brands who are contributing in some way toward my 2018 tournament season. These are all awesome products I am proud to use in competition on the water. Please consider them for your fishing needs.

 

Bending Branches – The best kayak fishing paddles available and manufactured here in the U.S.A. I have the Bending Branches Angler Pro and Angler Pro Carbon.

Stormr – Great foul weather gear and sun protection wear. From cold weather outerwear to hot summertime UV protection clothing, Stormr is my go-to for on the water protection.

Popticals – The innovative sunglasses line that folds into a compact case perfect for kayak fishing.

MTI Lifejackets – Wear your PFD! It prevents you from drowning. When choosing a PFD, I like having one that I know is very high quality and made with care in the U.S.A. I have MTI F-Spec, Neptune and Helios models.

Booyah Baits – A big part of my bait arsenal, Booyah makes awesome crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzz baits and jigs.

War Eagle Lures – Spinnerbaits and buzz baits that are made for the Ozark waters. Anglers swear by this brand for local fishing.

Heddon Lures – Makers of the Zara Spook and Super Spook Jr., some of my all-time favorite lures to throw. If I could only throw one hard bait, it would be a spook.

Norman Lures – Some old-school hard baits that still catch a lot of fish. The Deep N, Mad N, DD22 and others have to be in the yak.

YUM – Plastics for every situation at a good price. Dingers, plastic worms, trailers, flippin’ plastics, lizards, drop shot baits, swimbaits and Money Minnows. YUM has everything you need.

Dobyns Rods – Quality rod options at an affordable price. I carry the Fury series rods in my kayak, most of which are in the $109-$119 price range.

Flambeau – These storage tackle boxes are great for kayaks because of the Zerust protection. Our tackle is exposed to the elements at all times and Flambeau boxes provide great protection.

P-Line – This is an affordable fishing line that still is good for battling bass. I use primarily the Floroclear and the CXX line on my reels.

Reins – My tungsten weight source for use with drop-shot, flipping or Texas rigging. Reins slip sinkers are the best because of the insert that protects you from fraying line.

Shimano – The best reels around, period. Shimano reels are the best option on the water for all types of fishing.

Owner Hooks – Owner makes every kind of hook I need when fishing, and they are razor sharp.

Check out these brands on Instagram for a better look at their products:

@bending_branches @stormrusa @popticals @booyah_baits @war_eagle_custom_lures @heddon_lures @normanlures @dobynsrods @yum_baits @mti_life_jackets @flambeau_outdoors @plinefishing @reinsfishing @shimanofish @ownerhooks

 

Reviews

Popticals Sunglasses On Board for 2018

A few months ago a friend of mine recommended that I check out an innovative type of sunglasses that seemed tailor made for kayak fishing. With that, I checked out Popticals Sunglasses and was excited at what I found and agreed, these were potentially perfect high-performance options for kayak fishing.

Popticals sunglasses

 

This tournament season I’ll be using the Popticals PopH20 and Popticals Popgun models on the water. I’ll be doing more detailed reviews of each after getting more hours under my belt with them in various conditions.

Popticals Sunglasses for Kayak Fishing

Storage space is at a premium in a kayak, so sunglasses that are extremely high quality but can fold down into a very small storage case is ideal. The storage case is half the size of a regular sunglasses case, and has a clip that can attach to a backpack, seat, life vest, crate, carabiner – or anything else on your kayak.

The case itself is sturdy, strong and will protect your Popticals sunglasses not only from drops, but in the bottom of a dry bag, hatch, backpack or any other storage situation.

This Popticals Sunglasses hard case is a compact and durable way to store glasses when not in use. Photo courtesy of Popticals.
This Popticals Sunglasses hard case is a compact and durable way to store glasses when not in use. Photo courtesy of Popticals.
Popticals Sunglasses Lens Technology

The Popticals NYDEF lenses are made of nylon which means they are extremely lightweight. The Popticals NYDEF lenses made of nylon have the same clarity as glass lenses, allowing you to see deep into the water.  These high-performance nylon lenses have similar Abbe number and Refraction Index as glass lenses at almost 1/3 of the weight.

Popticals sunglasses are high-performance lenses which fold down to a compact case. Photo courtesy of Popticals.
Popticals sunglasses are high-performance lenses which fold down to a compact case. Photo courtesy of Popticals.
How Popticals Sunglasses Work

For a brief example of what makes these unique and compact glasses break down for easy and small storage, check out this video: