The Leupold Performance Eyewear Switchback Sunglasses are the best fishing sunglasses I’ve found with a polycarbonate lens. In the past couple years, I’ve tested nearly two dozen pairs of sunglasses. When it comes to fit, performance, and quality for the price, the Leupold Switchbacks are the best of the bunch.
Let’s get into what impressed me so much.
So What is Polycarbonate?
Fishing sunglasses use two basic types of lenses: polycarbonate and glass. Poly lenses are made of a super-clear and extra-durable thermoplastic polymer.
While glass lenses were arguably clearer than their polycarbonate counterparts in the past, the difference has become negligible due to advancements in poly lenses. Even for the little you might compromise in clarity, polycarbonate offers a scratch- and shatter-resistant, lightweight, and more affordable lens. There’s definitely been a trend of more and more manufacturers and anglers going the poly route.
Specs and Features
While all poly lenses are shatter-resistant, Leupold’s lenses are actually ballistic-rated and shatterproof. The American National Standards Institute even awarded them a Z87.1+ designation. That means these lenses have proven to withstand steel-ball impact at high velocity—so they can also stop the occasional zinging bullet-weight snatched from a bush.
These sunglasses also sport “infused polarization,” allowing anglers to see beneath the water by knocking off the surface glare. This is a basic and critical feature to look for in any pair of fishing sunglasses. With infused polarization, Leupold puts a layer of polarization between other lens layers, protecting the polarization film so you can’t scratch or rub it off.
The Guard-ion and Diamond lens coatings create a lens that not only is scratch-resistant but also sheds dust and water really well. These Switchback frames are also “RX ready,” meaning your eye doctor can modify them to hold prescription lenses. They’re also decentered. According to Leupold, that means they’re built so the the field of view’s clearest area is directly in front of the eye, which “eliminates distortion and maximizes clarity.” As a bonus, the Switchbacks also include a really nice carrying case, bag, and cleaning cloth.
On the Water
I tested two pairs of Leupold’s Switchback frames: one with a more traditional emerald mirror lens and another with their lowlight “Daylight Max” lens. I liked the emerald mirror lens better most days, since that lens handled bright sunshine well. But there were a couple of overcast days during my testing where the Daylight Max lens made a big difference. The lenses’ yellowish/light-greenish tint lets in as much light as possible, exaggerating what little light there is in cloudy conditions, or both early and late in the day.
The lens polarization also meant I could see beneath the water surface, even when it was cloudy. On one particularly overcast day, I found a stump I could barely see with the glasses, and was undetectable when I removed them. I don’t think darker lenses could do that in similar conditions, since they wouldn’t let in light like the Daylight Maxes do.
As for fit, I went with the Switchback frame because I have a fairly big head—we’re talking one-or-two-snaps-on-the-back-of-a-Richardson-112-hat big if I need a haircut. For the anglers with a large dome like mine, the Switchback frame is great. These glasses fit snugly, but aren’t too tight at all. They wrap around the eye nicely and block out most of the sun on the periphery. And they are lightweight, making the no-slip rubberized bridge plenty effective at keeping them up on my nose. They were comfortable and effective, whether I was fishing in the rain or running down the lake at 50 MPH.
Final Thoughts
The Leupold Switchbacks come in five frame and lens color combinations, all at a price point between $179.99 and $189.99. In the era of modern eyewear, that’s a middle-of-the-pack price.
But I can assure you that these are anything but mid-range sunglasses. The Switchbacks’ weight, durability, fit, and effectiveness really impressed me—especially the Daylight Max lens for low-light situations. The emerald mirror lenses have been great for sunny days on the water and driving around town, too.
If you’re looking for refined ruggedness in a pair of sunglasses, I think you’ll appreciate the Leupold Performance Eyewear Switchbacks.
