Fishermen know that they’re an essential tool to go out on the water, and considered how expensive they can be, you may want to take good care of your polarized fishing sunglasses.
For those who tend to lose things easily, the general rule is: only carry sunglasses you can afford (to lose). But that can be quite hard to do with specialized fishing eyewear which do cost more than normal lenses.
In this article we’ll see a few simple rules to make sure that your sunglasses will be much more likely to stay with you, wherever you go.
Buy a lanyard
This a good solution to prevent your sunglasses to fall into the water. When you’re fishing it’s very common to make sudden movements and thus, risking that your glasses will slip off your nose or from the top of your head.
With a lanyard, you will always know where they are and even when you take them off, they’ll be hanging round your neck. A lanyard may not be the coolest accessory out there, but they surely are practical.
Get a pair of “floating sunglasses”
In the unfortunate case that your sunglasses fall into the water, you can do nothing but say goodbye to them, right? Not necessarily: if that sounds like something that could happen to you, you can buy floating sunglasses, which have a special frame that will prevent them from sinking.
They are specifically designed for outdoor sports and to float and resist in the water, no matter if it’s fresh, salt or chlorine water. Should you lose them in the sea, in a river or in a lake, you’ll get them back much more easily. These days, there are many brands that sell floating sunglasses which will be the perfect company for your boating or fishing trip.
Take precautions in high risky areas
If you’re fording a river or a stream, be smart and don’t put your sunglasses on the top of your head. Even if they can float, they’ll run away before you realize you lost them, in case the current is too strong.
Avoid putting your sunglasses at risk in locations when you know you can easily lose them. The same principle applies to everyday situations: don’t bring your best pair if you don’t need it, for instance in places like movie theaters or restaurants, as you’ll probably forget it when you walk away.
Have a routine
If you don’t have a plan for where to put your sunglasses when they’re not in use, you’ll be much more likely to lose them. You don’t like the idea of a lanyard? Then you can clip them to your shirt, although this is not the safest way, as they may fall on the floor when you bend down.
Be consistent about where you put your sunglasses and avoid tables, countertops, and anyplace else where they can go unnoticed the moment you leave.
Find a “home” to store them in any occasion. It can be tempting to place your sunglasses casually when they’re not on your nose, but try to fight laziness and store them in the case anytime you don’t need them.
A good method is to choose a dedicated spot for any occasion: choose a base for your sunglasses when you’re at home, in the car or at work, so you’ll always know where to look.
Keep them with other valuable objects
A good trick not to forget your sunglasses anymore is to keep them with something that you cannot leave behind, for instance your car keys or your bag. This ensures you won’t forget them and, in case you do, it’ll be a matter of minutes until you realize they are missing.
Don’t bring them if don’t need them
If you fear losing your precious and expensive sunglasses, don’t bring them for a casual day to the beach or in situations where you don’t need them. Get a less expensive pair for those situations and only carry your best sunglasses on your fishing trips or when you actually need top-notch features. Know when to leave them behind and be consistent with your habits.
How to take care of your polarized fishing sunglasses
Losing your sunglasses is not the only bad thing that could happen: to keep them safe you also need to take good care of the lenses. Rinse them with warm water, especially after contact with salt water and consider getting a pair with hydrophobic coating. Only use a microfiber cloth to remove any smudges and a specific lens cleaner for stubborn stains. Finally, never leave them in the car, especially on a hot day, as high heat areas can warp the frame material.
Conclusions
If treated well, polarized sunglasses are a solid investment that can last for years. Some of these advises will work nor only for your eyewear, but potentially for any other valuable object you fear to leave behind. Follow these simple tips to be sure that you’re not the reason they’ll part from you.