Testing Booth: Maui Jim

Maui Jim sunglasses have an option for every angler

Anglers are very difficult to buy presents for (particularly if you are not an angler yourself), so at a time of the year when we are looking for options for the ‘angler that has it all’ or for somebody who just likes being out there enjoying fishing, sunglasses can be the perfect option. Maui Jim offers an outstanding range of sunglasses to suit either a male or female angler, with every model and lens 100% polarised (PolarisedPlus2), an essential component when fishing.

I had the pleasure of catching up with Nathan Fisher and Robert Garrett at AFTA this year where they were showcasing some of the new models that will be on offer for 2022/23 from Maui Jim. Here are a few of the things that I took away after speaking to them.

PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO

With a motto of “Our sunglasses won’t change the world – They’ll change the way you see it”, Nathan and Robert explained that Maui Jim is the third largest sunglass brand globally and are recognised as the fastest growing premium sunglass brand in the world.

Their focus has always been to produce industry leading lens technologies, ensuring you get to see the world’s best views, full of colour, clarity and detail.

All of the Maui Jim sunglasses are produced in Italy or Japan and there are 500+ unique sunglasses to choose from. With such a large range, you can expect there will be a pair to suit people of any The eight pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses the author had to test. All are the

Southern Cross frame (in various colours) with eight different lens colour configurations. He was spoilt for choice. age or gender.

Prescription sunglasses are also a big part of what Maui Jim do. They have been recognised with a number of global awards (Best Prescription Sun Lens company and Best Prescription Sun Lens brand) on numerous occasions. No doubt in recognition of the fact that the majority of the range is offered with prescription lenses. Their prescription lens labs in the USA and Germany have also won multiple awards. Customer service plays a big part in the success of any brand and if Robert and Nathan’s passion is anything to go by, you can see why the brand continues to grow and has many happy customers around the world and in Australia.

WHY SUNGLASSES ARE AN ANGLER’S BEST FRIEND

Aside from the obvious reasons of reducing the glare from the sun (directly and indirectly) and with the assistance of a polarised lens being able to see into the water more clearly (so you can see fish/ structure etc), there are many long-term health reasons to wear a quality pair of polarised sunglasses.

UVA and UVB rays can cause irreparable damage to your eyes and this can happen whether it is a clear bright sunny day, or cloudy and overcast. Whatever lens/lens colour Maui Jim sunglasses you purchase, all of them offer maximum UV protection for your eyes, no matter the conditions. Something that should resonate with every angler. In fact, sunglasses cause your pupils to dilate, allowing more light to get in, so wearing a pair that does not offer UVA and UVB protection (standard tinted glasses) is likely to cause more damage than not wearing glasses at all.

Having said all of that, lens colours, base colours do change what the wearer can see depending on light conditions (low light, full sun etc) so I have included some information within this review to help you choose what may suit you best. Just remember no matter what you choose, you will be getting maximum protection and visual clarity for your eyes with Maui Jim.

NO POLYCARBONATE LENSES AT MAUI JIM

Although protection for your eyes is and should be one of your major considerations when purchasing sunglasses, what lenses

The two favourite configurations in the Jung household. The Maui Rose lens in the Southern Cross frame for the author and the grey lens in the grey tortoise Relaxation Mode frame.

are made from should also factor into your thought process. Many brands offer polycarbonate lens to reduce price point and the physical weight of a pair of glass lenses. Although improving affordability, it does come at the expense of longevity. in low light situations or when it comes to threading fine lines through the eye of small hooks, tying knots etc.

Maui Jim has a solution that I believe very few people would be aware of (certainly I wasn’t), which is the Hidden

Another great all round lens was the Maui HT. Like the Maui Rose, the author found it to be great in all light conditions. As a global leading brand of sunglasses, Maui Jim’s range is extensive. The author is confident that there will be a frame and a lens to suit people of all ages and genders. His daughters loved the new Relaxation Mode model that has been released for 2022/23.

These lenses are highly susceptible to being scratched and to the wear and tear that saltwater, sunscreen and cleaning your glasses has, meaning you are less likely to get the years of use you are hoping for from them.

Maui Jim offers two types of lenses, a precision Italian-made glass lens and a Japanese made proprietary synthetic lens (MauiBrilliant*). Impressively the synthetic lens offers the same optics as the glass option, with minimal reduction in scratch/ wear and tear resistance (compared to well over a 30% difference in a polycarbonate option).

A few other reasons that Maui Jim has been recognised worldwide for their lens technology (outside of their patented PolorisedPlus2* lens technology) is their patented Anti-Reflective backside coating that block reflected light and bounce back glare from behind and below, and their proprietary hydrophobic and oleophobic lens treatments that displace water and repel oil and grease. Award winning reasons to consider Maui Jim sunglasses.

HIDDEN READER OPTION

As an aging angler one of the most frustrating things is having to remember to bring my pair of reading glasses with me when fishing. Although I am in denial, I definitely need some vision assistance

The author liked the Southern Cross frame as soon as he tried them on at AFTA. Comfortable to wear and pretty stylish too. HCL® BRONZE

NEUTRAL GREY

MAUI HT™ MAUI ROSE®

Reader. Reader material is placed on the base of the backside of the lens (only visible to the wearer) and comes in three add powers +1.50, +2.0 and +2.50.

There are a number of ready to wear styles that are available in three lens colours and the above mentioned add powers or, for a small fee, a hidden reader can be added to most of the frame range as well as the other lens colours and mirror options that are available.

IT IS ALL ABOUT CHOICE

The one thing that you begin to understand when you speak to people about sunglasses is that there is a diverse range of thought that comes into play when choosing a pair of sunglasses. For some, it is purely based on functionality, others it is lens colours (base and overriding) due to the type of fishing they do (freshwater, saltwater and time of day), frame style also is a factor, then there is fit and of course style and look may well be at the top of the list. No matter what you base your choice on, Maui Jim will have something to suit your needs. There will be a picture within this testing booth that is of part of the display that Maui Jim had at the AFTA Trade Show. This is only a ...Continued over

third of what they had on display and only a small portion of the range they produce and it is already impressive.

While I am discussing this image, what should also be noted is the number of frame style options for men and women, and this is just a small sample of what is available! The reason I took this image was to show my daughters at home some of the new offerings. I quickly got a string of messages bronze lens was a no brainer and I also liked the tortoise frame it came in.

Looking from a saltwater-based fishing prospective I couldn’t go past the Blue Hawaii and Hawaii Lava lens colours with Maui HT (High Transmission) getting an honourable mention. I felt the Maui HT was better in the low light (early morning / late afternoon) or when cloudy and overcast component of my saltwater endeavours, but I loved the mirror look the others offered.

The author’s favourite lens colours: Maui Rose (front), Bronze (left middle), Hawaii Lava (right middle) and Blue Hawaii (back). An honourable mention needs to go to the Maui HT lens that isn’t pictured, it’s a cracka too!

Southern Cross MAUIGREEN™

Green mirror coating is applied to the frontside surface of our PolarizedPlus2® Neutral Grey lens. Available in prescription.

HAWAII LAVA™

Red mirror coating is applied to the frontside surface of our PolarizedPlus2® HCL® Bronze lens. Available in prescription.

BLUE HAWAII

Blue mirror coating is applied to the frontside surface of our PolarizedPlus2® Neutral Grey lens. Available in prescription.

Relaxation Mode

MAUI SUNRISE

Pink mirror coating is applied to the frontside surface of our PolarizedPlus2® Maui Rose® lens. Available in prescription.

me wearing a rose-coloured lens” when they took me through the range. Well, I am prepared to eat my words. It was easily my overall favourite. In my opinion a great option for salt or freshwater fishing, low light, full sunshine, no worries and pretty stylish too!

As far as the glass lens versus the MauiBrilliant* lens, I really couldn’t tell the difference. Of the five lens colours different focus than mine. While I had to spend time on the water going through the options, their process was a little different. Let’s say a few selfies were required and your sunglasses spending more time towards the tip of your nose than the bridge of it. But from a parent’s point of view it was great to see them wanting to wear a pair of sunglasses that I know will protect their eyes better than anything they normally wear.

One thing with having eight pairs of sunglasses on board when you are fishing is that everyone can try them. Nicholas Willett wearing the Maui Rose lens Southern Cross glasses with a nice bream.

back with what they liked and an underlying message of “See dad, you can look good too while you’re fishing!”

The end result for me has been the offer to do this testing booth based on having a single frame style (Southern Cross) and getting eight of the lens colour options (some in glass and some in the MauiBrilliant* synthetic lens). My girls have also been spoilt, getting to try the new Relaxation Mode frame and four different lens colours.

As I said, it is all about choice!

TIME TO TEST

I firmly place myself into the functional choice category when it comes to sunglasses (generally a black frame and bronze-based lens), so having eight pairs to wear and play with has been a novelty and it has been a lot of fun and an eye opener.

Firstly, the Southern Cross frame. I love it. Light weight, with a super comfortable nose piece, comfort pads at the ends of the arms and available in a number of different colours (check out the image herewith). I feel they suited me, and from an end users’ point of view it can only be a good thing if you feel like you are wearing nothing.

Secondly, lens colours. This is where the biggest surprize came. The straight

The biggest surprize however, came with my overall favourite: The Maui Rose lens. I distinctly remember saying to Nathan and Robert at AFTA, “I cannot see mentioned above, one (bronze) was in the glass lens and the other four all in the MauiBrilliant* synthetic lens.

I have to admit that the testing done by my daughters may have had a slightly

I did get them out on the water with me too, and I finally think they now understand what a difference a quality pair of sunglasses makes.

The girls gave the new Relaxation Mode frame a big thumbs up and, surprisingly for me, the plain black frame and lens proved to be the favourite. Although, my youngest (Emily) seemed to have the pair with the Blue Hawaii lens colour on more often than not.

CHECK THEM OUT YOURSELVES

As mentioned I have been completely spoiled putting this testing booth together and I am not surprised that the Maui Jim stand at AFTA was very busy. It is very rare to be so spoiled for choice when it comes to your sunglass options and needs. No matter what you want, Maui Jim will have a quality pair of sunglasses to suit.

So, if a pair of sunglasses is on the cards for Christmas (as a present or for yourself) go and check them out at www. mauijim.com. You can see the full range there and find a retailer near you. Mahalo

- Peter Jung