Sporting some killer new choices for each body kinds and lens expertise, we don’t know whether or not to be extra enthusiastic about Costa’s new gold-mirrored lens or revamped Grand Catalina frames. Efficiency and style-driven, each of those lethal new choices from Costa are glorious on their very own and even higher when paired collectively.
Costa has been busy. Simply once I thought the model couldn’t outdo itself after the latest launch of the fortieth Anniversary King Tide frames, Costa Del Mar determined to go all out and convey again the retro Grand Catalina frames. These iconic shades haven’t been produced for the reason that Eighties.
Not solely has the model resurrected a legendary body model worn by the likes of famend anglers Flip Pallot and Jose Wejebe, however they’ve additionally engineered a extremely modern new lens possibility that pushes versatility additional than I believed doable. After a couple of weeks of testing a pair of Grand Cats outfitted with the gold-mirrored lens, I’ve bought a great deal of reward for the combo.
Briefly: Costa Del Mar continues to do what it does finest, bringing high-caliber fishing sun shades to anglers. The revamped Grand Catalina with gold-mirrored lenses are value each penny, and it’s arduous to not hook hogs while you look this cool.
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Body shade
Matte black -
Lens shade
Gold mirror -
Lens materials
Polarized glass (580G) -
Body match
Extensive -
Dimension
XL -
Lens curve
Base 6
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Most safety from solar and wind -
Detachable aspect shields -
Adjustable nosepads -
Sweat channels -
Unimaginable visibility in variable mild circumstances
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XL body may be too large for some folks
Costa Del Mar Grand Catalina Evaluation
The Grand Catalina Frames
Sporting a cushty match and really feel, extremely sensible efficiency options, and a very badass aesthetic, the Grand Catalina frames have change into an prompt staple for primarily all of my endeavors, each on and off the water.
Costa has taken the flexibility between model and performance to new heights with this hybrid body mannequin, so for those who’re critical concerning the efficiency of your eyewear and prefer to look cool, too, you’d higher perk your ears right here. My rapid first impression of the Grand Catalinas was fairly easy: why did Costa ever take this body model out of manufacturing!?
Obtainable in a variety of body colours and lens choices, you possibly can dial in simply the best personalised look after which pair it along with your most popular Costa lens.
Grand Catalina Options
Detachable Facet Shields
First employed on Costa’s King Tide frames launched final yr, the model has included its easy but state-of-the-art detachable aspect shields into the Grand Catalina’s design. Simply indifferent and popped again onto the frames in seconds, I can not stress how game-changing these aspect shields could be for sure angling situations.
Dramatically boosting the quantity of blocked bottom and peripheral mild that enters your subject of view, these aspect shields maintain your eyes on the prize with out cramping your model or consolation. Whereas it is a stunning characteristic for all angling contexts, sight fishermen, specifically, will discover the aspect shields are removed from a advertising and marketing gimmick and can immediately sense the viewing benefit.
In case you’ve ever cupped your arms round your eyes whereas making an attempt to identify tails, construction, or pushing fish, then you definately’ll see what the hype is about straight away right here. You’ll be able to, in fact, put on the Grand Cats with out the aspect shields for a completely completely different look for those who don’t really feel like sporting your fish goggles to the seashore or bar.
Opposite to the King Tide frames, I discover the Grand Catalinas to be much more fashionable with the aspect shields engaged — however that’s coming from a man with an affinity for retro aesthetics.
Darn Close to Bulletproof Development
In case you’re frightened concerning the integrity of this detachable element, don’t be — the aspect shields are constructed from a BIO-RESIN skeleton/sub-structure (similar BIO-RESIN because the body), which is then over-molded with Costa’s HydroLite TPE rubber. Merely put, it is a fairly bulletproof characteristic that may be torqued on and manipulated way over you’ll ever realistically put them by.
Costa additionally presents substitute aspect shields for simply $20. In case you misplace them, you possibly can seize one other set with out having to spring for brand spanking new shades.
A genuinely sensible design characteristic, I’m sure we’ll be seeing extra Costa frames make the most of these aspect shields shifting ahead.
Vented Adjustable Nostril Pads
Have you ever ever owned and liked a pair of sun shades with glorious lenses and aesthetics, however they only don’t sit proper in your face? Costa has been incorporating adjustable nostril pads into their Professional collection frames for a while now. I believe this characteristic is massively underrated.
These easy nostril pads allow you to customise your match extra exactly. They guarantee you possibly can house the frames far sufficient out of your eyes in order that your eyelashes don’t brush in opposition to the lenses.
It’s also possible to use the nostril pads to create the correct quantity of house to make sure correct venting to keep away from fog build-up. Anglers with uniquely formed heads will probably be particularly happy by the power to tailor their match higher right here.
Engineered with a stainless-steel core for simple manipulation with agency reminiscence and a double-injected HydroLite rubber exterior for enhanced, nonslip consolation, personalizing the Grand Catalinas to your particular head form and desire is made simple.
Sweat Administration Channels
Anglers and outdoorsmen who recreate in particularly scorching climates will probably be thrilled to know Costa hasn’t reduce any corners on sweat administration right here. Mindfully designed sweat channels are constructed into the frames to make sure perspiration doesn’t pool up anyplace in or round your eyes. The thought right here is to primarily redirect your sweat previous your temples and down the sun shades’ arms.
This will seem to be a minor element when in comparison with the opposite design options, however the consideration to element right here is probably life-changing, relying on who you’re or the place you’re fishing. I’ve been trudging the flats on my native Cape Cod looking for striped bass, and although the warmth just isn’t wildly oppressive right here in Massachusetts, I can nonetheless really feel the sweat channels at work on particularly muggy, high-exertion days.
Costa Del Mar 580G Gold Mirror Lens
Whereas the Grand Catalinas are a knockout body model, let’s speak about the true star of the present relating to Costa’s new choices — the brand new rose-base gold mirrored 580G lens. Designed for variable mild circumstances, that is arguably the closest factor to a do-everything lens you’re going to seek out.
Within the model’s phrases, the gold mirror lens “presents enhanced versatility throughout a spectrum of lighting circumstances, guaranteeing optimum readability whether or not out on the water within the vibrant solar or on an overcast day.” The brand new lens will probably be supplied in additional than 20 kinds throughout Costa’s three body classes — PRO, hybrid, and way of life
Above all else, Costa Del Mar has earned such a good title within the fishing eyewear business as a result of its lens expertise. The model’s 580G (glass) lens is especially celebrated for its integrity, readability, and shade enhancement. In that regard, the gold mirrors are enterprise as typical.
Designed to cut back blur and haze by filtering out UV and blue-violet mild whereas boosting reds, greens, and blues on the colour spectrum, it solely takes your eyes a second behind any shade 580G lens to really feel the superior definition.
To not be ignored, the model claims its 580G lens is 20% thinner and 22% lighter than common polarized glass. They put on particularly light-weight. Study extra about Costa’s 580 lens tech.
Versatile 14% Seen Gentle Transmission
Seen mild transmission, or VLT, is a measure of the quantity of seen mild that may go by a given lens. The gold mirror lens is designed to sort out the widest doable spectrum of lighting circumstances by that includes a 14% VLT. This enables a bit extra mild by the lens than the model’s inexperienced mirror possibility at 10% and copper mirror at 12%. Costa’s designated low-light lens, the dawn silver mirror, is available in at a whopping 25% VLT to provide you an thought of the place the gold mirrors lie.
Whereas the gold mirrors are a splendidly versatile possibility that spans numerous angling contexts, every 580G lens is purpose-built for a selected array of lighting circumstances and habitats, so do your homework on which lens is finest advisable for the fishing situations you keep in mind.
You’ll be able to dive deeper into correct lens shade choice and dial within the excellent possibility for you.
Scratch-Resistance
In case you’ve owned a pair of 580G lenses from Costa then I don’t should inform you that they maintain up very properly with reference to scratching. You’ll be able to actually beat up on these lenses with out struggling any irritating abrasions that impede your subject of view or capacity to focus your eyes. Don’t get me improper, you possibly can crack these lenses for those who strive arduous sufficient, however the scratch resistance right here is unparalleled.
The model has achieved this next-level integrity by engineering an encapsulated mirror. Primarily, the mirror coating is utilized to the lens, after which a skinny glass layer is utilized over prime. This implies your mirrored coating just isn’t the primary line of protection, dramatically enhancing scratch resistance.
My Expertise
I’ve been testing the gold lenses for a couple of weeks now in a wide range of settings. They’ve carried out excellently in nearly each context. Finest fitted to a fan of full solar, the gold mirror lens has supplied me with killer distinction and readability in salt marsh estuary habitats, sand flats, and inshore fisheries.
The lens has additionally been a pleasure to fish in my native freshwater kettle ponds whereas recognizing largemouth bass nests and subsurface constructions. They’re effectively fitted to utterly avoiding eye fatigue on full solar days whereas additionally someway nonetheless providing good penetration and distinction in decrease mild circumstances.
I don’t advocate the gold mirror lens for absolutely overcast days (take a look at Costa’s dawn silver lens on that entrance), however they outperform my trusty go-to inexperienced mirrors in most habitats relating to skinny or intermittent cloud cowl.
One context I’ve found whereas testing these sun shades that the gold mirror lens doesn’t excel at is night mild over white sand backside. Because the solar will get low, I’ve discovered that these lenses lack the glare penetration I’m in search of in comparison with my green-mirrored and amber choices.
Severely Sturdy
To not be ignored, the integrity of those lenses, together with all of Costa’s glass lenses, is profound. They’re actually scratch-resistant, so good luck scuffing up these unhealthy boys. I’m particularly arduous on my gear and recognized to be careless with my shades within the warmth of thrilling fishing moments, however my 580G lenses throughout the board are wanting simply as crispy as once I unboxed them.
Efficiency apart, the gold mirrors are simply the bee’s knees relating to model. Belief me once I say you’ll flip heads in these — nearly everybody who’s seen me sporting my gold-mirrored Grand Catalinas has requested about them!
Why You Ought to Add a Gold Mirror Lens to Your Quiver
The highest reply to why it’s best to personal a pair of Costas geared up with the gold-mirrored lens is easy — versatility. Efficiency eyewear just isn’t low-cost. In case your funds is tight and also you’re going to spend the large bucks for the very best of the very best, you’d be smart to snag a lens that will provide you with an edge in all kinds of ecosystems and lightweight circumstances. I’ve fished numerous lenses throughout many sun shades manufacturers in nearly each habitat.
The gold mirrors hit essentially the most bases, for my part. I nonetheless desire my inexperienced mirrors for full solar flats fishing and my dawn silver mirrors for decrease mild endeavors. Nonetheless, if I might solely personal one 508G lens, I’d go together with the gold mirrors.
Don’t consider these lenses as good for every little thing however nice for nothing. They’re nice lenses in all fishing environments, even when there may be different prime selections.
Pairing the Grand Catalinas and the Gold-Mirrored Lens: In Closing
The Grand Cats are versatile, and the gold mirrors are versatile. Collectively they create a very hanging way of life efficiency aesthetic.
