Costa vs Smith Fishing Sunglasses (2026)

Costa and Smith both sell polarized fishing sunglasses on Amazon, Costa through Amazon.com and Smith mostly through its own Smith Optics store. They agree on which lens color suits which water. Where they differ is how much each publishes about its lenses, and how the frames are built for a day on a boat.

This is the head-to-head for our polarized fishing sunglasses guide, which also covers the UV label and cheaper spare pairs.

How we chose: we did not test these sunglasses. Everything below comes from Costa's and Smith's lens guides, product pages and the Amazon listings, and each pair was sold by Amazon.com or Smith's own store and in stock on September 29, 2026.

The two ranges side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

Costa's light transmission figures are from its lens guide, which lists 10% for blue and green mirror, 12% for copper and copper silver mirror, and 25% for sunrise silver mirror. "Not given" means we found no figure from the maker for that lens.

They agree on lens color

Put the two makers' guides next to each other and the advice lines up:

• Offshore: Costa rates blue mirror for "bright, full-sun situations on the open water and offshore"; Smith's fishing lens guide calls its blue lenses "ideal for offshore, deepwater fishing."
• Inshore and flats: Costa's green mirror is for "fishing inshore and on flats"; Smith's green lenses are "a favorite of inshore anglers."
• Mixed light and rivers: Smith calls brown "the quiver of one"; Costa points to copper silver mirror for stream fishing and varying light.
• Low light: Costa's sunrise silver mirror and Smith's rose-tinted Ignitor.

So the brand does not decide the color. Choose the color for your water first, then the brand for the frame and the lens material.

580 and ChromaPop: what each maker claims

Both brands give their lens technology a name, and both claim more contrast. Costa's listings describe 580 as giving "the best polarizing efficiency available"; Smith's lens guide says ChromaPop filters "crossover light wavelengths that cause color confusion." Neither claim comes with a test you could compare across brands, so treat both as the makers' own descriptions.

What you can compare is the material. Costa sells 580G, which its listing calls "ultra scratch-resistant" glass, and 580P polycarbonate, which it says adds "impact and scratch resistance" at a lighter weight. Smith sells ChromaPop Glass and plain ChromaPop; the Guide's Choice page calls the glass version "highly scratch-resistant." Both brands state 100% UV protection.

Frames: flat and classic, or wrapped and leashed

This is where the two ranges really split.

Costa's Rincon and Rinconcito are rectangular acetate frames. The Rincon listing is candid that Costa's tree-pulp frame material "is best for when you're not being active," while praising its fit and feel. They suit a guide who stands at the console, or someone who wants one pair for the boat and the dock bar.

Smith's fishing frames are built around movement. The Guide's Choice has an 8-base wrap, spring hinges, megol nose and temple pads and a detachable leash, per Smith. The Barra adds built-in side shields that its listing says block "water and backside glare," and AutoLock hinges for one-handed on and off.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that wraparound frames stop UV entering from the sides. On the water that also means less glare slipping in around the lens.

Who sells them on Amazon

Every Costa pair here is sold by Amazon.com, and Costa's Rincon family on Amazon includes both 580G and 580P versions in several lens colors. Smith's pairs are sold by Smith's own Smith Optics store, with the blue Guide's Choice also sold by Amazon.com. We skipped listings of either brand from other sellers.

Which one we would buy

Buy Costa if you want each lens's light transmission in print and a classic frame you will wear on and off the boat. Choose the Rincon in blue mirror for offshore, the Rinconcito in green mirror for flats, and the 580G version if scratches are what end your sunglasses.

Buy Smith if you fish from a moving boat or wade all day and want a wrap that stays put, a leash in the box, or side shields. The brown Guide's Choice covers most water; the blue one is for offshore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Costa and Smith both make only polarized sunglasses?

Costa says it does: its lens guide states that "Costa only sells polarized sunglasses." Smith sells both, so check that the lens name on a Smith listing includes "Polarized," as the Guide's Choice lenses on Smith's page do.

Are Smith fishing sunglasses available in prescription?

Yes. Smith's fishing lens guide says a wide range of its fishing styles come with prescription lenses, with ChromaPop. Costa also sells prescription sunglasses, per its site; neither is sold that way through the listings here.

Which brand is lighter?

Neither maker's listing gives a weight for these frames. Costa describes its 580P polycarbonate as giving "lightweight all day wearability," which makes it the lighter choice within Costa's range.

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WildProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Lens and frame details are from each maker's listing or spec page.