# Costa vs Smith Fishing Sunglasses (2026): 580 vs ChromaPop, Lens Colors and Frames > Costa and Smith fishing sunglasses compared on the makers' own specs: 580 and ChromaPop lenses, glass or polycarbonate, lens colors by water, wraps, side shields and leashes. - Source: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith - Publisher: WildProofLab (https://wildprooflab.com) - Published: 2026-09-29 - Category: sun-heat - Tags: Costa, Smith, Costa 580, ChromaPop, polarized sunglasses, fishing sunglasses, Guide's Choice - Method: picks chosen from Amazon listings and brand specs; not hands-on tested; current Amazon prices are on the page; content checked 2026-09-29. - Quick answer: Buy Costa if you want the published numbers: Costa's lens guide gives light transmission for its lens colors, and it sells 580 glass and polycarbonate through Amazon.com. Buy Smith if fit on a moving boat matters more: the Guide's Choice wraps at 8-base with a leash, and the Barra adds side shields. ## Key takeaways - Both makers give the same lens advice: blue mirror offshore, green mirror inshore and on flats, brown or copper for rivers and changing light. - Glass lenses are Costa's 580G and Smith's ChromaPop Glass; Costa's 580P is polycarbonate, and the lighter of Costa's two. - Costa's listing says the Rincon's tree-pulp acetate frame is best when you are not being active; Smith builds its fishing frames around wraps, grip pads and leashes. ## Products (chosen from listings, not tested) 1. **Costa Del Mar Rincon Sunglasses, Blue Mirror 580P Polarized, 63 mm** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B077K5BJL8) — Buy it for deep, open water in bright sun. - Pros: Gray-base blue mirror, 10% light transmission, which Costa rates for full sun offshore; 580 polycarbonate lens with 100% UV protection, per the listing - Cons: Acetate frame that Costa's listing calls best for when you are not being active 2. **Costa Del Mar Rincon Sunglasses, Copper Green Mirror 580G Polarized, 63 mm** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B0711HVB8K) — Buy it if you wipe salt off your lenses all day and want the most scratch resistance Costa sells. - Pros: 580 Glass, which Costa calls ultra scratch-resistant, with 100% UV protection, per the listing; Copper green mirror for sight fishing inshore and on flats, and cloudy days, per the listing - Cons: Costa's lens guide gives no light-transmission figure for copper green mirror 3. **Costa Del Mar Rinconcito Sunglasses, Green Mirror 580P Polarized, 60 mm** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B07N6MP5K6) — Buy it if the 63 mm Rincon is too wide for you. - Pros: Green mirror on a copper base, 10% light transmission, for inshore and flats, per Costa; 60 mm, a smaller version of the Rincon - Cons: The listing calls the lens both polycarbonate and mineral; the 580P code is Costa's polycarbonate 4. **SMITH Guide's Choice Fishing Sunglasses, Brown Lens, Matte Tortoise** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B09SQF5Z49) — Buy it if you fish rivers, lakes and inshore water with one pair. - Pros: ChromaPop polarized brown, which Smith calls its lens for a wide range of light; 8-base wrap, spring hinges and non-slip pads; detachable leash and hard case, per the listing - Cons: Medium-large fit, per Smith 5. **SMITH Guide's Choice Fishing Sunglasses, Blue Lens, Matte Black** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B09QLZKFWB) — Buy it if you run offshore and want a wrap rather than Costa's flat frame. - Pros: ChromaPop blue mirror; Smith calls its blue lenses ideal for offshore, deepwater fishing; Same wrap, hinges, pads and leash as the brown Guide's Choice - Cons: Sold by Amazon.com with low stock on September 29, 2026 6. **SMITH Barra Sunglasses, Opal ChromaPop Polarized Mirror, Tortoise** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B07VPXX3CV) — Buy it if glare sneaking in at the sides is your main complaint. - Pros: Built-in side shields for water and backside glare, per the listing; AutoLock hinges hold the frame open for one-hand on and off - Cons: Smith's fishing lens guide does not say which water its opal lens suits 7. **SMITH Riptide Sunglasses, Brown ChromaPop Glass Polarized, Matte Tortoise** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B08QVQHVR1) — Buy it if you want Smith glass in a frame you will also wear off the water. - Pros: ChromaPop Glass brown lens with extra scratch resistance, per the listing; Spring hinges and bio-based Evolve frame - Cons: An everyday frame Smith pitches for running, golf and the beach as much as fishing; the listing includes no leash 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](https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/polarized-sunglasses-for-fishing), 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 | Sunglasses | Brand | Lens | Lens material | Light transmission (per maker) | Frame | Sold by | Amazon price | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | [Rincon, blue mirror](https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B077K5BJL8) | Costa | 580P blue mirror | Polycarbonate | 10% | 63 mm rectangular | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Rincon, copper green mirror](https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B0711HVB8K) | Costa | 580G copper green mirror | Glass | Not given for this lens | 63 mm rectangular | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Rinconcito, green mirror](https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B07N6MP5K6) | Costa | 580P green mirror | Polycarbonate | 10% | 60 mm rectangular | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Guide's Choice, brown](https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B09SQF5Z49) | Smith | ChromaPop polarized brown | Not stated on the listing | Not given | 8-base wrap, leash | Smith Optics | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Guide's Choice, blue](https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B09QLZKFWB) | Smith | ChromaPop polarized blue mirror | Not stated on the listing | Not given | 8-base wrap, leash | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Barra, opal mirror](https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B07VPXX3CV) | Smith | ChromaPop polarized opal mirror | Not stated on the listing | Not given | Wrap, side shields | Smith Optics | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Riptide, brown](https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith#product-B08QVQHVR1) | Smith | ChromaPop Glass polarized brown | Glass | Not given | Everyday frame | Smith Optics | see the current Amazon price on the page | Costa's light transmission figures are from its [lens guide](https://www.costadelmar.com/en-us/performance-technology/lenses), 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](https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us/blogs/blog/find-your-perfect-fishing-lens) 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](https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us/blogs/blog/find-your-perfect-fishing-lens) 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](https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us/products/guides-choice) 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](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/sunglasses-3) 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](https://www.costadelmar.com/en-us/performance-technology/lenses) 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](https://www.costadelmar.com/en-us/performance-technology/lenses); 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. --- *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.* ## Sources - costadelmar.com: [Lens guide](https://www.costadelmar.com/en-us/performance-technology/lenses) - smithoptics.com: [Find your perfect fishing lens](https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us/blogs/blog/find-your-perfect-fishing-lens) - smithoptics.com: [Guide's Choice page](https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us/products/guides-choice) - aao.org: [Wraparound frames](https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/sunglasses-3) --- Last updated: 2026-09-29 Canonical URL: https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith How to cite: "Costa vs Smith Fishing Sunglasses (2026): 580 vs ChromaPop, Lens Colors and Frames", WildProofLab, https://wildprooflab.com/sun-heat/costa-vs-smith (checked 2026-09-29). Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate WildProofLab earns from qualifying purchases. Safety information summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice.