The sun: It can be the best friend and the worst enemy of every fishing guide. After years of experience, an angler’s eyes become sharp and focused, calibrated to the waters he works. But without the right sunglasses, the sun’s reflected glare off of the water can wreak havoc on eye sight, depleting the very resource the angler depends on to spot fish.
Costa’s new Rafael frame style is comprised of a nearly-indestructible bio-based resin material sourced from the castor plant, a sustainable, hardy perennial. The bio-based resin provides increased durability, overall weight reduction, and the ability for the frames to hold shape under conditions ranging from extreme heat to bitter cold temperatures — crucial for anglers out battling the elements.
Incorporating a bio-based resin frame construction reduces Costa’s manufacturing process emissions by as much as 40 percent, and cuts the company’s overall carbon footprint significantly.
In addition to the durable frame construction, Rafael features a wide temple design wrap-style shape, with sturdy integral hinge technology. It also offers Costa’s signature three-square-hole venting system to alleviate lens fogging, and hypoallergenic rubberized temple tips and nose pads to keep the sunglasses comfortably in place all day, no matter how harsh the conditions.
Rafael’s frame-color options include blackout, matte retro tortoise, matte olive teak, and matte black teak.
Costa’s sunglasses can be customized in its full array of patented color-enhancing polarized 580 lenses. The incorporated technology selectively filters out harsh yellow and harmful high-energy ultraviolet blue light. Filtering yellow light enhances reds, blues, and greens, and produces better contrast and definition while reducing glare and eye fatigue. Absorbing high-energy blue light cuts haze, producing greater visual clarity and sharpness.
Costa’s 580 lenses are available in either glass or impact resistant polycarbonate. Lens color options include: gray, copper, sunrise (580P only), blue mirror, green mirror, and silver mirror.
Rafael is also available in customized Rx sun lenses.
“Serious anglers need proven technology to not only help them spot the fish faster, but also to protect their eyesight while they’re out on the water,” said Chas MacDonald, president of Costa. “The new Rafael style combines our superior color-enhancing 580 lenses with premium frame functionality in a stylish pair of sunglasses.”
Rafael with 580 lens technology starts in retail at $169, and is available at costadelmar.com and at authorized Costa retail partners.