If you’re a fisherman, you know how important it is to protect your eyes on long sunny days. And whether you’re fly fishing or deep open water fishing, Oakley sunglasses have you covered. From Prizm Lenses built for every condition to eyewear designed for fishing.
Keep reading as we review the best Oakley fishing sunglasses, plus the best lenses for fishing!
Table of Contents
What to look for in Oakley Fishing Sunglasses?
Knowing what features are great for fishing is essential if you’re buying Oakley fishing glasses. So we’re covering all the Oakley terms and tech you should know before buying!
Plus, the best lenses for fishing and fly fishing!
O Matter Frame Material
Oakley O-Matter material is a proprietary frame material made of durable nylon plastic. This lightweight and flexible material can stand up to water and sweat, making it perfect for fishing glasses.
And you can find O-Matter available in most Oakley sports frames today.
You may also find Oakley BiO-Matter, which is Oakley’s latest version of O-Matter. BiO-Matter is an environmentally friendly frame material made of castor bean bio-resin. And it still has all the same great durability for fishing.
Unobtainium Earsocks and Nose Pads
Unobtainium is a high-grip material commonly found on the nose pads and temples of Oakleys. Whether fly fishing or open water fishing, keeping your sunglasses on your face is priority number one.
And that’s precisely what these Unobtainium grips accomplish. Plus, all of our best Oakley fishing glasses below include these Unobtainium grips, so you won’t have to worry!
What are the Best Fishing Lenses?
The lenses in your sunglasses are arguably the most important part! They protect your eyes from harmful UV light and projectiles and let you easily spot fish in sunny conditions!
Keep reading as we cover the best Oakley Prizm fishing lenses for your sunglasses! Including the best lenses for fly fishing, shallow water, and deep water conditions.
For more information, check out our comparison of the Best Fishing Lens Colors.
What are Prizm Fishing Lenses?
Prizm fishing lenses use Oakley’s contrast-enhancing Prizm technology to create a lens designed perfectly for boating and fishing. Oakley Prizm Fishing lenses offer 3 main benefits:
- Enhanced Color – Brightened surroundings and nature around you that pops
- Spot Fish – Optimized contrast to spot fish and underwater structures
- Block Glare – Reduce and eliminate glare off the water for easier boating and fishing while still providing complete UV protection
Currently, Oakley offers three main Prizm Fishing lenses – Prizm Shallow Water, Deep Water, and Maritime. Now let’s review all three of these lenses so you can find the right one.
Oakley Prizm Shallow Water vs. Deep Water vs. Maritime?
Each of the 3 Prizm fishing lens colors are built for a specific purpose. We’ve highlighted the main benefits of each lens below, plus a complete comparison side by side:
Prizm Shallow Water (Best Fly Fishing Lens)
- 15% Visual light transmission
- Enhances underwater contrast to spot fish easily in lakes, rivers, and flats
- Blocks glare to reduce eye strain for long sunny days on the water
Prizm Deep Water (Best Deep Water Fishing Lens)
- 12% Visual light transmission
- Enhances contrast to see below the surface in deep water conditions to spot fish and underwater structures
- Blocks glare to reduce eye strain during long days offshore
Prizm Maritime (Best Boating Lens)
- 14% Visual light transmission
- Built for boating to enhance contrast to highlight objects, hazards, and other boats
- Improve clarity between blue water and blue skies for enhanced vision and reduced eye strain
You can see these fishing lenses compared side by side in the table below.
Overall we’d recommend Prizm Deep Water for deep and open water fishing and Prizm Shallow Water for lakes, fly fishing, and creeks. While Prizm Maritime is a great lens, it’s better suited for boating than fishing.
| Prizm Deep Water | Prizm Shallow Water | |
|---|---|---|
| Lens Purpose | Deep Water Fishing | Creek / Fly Fishing |
| Benefits | Highlight fish and terrain below dark water | Highlight terrain below the water |
| Light Transmission | 12% | 15% |
| Base Color | Rose | Rose |
| Polarized Options | Yes | Yes |
| Iridium Options | Yes | Yes |
And for more information on each of these lenses, check out our full reviews below:
Are Prescription Fishing Sunglasses Available?
Yes, if you need prescription fishing sunglasses, you’re in luck. All of the Oakley Prizm fishing lenses mentioned above are available with prescriptions.
You can buy prescription Prizm fishing lenses directly through Oakley’s website as long as you have a valid prescription. For more information and how to order, check out our full Oakley Prescription Glasses Guide.
7 Best Oakley Fishing Sunglasses of 2023
7. Sylas
Oakley Sylas (Product Link) sunglasses offer a simple design similar to a Maui Jim style. But, this frame is made of Oakley’s lightweight O-Matter material, meaning these shades are comfortable to wear all day on the water.
We love the Sylas because they are an easy-going design that can be worn from the boat to dinner without looking out of place. Plus, Sylas sunglasses are available with Prizm Deep Water lenses.
Sylas Highlights
- Simple design with dual lenses that can be worn on-or-off the boat
- Lightweight Plutonite polycarbonate lenses help protect your eyes from anything thrown at them
- Available with Prizm Deep Water lenses for enhanced contrast and reflection while fishing
6. Fuel Cell
One of the most popular Oakley frames, Fuel Cell sunglasses (Product Link), combines a lifestyle design with performance features. The Oakley Fuel Cell’s simple rectangular frame makes these shades versatile while also providing maximum coverage.
As we discussed in our Oakley Fuel Cell review, these are also one of the most comfortable Oakleys on the market. And for fishing, you can buy them with Oakley Deep Water lenses, specifically designed for angling.
Fuel Cell Highlights
- Large rectangular frame is great for big heads or maximum coverage
- Available with Prizm Deep Water lenses specifically made for fishing
- Versatile design that can be worn anytime and easily fit in
5. Flak 2.0 XL
The Flak 2.0 XL (Product Link) is another great sports frame featuring a half-rim dual-lens design. This is one of the most popular Oakley frames, and for good reason.
Despite the dual-lens design, this lightweight frame provides fantastic coverage with XL lenses. Plus, the Flak 2.0 XL is available with various Prizm lenses, including Deep Water Polarized. Read more in our full Oakley Flak 2.0 review.
Flak 2.0 XL Highlights
- Dual-lens design in a half-rim frame that’s lightweight and sporty
- Large XL lenses provide superior optics with maximum coverage and a wide range of vision
- Great lightweight frame for fishing and other sports like baseball, golf, and more!
4. Wire Tap 2.0
One of the newest frames on our list, the Oakley Wire Tap 2.0 (Product Link), offers a sleek wire frame design made of durable C-5 material. Plus, like all the Oakleys on our list, they offer 100% protection against UVA, UVB, and UVC rays thanks to impact-resistant Plutonite lens material.
Read more in our full Oakley Wire Tap 2.0 review.
Wire Tap 2.0 Highlights
- Ultra lightweight wire frame design made of Oakley C-5 alloy material
- Available with a variety of lens options, including Prizm Deep Water Polarized for fishing
- Integrated Unobtainium earsocks for maximum grip and all-day comfort on the water
3. Radar EV Path
The Radar Path (Product Link) is one of our favorite sports frames with a large shield lens that works great for fishing. Plus, with Unobtainium earsocks and nose pads, the Radar frame grips your face even when wet. If you’re looking for a sports frame that can go beyond just fishing, these are definitely worth a look.
Read more in our complete Oakley Radar EV Path review.
Radar EV Path Highlights
- Large shield lens available in a variety of Prizm and Prizm Polarized options
- Unobtainium nosepads and earsocks for added grip
- Lightweight O Matter frame with a half-rimmed design
2. Clifden
The Clifden sunglasses (Product Link) are actually built for mountaineering but are fantastic for fishing too. This frame includes a similar 20-inch integrated leash to keep your sunglasses on your face! Plus, the side blinders and dark available Prizm lenses are great for blocking out light on the water.
For more information, check out our complete Oakley Clifden review.
Clifden Highlights
- Integrated side blinders to minimize light and provide all-day eye protection
- Includes a 20-inch leash attachment that connects directly to the earstems
- Impact-resistant lenses featuring High-Definition Optics (HDO)
1. Split Shot
At the top of our list of the best fishing sunglasses, Oakley Split Shot sunglasses (Product Link) bring a list of features specifically built for fishing. First, the Split Shot comes with an included leash similar to the classic Croakies to keep your Oakleys from falling in the water. Next, the frame is made of lightweight O-Matter and shaped to prevent any sunlight from entering the sides.
Finally, these sunglasses are available with Prizm Deep Water and Shallow Water lenses – both specifically made for fishing. It’s no wonder the Oakley Split Shot is also our top choice of polarized fishing sunglasses.
For more, check out our full Oakley Split Shot review.
Split Shot Highlights
- Includes a 20-inch leash attachment that connects directly to the earstems
- Available with Prizm and Prizm Polarized fishing lenses
- Lightweight O matter full-frame design that can be worn on and off the water
Where to Buy Oakley Fishing Sunglasses?
You can buy all of the best Oakley fishing sunglasses mentioned above direct from Oakley. And we’ve included direct links for each pair above.
If you’re looking to save, you’ll want to keep an eye out for an Oakley sale or discount. But you can still save 20-30% off retail prices with only a few seconds of searching. For full details, check out our complete guide to Never Pay Retail for Oakleys Again.
Looking for More?
What are your favorite Oakley fishing sunglasses? Join the largest online Oakley community, and let us know in the thread below!
. Don't forget to tip your server and welcome to the forum 
.
