Live Eyewear
Cocoons
Specifications |
Frame Type |
Conventional or over prescription eyewear |
Frame Sizes |
5
available |
Frame Material |
Ballistic Nylon |
Frame Colors |
3
available |
Lens
Colors |
3
available |
Features |
Soft
Touch, OveRx, Polar TX, Flex2Fit, Side Shields, Case & Cloth |
Price |
$39.95 |
About Live Eyewear: Live Eyewear, the makers of
Cocoons, is located in San Luis Obispo, a scenic town on the central coast of
California. For more than 25 years they have been producing quality
eyewear with their patented designs. Today their line of
sunglasses includes Live Eyes, Live Xtreme, and Cocoons, all designed to keep those
harmful UV rays out of your eyes.

Live Eyewear's Cocoons offer a
fully featured polarized eye protection
Impressions: For those who wear prescription glasses and can't wear
contacts, you know how difficult it is to find comfortable sunglasses that are polarized. Anglers with good vision have many types of polarized sunglasses to choose from,
while people who wear glasses often have a challenging time selecting that
perfect pair.
Live Eyewear has a solution, while not the most
fashionable, they are very functional. The Cocoons
polarized sunglasses are made with a semi-flexible frame made out of Ballistic Nylon
and comes in 5 different sizes to fit various prescription frame styles. Cocoons
feature numerous designs that add to your
comfort such as the Soft Touch, Flex2Fit, and OveRx. The Cocoons come
in 3 lens colors for different weather and water conditions, and to
protect your investment, they all come with a sturdy floating case and a
high-grade DuraCloth for cleaning the lenses.

The Cocoons come in 5 different
frame sizes designed to fit any prescription glasses
Real World Tests: Polarized sunglasses are essential for all types of
fishing. To test the Cocoons, I wore them for over 6 hours of fishing each
day to see how well they fit over my prescription glasses over an extended
period.
Performance: Even before adjusting the
frame to fit, I quickly tested the Polar TX lenses on different transparent
reflective surfaces and a polarization test pad, just like the ones normally
found at an optics shop. The results of these basic tests were good and displayed the effectiveness of
the Cocoons polarized lenses.
Next were field tests on the water, where I applied
these tools for a bit of sight fishing. First I have to say that being able to
choose from 3 different lens colors really helps because each tone performs
better
in separate conditions.

Polar TX lenses have all the
benefits of polycarbonate and more
Amber lens: While I was trout fishing in
the rivers on overcast days, the amber Polar TX lenses performed the best. It eliminated glare off the water and at the same time enhanced depth
perception with these crisp lenses. This allowed me to cast the smallest lures near structure with
accuracy as I was able to pinpoint the exact spots. Amber is also the color most optometrists would recommend for
people who wear glasses, and I found that to be true, but a darker tone of
amber would be nice for those extremely bright sunny days.
Yellow lens: We didn't test this color, but
yellow works similar to the amber lens, but enhances light levels in low light
conditions.
Gray lens: The best choice for those bright
days on the water, the gray lens does a great job at eliminating reflection you
might experience on any body of water. While this color didn't provide many
of the
benefits of the amber lens, it was definitely the more comforting to use
on bright days due to the increase in bright light filtration.
Good eye protection doesn't mean coverage just in the front. The eyes should be protected from all angles. With any type of sunglasses,
if sunlight shines through the sides and causes glare, your sight will be
affected. The Cocoons does a great job at preventing unwanted light from
getting to your eyes with
their side shields and OveRx. The patented design provides a wrap around, 360 degree coverage
with an overhanging "lip" on top and below the eyes, blocking any
superfluous sunlight that can come from any angle.

OveRx provides 360 degree
protection along with the Side Shield to keep sunlight from disturbing your
vision
Comfort: Next
to having a good polarized lens, comfort is just as important, especially when
you're wearing the Cocoons over your prescription glasses. Made out of Ballistic
Nylon and Polar TX lenses, the entire sunglass is lightweight, and
when adjusted correctly, the Cocoons won't slip off your face while you're
fishing.
Live Eyewear incorporates their Flex2Fit design in
all their Cocoons. The Flex2Fit allows you to finely adjust the temples to fit
according to your own profile, such as the amount of pressure and placement.
This process should be done prior to using them on the water. I was able to
adjust my pair to firmly grasp onto my face without slipping, but getting the
right angle took a few tries. If you can't find that perfect adjustment, you might
feel some discomfort from the Cocoons pressing against your prescription glasses
near the ears after a few hours of use. While these polarized sunglasses hold
well during most activities, the Cocoons aren't the best while the boat is
running. I felt like they would blow off my face, so I opted to take them off every
time before the bass boat reached full cruising speed.
Aside from a glare-free comfort to your eyes and
the two reasons mentioned above, there is one more feature that I found comforting,
and that's the Soft Touch. Soft Touch is a finish used on all Cocoons' frames
that feels non-slippery, soft, and smooth.

A neoprene case can be clipped or
attached to your clothing. It also floats if you accidentally drop
it in the water
Durability: It's bound to happen, at one time or another we have all
accidentally dropped our optics. Cocoons come with a attractive neoprene case
for added protection during storage. But during normal use the Cocoons can take
quite a beating, and still remain in great shape. When moving around loading gear
and such, at times I did crush the Cocoons against surfaces I leaned on, and no
harm was visible when I put them on. The Cocoons Ballistic Nylon frames can
be bent or twisted and will seldom break. The flexible frame will pop back
into its original shape aside from the Flex2Fit temple adjustment area.
Having a durable frame just isn't good enough
because the lenses are the most important part of this package. The
Polar TX lenses are made to be scratch and impact resistant. Polar TX
lenses do a great job resisting scratches, but still can't
beat the permanence a glass lens offers. After many weeks of use, all
three pairs that went through the tests didn't show any scratches. When cleaning the lenses, be sure to either blow off any sand or solids before
wiping with the DuraCloth, especially after saltwater fishing.

Crisp lenses allow anglers to
better discern strike opportunities while targeting schools of fast moving fish
Warranty: Live Eyewear provides a lifetime
limited warranty to the original owner for their Cocoons sun-wear because they
believe in their products. If there are any defects against material or
workmanship, they will either repair or replace it within 10 days of receipt. What's not covered is abuse, normal wear and tear, and scratches or breakage of
the lens.