|
“All Sports, All Polarized“ …We see just how well the Native Hardtop Sunglasses
suit Anglers (continued)
 When
it comes time to clean the lenses simply use the provided cleaning cloth that
comes with the Native sunglasses. When I was fishing in saltwater getting the
dried spray off required a little water. Native recommends using a mild liquid
soap diluted with warm water for serious cleanings. When the cleaning cloth gets
dirty you can simply hand wash it and allow it naturally dry.
The Cushinol nose is quite
comfortable and non slip
Price & Applications:
With an MSRP of 135 dollars the Hardtop is reasonably priced. I wish the Hardtop
came with a brown pair of polarized lenses in addition to the black lenses. I’d
easily swap out the yellow or clear crystal lenses for this option. A brown set
of polarized lenses would be perfect for fly fishing applications.
The yellow lenses help bring out
contrasts
Throughout my time with the Hardtop I have used the
polarized black lenses about 90% of the time, with the remainder split between
the Orange and Clear lenses. All lenses offer 100% UV protection but I just
didn’t find too much use for the clear lenses. The orange lenses have 57% Visual
Light Transmittance (VLT) and can be used in moderate to low light, like early
mornings on the water. The yellow lenses have an 80% VLT for low light, good for
hiking in the woods between fishing holes. The clear lenses have a 98% VLT and
are only good for very low light or nighttime use. I only found the clear lenses
good for wind resistance when boating near sunset.
The Native Hardtop comes with a
cleaning cloth
Warranty:
Native Eyewear warrants
that, if your Native sunglasses ever fail for any reason during standard use,
they will repair or replace your sunglasses and incur all costs to ship them
back to you within the United States. To make a claim, simply go to their site
and fill out a claim form, and send it in with your proof of purchase and a 30
dollar processing fee.
Yes...I've even gone crabbing with
the Hardtop
Availability: So where can outdoorsmen get a pair of Native
Hardtops? Just about anywhere. Native sunglasses are sold online and are carried
by many of the largest retailers including REI, Dicks Sporting Goods, and Sports
Chalet. They are popular in outdoor shops because they are designed for a wide
range of applications and sports outside of just angling.
Since we
started this field test the company has since released the Hardtop XP model into
the lineup. The XP stands for “Xtra Protection,” and is a slightly larger pair
of sunglasses that are optimized for larger profiles.
Ratings:
|
Native
Hardtop
Ratings (?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
In
terms of durability these sunglasses are very good. they may be lightweight
but they sure did last. The Hardtop has seen countless hours in the sun and
will likely see many more in future tests. Some anglers may find that the
sunglasses do not feel like they are made of solid materials...but that's
the result of weight reduction |
8 |
| Performance |
Overall performance was respectable minus the temples separating after time.
If anglers are not careful the temple separation can result in these shades
going overboard. Clarity versus a glass lens is not great, but in terms of
weight the Hardtop gets two thumbs up |
7 |
| Price |
In
terms of price the Native Hardtop is decently priced but there is a whole
lot of competition out that at the sub 100 dollar price point. They may not
have all the same features but they do suit anglers just as well |
7.5 |
| Features |
A
solid set of features and nice extras including interchangeable temples and
lenses. The soft case doesn't offer much impact protection but it does hold
all the components nicely. Once again I wish for a special kit with lenses
anglers would more likely use |
8.5 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
The
entire system is pretty easy to use and in terms of weight the Hardtop is
exceptional. I often forgot they were there at all. Changing lenses is
easier on some other shades, but the Native hardtop does hold lenses more
securely than other sunglasses I have tried |
8 |
| Application |
While the Hardtop was good for angling applications it is probably best
suited for other sports like running, biking, and hiking. The optical
clarity was ok, but not as good as some anglers (especially fly anglers)
will desire. If the Native came with a better assortment of tints it would
be a big plus for anglers |
8 |
|
Total Score |
7.83 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
| J
Comfortable over your glasses |
L
Not the most stylish |
| J
Polar TX lenses |
L
Doesn't hold well while the boat is
traveling at full speed |
| J
OveRx 360 degree protection |
|
Conclusion:
It has been an entire year
and while the Hardtop survived the test the temples coming loose has continued
to plague the sunglasses. I have found the temples coming off is really only a
problem with the strapped “extreme temples” as the strap makes it so if you
don’t lift up and over year head instead of pulling up and forward the temples
can separate. The fact that the temples have become looser with extended use has
only amplified the issue. While the Hardtop was not designed specifically for
anglers it does to a great extent address the application well with the optional
temples, interchangeable lenses, and overall light weight. Where the Hardtop
falls a little short for anglers is the absence of multiple popular shades of
polarized lenses in each kit (grey, brown, and blue), and in the durability
department. Would I recommend them for anglers that enjoy a full range of
sports, including biking, hiking, running? Yes. But I’d have to pass on the
Hardtop if they are to be used solely for fishing. Don’t get me wrong, they are
a quality pair of shades, and come with a respectable warranty, but for the
price there are a lot of polarized sunglasses out there that better address the
unique needs and requirements of fishermen.
|
