Both frames performed quite well for bass fishing. With a larger head, I found the Cayman Elite secure without being tight. It should comfortably fit medium to large faces while providing enough ventilation to prevent fogging in humid conditions. Its more casual look also makes it a versatile choice for anglers who want a frame they can wear both on and off the water.

The Black Royal lenses are really good for bright days for enhancing contrast. I found this useful when fishing frogs over large mats and under tight structure

The Capitan Elite, with its full wraparound design, offered maximum sun protection and glare reduction. It’s ideal for anglers and guides who spend long days under direct sunlight or reflected light. Despite its broader profile, it remained lightweight, well-balanced, and comfortable through extended sessions. During testing, both pairs maintained a solid grip even when wet, and the hydrophobic lens coatings effectively repelled water and minimized salt or mineral residue. The floatable construction worked flawlessly - intentional drops overboard confirmed that these frames stay on top. Unlike some competing floatable sunglasses, which have obvious modifications to achieve buoyancy, the Shady Rays frames look and feel like standard fishing optics.

The temples are cored out to reduce weight

One reason they float and remain comfortable for hours is their light polycarbonate lenses, which also contribute to overall frame lightness. While this makes the frames extremely comfortable, it does give them a slightly less premium feel compared to higher-end glass lens options like Costa. Polycarbonate lenses also have a slight clarity gap compared to glass, which discerning anglers may notice. That said, the Shady Rays ColorRush lenses punch well above their price point.

Price and Applications: Styling-wise I think both pairs lean more technical and while I prefer the Cayman personally I’d still probably be willing to give up some of the technical side bolstering for a more casual looking frame like the company’s Classic Timber with Colorush polarized lenses. But for those dedicated days on the water both the Cayman and Capitan deliver the features that really matter, and at great prices.

 Rubber grips on the nosepads and temple tips help keep these sunglasses planted when fishing and running rough water

The Cayman Elite with Black Emerald lenses retails for $132, while the Capitan Elite with Black Royal lenses is priced at $142 - both very reasonable considering they include a microfiber cleaning pouch and a semi-rigid fishing case.

The case comes with a clip, which is good for keeping the case from flying out of the boat

One of the reasons that both of these sunglasses are more aggressively priced than many competing offerings from the brands mentioned earlier is that they do not use glass lenses. Glass lenses typically transmit light more evenly than plastic, produce sharper details and more accurate colors, and are more resistant to scratches. However, polycarbonate lenses offer several practical benefits beyond weight savings. They are shatter-resistant, and Shady Rays adds hydrophobic (water-repelling) and oleophobic (oil-repelling) coatings, more impact resistant, and so light that in the case of the Shady Rays, can actually float. During testing, I found that these two  pairs of sunglasses were lightweight yet durable - sitting on them or dropping them casually didn’t break the lenses or snap the hinges.

I was pleasantly surprised how light and comfortable these sunglasses were

Like all Shady Rays products, the Elite Fishing Collection is backed by the company’s Lost & Broken Protection Program, which allows for up to two replacements within two years. For anglers who have watched expensive sunglasses disappear overboard or get crushed in a tackle box, this policy alone is a major selling point. A small processing fee ranging from $16.89 to $24.89 applies, and Shady Rays will replace your damaged—or even lost—frames up to two times within the two-year window, providing genuine peace of mind for everyday on-the-water use.