Fly Fishing Clarity: Bajio Sunglasses Review & My Year-Long Test

First Day on the Water

The first day I wore the sunglasses on the marsh while fly fishing for Reds they fogged up. This isn't unusual, it is an issue I have with all sunglasses I've used. What is unusual is how Bajio handled it when I contacted them about the fogging.

Before I tell you what Bajio did, let me tell you about my past experience with one of the big five sunglass companies when I had similar fogging issues.

Big Brand, Big Letdown

I was in the guide program of one of the big eyewear companies which I'll call company "X." In the Spring I bought a few pairs of their sunglasses before my season started. The glasses were well made, but I found they fogged up while operating the jet boat. This is dangerous because of the rocks and submerged logs I needed to avoid while heading up river. I contacted the woman in charge of the guide program for company "X" and explained the problem. Her answer was, and I kid you not, "Well, they are sunglasses, that's what they do, they fog up. I don't know what to tell you." That was how it was handled, and it's what I've come to expect from the large corporate eyewear manufacturers. 

Big Brands vs. Bajio

I didn't have high expectations when I contacted Bajio about the fogging problem, not after the experience I had with company "X". I explained the issue to the rep at Bajio, and their answer was simple and straightforward, "Let's get that fixed." That's it. No attitude, no excuses, just flat-out good customer service. And to my surprise, the problem was fixable. The sunglass design I had initially chosen rested too close to my face, not allowing enough air circulation. A flatter design instead of a wrap-around would be a better fit for my face and encourage airflow. Bingo, problem solved. I haven't had any fogging problems since.

The Erosion of Brand Integrity

Why didn't the mega-sunglass company help me with this? I'm speculating that they didn't care. They weren't emotionally invested in their product. They made the sale, it was just a numbers game to them. Sell as many widgets as you can to make the stockholders happy. Gone was the passion to make great eyewear. They were so far removed from the original company that it was now just a business.  

Al Perkinson, the Founder, CEO and Creative Force Behind Bajio

Sunglasses are the creative passion of Bajio's founder and CEO Al Perkinson. He built Bajio from the ground up, one model, one design at a time. It's not just about sales figures for him; it's about quality and innovation. Bajio sunglasses reflect his talent, creativity, and commitment to crafting the best eyewear for outdoor pursuits. He's surrounded himself with like-minded individuals who share his vision, and this is the jumping-off point from good to great, a mindset to care about the customer's experience after the sale has been made.

Real Recognizes Real

During my visit to iCast this year, I had the opportunity to meet Renato Cappuccitti, the Vice President of Operations and Rx at BAJIO Sunglasses. He lives and breathes sunglass technology. He feels the same way about making great lenses as I feel about fly fishing. Our conversation was like a tennis match. I tried to get him to talk about fly fishing in Florida; he kept steering the conversation back to sunglasses. He loves to fish, but he LOVES developing lenses.

You know those steelhead guys that dedicate their whole life to pursuing steelhead, at the cost of having a normal life, or the Trout Bum that John Gierach so skillfully writes about? That's Renato, only his quarry is the perfect polarized lens.

Lens Technology to Improve Your Fly Fishing

To get a detailed explanation and data on the advancements built into the Bajio lens, visit the Bajio Blog where it is talked about by engineers and optical experts much smarter than me. I do know they have patent-pending LAPIS™ lens technology that blocks out 95% of the bad blue light and a majority of the harsh yellow light. The 95% blockage of bad blue light is significantly more than any of the big five sunglass companies. (A side note, their technology of blocking out the yellow and bad blue light is a game changer. I put the glasses on, and it was like looking at a high-definition TV screen).

The Bottom Line

In layman's terms, these glasses are badass. The world in front of me lights up when I'm looking through the lenses. I know this has something to do with the LAPIS technology. Things are brighter, clearer, more saturated, and most importantly, it cuts through harsh glare so I can spot fish.

Meant To Be Used

I'm hard on my gear – my M.O. is more about using it than babying it. Even so, a recent close inspection of the lenses surprised me; despite being knocked around in Alaskan jet boats and tossed into gear bags, the lenses weren't scratched up like I thought they would be. Bajio's website talks about their "durable anti-scratch, oleophobic coatings" that protect against sunscreen and salt. They are not lying. 

Bajio Delivers in Performance

I want my glasses to look good; I want them to have a bit of style. But at the end of the day, I consider sunglasses a tool, a core piece of technical gear for my fly fishing. They need to assist me in seeing fish, protect my eyes from stray hooks, protect my vision from the effects of too much sun exposure, prevent eye fatigue, and in the end, make my time on the water more productive and enjoyable. Design and style are nice, but quality and performance come first.

Bajio Delivers in Service

Sincere customer service is also a requirement. I'm tired of the mega-companies that have lost connection to their origins and the customers that contributed to their success. Give me a company that cares AFTER the sale has been made. I want to know that if I spend a good amount of money on their product that they will be available to me with a positive attitude when helping. A lot of companies sell quality widgets, that's just half the battle. I want the company that backs up their widgets with outstanding service. KB

“The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” - Herbert Hoover

_{Some of the gear reviewed in this article was provided to me at no cost for evaluation. The views and assessments presented are entirely my own. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.}