Bajio sunglasses are relatively new to the eyewear scene. I kept hearing the guides talking about them, and since I needed new sunglasses, I thought I’d try them. After a year of intensive use in all kinds of conditions, here’s what I’ve learned.

Right off the bat, the Bajios were bugging me as they searched for redfish in the flats. Fogging is an issue I’ve faced in every pair of sunglasses I’ve owned, so it didn’t surprise me – but the way Bajio handled it did.

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

When I guided in Alaska, I was in the guiding program for this big brand company (let’s call them “X”). I purchased a few pairs of their sunglasses before my season started. They were well made, but fogged up constantly when operating the jet boat. This is not what you want when trying to avoid rocks and logs.

I contacted the guide program manager at company “X” and explained the problem. His response was, and I’m not kidding, “Well, they’re sunglasses, that’s what they do; they fog up. I don’t know what to tell you.” This is how things were handled and unfortunately this is the kind of customer service I expect from big brands.

After this experience, I expected the same thing when I contacted Bajio about the fogging. Instead, Bajio’s response was simple and direct: “Let’s fix this.” » No excuses, no attitude, just good customer service.

Turns out the wraparound sunglasses I chose from Bajio were too close to my face, preventing air circulation. They recommended the Hopedalea flatter design for better ventilation. Problem solved. No more fogging.

Why didn’t the mega-corporation help me? I guess they didn’t care. The company had grown so big that it seemed like a numbers game: sell as many sunglasses as possible and keep shareholders happy. Gone was their passion for making stunning glasses.

Sunglasses are a passion for Bajio founder and CEO, Al Perkinson. He built Bajio from the ground up, focusing on quality and innovation. Its sunglasses reflect its commitment to creating the best eyewear for the outdoors. He’s built a team that shares his vision, and that’s what sets Bajio apart: they genuinely care about the customer experience.

HAS iCast this year I met with Renato Cappuccitti, Bajio’s VP of Operations and Rx. This guy lives and breathes sunglasses technology. He is as obsessed with making great lenses as I am with fly fishing. I tried to steer the conversation back to fishing in Florida, but he kept bringing it back to the goals. He loves to fish, but he LOVE develop lenses. You know these trout bums Jean Gierach written on ? It’s Renato, except his obsession is the perfect polarized lens.

For detailed specifications on Bajio lens technology, check out their blog. It’s written by optics experts much smarter than me. But here’s what I know: their patent pending LAPIS technology blocks 95% of harmful blue light and a ton of intense yellow light. That’s way more than big business. Thanks to this technology, wearing these glasses is like watching a high definition television.

I want my glasses to look good; I want them to have a bit of style. But ultimately, I view sunglasses as a tool, a technical essential to my fly fishing. They should reduce glare and help me see fish, protect my eyes from stray hooks, protect my vision from the effects of too much sun exposure, prevent eye strain, and ultimately make my time on water more productive. and pleasant. The design and style are nice, but quality and performance come first.

Sincere customer service is also a requirement. I’m done with mega-corporations that don’t care about their customers. Give me a company that’s there for me After the sale. There are many companies selling quality products, but I want one that comes with exceptional service. Bajio does just that. KB

“The gods do not deduct from the time allotted to man the hours spent fishing.” -Herbert Hoover

Although I was not paid by any of the manufacturers, some of the equipment reviewed in this article was provided to me free of charge for evaluation. The opinions and evaluations presented are entirely my own.