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“All Sports, All Polarized“ …We see just how well the Native Hardtop Sunglasses
suit Anglers
| Date: |
12/02/06 |
| Tackle type: |
Apparel |
| Manufacturer: |
Native |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 7.83
Introduction:
Introduction: REI was the
first place that I first observed the Native sunglass lineup. The “Hardtop”
caught my attention as a possible quality pair of shades for fishermen, as it
has a number of interesting features that may appeal to multi-species anglers
including swappable lenses, interchangeable temples, and unique venting to help
combat fogging. To find out just how well the Hardtop would match up with common
angling applications we put the sunglasses through the paces in a year long
field test.
|
Native
Hardtop
Specifications |
|
Frame Type |
Interchangeable lenses & temples |
|
Frame Sizes |
2
available (XP is larger) |
| Frame Material |
Thermoplastic |
|
Frame Colors |
6
available |
| Lens
Colors |
4
included (5 Available combos) |
|
Features |
Interchangeable
Lenses, Interchangeable Gator-Lok® Temples, Venting, CushinolTM,
Cam-Action Hinges, Mastoid Temple GripTM, Anti-Ocular Intrusion
System® |
|
Price |
$135.00 |
Impressions: Usually
when you buy a new pair of sunglasses all you get is a frame and some sort of
protective case. With the Hardtop you get what seems like an entire kit. The
Hardtop comes with a padded case that holds the frames, an extra set of temples,
three additional sets of lenses, a cleaning cloth, and a proprietary tool
designed to make changing the temples easier.
The Native Hardtop (with orange
lenses)
The Hardtop sunglasses are
extremely light, almost to the point I began to question the durability of the
frames. Look closer at the frame and the sunglasses did separate themselves from
those 20 dollar pairs found on traditional sunglass racks. Don’t be deceived by
the light overall weight of these sunglasses, they are built with quality
thermoplastic impact resistant materials.
A shot of the Native retail box
Having a heavy pair of
sunglasses on my face bouncing around while casting or boating can be annoying.
There certainly is a place for quality glass optics, but when it comes to weight
reduction polycarbonate lenses like those found on the Hardtop are hard to beat.
The Hardtop comes with a oversized
soft case
In terms of frame design the
“Asphalt” color I chose is probably the most basic in design. It features a
matte black appearance, and anglers looking for flashier frames can choose one
of five different variations including Platinum, Tiger’s Eye, Gunmetal, and
Almond (the newest color.) Each of these patterns will come with different
polarized lenses. Lens options include the polarized grey that I tested,
polarized brown, polarized blue reflex, and polarized brown reflex.
The soft case holds all elements
in the kit
Real World Tests: Bass
fishing, fly fishing, inshore, offshore, even crabbing… the Hardtop has
accompanied me on all my fishing exploits throughout the last year, in fact if
you are an avid reader of the site there is no doubt that you have seen me
sporting these sunglasses before in many reviews.
Bass fishing with the Hardtop
Design & Operation:
Native’s slogan “All sports, All Polarized” pretty much sums up what the company
is all about. Every single one of Native’s sunglasses is optimized for those
with active lifestyles and enjoy participating in outdoor activities. The
Hardtops are designed to be simple to use and comfortable to wear whatever sport
you get pleasure from.
Notice the small venting gaps on
top
Next Section: Take them apart...
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