Author: Rob Belloni
Frame Material: TR-90 Nylon Lens Material: Hydroreflective Polycarbonate (CR-39) Lens color reviewed: Grey Lens Width: 63mm Temple Length: 125mm Eye Size: 60 Bridge Size: 18 Temple Size: 0 Overall visibility: The glasses reviewed have a grey lens. Probably not the optimal lens color for sight fishing and low light. This is much more of an all around lens color and the grey color does cut down more of the light than say green or yellow. I like these glasses for ocean fishing and very bright sunlight. For sight fishing, I believe there are better glasses on the market. The color differentiation underwater with the grey lens is not what it can be with other colors. I rate the overall visibility on these glasses as a 6 for sight fishing, and an 8 for all around use. Lens durability: I don't know if you can find a more durable lens than the lens on these glasses. You really have to do something drastic to scratch the lens. When you fold the glasses up, the tips of the frame do not hit the lens unless you really mash them together. This is a plus over time because if you put the glasses in your pocket and the tips touch the lens, it will eventually scratch them up. I rate the lens durability a 10. Frame durability: The Hobie Turbo has a solid frame that should last you for many years. Mine are going on 6 years old now and have survived being dropped and stuffed in my tackle box or in a float tube pocket more times than I could count. I did snap one of the side pieces while the sunglasses were in my jeans pocket, and I bumped hard into a wall, but a call to Hobie got me a replacement for $10. Unless you really smash the glasses into something, the frames should last a long time. I rate the frames a 9 for durability. Wear-ability/Comfort: The frame on the Hobie Turbo is very stiff when they are brand new. I wear a 7 and ¾ size hat, and found that for the first few weeks, these glasses were very snug on my head, to the point where it was not comfortable to wear them for long periods. Over time they broke in and now they wear quite nicely for me. Wearing them all day should not be a problem, however I would not rate them as being 'light'. The eye coverage is good with the wrap around design. Sun will occasionally come in through the top if you aren't wearing a hat and they are not snug to your face, but side coverage is solid. Fogging on hot days from perspiration is usually not a problem with these glasses. I rate the Hobie Turbo a 7 for wear-ability and comfort. Note: Images retouched to show lens more clearly
