One pair of sunglasses for spotting fish beneath the surface and tying flies. After six months of using the Bajío Vega with yellow polarized VLT 26 lenses and +2.5 reading magnification, Michal Rypl shares why he has fallen in love with them, how they perform in different light conditions, and how he adapted to the multifocal lenses when driving.
Bajío Vega, +2.5 Multifocal, Yellow VLT 26 Lenses: Six Months In, I’m Hooked! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For several years, I wore my previous pair of Bajío sunglasses without reading segments. Whenever I needed to tie on a leader or tie flies, I relied on a flip-up magnifier attached to my cap. I could see what I was doing, but in photos I looked like an inventor from the 1950s, and the whole setup was a constant hassle. Then I got the Vega with multifocal lenses, and I feel like they’ve given me back some of the joy of fishing.
It’s all about comfort. The frame is made from lightweight, bio-based nylon, which, according to the manufacturer, is up to ten times stronger than conventional petroleum-based plastic. They’re noticeably lighter than my previous pair. After a full day on the water, my nose isn’t sore, and I pretty much forget I’m wearing them. The non-slip rubber nose pads and temple tips help keep them securely in place, even when I’m sweating. Still, I’d definitely recommend a retainer for your sunglasses! 😀
The lenses are glass, polarized, and yellow with a VLT of 26 — a dream come true for me. Under the trees, on overcast days, or in shaded valleys where other sunglasses can turn the water into a black hole, I can pick out the seams in the current and see the rocks below. They handle bright sunshine well, too, as I found out while fishing in Slovenia in crystal-clear water. The contrast and clarity come from LAPIS technology, which blocks 95% of blue light up to 440 nm and most yellow light, with a peak around 580 nm. My eyes feel less tired, and I feel fresher after a long day on the water. The glass lenses also feature a durable, oleophobic coating that makes them easy to clean, whether it’s sweat, sunscreen, or fingerprints.
I also wear these sunglasses when driving to fishing destinations. It wasn’t all plain sailing at first, though. I had to get used to looking straight ahead. When checking the dashboard, I couldn’t just move my eyes; I had to turn my head slightly as well to avoid looking through the reading zone. It felt strange for the first few days, but then it became second nature. These days, I don’t even think about it, and I drive in my Bajío sunglasses just as I always have.
There’s a story behind the brand that I like, too. Bajío — a Spanish word for shallow waters or shoals, where the land meets the sea — was founded by Al Perkinson and Marguerite Meyer in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Both came from Costa del Mar and Simms Fishing, and they launched the company in the middle of the pandemic. The Vega model is named after Alejandro “Sandflea” Cruz, a grandfather figure in the fly-fishing community on the Mexican island of Isla Holbox. These aren’t sunglasses dreamed up in an office. They’re made by anglers, for anglers, and you can feel it.
For a fly angler who doesn’t want to keep switching glasses or carrying a magnifier, and who wants to see clearly both near and far, I think these are hard to beat.
Five stars from me. And honestly, they deserve every one of them.
