We’ve caught our share of grief from some eagle-eyed commenters who after posting one too many watercraft reviews noticed we regularly wear the same pair of worn out Arnett Catfishes. Yup, they might be a little outdated, but they’ve been the best sunglasses that we’ve owned (and by “best” we mean the only ones that we haven’t lost while riding). It’s not that we’re biased at all, it’s just finding a pair of sunglasses that rest comfortably and won’t fly off is incredibly hard to do.
That is, until last March when The Watercraft Journal was invited to moderate the Watercraft Superstore Skyway Ski Show. As part of our goodie bag were a new pair of Stealth Black SeaSpecs. Featuring gray polarized lenses, lightweight black frames and adjustable secure strap, the SeaSpecs came very highly recommended by the WCSS staff. My day with my Stealth SeaSpecs was unfortunately cut short as their desirability was clearly too much for some sticky-fingered bystander to resist, and my pair vanished.
Alas, I was left with my trusty Catfishes yet again. That is, until last month when The Watercraft Journal was asked by SeaSpecs if we’d be willing to review a replacement pair. Arriving the week before our trip to the 10th annual Greenhulk.net Mudbug, we were able to rack up plenty of time with the new shades. Normally, we struggle with full wraparound frames as they are often prone to fogging. Thankfully, the SeaSpecs are well ventilated, keeping their patented, high quality, impact-resistant polarized lenses clear.
Made from injection-molded nylon, the frame is nicely flexible, making it strong, yet lightweight. Also notable is that the hinges are not metal attachments, but rather, integrated into the frame (held together with a stainless steel screw) for longer life and rust prevention. A thick, padded nose and bridge cushion not only rests comfortably but provides the SeaSpecs much of its floatation (along with its padded temples.
The biggest feature on the Stealth SeaSpecs is its non-removable strap. Integrated into the rubberized temples, the least is fully adjustable and fits snug around your head. We found that there’s really not enough slack to wear it loosely around your neck when not actually wearing the glasses over your eyes, but they do rest nicely on top of your head if you’re trying to read your phone or GPS.
Overall, we liked the features, design and overall aesthetic of the SeaSpecs’ Stealth sunglasses but did find the short strap and very snug fit of the wraparound frames a little claustrophobic. A cursory search of our previous reviews will attest that we’re big sticklers on personal fitment as a “make or break” factor, and ultimately fitment is almost always subjective. Those with a broader face might not enjoy the Steath sunglasses, while others with more narrow features will absolutely love ’em.
Priced at $49.95, they’re definitely a bargain – particularly when purchased through the Watercraft Superstore, which will save you an additional $5 off of the retail price. With summertime upon us and the water warming up, its always a good idea to pack as much protection as you can, and SeaSpecs’ Stealths are not only good looking but functional.
