Reviews > Eye Protection > Sun Glasses > Costa Del Mar Fathom > Steve Nelson > Initial Report

Initial Report: Costa Del Mar Fathom Wave Sunglasses
September 22, 2005

Reviewer's Information

Name: Steve Nelson
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Email address: nazdarovye at y..oo dot com
City, State, Country: San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.

Backpacking Background:

As an interface design and usability consultant by trade, I'm always excited by analyzing and improving designs and processes; backpacking provides a fertile and fun arena for that. I have been backpacking since I was a kid growing up in upstate New York: we backpacked and canoe-camped in all seasons, throughout the Adirondacks and nearby areas, ranging as far as La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve, Quebec. As an adult, I've backpacked and hiked extensively in California, but also have taken trips throughout the West, from New Mexico to British Columbia, and return often to the Adirondacks.

In the past year I made the transition to lightweight and ultralight backpacking. I like moving fast, and lightening the load facilitates that. I also enjoy urban strolls, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, and aviation in addition to hiking and backpacking, so my gear gets exposed to a wide variety of uses and conditions.

Product information

Overview

The author wearing the Fathom Sunglasses (keeper strap added separately—not included with the product)

The sunglasses I'm testing can best be described by being split into two components: the frame and the lenses.

The Fathom frames are part of Costa Del Mar's Performance Series. They are constructed of "co-injected" Nylon and—where the temples contact the wearer's face—Hydrolite, a rubberized composite. The latter material is meant to help the frames stay snug and secure.

The Wave 580 lenses I selected are grey polarized lenses (also available in copper) that feature Costa Del Mar's proprietary 580 technology, which is claimed to provide "color enhanced polarized vision" by blocking the yellow range of light more than other visible wavelengths.

Regarding my background for this test: I wear contact lenses generally for backpacking, and will do so with these sunglasses. I've used many pairs of sunglasses in the past, including most recently ones from Matsuda, Persol, Bolle and Julbo, and bring sunglasses along on every single one of my hikes, backpacking trips, and winter outdoors jaunts. I spend a lot of time near water and on the snow, and demand a lot from my sunglasses in terms of accuracy, UV blocking, and durability.

Initial Impressions

The Fathom sunglasses were provided in a hefty case along with two small tags describing the Wave lens technology and Costa Del Mar's warranty (lifetime guarantee against defects in materials or workmanship):

Fathom Sunglasses in their included case

I find the case way too hefty for backpacking, and will most likely only use it for storing the sunglasses at home and in transit; that said, the case looks to provide excellent protection for the sunglasses, and accommodates a keeper strap and polishing cloth (note: neither was included with the sunglasses) with room to spare.

Front close-up of the Fathom Sunglasses

Because I did not select the frame style, I will not comment on its aesthetic match with my preferences or face. However, the color, construction and quality of the sunglasses appear top notch. The frames are comfortable—they grip the sides of my face but are not tight at all, and the lenses wrap around to the sides enough to provide good peripheral vision coverage. I've worn them for about a week now, and they don't slip or jostle during activity, nor do have they slipped to date due to sweat or spray. I like the Hydrolite material a lot—it's comfortable. I also like the color of the nylon portion of the frame. It is a pleasing blue hue with a slightly metallic quality to its finish.

I'm particularly impressed with the lenses. I work in a design field, and so pay close attention to visual acuity, color accuracy, and distortion of lenses. These lenses appear to have no distortion whatsoever (quite striking compared to polycarbonate lenses I have used on other sunglasses). Also, the Wave 580 lens color and optics really do appear to enhance color vision, as per the manufacturer's claims. My girlfriend said, when taking a peek through the lenses, "these sunglasses are 3D—no, 4D!" Colors seem much more vivid compared to other lenses I've used, and most colors appear true and recognizable, if (as expected) a bit greyed out. I took a color palette book into the sunlight and looked at it with these sunglasses on, and was struck by how accurate the color representation was. The sky appears as a nicely saturated blue, but its hue is not altered by the lenses. The polarization is moderate—I still see reflections and highlights, but they are reduced as expected.

A few minor quibbles: it would be nice if the sunglasses, especially considering their price, came with a cleaning cloth and cleaning instructions. I also feel that the design of this particular frame style is not optimal; a fair amount of sunlight comes in over the bridge, where the frame dips down. This is lessened when I'm wearing a hat with a brim, so at this point I don't consider it a major flaw. Finally, the case is excessively bulky for backpacking and outdoor activities, so I've added a keeper strap to the glasses and will consdier carrying them in a soft pouch when backpacking. I'll continue to use the case for travel and general storage, as it's quite sturdy and capacious.

On the plus side, the Costa Del Mar web site provides good background information on the Wave 580 technology, as well as access to Warranty and Repair service. I hope not to need to test the company's customer service, but the web site makes it clear that Costa Del Mar takes it seriously and has a system set up to process requests and track repairs.

Test Plan

I'll use the Costa Del Mar Fathom Sunglasses pretty much every day throughout the test period, evaluating issues including:

• How do the Wave 580 lenses perform in the wide-ranging conditions I'll be experiencing; do they filter out an adequate amount of light; is the polarization effective against reflections on water and other surfaces; do they work well in both bright and low light?
• Costa del Mar says these lenses provide "rich color saturation, unsurpassed definition and a more vivid world" and claims I will experience "color enhanced polarized vision"; will my picky designer's eye agree? More importantly, if this turns out to be true, are there benefits for backpacking and hiking?
• How does the polarization affect my ability to read GPS displays and other items that I've noticed in the past show grid or moire patterns when I'm wearing polarized lenses?
• How accurate are the lenses; do they distort, especially when looking down for foot placement or when doing other outdoor activities where acuity and accuracy matter?
• How well-vented are the Fathoms; do the lenses fog up in adverse conditions (especially during strenuous winter activities); do the frames encourage trapping heat or moisture?
• Overall comfort (how does the comfort of the frames hold up over a long day; are they at all adjustable for fit and snugness around ears? I note that Costa says "Fathom is designed to fit almost any face through a combination of a nylon and Hydrolite composite and our revolutionary co-injected frame process, which provide the ideal position and feel," and I intend to validate this, especially when wearing the frames for long periods)
• Performance of frames in adverse conditions: how does the frame material perform in extreme heat or cold (I'll be in both); how does the frame feel when it gets wet with precipitation or sweaty; does it slip or otherwise lose performance in adverse conditions?
• Performance of lenses in adverse conditions: how do the lenses handle rain, snow, ice and wind; how do they handle temperature extremes?
• Durability of frames: how do they hold up to being worn all over the place, from ocean to mountaintop, sunny Tiburon afternoons to frigid Desolation Wilderness mornings; do they easily become soiled, and if so, are they easy to clean; how do they rebound from being bent or crushed or dropped (not that I'll push that...but glasses do get tossed into packs and pockets and bounce around on keeper straps)?
• Durability of lenses: do they scratch or peel or otherwise degrade over the course of the test; how do they respond to the rubber eyecups on my cameras and binoculars; how do they respond to cleaning?
• Looks: subjective, for the most part, but...how nice do the glasses look; what do others say about this?
• "Stowability": how well (and compactly) do the glasses fold up for storage; how convenient are they to store and carry?

Summary

Things I like:

• Optically correct, distortion-free lenses
• Hyper-real color
• Comfortable but snug and grippy temples

Things I don't like:

• Weight of the included case (for backpacking or travel; fine for storage around the house)
• Omission of a cleaning cloth and cleaning instructions for the lenses
• Shape of this particular frame style lets sunlight in between my eyes at the bridge

Thanks to BackpackGearTest and Costa Del Mar for giving me the opportunity to participate in this test.

Reviews > Eye Protection > Sun Glasses > Costa Del Mar Fathom > Steve Nelson > Initial Report