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

Long-Term Report: Costa Del Mar Fathom Wave Sunglasses
February 7, 2006

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 Costa Del Mar Fathom Frame with Wave 580 Lenses is a high-end pair of sunglasses which the manufacturer claims offer unique benefits in color fidelity and comfort (see my initial report for more details and background on this product and my field report for results from my first two months of use). I've now used my pair of Fathom sunglasses for over four months, wearing them almost every day while backpacking, hiking, driving locally and over long distances, commuting via ferry boat, and strolling around town, both at home and while traveling. This report provides my long-term impressions with the sunglasses.

Field Conditions

In addition to wearing the Fathom sunglasses on backpacking trips in the Mokelumne Wilderness and Henry Coe State Park, Yosemite and the Desolation Wilderness, I've had them all over the Bay Area of California on hikes and strolls and commutes, on roads between there and Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, on the San Francisco Bay, and on a multi-state drive from California to Utah and back. Elevations have ranged from sea level to 9,000 ft (2,743 m), temperatures from 20-75 F (-5-24 C), and conditions from clear and sunny to foggy, rainy and snowy. The sunglasses have been exposed to winds in excess of 50 mph (81 kph), a raging blizzard, pelting rain, and lots of dust and grime.

Long-Term Results

A small durability issue aside, my assessment of these sunglasses from my Field Report remains: I think they're great. The lenses are sharp, clear, and provide more accurate color and shape representation than any other sunglass lenses I've used. The frames are comfortable and don't slip, despite some challenging conditions and strenuous outdoor activities.

I've had the lenses out in some fairly severe weather—especially a blizzard near Carson Pass in the Sierra Nevada—and they've never let me down. Snowshoeing in a blizzard; hiking in rain; engaging in activities that make me sweat profusely; being out on water in bright sun—nothing I've done seems to faze them. They don't fog up, they let through enough light that they're useful in even stormy conditions, and they remain comfortable after a very long day's use. The frame material has held up well to cold and heat, rain snow and ice, and remained comfortable at all extremes. Note: I've completely ditched the hard case for backpacking and day-to-day use, and instead usually store the sunglasses in a soft cloth bag when they're not on my face or hanging from my neck.

Durability has been good overall—the frames seem unfazed by everyday use, including hanging from a neck strap and riding in pants or pack pockets. However, here's the one issue of note: the lenses have developed a few small areas where the coating appears to have worn away in small (1/16 in/2 mm) spots. I've been careful to clean the lenses with soap and water only, and generally only use a microfiber cloth to clean and dry them (occasionally I've used a bandana or soft shirt to wipe sweat off of them). There are a few more spots than there were in the Field Test, so I'd say this has gotten slightly worse, and thus is probably the result of degradation of the polarization coating, rather than an initial manufacturing flaw.

A representative of the company that I ran across by chance at a trade show took a look at the lenses and told me to simply send them back. He said that the company would most likely replace them under warranty. Since I've already reached the end of my long-term test period, I'll have to write an addendum to this report to let you all know what happened when I sent them in.

Summary

I have to say I really like these sunglasses, and they will continue to be my first choice for backpacking trips and all other active outdoor pursuits.

Things I like:

• Optically correct, distortion-free lenses
• Hyper-real color
• Comfortable but snug and grippy temples
• Durable, comfortable frame that seems to work across a wide range of temperatures and conditions
• The lenses don't seem to fog up, despite some challenging conditions

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 over the top of the bridge
• Several spots of coating have come off of (or are missing from) the lenses

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 > Long Term Report