Look out micro-fiber cloths, there’s a new player in town
My polarized sunglasses are a critical piece of equipment in my fly fishing and guiding. I depend on them for keeping my vision clear and crisp, so I can untangle knots quickly, spot fish effectively and make precise presentations on the water. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m constantly having to clean the lens on my sunglasses on and off the water to keep them functioning at their highest level. In the past, I’ve depended primarily on using micro-fiber cloths to clean my polarized sunglasses. These micro-fiber cloths work pretty well, but after a while, they get packed full of dirt and grime or get saturated on those wet days, and start losing their effectiveness. I’ve got some micro-fiber cloths now that really don’t clean all that well, even after I’ve taken the time to wash them. Plus, I’m always trying to find a place to stow them in a safe place that’s free of dirt and dust, like a zip-lock bag.
Recently, my parents turned me onto Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes. You can purchase them at your local Walmart or Pharmacy (Rite-Aid or CVS), from $3-10 depending on the size of the box. I’ve fallen in love with these individually wrapped pre-moistened lens cleaning wipes, that are safe to use on your sunglasses, camera lens and electronics. It takes just a few seconds to unwrap one of these pre-moistened wipes, and do a quick once over on the gear you need cleaned. Almost instantly, it dries 100%, leaving you with a super clean surface that looks brand new. These days, before I head out for a day on the water, I quickly clean my polarized sunglasses with them, and then throw three or four more in my shirt or jacket pocket in case I need them. If you fish in saltwater, you’ve probably noticed that when you get water on your sunglasses and they dry, there’s a salty residue left behind on the lens. This situation can be a real pain in the butt to deal with on the water, but you’ll no longer have to worry about it with these cleaning wipes. Give these affordable wipes a try and I’m confident you’ll be adding them to your packing list of must-haves for your next fly fishing or outdoor adventure. Furthermore, they’ll extend the life of your micro-fiber cloths.
Keep it Reel,
Come fish with us in the Bahamas!
Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter!
Kent,
Those wipes are ace. I’ve been using them for years. You can find them under the Bosch & Lomb brand and generic too.
Joe,
Thanks for your comment. The link I provide in the post went to Walmart that showcased the Zeiss and Bosch & Lomb versions of the product. Glad to hear you’ve been using them for years. I’ve apparently been behind the curve.
Kent
Spot on, Kent. I picked up this tip while fishing in the Gulf this past summer. The additional advantage of the wipes over a dry micro-fiber cloth is that the solution helps dilute the salt residue so that you are not grinding it into your lenses.
Good stuff!
Mike,
Right on man. Before I started using the wipes, I did notice the same thing when fishing saltwater. I could feel the salt residue scratching the lens with my micro-fiber cloths. Thanks for letting everyone know you use them and endorse them.
Kent
Great advise. Being that I need to wear magnifiers now days it is even more crucial that I have clear clean lenses. Thanks.
now if we can just get a pair of glasses with all the color lenses…. do I need rose, amber, grey, yellow, never can keep that straight….
I’ll give them a tryas I’ve found the same issue with micro fiber. I occaisionly use Pledge funiture polish. Sounds crazy but it works great.
Great product, I’ve been using them for about a year since a non-fisherman told me about the wipes. Now I’ve got him fly fishing.