Bajio Roca Sunglasses Review
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Bajio Roca Sunglasses
Bajio Sunglasses are a new player in the world of eyewear. In the time of so many great eyewear companies Bajio has made a big splash in the market. As a fisherman, instructor, and local guide in Colorado I have a decent pulse on the fishing scene and this spring there has been a buzz around the company Bajio.
Bajio has only been around for over a year but what they hope to accomplish is impressive. The company not only wants to produce phenomenal eyewear for watersports but also incorporate an environmental aspect that protects the fishing grounds as well. With all of that being said I was eager to try out a pair of Bajio Sunglasses and see what the hype was all about. I chose to try out the Bajio Roca Sunglasses with a copper lens, to see how they would fare in fishing the Western rivers of Colorado as well as spending time on the water in Northern Michigan.
Initial Thoughts of the Bajio Roca Sunglasses
Even before I was able to open up and see my new pair of sunglasses I was already impressed with Bajio. The packaging for the sunglasses was nicely put together. The box that the glasses came in was really well made and was actually fun to open up. Along the same lines the case for the Bajio sunglasses was unique. The sunglasses came in a classy leather case that seems sturdy enough to keep an expensive pair of sunglasses safe from harm.
Bajio Leather Case
Fishing Background
The Bajio Roca Sunglasses themselves are at home on the water. It is apparent the product designers themselves were either fishermen or had much collaboration with fishermen. The most noticeable feature of the Roca frames are the oversized lenses. These are big! Big lenses block out stray light and it was clear that the designers wanted to make sure of that. Another feature that I really like are many lens options. Similar to a restaurant menu with so many choices at first it was a bit challenging. However, on the Bajio website there is a lot of information about the benefits of each of the types of lens and the color patterns. I ended up picking on the copper base lens.
Large Lens
Mix and Match Lens
The copper base lens was a good all around lens that excels in high contrast. The bulk of my fishing takes place on Western trout rivers. This type of fishing is usually very bright and requires the angler to be able to spot fish in the river. The copper coloration will allow for some great sight fishing. I also am a fan of glass lenses. I chose the glass lenses because they tend to be more scratch resistant than polycarbonate.
The Roca lineup of sunglasses has three options of color: black matte, tortoise matte, and shoal tortoise matte. I thought that the tortoise matte with the copper lenses would look slick, and I am quite happy with my decision although I must admit any of the options would have looked good.
Tortoise Frames
One sustainability feature that should be noted is that the Bajio Sunglasses are 100% carbon neutral. This statistic is pretty impressive. The glass used in the lens is all created from recycled materials. Additionally, the resin used in the plastic of the frames is a castor based bioplastic. I personally value these sustainability features used in the design of these sunglasses.
The frames themselves have some nice features. There are rubber tips and pads on areas of the frame that make contact with the skin. These strategically placed pads add comfort and slip resistance when sweaty. There are flex hinges on the temples that allow for extra movement when putting on the sunglasses. The tips of the temples also have holes placed in them for attaching a leash as an extra safety feature.
Rubber Pads
Hinge
Overall the quality of the Bajio Roca sunglasses seem every bit as excellent as any of the other high end sunglasses manufacturers.
Field Testing the Bajio Roca Sunglasses
The Bajio Roca Sunglasses did not disappoint. The most noticeable feature of these sunglasses are the lenses. The quality and clarity of the Bajio lenses are incredible. Like I mentioned earlier, I chose the glass lenses primarily for durability. However, this choice sometimes sacrifices clarity and sharpness versus a polycarbonate lens. This is definitely not the case with the Bajio lenses. These lenses appeared to me as some of the most crisp and sharp lenses I have tried in any sunglasses. It is amazing the pop that I get out of looking through these. It is very impressive.
On the water these are great lenses. They provide great contrast when looking in rivers and lakes and are perfect for fishing, boating, paddle boarding, and all other water sports. Although I received my pair right before I left Colorado I am sure these would have been ideal for fly fishing on any Western river. Here in Michigan they have been great for spotting fish cruising the crystal clear waters of the Great Lakes.
Bajia Roca and Bass Fishing
Adding to the great lenses, is the light blocking protection these glasses provide. I am not sure if these frames have the largest lenses out of the Bajio line up but they provide amazing light blocking capability. The bottom of the frames fit well along the upper portion of my cheek bone and then wrap perfectly along my face. This fit blocks out light trying to enter from any direction. The temples of the frame are also oversized and block additional light.
Bajio Rocca Fit
Bajio Roca Side Profile
While celebrating July 4th we had a backyard volleyball tournament in which I wore my new pair of Bajio Roca Sunglasses. Normally, I would never wear a pair of sunglasses while playing sports. I get sweaty and the glasses usually fog up or slip off which was never a problem even when dripping sweat. I was very pleased with the frames ability to stay put and the lenses not to fog up.
Great Stewardship
Performance aside, maybe my favorite feature is the sustainable design of the sunglasses. I am really impressed at the effort to make these sunglasses carbon neutral. I like how the Bajio mission not only involves the product but involves the ecosystem the product is designed for use in. Even though the production of sustainable sunglasses is a small step in environmental protection I am pleased that Bajio made the effort and brought awareness to environmental stewardship.
Specs of the Bajio Roca Sunglasses Taken Directly From Bajio
- MSRP $249
- 6-base wrap design
- Generous non-slip rubber nose pads
- Made from plant-based material that bio-degrades more easily and is gentler on our oceans; bio-based nylon is 10x stronger than petroleum-based plastic
- All lenses are polarized and include proprietary LAPIS technology that blocks blue light, making them the clearest lenses on the planet
- Oleophobic lens coatings reduce scratching and make cleaning easier
- Lens Material: Glass or Polycarbonate
Final Thoughts on the Bajio Roca Sunglasses
The Bajio Roca Sunglasses are the perfect pair of sunglasses for enjoying time on the water. The clarity and contrast of the glass lenses are incredible and there is a wide selection of options to choose from based upon application. The Roca frames have many nice features and above all else are made from sustainable materials. For your next pair of high end sunglasses give Bajio a look. For more info on the Roca or other products from Baijo, visit bajiosunglasses.com
View of the harbor
