Many outdoor products are designed for one application, but they can serve multiple purposes. A perfect example is the Wiley X Jakl.
This eyewear caught my attention while walking through aisles of tactical booths/products at the 2025 SHOT Show in Las Vegas (SHOT stands for Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade). Even though I don’t work in law enforcement or the military, I thought they looked great, and I knew that because of the Jakl’s polarized lenses, they’d likely work well in my home state of Minnesota for bass fishing.
As you can see in the accompanying photos, the Jakl has a sleek wraparound design, which helps block peripheral light, a must when spotting shallow-water bass and underwater fish-holding habitat. When I tried on numerous styles of eyewear in the Wiley X SHOT Show booth, the Jakl fit me best. Of course, everyone’s face is different, and the only way to know which specific model is most comfortable for you is to try on a variety of styles. As a rule, I prefer eyewear designed for medium to large head sizes, which is the case with the Jakl.
The Jakl has a Triloid Nylon Frame (Gloss Crystal Grey color), which Wiley X says is the toughest non-metal material available. Dual-injected rubber temples and nose pads (think grippy) provide added support and traction; the frame doesn't slide around on your face.
The lenses on the Jakl are interchangeable, but for my on-the-water use, I didn’t switch them. As I mentioned earlier, these glasses are part of Wiley X’s Tactical Series, so in addition to providing 100% UVA/UVB protection, safeguarding your eyes from harmful rays wherever you go, the shatterproof lenses also carry the ANSI Z87.1+ rating for optical clarity and high-mass/high-velocity impact standards.
There are several lens options for the Jakl. I chose the Captivate Polarized Blue Mirror Lens (polycarbonate), which minimizes glare, enhances color separation, and improves visual clarity. When I tested it in the SHOT Show booth, I liked how the polarized blue mirror lens enhanced the colors around me but didn’t change them, which often happens with other lenses.
On-the-Water Performance
I always wear a hat when bass fishing — usually a baseball cap and sometimes a beanie when temps are cool. The temples on the Jakl are thin and slide easily under any hat choice (as well as helmets for the tactical crowd).
It’s one thing to say glasses are comfortable when you first try them on in a store, or in my case, a SHOT Show booth, but the real test comes during hours of continuous wear. Several times during Minnesota's open-water fishing season I wore the Jakl for at least eight hours per day, taking them (and my hat) off for 30 minutes or so while sitting down for lunch. The Jakl fits as comfortably as a couple polarized sunglasses I’ve worn and loved for 20-plus years. In my book, that’s high praise.
The polarized lenses on the Jakl worked beautifully. In shallow water with a bit of clarity, the sunglasses allowed me to spot cruising and bedded largemouth bass during spring, then identify underwater cover (weeds, logs, etc.) later during summer and fall when the lakes were less clear.
At no point did the sunglasses slide down my face, even on those hot summer days when my face was slick with sweat. In addition, the nylon frames and polycarbonate lenses on the Jakl combine to make an impressively lightweight package, noticeably lighter than all of my other go-to fishing options, particularly those with glass lenses.
When it comes to value, in my opinion the Jakl delivers. MSRP for the model tested is $210. No, these aren’t inexpensive polarized sunglasses, but they cost far less than other models I own — and don’t like nearly as much. Note: Included with the Jakl is a microfiber drawstring bag and a black zippered case.
Important note: The Jakl is covered under Wiley X’s lifetime warranty (covering material and workmanship defects). Also, Wiley X offers a 30-day return policy (for non-prescription eyewear), meaning you can send them back if you’re not happy with them — for any reason — and you’ll receive a full credit. This should provide any potential buyer with peace of mind when spending north of $200.
One final comment: At the time of this writing, 168 people have rated these sunglasses on the Wiley X website, and 162 users rated them 4 stars or better, with 154 giving them a perfect 5 stars. You can add me to the 5-star camp.
