By Autumn Sprabary

Costa Del Mar is an eyewear brand that focuses on enhancing life’s adventures on the water. Throughout the years, Costa has gained a large following of loyal customers who love the clarity achieved by Costa’s products.

About the Costa brand

Costa Del Mar was founded in 1983 in Daytona Beach, Florida, after a group of avid fishermen noticed the sunglasses they relied on weren’t holding up to the glaring sunlight, corrosive salt and other brutal conditions of a day on the water. So, they created their own.

They built the company with a dedication to producing quality products that would provide clear vision and sun protection during life’s grand adventures.

By 1986, Costas were the official sunglasses of the Stars & Stripes yacht racing team. The shades gained recognition among surfers, fishers and other water sports enthusiasts for their ability to reduce sun glare.

Since its acquisition by EssilorLuxottica in 2013 (then just Essilor), Costa has continued to improve its superior 580 lens technology and uphold its promise of creating the highest-quality sunglasses for water sports.

How Costa gives back

Costa Del Mar, which translates to “coast of the sea” in English, is dedicated to sustainability and conservation, with the goal of protecting the waters that so many creatures (and customers) call home. 

Costa does this work through these initiatives:

• OneCoast Foundation – The mission of OneCoast is to provide relief for coastal communities affected by natural disasters. Through donations of time and money, OneCoast restores, rebuilds and repairs these communities.

• OCEARCH – Costa has partnered with a team of researchers whose mission is to study and protect sharks to help maintain the ocean’s ecosystem. The OCEARCH partnership spawned a new collection of shark-inspired shirts, hats and sunglasses.

• Kick Plastic. This initiative works to reduce the amount of plastic in our waterways. To uphold the Kick Plastic movement, Costa relies on a Bio-Resin Raw Material process that reduces its carbon footprint and protects the water. 

• The Untangled Collection. Costa partnered with Bureo — an organization that collects and recycles old fishing nets found in the ocean — to create the Untangled sunglasses collection. Each pair of shades is made using 97% to 100% of recycled fishing nets, resulting in sunglasses that are good for fishing and for the ocean.

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Top Costa sunglasses styles for men

If you’re new to Costa sunglasses and are wondering where to look for your first pair, here are some of the best-selling men’s styles to get you started.

Ferg

In 2019, one of Costa’s founders, Ray Ferguson, died at age 82. To honor him, Costa designed a new pair of sunglasses called the Ferg. The shades use Lightwave glass lenses and can be equipped with the new Sunrise Silver Mirror lens which provides clarity and contrast in low-light conditions.

Baffin

Winner of the 2018 ICAST Best of Show eyewear category, the Baffin is a Costa fan favorite. The frames use sharp angles and textured detail on the temples with interior rubber grips to enhance performance and comfort. Baffin is part of the Untangled Collection, which makes them stylish and eco-friendly.

OCEARCH Spearo

Named for spearfishers, the OCEARCH Spearo has a sleek, matte gray finish with polarized green glass lenses that pay fitting homage to the ocean’s toothy apex predator. The lightweight, sturdy design has vented nose pads and non-slip temple tips constructed for extra comfort and durability.

SEE RELATED: What are the best fishing sunglasses?

Top Costa sunglasses styles for women

Costa has a wide selection of women’s sunnies that come in a variety of styles, sizes and colors with bestsellers including: 

Peli

These sunglasses will have you flying higher than the pelicans they were named after. The classic aviator shades look cool and last long, which makes them a popular choice among Costa fans. The Peli comes in four metal color options and can have regular or reflective polarized lenses.

Gannet

The rounded rectangular design of the Gannet allows it to flatter any face shape. Hydrolite nose pads and intricate epoxy detail make these sunnies just as comfortable as they are cute. Costa’s bio-resin process is used to create the nylon frames, which come in several color options.

Coquina

If you’re looking for an easy everyday pair of sunglasses, the Coquina may be right for you. The square-shaped acetate frames have a slight wayfarer feel, making them easy to dress up or down. Choose the shiny ocean tortoise frames to carry a bit of the sea with you wherever you go.

Costa prescription eyeglasses

Single vision and progressive lenses can be applied to most Costa frames with one of two lens options: Costa Essential or Costa Waypoint. Costa Essential is good for meeting the everyday requirements of a pair of glasses, whereas Costa Waypoint lenses are engineered for life on the water. 

Costa’s prescription lenses: 

• Are easy to clean, anti-static and scratch-resistant

• Have inner and outer glare reduction

• Protect against water-based moisture, including rain and sweat

To get your Costa glasses: 

• Choose the frames you want.

• Select whether you need single vision or progressive lenses.

• Check out. 

• Once you’ve purchased the lenses, you must email with your specific prescription information. 

Note: If your prescription is stronger than +/- 1.75 or +/- 3.00 (depending on the frames and lenses), contact customer service before making your purchase to confirm Costa can fulfill your order online. 

Where to buy

The best place to purchase your new pair of Costa sunglasses is from the Costa Del Mar website, which offers free carbon-neutral shipping and returns on all orders.

You can also shop in-store or online at Costa retailers, such as Sunglass Hut, Academy Sport + Outdoors and Dick’s Sporting Goods. 

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Page published on Thursday, July 29, 2021