WX ECHO
There are currently a quartet of Echo models in the Wiley X Climate Control product line. These four Echo sunglasses feature a variety of stylish frames, ranging from smoked steel blue to gloss black, depending on the model. I had a chance to recently sample the CCECHO4, which is the only polarized model of this group and it features an attractive gloss black frame. Matched with the company’s advanced “Filter 8” polarized emerald mirror finish lenses, the result is a brilliant combination of glare-defeating visual clarity for serious fresh and saltwater fishermen. Whatever fish you’re pursuing and whatever style of angling you enjoy, Wiley X’s polarized Echo sunglasses can help you do it more effectively. The shatterproof Selenite polycarbonate lenses feature 100% polarization and 100% protection against harmful UV rays, for superior glare-cutting performance and all-day eye comfort.
Wiley X’s emerald mirror finish is combined with an underlying amber tint and allows 13% light transmission. This combination is ideal for the entire spectrum of light conditions encountered while fishing, from the low light of morning and evening to the full brightness of midday. This tint enhances color contrasts so fishermen can actually “read the water” and better distinguish between the bottom, structure and fish. The Wiley X Echo not only looks sharp, it gives tournament anglers and professional guides a winning edge over the competition.
What makes these Wiley X sunglasses unique from the competition is their patented removable soft foam “Facial Cavity Seals” that block out all peripheral light, allowing the Filter 8 polarized lenses to work at peak performance. This feature allows anglers see through the water better, and waterfowl hunters are better equipped for high glare conditions. These gaskets also block out wind for a secure fit when running a boat, ATV or motorcycle at high speeds. They protect your eyes from dust and pollen, while providing comfort to those with “Dry Eye Syndrome”. As a bonus, blocking out light, wind and debris also greatly reduces eye fatigue when spending many hours out on the water. The Echo frame design also features top-down ventilation, which greatly reduces getting your lens fogged up.
TOUGH ENOUGH
As a leading provider of performance eyewear for elite military forces for more than 25 years, Wiley X knows a thing or two about protection. Wiley X’s protection goes far beyond the sun, however, and this is great news for those who crave the sometimes dangerous world of sportfishing, where having to deal with unintended flying objects is an everyday reality. The new Wiley X Echo carries on this tradition with High Velocity Protection (HVP) against the dangers of boating and fishing. With nearly indestructible frames and ANSI Z87.1-2003 certified lenses, these sunglasses provide OSHA-grade industrial safety and impact protection against everything from low hanging limbs to airborne debris to flying hooks, sinkers, jigs and lures. The ANSI test is no cakewalk either, and Wiley X glasses are ANSI Safety rated, able to withstand 20 x .25 caliber pellets fired at 150 FPS and a 1.1-pound projectile dropped from a height of 50 inches. That’s ultimate protection against ejected brass, ricocheting shot, errant jigs, a stray moving rod tip or encountering almost anything else that’s airborne when ripping across the water in a boat at cruising speed. In fact, Wiley X is the only premium sunglass manufacturer whose entire line is certified to exceed the aforementioned ANSI high velocity and high mass impact, plus optical performance standards. This level of protection and performance has made Wiley X eyewear the choice of professional anglers, top NASCAR drivers, action shooters and other athletes who need to perform under extreme conditions, including the brave men and women of the US military.
Wiley X Echo sunglasses are shipped with a black zippered clamshell protective hard case, a removable soft foam Facial Cavity Seal, a T-Peg elastic strap, a leash cord, plus a microfiber cleaning cloth. The T-Peg strap snaps securely into the side of each stem and will keep your Echo sunglasses secure on your face all day, even when you’re bouncing across four-footers for 50 miles. The polarized Echo model’s MSRP is $140 and like most Wiley X eyewear, it’s also RX-ready, making it ideal for anglers who require prescription eyewear. Wiley X backs the standard non-prescription Echo sunglasses with a limited lifetime warranty to the original purchaser.
