For the serious angler, seeing a subtle colour change or a deep-water flicker isn't just a detail—it's everything. Mako sunglasses are built around this one principle: providing the absolute clearest, most distortion-free view possible. Fusing premium lenses with practical frames, Mako delivers the optical performance that Aussie anglers need.
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A Tackle Shop Guide to Mako Sunglasses
Choosing a pair of Mako sunglasses is an investment in your vision. As a premium Australian brand with over 25 years of history, their focus is on creating the highest quality polarised lenses using glass from Italy and Japan. This guide will break down their advanced lens technology so you can choose the right pair for your fishing.
A Note From Our Local Experts
"When our customers are ready to invest in a true high-end pair of fishing sunglasses, Mako is a brand that I will often suggest. I personally have a love for both Spotters and Mako and own a few pairs in each brand. When comparing the two, I appreciate Mako's lightweight frames, style and function, so I often wear the Mako GT in the rose green mirror lens.
The Mako GT with the rose green mirror lens is actually our highest selling model by far! Not just because I recommend it but because it’s a lens that offers the perfect balance of high-contrast for sight-fishing the flats and glare reduction for bright, sunny days. It just covers so many of the situations our local anglers face." - Ben Czulowski, Owner, Fishing Tackle Shop
Why Choose Mako? Glass vs. Polycarbonate
Mako offers lenses in two high-quality materials, each with distinct benefits:
Crown Glass: When you choose to invest in glass, you're getting the best optical quality money can buy. The clarity is superior to polycarbonate, and the lenses are far more resistant to scratching, making them the top choice for serious anglers who demand the clearest possible vision.
Polycarbonate: While glass offers the best clarity, polycarbonate has its own advantages. These lenses are significantly lighter, making them more comfortable for all-day wear, and they are much more resistant to impact and shattering, offering a greater level of safety.
A Guide to Mako Lens Colours
Choosing the right lens colour is a critical decision. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the main options to help you select the perfect pair of Mako polarised sunglasses for your needs:
Grey Lens: This is the darkest lens Mako offers and is a great general-purpose choice. It cuts down the most intense light and doesn't distort colour, making it very comfortable and soothing to wear in extreme glare situations like offshore fishing or long drives.
Copper Lens: A high-contrast, highlighting lens that is a favourite among sight-fishing anglers. It enhances the difference between colours, which gives you the maximum amount of detail when trying to spot fish and structure on sand flats or in shaded rivers.
Rose Lens: Still a high-contrast, highlighting lens, but not as intense as copper. For some people, the copper lens can feel a little too bright, and the rose lens is the perfect alternative, offering superb contrast for sight fishing in a slightly softer tone.
Brown Lens: A comfortable, all-round lens that offers excellent colour contrast enhancement with minimal distortion. It sits nicely between the properties of grey and copper, making it a great choice for a mix of fishing, camping, driving, and other outdoor activities.
Mako also offers mirror coatings over these base lenses, such as a blue mirror over a grey lens for offshore work, or a green mirror over a copper lens for inshore sight fishing, which provide an extra layer of glare reduction.
Understanding Mako's Lens Technology
Mako's performance comes from layers of advanced technology built into their lenses:
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High Definition (HD) Filter: Available in their glass lenses, this filter sharpens vision by reducing the wavelengths of light that cause distortion, resulting in a clearer, crisper view and less eye strain.
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Infra-Red (IR) Filter: Also found in their glass lenses, this filter reduces heat transference to your eyes, which helps prevent them from feeling dry and itchy after a long day in the sun.
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Hydrophobic & Oleophobic Coatings: These are coatings that repel water and oil. The hydrophobic layer causes water from sea spray to bead up and run off, while the oleophobic layer resists smudges from sunscreen and fingerprints, making the lenses much easier to keep clean.
Pro-Tips for Your Mako Eyewear
A pair of Makos is an investment. Here’s how to make them last:
Avoid Extreme Heat: This is the most important tip. Never leave your Mako sunglasses in a location exposed to intense, direct heat for long periods, like a car's dashboard. Extreme heat can damage the advanced lens layers and coatings over time.
Always Rinse First: Before wiping your lenses for any reason, rinse them under fresh water. This washes away microscopic salt crystals that can cause fine scratches, even on durable glass.
Use the Hard Case: When you're not wearing them, store your Mako sunnies in the supplied hard case. This is the single best way to protect them from being accidentally crushed or damaged on the boat or in the car.
Mako Sunglasses in Action
Frequently Asked Questions About Mako Sunglasses
Are Mako sunglasses made in Australia?
Mako is a proudly Australian-owned and operated company, and their sunglasses are designed and tested for our unique conditions. To create the best possible product, they source their high-quality lenses and components from leading manufacturers in Japan and Italy, which are then assembled to Mako's exacting standards.
Are glass lenses better than polycarbonate lenses for fishing?
For pure optical clarity and scratch resistance, glass lenses are superior. Polycarbonate lenses offer the advantage of being more lightweight and impact-resistant. The best choice depends on your priority: glass for the ultimate view, or polycarbonate for a lighter, tougher option.
What is the best Mako lens colour for deep-water offshore fishing?
For bright, open bluewater conditions, a Grey base lens is the top choice. Models with a Blue Mirror coating over this grey base offer the absolute maximum in glare reduction and are the benchmark for serious offshore anglers.
What is the warranty on Mako eyewear?
Mako sunglasses come with a comprehensive manufacturer's warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. As an authorised Australian dealer, we can facilitate any warranty claims for you. It's important to note that the warranty does not cover damage from misuse or scratches on the lenses, which is why proper care and storage are so important.
What are my options for prescription lenses with Mako?
Mako has a dedicated prescription lens program available through their authorised optometrist dealers. We recommend checking the official Mako website to find a prescription dealer near you to discuss your specific needs.
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