Maui Jim Lens Guide

What makes the technology behind Maui Jim lenses so great? And how do you know which lens material and color are right for you? Join SportRx as we delve into this proprietary technology and review each material and color to help you decide!

Maui Jim PolarizedPlus2® Lens Technology

SportRx CEO Rob Tavakoli (aka Sunglass Rob) goes over PolarizedPlus2® lens technology as well as the different types of lens materials that Maui Jim offers. Watch below or keep reading to learn more!

Generally speaking, polarized lenses cut out glare. When light beams down from the sun, it bounces off reflective objects (like water or a chrome bumper) in horizontal waves. This creates a bright and unpleasant glare. A high-efficiency polarized film reduces this glare for improved vision and safety. All Maui Jim sunglasses not only have amazing polarized technology that cuts down 99.9% of glare, but they’re also packed with advanced features to help you see in a whole new way.

PolarizedPlus2 lenses increase contrast, color, and depth perception thanks to a patented blend of three rare earth elements. These elements enhance reds, greens, and blues. Basically, you still get dark lenses, but they reduce the harmful colors while boosting the good ones. And the benefits don’t stop there. Each Maui Jim lens is also 100% UV protective and HEV blue-light protective. Blue light is emitted in small amounts from electronic screens, but a lot more of it comes from the sun, and it’s very harmful in the long run.

Plus every Maui Jim lens comes with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings. The lenses also come with an oleophobic treatment that acts as a water and oil barrier that makes them harder to get dirty and easier to clean.

Maui Jim Lens Materials

In addition to an array of sizes and styles to choose from, Maui Jim offers several different lens materials for their sunglasses. We’ll discuss each material to help you decide which option will work best for you.

SuperThin Glass

In terms of clarity, no other material on the market can top glass lenses. They’re simply the best. However, there are a few drawbacks to glass lenses versus other materials, so let’s walk through the pros and cons of glass lenses and why they may or may not be right for you.

When comparing Maui Jim SuperThin Glass lenses to Maui Jim’s plastic lens options, the major thing to keep in mind is the difference in optics. SuperThin Glass lenses are going to offer Maui Jim’s best optical clarity. If you’ve looked through other Maui Jim lenses and been amazed at the vibrant color and definition, SuperThin Glass will take that to another level.

Maui Jim focuses on their lenses’ Abbe values. The higher the Abbe value, the better the clarity. With an Abbe value of 58, Maui Jim glass lenses are high on the clarity spectrum. Polycarbonate sits at a 30 Abbe value. Also available are proprietary Maui Jim plastic lenses that range in Abbe values of 43 to 56. Because of the first-rate clarity of Maui Jim glass lenses, they come with a heftier price tag. Plastic lenses cost less, with polycarbonate positioned for entry-level pricing.

In terms of weight, Maui Jim’s SuperThin Glass lenses are 20% thinner and 32% lighter than standard laminated glass. Regarding glass lenses, this is about as light as it gets. However, SuperThin Glass is still Maui Jim’s heaviest lens option. If you don’t like weighty frames on your face all day, these might not be for you.

When picking a lens material, you need to ask yourself what you’ll be doing while wearing your new Maui Jim sunglasses. When it comes to durability, glass remains the best lens in terms of scratch resistance. This is because glass surfaces are so much harder than any plastic or composite material. But glass lenses are always going to be less impact- and shatter-resistant than other materials. If you’re planning on playing beach volleyball, you should maybe consider a different material such as MauiBrilliant™ or MauiPure®. But if you spend your free time fishing, you need lenses that repel water and oil and give you the contrast you need to see fine details. SuperThin Glass checks all of these boxes and might be the secret weapon for catching the big one.

It’s important to note that SuperThin Glass is not available in prescription lenses.

MauiBrilliant

Sunglass Rob dishes every detail about the Maui Jim MauiBrilliant™ lens option.

When it comes to lens materials, MauiBrilliant is very well-rounded. The most expensive option, it masters the balance between clarity of optics versus the weight of the lens. For instance, a glass lens has superior optics, but it’s heavy and not scratch-resistant. Maui Jim MauiBrilliant™ is nearly as clear as glass while remaining lightweight, hard to scratch, and sufficiently impact-resistant.

It’s this unique combination of benefits that make it a highly recommended option for anyone looking for versatility in their sunglasses. MauiBrilliant lenses are great for everyday use, regular sports, and they’re the most popular prescription option. If you want the best overall clarity in a non-glass lens, give MauiBrilliant a try. It’s our favorite lens material.

MauiPure and MauiPure LT

The first thing to know about MauiPure® and MauiPure® LT lenses is that they are not available as prescription lenses. If you are looking for a prescription option, your best similar option is MauiBrilliant. This is Maui Jim’s most advanced lens technology and shares many of the same attributes. With that out of the way, let’s dive into MauiPure.

MauiPure is Maui Jim’s most popular lens material. This isn’t a big surprise. Other than not being prescription friendly, these lenses do pretty much everything well. They’re as light as MauiBrilliant lenses, making them the second lightest option available. They also offer incredible shatter and scratch resistance, which is great if you’re an active person. But remember that you don’t have to be an active person to enjoy the benefits of a shatter- and scratch-resistant lens. Sunglasses get dropped, mishandled, and generally wear out over time. Durable lenses help mitigate that damage.

And now for the most important part—the optics. If you are wondering whether MauiPure optics are worth it, the answer is yes. The optics are almost as good as Maui’s SuperThin Glass, making them an all-around great option.

MauiPure LT lenses simply capitalize on all the benefits of MauiPure and go a step further. LT is the lightest lens option from Maui Jim’s already ridiculously ultra-lightweight lens lineup. These lenses somehow manage to be 35% thinner than MauiPure, which truly is mind-boggling. You get extraordinary scratch- and shatter-resistance while the optics are almost as crisp as SuperThin Glass.

Maui Evolution

Sunglass Rob has everything you need to know about the Maui Jim Evolution® lens right here.

The Maui Evolution lens blends properties from glass and polycarbonate to create a lens material that is lightweight and scratch- and impact-resistant. Compared to their other lens options, this high-index lens is moderately clear and priced accordingly. The balance of weight and impact resistance is what makes Maui Evolution unique. But if you’re looking for the best of the best, you’ll want to check out their MauiBrilliant lens.

One other item to note about the Maui Jim Maui Evolution is that it’s not available in every lens color if you have a prescription. So if you’re looking for prescription sunglasses and want a mirror coating or gradient, you may need a different lens.

Polycarbonate

Sunglass Rob explains polycarbonate lenses to give you a good understanding of the material as it pertains to Maui Jim. Watch below or keep reading to learn more.

Polycarbonate lenses are known for their impact resistance and for being good for sports. It’s not the clearest lens material nor is it difficult to scratch—though it’s come a long way in recent years—so you get polycarbonate lenses because of their shatter protection. If you’re mountain biking, road cycling, or doing any other sport with wind or debris involved, you’ll want that unbreakable lens.

Polycarbonate is also the most inexpensive material from Maui Jim. Maui Jim sunglasses aren’t cheap in any case, but if you want to save a little money, this is the way to go.

However, this material is a little more limited than other Maui Jim lenses. You can get prescription polycarbonate lenses from Maui Jim, but only the four original bi-gradient lens tints (Neutral Grey, HCL Bronze, Maui Rose, and Maui HT) are available. If you want to get other features like mirror coatings, you’ll need a different lens material.

If you have further questions or still aren’t sure what the best lens selection is for you, reach out to a friendly SportRx optician.

Maui Jim Lens Colors

Maui Jim offers an array of lens colors, from the whole spectrum of the rainbow. How do you decide which color is the perfect choice for you? Tune in to videos from Sunglass Rob and read on to learn more.

Neutral Grey

Join our very own Sunglass Rob as he talks about Maui Jim lens technology and the Neutral Grey Lens in particular.

Maui Jim’s most popular and darkest lens is their Neutral Grey, ideal for bright and direct sunlight. It’s the most protective lens from Maui Jim and has a soothing effect on the eyes. Neutral Grey is the lens for you if your eyes are sensitive to light, you’re in mostly bright conditions, or even more so, both. It’s a dark lens that blocks out the most light.

This lens is not high contrast and allows you to see colors as they are, without adding or taking away from their natural hue. Neutral Grey is available in gradient tint as well as a bi-gradient silver flash mirror. The bi-gradient mirror creates a reflection on the top and bottom of the lens in order to mimic the way our eyes squint, reducing the need to do it yourself. People looking at your eyes through the lens will see the grey tint as well as the bi-gradient mirror and think, “What great lenses! Can I get some for myself?”

Aesthetically, the Neutral Grey is more subdued compared to the flashier look of the MAUIGreen or Maui Sunrise. The Neutral Grey also softens the colors of your view compared to Hawaii Lava, which enhances and boosts color.

Neutral Grey is perfect for activities such as boating or kicking back by the pool. It’s also the most popular lens color for fishing. Neutral Grey is a great lens for everyday use.

HCL Bronze

Sunglass Rob breaks down the features of Maui Jim’s staple HCL Bronze lens below.

HCL (high-contrast lens) Bronze is dark and protective but not quite as much as Neutral Grey. It works well for overcast to full-sun conditions. The lens has a gold aesthetic on the outside and an amber tint from the inside that makes colors pop. This is a very popular lens because it drenches everything in bronze, waking up the world with a bit more contrast compared to the Neutral Grey lens.

When you’re looking at someone through this lens, you’ll see a bit of that bi-gradient gold mirror, which is a feature that mimics your eyes squinting. When someone is looking at you, they’ll see a bronze tone and the gold mirror. On sunny or cloudy days, the HCL Bronze warms up and softens your view of the world. It isn’t as darkening as Maui Jim’s Neutral Grey lens, nor as high in contrast as the Maui Rose lens. It gives you a nice medium.

Due to its versatility, HCL Bronze is a great everyday pair of sunglasses and will fit most lifestyles and activities. It’s perfect in a sports setting as well as good for hiking and driving. It’s also the best color for fishing coastal inlets, sandbars, and piers. And it’s a favorite of many at SportRx.

Maui Rose

Sunglass Rob explains the Maui Rose lens features. Check out the video below.

The Maui Rose lens has a rose tint that makes everything look warm. It has the silver bi-gradient that mimics squinting, it tones down the rose aesthetic, and it’s great for transitioning from overcast to sunny conditions. It offers the highest contrast available in various light conditions, making it great for extended wear.

Seeing the world through the Maui Jim Rose lens provides a beautiful pinkish-red color. When you put these lenses on, the brightness of the colors might surprise you. When you’re viewing someone wearing them, you will see that rose coloring touched with a bit of the silver bi-gradient mirror coating. The Maui Rose lens is for those who want even more contrast and color boosting than the HCL Bronze lens. And on HCL Bronze lenses, this mirror has a gold hue, whereas it’s more silver on Maui Rose lenses.

The Maui Rose is also Rob’s personal favorite of the Maui Jim tints. He recommends it to friends, family, and customers alike because, to use the idiom, he loves looking through rose-colored glasses. But aside from being an optimist, the Maui Rose lenses feel good to wear. They’re dark enough to wear in sunlight, but Rob likes them best for hiking as well as driving on overcast days. They help you spot fish in rivers, creeks, and lake shores.

Maui HT

Sunglass Rob is here to show and tell you what the Maui Jim HT lens is all about.

The lightest of the lens color options, Maui HT has a greenish tint that brightens everything up. HT stands for High-Transition, which was designed for low-light condition days. If you want something with more contrast that isn’t as dark, this is the lens for you.

When someone is looking at you, they’ll see a neutral color, not too bright or eye-catching, but rather a subtle green, light grey look. The light green tint alters your perception of colors somewhat. The HT is designed with a silver bi-gradient mirror like the Neutral Grey and the Maui Rose.

The HT is intended for days when you think you might not need sunglasses because it’s not that bright outside. The green tint adds contrast needed in cloudier environments, so it’s different from Neutral Grey’s neutral tint. The HT also has a calm and conservative look compared to a flashier lens like Blue Hawaii. The Maui HT isn’t meant to be dark, so if you live in a sunny area, this isn’t the right lens for everyday use.

If you’re looking for enhanced depth perception or a little bit more contrast, that’s what the HT is meant for. The HT lens is really popular for golf and driving. Since this lens is perfect for conditions where less light is available, it’s popular for activities such as fishing from freshwater shores, shallow water fishing, skiing, or driving in overcast weather. The HT is also a great lens for your early morning jog, late afternoon patio dining, and low-activity sports.

Maui Jim Frontside Lens Treatments

The following four color options are mirror finishes that are on top of a base tint. If you love the look of a mirror finish on your sunglasses, then you’ll love these lens options.

Blue Hawaii

Sunglass Rob discusses Maui Jim’s Blue Hawaii lens. Watch the video or keep scrolling for more information.

The Blue Hawaii lens is a bright, solid blue mirror based on a Neutral Grey lens that has a bold and beautiful aesthetic. The Neutral Grey base not only makes it a very dark, protective sunglass, but it also works with the blue mirror to make this a high-contrast lens. This lens is great on very sunny, bright days or if you have sensitive eyes.

You may think that when you look through a Blue Hawaii lens, you’ll see the Neutral Grey tint. You may also think you’ll see a blue lens. These are both incorrect. When you look through a Blue Hawaii lens, the chemical bonding of the grey tint plus a blue mirror actually results in a bronze or amber hue. Many people are surprised to learn that this combination creates a very similar effect to the HCL Bronze. The bronze tones in the Blue Hawaii enhance color and contrast, even a little more so than the HCL Bronze. HCL Bronze has more subtle gold tones, while Blue Hawaii has a flashier, bright blue mirror.

Use Blue Hawaii lenses for offshore fishing, inshore fishing, driving, hiking, or anything else you can think of. If you’re looking to add a pop of color to your look and the world around you, Blue Hawaii could be an awesome option.

MAUIGreen

Sunglass Rob talks about the Maui Jim MAUIGreen Mirror lenses in this video.

MAUIGreen is a Neutral Grey lens with a solid green mirror. It gives you the benefit of the dark, protective grey lens, but the green mirror creates a rose tint for boosted color and contrast. It also has a brighter, flashier look from the outside. If you’re light sensitive or just prefer a dark sunglass, MAUIGreen is a great choice.

The rose view is great for any weather conditions and is super unique in color and view. The solid green mirror makes it hard for people to see your eyes from the outside. Instead, they will see a solid green, reflective lens. Green mirrors add more pop to the grey base, so if you’re looking for a neutral lens, the green might not be the option to go for. For a more subdued look, the Neutral Grey or Maui Rose with the silver bi-gradient mirror might be more for you.

As professionals in sports eyewear, we can assure you that the green mirror lens is good for any sport. For all types of fishing, driving, tennis, hiking, water sports, running, and everyday wear, the MAUIGreen lens is a great option.

Hawaii Lava

Sunglass Rob explains Maui Jim’s Hawaii Lava Lens.

Maui Jim’s Hawaii Lava lens is an HCL Bronze lens overlaid with a bright red mirror. It allows you to experience the high-contrast world of the HCL Bronze with the fierce aesthetic of a lava-red mirror. If you want something bright and fun, Hawaii Lava is the lens for that.

When people look at you, they will see that fire-red hue from the solid mirror. However, when you look through the lens, it’s actually a very pleasant gradient green tint. It’s still a dark and contrast-boosting lens, but it looks more green than bronze. The mirrored coating is the same used on an HCL lens, so really it’s the same family of lenses but without the bronze color view.

Hawaii Lava is loud and ready to take on bright light conditions. It’s perfect for most activities— fishing, hiking, driving, you name it. It’s worth noting that if you’re after a neutral tint like the Neutral Grey, this lens isn’t for you. However, it’s still dark and protects you from sunlight. That bronze tint is quite noticeable for the first 30 seconds. Afterward, your eyes adjust to give you a color pop perfect for an active lifestyle.

MAUI Sunrise

Sunglass Rob goes over every detail about the Maui Jim MAUI Sunrise lens to help you decide if it’s a good choice for you.

MAUI Sunrise has a rose lens base with a rose full solid mirror. It creates a gorgeous, unique plum color on the outer lens. It’s dark and boosts color, contrast, and depth perception for a vibrant visual experience.

The Maui Jim Sunrise lens has a rose-based tint when you’re looking through it. The name Sunrise explains it perfectly, because the rose-based tint allows you to see everything with a subtle rose aesthetic hue to it, brightening the world around you. MAUI Sunrise is a great lens for different light conditions because they never get that dark. If you’re someone who enjoys a brighter and more colorful hue to the world around you, the MAUI Sunrise is the option for you.

The mirror itself isn’t as dark or reflective as the Blue Hawaii lens, so it gives you a more subtle style and a slightly brighter view. MAUI Sunrise is a high-contrast lens that saturates and defines color. This makes them great for athletes that benefit from improved depth perception, like inshore fishing. MAUI Sunrise is also good for brighter beach days and is a great, versatile lens.

Prescription Maui Jim Sunglasses Online at SportRx

Need prescription Maui Jim sunglasses? Done. When you shop with us, you’ll find video guides and tips so you can customize the perfect pair. If you have questions or simply want an expert’s opinion, reach out to one of our friendly SportRx opticians. We’ll put you in touch with one of our friendly in-house opticians to help you build your prescription Maui Jim sunglasses.

Shop Maui Jim Sunglasses Risk-Free

Ditch risky online shopping with the See Better Guarantee. Try your sunglasses for 45 days. If you’re not satisfied, send them back. Get a full refund, exchange, or credit toward another pair. And return shipping? Covered. Get your prescription Maui Jim sunglasses at SportRx today