Maui Jim World Cup Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Great clarity, excellent on-water coverage, doesn't distort colors, wrap-around security
Cons: Heavy, wobbly hinges, sporty style doesn't work for everyone, lose peripheral vision
Manufacturer: Maui Jim
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
We tested the World Cups with Neutral Grey lenses, Maui Jim's best for on-water activities under bright light. They're a medium-large fit, come with a semi-rigid, zippered case and microfiber cleaning cloth/bag case, and can be ordered with prescription lenses.
Performance Comparison
Lens Quality
Maui Jim's Neutral Grey lenses provide excellent eye protection in a quality package. Not only are they 99.9% polarized, but they are also one of just a handful that offer any amount of HEV or blue light blockage. Made of SuperThin Glass, these lenses are superbly clear and naturally scratch resistant. A high gloss coating helps cut out even more glare and an oleophobic layer repels oil, making them easy to clean.
- 99.9% Polarization
- 100% UV Protection
- 8% Visible Light Transmission (Category 3)
- HEV/Blue Light "Reduction", 0% Infrared Blockage
- Color: Grey, Material: SuperThin Glass
- Not Impact Resistant, High Gloss, Anti-Scratch, Oleophobic
However, being made of glass means they're not impact-resistant, so be careful about dropping them! The Neutral Gray lenses also offer very little in the way of enhanced contrast compared to many others. At the same time though, they do provide a crystal clear picture with undistorted colors, for a crisp view of your surroundings.
Comfort
Though those glass lenses are great to look through, they come at a heavy cost - 53 grams to be exact! That's about double the weight of most of the competition with polycarbonate lenses and lightweight frames. However, the wrap-around style of these specs help to hold their weight close to your face while balancing it well, so you hardly notice the added grams. This same wrap-around fit brings them pretty close to your face and can feel a bit tight above and behind the ears. If you don't like your shades to touch anywhere other than nose pads and ears, these might not be the right choice for you. But if you're down with that, the secure fit of these glasses is actually reasonably comfortable.
Frame Quality
The World Cup's beefy frames help round out their overall burly appearance. A rubberized matte finish helps cut down on scratches to the frame, though does hold onto fuzzies a bit more than slick frames. Made of high-grade injected nylon, each piece fits together seamlessly, and Maui Jim offers a 2-year manufacturer warranty. The only thing about these frames that we worry about are the comparatively skinny spring hinges. Even after tightening them repeatedly, they let the very wide bows wobble quite a bit - not the best sign for years of use to come.
Style and Versatility
Our crowd has mixed feelings about these sporty duds. If "sporty" is the look you're after, the World Cups may just be your bag. Others were bothered by the lack of peripheral vision, the weight of the shades, and how it "makes me look like a cop". Unlike some of the other, more versatile sunnies we tested, these don't work for everyone.
Coverage
This is another place where the World Cups do well. A base curve of 8 gives them a pretty wrap-around, face-hugging fit. Wide bows help block out glare from the side, and their close fit prevents most top light from entering. For a long day on the water, these are a great, protective choice. For everyday activities like driving or bike commuting, they cut out a bit too much of your peripheral vision to be ideal.
Case Quality
The World Cups come with a semi-rigid, zippered case with a little plastic clip on one end and a microfiber cleaning cloth/bag. This case isn't our favorite, as the zipper has small teeth that are pulled back a bit from the matching edges, making zipping and unzipping a bit harder than it ought to be. The bag/cloth does a great job cleaning the lenses and acting as a protective layer when we don't need a full-on hardshell case.
Value
The World Cups aren't cheap, and are more expensive than most other options we tested. If you're on the hunt for "one pair to rule them all", we think you'd be better served spending your dough on a more versatile pair. But if what you seek is awesome, secure on-water coverage and protection, these will certainly deliver!
Conclusion
This pair of Maui Jims offer the same high-quality lenses we've come to expect from the company, in a secure pair of frames that provide superb coverage against the harsh glare from the water's surface. Though they're a bit heavy and have a specific style that isn't for everyone, they're a good quality pair of glasses that deliver great on-water protection and performance.
— Maggie Brandenburg