Having worn prescription glasses since the first grade, it was exhilarating to be unleashed from having to wear them day in and day out by switching over to contacts. One of the benefits in my mind was the wide array of sports glasses that I could use in the various outdoor activities I enjoyed. I had been planning a dream trip to South Africa for quite awhile, and as the time drew near, this would trigger an urge for a nice set of shooting glasses.
I had the obligatory pair of Remington shooting safety glasses, and the $15 Wal-Mart specials that I used for everyday. I wanted a nicer brand of sporting glasses to take on the trip, and ones that would fit my budget. Being on a national hunting and fishing forum for quite awhile, there was always some gear reviews for a quick glance. I noticed one of the other Pro Staff had done a short article on a set of SunBuster® SportEnhancementEyewear™ glasses in The Dude™ frame.
I was curious as I knew very little about them, but they had been given a good review. I had thought about going with the Oakley's, but the price was a little higher than my budget would allow, and the SunBusters seemed to be in the right price range.
The SunBuster® website provided more information and I was intrigued by the multiple ShootCorrect™ lenses that were shown, of which five sets come with the frames. I then got on the phone with Lisa Cinquino, a representative for SunBuster®. She filled me in on the different lens types and what they were designed for. Also, she suggested going with the Maverick™ style of frames.
Lisa was kind enough to send me a pair to field test since I had recently joined the ProStaff at Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors. When I received the package, I was pleasantly surprised at the nice case and the clarity of the lenses. She had also made suggestions as to lens color, so packed snugly in the case were the Extreme Green lenses that she had recommended.
Leading up to the hunt, I wore them just about everywhere. I tried out the different colors of lenses and practiced switching them back and forth from the frames. The frames are quite flexible, and it doesn't take long to get the hang of swapping the lenses out.
At the gun range and while driving, I was impressed with the fact there were no blurry spots within my sight of vision. It was like looking through a nice pair of prescription glasses. I settled on the brown lenses for driving and the green lenses for walking around in the woods and on the range. I tried the other colors, which worked well in their particular applications, but only for a short period.
Finally the trip arrived and I packed the glasses and case in my suitcase. Upon arrival at our first hunting destination near Kimberly, I pulled out the case and held out the lenses to determine which would work better in this condition. As you may or may not know, July is winter time in South Africa. The backdrop for this hunt was in the Free States, which is a very open type of terrain. Small shrub-type trees and yellowed grass were the most prevalent scenery, with a few green bushes thrown in. The Extreme Green Lenses seemed to really separate colors well while scanning the area, so into the frames they went. I went on to take a nice Gemsbok, Eland, Blesbok and Springbok while wearing the SunBusters®. At times, I didn't even realize I had them on. They definitely made the animals stand out more in the surrounding cover.
Unfortunately, while posing for a picture, I took them off and laid them next to me. Next thing I knew I stand up and CRACK! I had broken the lens clean in half. I was a little mad at myself for not paying better attention, but the best part was, when we got back to the lodge, I popped out the green and in went the brown. My hunting partners were quite impressed to say the least.
Our second stop in South Africa was Kruger National Park. I enjoyed four days of great animal sightseeing in thick mopani bush, while driving down the warm asphalt roads of the park. Interestingly enough, I was always well ahead of any one in our group spotting animals throughout the park. They actually made me the official spotter for the group. The glasses really helped the animals to standout within the tree lines, even while speeding by at 50 kmh. While I would like to think that I am a good observer of nature, I knew the SunBusters® were giving me a little bit of an advantage. So it was a secret I kept to myself the whole time we were there.
Our last stop had us hunting with an outfitter an hour outside of Kruger National Park. The terrain consisted of hills and thick brush. Most shots taken were 100 yards or less. I was able to take some nice trophies from here as well while wearing the SunBusters®. This included Blue Wildebeest, Kudu, and Impala.
We hunted out of cane blinds near the watering holes and also stalked on foot. I noticed while trying to shoot out of the dark blinds, that it was difficult to focus with the sun glaring on the target. Once I put the SunBusters® on with the browns lens, they helped to settle down the glare of the target and made it easier to take the shot. In the thick brush, I was able to easily distinguish the animals from the bushes, trees and grass surrounding them. It made for a successful and enjoyable hunt.
A Lense for Every Occasion
The Sunbuster Maverick sports glasses with interchangeable lenses added to an already enjoyable African hunt. |
From an overall perspective, the SunBusters® have been everything I have been looking for in a pair of sports eyewear. The price is quite reasonable compared to some of the other glasses on the market. They are well designed and the lenses remind me of the precision cut prescription lenses I am used to. The only problem I have now is hiding them from my friends so they don't come up missing. If you are in the market for a great pair of sports eyewear at a reasonable price, check them out. I think it will be well worth your time.
As for the Africa trip, it was truly the trip of a lifetime. I reflect on the great time I had, all the friendly people I met and all the great game I was able to hunt. I remember the excellent trophies I harvested, and the superb meals definitely left me wanting more. No matter which area I hunted of South Africa, either would definitely be worth looking into for the African safari you have always dreamed about.
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