Water is hard on sunglasses. Spray, glare, sudden movement, and a deck that never quite sits still all work against a pair of glasses balanced on your face or perched on your head. Anyone who has watched a favorite pair sink knows how quickly it happens.

Why boats and piers are the riskiest places

Fishing and boating involve constant reaching and leaning. You lean over the side to net a fish, crouch to open a cooler, and reach for line while the boat shifts. Glasses that slip off in any of those moments go straight into the water, and polarized pairs are rarely cheap.

Hands are also busy. You cannot comfortably hold sunglasses while tying a knot, so taking them off usually means setting them down on a wet surface or a seat that someone will sit on.

What you want from a retainer near water

1. A secure grip at the connection. The glasses need to stay attached when you lean sharply.


2. A length that suits active movement. Slightly shorter keeps the glasses close and stops them swinging.


3. Comfort over hours. A long day on the water is not the time for a scratchy strap.


4. A material that handles wear. Sun, damp air, and constant handling are a fair test.

How the leather strap measures up

The handcrafted strap from Discount Leather Shop is pitched at fishermen, golfers, and beach lovers, among others. According to its description, it uses vegetable-tanned, full-grain leather, a suede-backed design for all-day wearability, and branded rubber connection ends that grip securely on most sunglasses. The 20.5″ length is adjustable, so you can shorten it for active days and loosen it for relaxed ones.

Leather and water need a little thought. If the strap gets wet, blot it and let it dry naturally. Do not use a heater or hairdryer, and do not leave it in a hot, enclosed space afterward.

Setting it up before you leave the dock

• Slide the rubber ends onto the arms of your glasses and give each a gentle tug


• Put the strap on and adjust the length so the glasses rest high on your chest


• Check that the ends are seated at the same position on both arms, so the glasses hang evenly


• Move around for a minute, bending and reaching, before you push off

Ten seconds of checking beats a long walk back to a boat ramp.

During the day

Develop one rule: glasses off means glasses down onto the strap, never up onto your head. After a few hours the motion becomes automatic, which is the whole idea.

After the trip

Wipe the strap with a soft, dry cloth. If it got wet, let it dry in a cool, shaded spot. A few minutes of care keeps leather in good shape, and the brief describes the material as improving with age, which is easy to believe when it is looked after.

Why it is a good gift for the person who fishes

A fisherman rarely needs more gear, but a strap fits easily into what he already does. It also suits golfers and beachgoers, which is why the brief lists them together. As an eyewear retainer it is small, easy to wrap, and needs no sizing.

The takeaway

On the water, anything that is not attached will eventually end up somewhere you do not want it. A retainer with a secure grip and a comfortable backing keeps one of your most losable items exactly where you can reach it.