JUPITER, Fla. (Sept. 12, 2023) – Building off of the success of its limited pre-release, Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, launches the full collection of King Tide, its most advanced and technical sunglass frame to date. Five years in the making, King Tide is a celebration of Costa’s 40 year history on the water, and the culmination of every frame that came before it.
Now available on CostaSunglasses.com and retail partners worldwide, King Tide is built for those who seek performance from their eyewear both on and off the water. For the first time in Costa’s history, this frame is available in two styles – King Tide 6, a six-base frame with a straighter wrap and King Tide 8, a full wrap-around eight base version, giving elite watermen and anglers a choice in style and fit at the highest level of functionality.
Technical specs on both frames include removable side shields for optimal use on and off the water, shark inspired venting to achieve a near impossible zero-fog effect, top of the line sweat management, and the introduction of non-skid hooding to keep your frames exactly where you set them, no matter the conditions. For a behind the scenes look at how these frames came to life, check out the King Tide video here.
Captain Chris Wittman, Co-Founder of Captains for Clean Water, was one of the first pros to put King Tide through the paces in Hawaii, here is what he had to say: “The features, fit, and functionality are second to none, and excelled in every scenario we put them through. From walking bonefish flats, to trolling for wahoo offshore, it is extremely apparent these frames were thoughtfully crafted with the most hardcore anglers and adventurers in mind. From pinnacle products, to supporting an organization rooted in community, Costa does it best. King Tide is a homerun and will be hard to top for years to come.”
This global launch marks the third and final wave of the 40 year celebratory King Tide release, which started in July 2023. King Tide was first available as an avant premiere at select VIP specialty retailers, as a nod to the brick and mortar stores that helped build the Costa brand.
Shortly thereafter, Costa dropped a 40th Anniversary Limited Edition King Tide in a black gold frame and never before seen 580G gold lens. With only 40 frames made in both King Tide 6 and King Tide 8, the $700 collectors items sold out in just over 12 hours. The same week, Costa debuted King Tide at ICAST 2023, where it took home the Best in Show Award in the eyewear category. The coveted award recognizes the sportfishing industry’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, and rewards that ingenuity with awards in several categories, including eyewear.
“The moment we’ve been waiting for all summer is finally here,” said John Sanchez, Vice President of Global Product Strategy for Costa Sunglasses. “This frame has been five years in the making and is the product of every lesson we’ve learned in our 40 year history on the water. The success of our initial launch was more than we could have imagined, as well as the level of psych from pros, partners and the media – it’s all been a wild ride, ending in the global release. This frame, and how well it’s been received, is why we love what we do. We are a proud Costa community, united by the water and by a thirst to explore everything it has to offer.”
King Tide is equipped with Costa’s cutting-edge polarized 580® glass lens technology, providing exceptional clarity and color enhancement. These scratch-resistant lenses effectively reduce haze and blur, while boosting essential colors for superior definition. Built with Costa’s proprietary Bio-Resin, King Tide is also lightweight and maintains the durability necessary for any watery adventure.
MSRP for King Tide 6 and King Tide 8 starts at $329. For more information about King Tide and Costa’s complete collection of award-winning performance, lifestyle and optical frames, visit Costasunglasses.com.
About Costa Sunglasses
As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has made the highest quality, best-performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its purpose to provide high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation, as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable and water-friendly materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, #OneCoast efforts and meaningful partnerships with mission-aligned organizations, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.
Dang, those are sweet. I’ll take three. (Just kidding. I’d go broke.)