Maui Jim is renowned for crafting some of the best sunglasses for vibrant, sun-soaked environments. Their MauiGreen lens shines as one of the most striking and stylish options currently available.
Check out the lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Maui Jim's website).
If you want to know more about how green mirror lenses work, click here.
If you want to know more about how rose lenses work, click here.
In This Review
Lens Specs | Maui Jim MauiGreen |
Technology | PolarizedPlus2 Color Boosting |
Lens Color | Grey |
Mirror Color | Green |
VLT | SuperThin Glass ~12%, MauiBrilliant ~13%, MauiPure ~13%, Category 3 |
ABBE | 58 in glass, 56 MauiBrilliant, 52 MauiPure |
Coatings | Anti-reflective, Scratch-resistant, Oleophobic, Hydrophobic, UV, Infrared and Blue-light blocking |
Material | Glass, unspecified |
Weight | Moderate for glass, Light for others |
Scratch Resistance | High |
Prescription Available | Yes, in MauiBrilliant only |
2 |
The clarity of Maui Jim's glass lenses is spectacular. The non-glass MauiBrilliant and MauiPure are also excellent, just a step behind the glass.
There are cases with Maui Jim where the different lens materials render the same-colored lens differently. This is not the case with the MauiGreen, as all the tints are roughly the same.
The different lens materials are all around the same VLT.
Is it eligible for prescription?
Yes, in MauiBrilliant material only. (Interestingly, as of writing there is only one standard option in stock lenses for the MauiGreen in MauiBrilliant lenses).
For non-prescription, Check out the Maui Jim MauiGreen lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Maui Jim's website).
How does the lens look?
The front has a striking green mirror. This is the most striking feature of this lens and is highly prominent. For some, it’s a desirable attribute; others may not mind it, while for some, it’s a dealbreaker. The green mirror’s sporty aesthetic doesn’t always pair well with more formal or dressed-up attire.
The back has a blue shine from the anti-reflective coating. The glass lens is sharper and slightly more purple than the MauiPure and MauiBrilliant, but all lens materials have similar tints.
To compare, this is a purple lens, not a rose lens. For example, MauiRose looks like this:
What does the view look like?
The MauiGreen is a tricky lens to explain. With a rose lens, blues and reds are boosted, while green remains roughly the same. However, a green mirror lens will not boost reds or blues but simply block more green light. The relative lack of green light is what changes the tint profile to be purple. Purple is like if rose lenses were altered from "red with some blue mix" to "blue with some red mix".
This means blues will be very boosted, but still highlighted with red. The sky will be a spectacular deep hue. The trees and roads will add a level of color and definition.
But what is important to keep in mind is that this lens is still a grey base lens, and the mirror has an effect but only a moderate one. Compared to a rose lens like MauiRose, the MauiGreen is essentially a grey lens. But compared to the grey lens, it is a very interesting color boost. This is the closest colored lens to the Neutral Grey in my opinion.
Like with rose lenses, the MauiGreen will need a few minutes until our eyes and brains adjust. Just keep them on for two minutes.
Because of the dual effect of boosted blues and reds, there is an interesting calming/heating effect happening at the same time, even once your eyes have adjusted.
I know a lot of people who say the MauiGreen is their favorite lens. For me, it is Maui Jim's most interesting lens. The mix of boosted blue, which is typically not a good thing because blue is higher energy and washes out other light, and boosted red, which is typically a good thing that adds color and contrast, makes for a bit of a surreal viewing experience. It takes me a bit longer to adjust to the MauiGreen than even the MauiRose.
No rose effect | Slight rose effect | Heavy rose effect |
Neutral Grey | MauiGreen | MauiRose |
Sunny Conditions
These photos are what Maui Jim has used to show the view. Keep in mind that photos will never look as good as the real view looking through the sunglasses with your own eyes.
Interested in experiencing the MauiGreen lens for yourself? Check out the MauiGreen on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Maui Jim's website).
This is the same picture/simulation that Maui Jim uses for their Neutral grey lens, which is not accurate for the MauiGreen lens. They are very distinct from each other.
I do not think these pictures are that accurate, but they aren't far off. The next picture is a much better rendering.
Here is my simulation of how the lens looks:
Cloudy Conditions
The MauiGreen does not perform particularly well in cloudy or overcast conditions, as the color-enhancing properties it has do not work well in lower light conditions, and there is not enough red boost in the lens to make up for the added blue which dulls the view. It is only marginally better than a grey lens in these conditions, where a lens like brown is much better.
The next photos may not be the best example because of how dark the view starts, but it does show how the MauiGreen is essentially a grey lens in very overcast conditions, whereas a brown lens still holds its own.
Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions
The MauiGreen is best for full sun or bright hazy conditions. It is a good option for people who want a slight rose effect without having the intense color boosting and "hot" effect that a rose lens has.
Because of the dual effect of boosted blues and reds, there is an interesting calming/heating effect happening at the same time, even once your eyes have adjusted.
Because of its color boosting above a grey lens, but lack of versatility for overcast weather, I see this lens as a great alternative for full sun, but not a great one-size-fits-all lens.
Winter
Because of the lean towards rose, the MauiGreen will work better in winter than the Neutral Grey lens. When there isn't much green to work with anyway and adding red will help with definition, acuity, and contrast, the MauiGreen can hold its own for winter.
It will not be as good as a full rose lens, just better than a grey lens.
Sports
Similar to use for winter, the MauiGreen will be better than a grey lens for sports, but not better than a rose or brown lens. It will be fairly useful on a golf course where the greens could be tuned a bit for definition.
However, the glass version of these lenses should be avoided if there’s any risk of significant impacts during your activity, as glass is less impact-resistant than other materials. Additionally, skip this lens altogether if polarized lenses might interfere with your sport, such as when viewing LCD screens or specific surfaces.
Interested in experiencing the MauiGreen lens for yourself? Click here to buy on Amazon.
Comparison to the same brand - Maui Jim
Maui Jim HCL Bronze
The HCL Bronze is Maui Jim's primary contrast-enhancing brown lens and is one of the best lenses available, period. Compared to the MauiGreen, colors are much warmer and brighter, and greens especially are brighter.
See here for the full Maui Jim HCL Bronze review.
Maui Jim Neutral Grey
The Neutral Grey lens is one of the best grey lenses on the market, adding contrast and color to a grey-based lens which is very difficult to do. Besides the aesthetic difference of the green mirror vs the subtle silver mirror on the Neutral Grey, the grey lens is more true to color and does not have the slight rose effect the MauiGreen does.
See here for the full Maui Jim Neutral Grey review.
Maui Jim Blue Hawaii
The Blue Hawaii is the grey lens with a blue mirror, which adds an amber effect. This will make it closer to an extra boosted grey in the brown direction, rather than a boosted grey in the rose direction like the MauiGreen. It is one of the most beautiful full sun lenses to use in my opinion.
See here for the full Maui Jim Blue Hawaii review.
Maui Jim MauiRose
The MauiRose is much redder and "hotter" than the MauiGreen, a full rose lens vs a slight rose effect lens. It will be better in hazy, overcast, or cloudy conditions, and much better for sports. The MauiGreen will be more relaxing for full sun.
See here for the full Maui Jim MauiRose review.
Comparison to the Green Mirrored Lenses of Different Brands
We will not be including green or brown-tinted green-mirrored sunglasses as those lenses are very different. They will be included in a best overall green mirrored lens post.
Oakley Prizm Jade
An impact-resistant sport lens, not to be confused with the rose-based Prizm Road Jade, this lens has no other coatings and is one of Oakley's more relaxed grey-based lenses, but more color-enhancing than their Prizm Black lenses.
OTIS LIT Green Mirror
Like the MauiGreen, the LIT Green Mirror is glass with all coatings but is closer to rose and has a warm hue to it. Easy on the eyes and a favorite for sunny days when I want a rose effect without feeling too "hot".
Island Optics Green Flash Mirror
A polycarbonate lens with all coatings added, the Green Flash Mirror is a heavier rose effect lens than the MauiGreen. The lens is also very dark. This is an excellent budget option if you want a rose effect lens.
Conclusion - Maui Jim MauiGreen Lens Review -Â Should you buy it?
The MauiGreen lens is a standout option in Maui Jim's lineup, offering a unique blend of clarity, subtle color enhancement, and a bold green mirror aesthetic. While it performs exceptionally well in bright, sunny conditions and provides a calming yet vibrant viewing experience, it may not be ideal for overcast weather or situations requiring a more versatile lens.
This lens is best suited for those who enjoy the visual boost of blue and red tones without the intensity of a full rose lens, making it a great choice for full-sun activities, winter sports, and even casual use. The sporty aesthetic of the green mirror adds a fresh, cool vibe as well.
If you're interested in trying out the MauiGreen lens, you can find it on Amazon, often at a lower price than Maui Jim's official website.
