Maui Jim makes some of the best sunglasses for bright and colorful conditions and the Maui Jim MauiRose lens is one of the best high-contrast, color-enhancing lenses you can get.
Check out the Maui Jim MauiRose lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Maui Jim's website).
If you want to know more about how rose lenses work, click here.
In This Review
Lens Specs | Maui Jim MauiRose |
Technology | PolarizedPlus2 Color Boosting |
Lens Color | Rose |
Mirror Color | Bi-gradient Silver/No mirror on gradient lenses |
VLT | SuperThin Glass ~12% (15% for gradient), MauiBrilliant ~13%, MauiPure ~14%, 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 off the charts. The non-glass MauiBrilliant and MauiPure are both great.
Sometimes with Maui Jim, the different lens materials will render the same color lens differently. For example, the Blue Hawaii lens is very different in tint and color between the three options. For the Rose lens, I find the colors are close to the same for all of them, but the clarity is noticeably more pronounced in the SuperThin glass.
The glass lens is sharper and redder than the MauiPure. The MauiBrilliant is closer to the MauiPure but just a bit more red.
The MauiPure and MauiBrilliant are slightly lighter in tint, but only because the Glass is fairly dark. All are comfortable in full sun.
The weight of the glass is only moderate, as they use thinner glass than other brands. The Pure and Brilliant materials are very lightweight.
The lenses have every coating you could ask for. The mirror coating is not encapsulated in between the lenses, and is most vulnerable to scratches.
Is it eligible for prescription?
Yes, in MauiBrilliant material
For non-prescription, Check out the Maui Jim MauiRose lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Maui Jim's website).
How does the lens look?
The front has a silver look with a rose undertone. One version has a subtle bi-gradient silver mirror on the top and bottom of the lens, which acts as if the lens is “squinting” for the wearer. The effect of the mirrors is very easy to get used to and it is not noticeable when wearing, especially since the sky is usually brighter than what we see in front of us.
Gradient lenses do not have mirrors and look more rosy.
The back has a blue shine from the anti-reflective coating. The color is rose. The mirror effect of a silver mirror is to darken the areas but not change the tint. The gradient lens is not as saturated as the standard version and has much less of a rose effect, feeling more like a rosy grey.
What does the view look like?
I highly recommend reading about how rose lenses work to understand why such a prominent tint does not make the view unbearably red and instead feels like a boosted grey lens.
As mentioned in that post and this one, the view will start with a heavy red cast for about two minutes until our eyes and brains adjust. Just keep them on for a few minutes.
Rose lenses boost reds especially, but also blues. They allow less green light through, but our eyes are more sensitive to green light, making a sort of bright equilibrium of colors. The view is redder but that mostly adds warmth and color enhancement to everything. Blues are a deeper shade and greens become much more defined and contrasted.
Sunny Conditions
These photos are what Maui Jim and other sources have 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 MauiRose lens for yourself? Check out the MauiRose on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Maui Jim's website).
These pictures are not good at all for showing the view. They all suffer from the issues a camera has dealing with a massive change in tint. Our brains have something called "color memory". We remember how objects are supposed to look and adjust subconsciously so they appear correct. For instance, we know roses are red, snow is white, and certain fruits have specific colors.
With cameras, current object recognition and processing are insufficient to implement this effectively. Rose lenses are among the hardest for a lens to capture.
These pictures a bit better, and show how the greens are contrasted by the added reds, but they are still unpleasant and unrepresentative of how the view will look after our eyes and brains adjust.
Here is my simulation of how the lens looks:
The MauiRose takes a hot view and makes it even hotter. The definition and contrast in the trees and grass are brought out beautifully. The sky becomes a deep, dark blue, with a hint of purple.
A grey lens will feel much calmer and duller compared to the rose, but it may be easier to wear for long durations. This is because a rose lens can feel very "hot" in an already hot and sunny place. You can see why even on a sunny day, the rose lens would be excellent for very green environments like golf.
In bright, hazy conditions the rose performs even better since the view isn't already so "hot":
In an area with a lot of green but also other bright colors, rose lenses perform wonderfully, as they keep the greens prominent while adding definition and color to the rest of the view.
Cloudy Conditions
The MauiRose performs well in overcast and cloudy situations where it adds warmth, contrast, and color, but the lens is fairly dark and will have an interesting balance of lower light, high contrast, high saturation, and added warmth all in one. There really is no other lens like it.
Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions
For general use, rose lenses may not be the best option in full sun because the feel of the lens can be too "hot". A grey or green lens, or even a brown lens, are better in bright clear sunlight. That isn't to say the MauiRose is not good in full sun, because it is darker than even most brown lenses. I do occasionally wear it in full sun when I am in the mood for a huge boost in color and warmth.
They are better in overcast and cloudy situations where they add warmth, contrast, and color, but they really thrive in mixed conditions or bright haze, where it is bright enough that a dark lens is needed, but "cool" enough that adding warmth and color is desirable.
For functional use, rose lenses may be the best anytime because of the high contrast, especially for sports. In those situations, the goal isn't to have a more beautiful view but to help you perceive your surroundings and activities as accurately as possible.
Additionally, red is on the "warm" side of the color wheel. According to color psychology, different color temperatures evoke different feelings. For example, warm colors are said to bring to mind coziness and energy, while cool colors are associated with serenity and isolation.
Rose is right at the warmest part of the color wheel.
Winter
Where the MauiRose lens really works is in the winter. In winter there are very few colors to work with, the conditions are often gloomy and overcast, and the overall feel is cold.
Rose lenses add warmth, color, contrast, and definition in a way other lenses cannot, and the Maui Jim Rose lens is great in these conditions, especially when it is clear and bright.
I am lifting the same pictures I used for the Serengeti Sedona to show the MauiRose in winter. There isn't much difference in winter between the lenses other than how dark and saturated they are, with the MauiRose being darker.
Even on relatively darker winter days with bright haze, the MauiRose adds color and comfort. It's not the most beautiful view, since there isn't much to work with, but a premium rose lens will beat any other color in these conditions.
Sports
For functional use, rose lenses may be the best anytime because of the high contrast, especially for sports. In those situations, the goal isn't to have a more beautiful view but to help you perceive your surroundings and activities as accurately as possible. I almost always wear rose lenses when I play sports.
Avoid the glass lens if the activity has any chance of significant impacts to the face. Avoid this lens entirely if polarized lenses would not work for your sport.
Keep in mind that for long exposure to bright conditions rose lenses may be fatiguing, but the functional benefits may outweigh that.
Interested in experiencing the MauiRose lens for yourself? Click here to buy on Amazon.
How the lens is marketed
Provides a subtle rose tint with the highest available contrast that's perfect for fast moving sports. Best for Fast Action Activities
Is the brand’s marketing accurate?
I do not think the rose tint is "subtle" except for the gradient version. The standard version is a fairly bold rose tint.
It is accurate that it is great for fast-moving activities.
Comparison to the same brand - Maui Jim
Maui Jim HCL Bronze Lens
As Maui Jim's other color and contrast boosting lens tint, the HCL Bronze lens feels less "hot" than the MauiRose, which can be better in full sun. The MauiRose has certain situations where it performs better, like sports such as golf, but overall the HCL Bronze lens performs well in the same situations while excelling in other places this lens would not work as well for.
See here for the full Maui Jim HCL Bronze review.
Maui Jim Neutral Grey Lens
The Neutral Grey 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. It is much "cooler" than the MauiRose and will be more comfortable in full hot sun, but will not perform as well in hazy or overcast conditions. It will also not be great for sports.
See here for the full Maui Jim Neutral Grey review.
Maui Jim Blue Hawaii Lens
The Blue Hawaii lens has a blue mirror that adds a level of warmth and amber color to the Neutral Grey lens. This brings it closer to the HCL Bonze, but still nearer to the grey lens. A better overall lens for full sun, in my opinion, as the slightly added warmth is perfect without being too "hot", it does perform better than the grey in overcast, but still a far cry from the MauiRose or HCL Bronze. The blue mirror is a lot flashier than the mirrors on the MauiRose, which can be a consideration.
See here for the full Maui Jim Blue Hawaii review.
Comparison to Rose Lenses of Different Brands
Serengeti Sedona
The MauiRose lens is darker than the Sedona, with both having a beautiful rose hue and added color and contrast. The colors are saturated and warm, and the clarity is off the charts. Because it is lighter and less saturated than the MauiRose, it is better in overcast conditions and can hold its own in full sun, but it isn't as comfortable as the MauiRose. If I was golfing in full sun I would take the MauiRose, if it was mixed or overcast I would take the Sedona.
See here for the full Serengeti Sedona review.
Oakley Prizm Sport
Almost all of Oakley’s Prizm sport lenses are rose-based, with some notable exceptions. From the dark polarized Prizm Deep Water to the bright Prizm Trail, Oakley has a tint for every condition. Without taking away from how good most of these lenses are, it should be noted there is a lot of marketing involved with the different lenses for sport-specific applications, and the truth is that most of the lenses would work fine in any other sporting application, though there is some nuance there. Here are some of them:
Conclusion - Maui Jim MauiRose Lens Review - Should you buy it?
In conclusion, the Maui Jim MauiRose lens stands out as one of the best high-contrast, color-enhancing lenses on the market. Its ability to add warmth, contrast, and definition to your view makes it a versatile choice for various conditions, from sunny days to overcast and winter settings. Whether you're playing sports or simply enjoying the outdoors, the MauiRose lens enhances your visual experience with its sharp clarity and vibrant color balance.
In this Maui Jim MauiRose lens review, we rate the lens a Tier 2 lens, but it is really borderline a Tier 1. The only points it loses are from how it performs in bright full sun, as it can be a bit "too hot" but the exceptional way it performs in all other conditions makes it worth considering a purchase. As someone who lives around the Great Lakes and deals with a lack of color for much of the year, I wear rose lenses almost as much as any other lens color.
If you're interested in trying out the MauiRose lens, you can find it on Amazon, often at a lower price than Maui Jim's official website.
