Spend long enough outdoors and you’ll realise a good set of sunnies isn’t just a fashion statement, it’s survival gear. Whether you’re scoping a rocky descent on the tracks or watching for ripples on a wind-blown creek, your eyes are working overtime. That’s why Tonic Polarised Eyewear has built a cult following in the 4X4 and angling world. Glass lenses, premium coatings, and lenses that stay true to Aussie light conditions.
Now they’ve gone a step further with their most sustainable frame yet: the Maximus.
Built from the Sea, Built for the Bush
At first glance, the Maximus looks like any other premium pair of Tonic sunglasses. Matte black frames, sharp lines, and high-spec glass lens options. But take a closer look and you’ll find the story runs deeper than aesthetics. These frames are made from recycled fishing line, collected from Aussie tackle shops and shoreline bins as part of the Rig Recycle program.
That line is shredded, processed, and turned into durable frame-grade plastic by a circular economy startup called Circular Blue, a project working closely with the team at Tonic to close the loop on marine waste. Every Maximus frame is a little piece of fishing line saved from landfill or the ocean.
Engineered for Glare, Sweat and Grit
Sustainability aside, these still need to earn their keep out in the field. Fortunately, the Maximus doesn’t back off on performance. Available in three lens options, Copper Photochromic, Grey Photochromic, and Blue Mirror HD with a copper base, they tick every box for long days on dirt or water. The glass lenses offer class-leading optical clarity and are both polarised and photochromic, meaning they darken as the light gets harsher. No more swapping between two pairs, or squinting through flat afternoon light.
The frame design hits that sweet spot between coverage and comfort. Lightweight thanks to the recycled nylon blended with carbon fibre for strength, and just enough flex to stay put while you’re sweating it out behind the wheel or hauling a barra from the mangroves.
Why It Matters for Tourers
We all love the outdoors, that’s kind of the point of what we do. But the flip side is we’re also on the front lines of what gets left behind. Fishing line, broken gear, single-use plastic, we see it all. Products like the Maximus give us a way to kit up without adding to the problem.
It’s a small shift with a big impact: turning trash into tools, and showing that serious gear doesn’t have to come at a cost to the environment. The fact they look good doing it? Just a bonus.
Final Specs & Details
- Frame: Matte Black Rig Recycled (fishing line sourced via Rig Recycle)
- Lens Options:
- Glass Copper Photochromic
- Glass Grey Photochromic
- Glass Blue Mirror HD – Copper Base
- RRP: $320 AUD
Available now through Tonic stockists Australia-wide or directly through Tonic
