Topic: The Best Hiking Sunglasses of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 41 times)
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Topic: The Best Hiking Sunglasses of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 41 times)
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Goodr has tons of styles and colors available at just $25 to $30. This means it’s not the end of the world if you do lose or break a pair. However with the snug fit, these won’t bounce or slip off your face while active. The Everglades didn’t fog up and every pair is polarized to reduce glare. They might not be the highest quality lenses due to the color change, but they passed the durability testing. There were two 5 mm scratches on one lens that did remove some of the green color on the outside, but aren’t very noticeable when worn. The frames received two scratches that are purely aesthetic.
I was impressed that a budget frame outperformed the Under Armour Gameday glasses (which are four times the price) in the durability test. My favorite thing about the Everglades though is the weight. They’re extremely light and co*fortable without bouncing during high-intensity exercise. I’d reco*mend these for tough trips when you need protection and optimal performance, but don’t have the option to baby your gear.
The Wailua are co*fortable and clear with impressive features that just might justify the price tag. The MauiPure lens is a co*posite lens that gets close to the crispness of glass while weighing the same as a CD. They sustained eight scratches under 1 mm during the durability test on one lens. This is an admiral performance, and the scratches don’t bother me, but they are more noticeable than the other glasses that sustained similar damage because it is obvious that the advanced polarization has been removed in pinpricks, resulting in a negligible glare when you move your head.
However, this proves that the PolarizedPlus2 technology efficiently blocks the horizontal glare that is usually responsible for eye-fatigue. Since the frame is narrower, it does allow more light in from the edges. Because the lenses are water and oil resistant, I’m able to easily wipe away fingerprints and sweat during my hikes. These are ideal for an ultralight backpacker looking for a quality pair of sunglasses to bring on every trip.
Glacier glasses are specially designed to block light reflecting off of snow from alternate angles, hence the leather side shields. While there are other versions using plastic shields, the originals used leather and Julbo is bringing back the vintage style. I didn’t feel any pressure from the arms or side shields while hiking. The Vermont Classics are the best hiking sunglasses for snow, because they use exclusive Grip Tech material on the flexible, hooked arms that don’t stick to hair, feel soft on your temples, and don’t fall off your face. Afterall, if your glasses fall off on trail, you might have to brush some dirt off; if they fall off on top of a mountain, you could never see them again, lost in deep powder or over the edge.
These mountaineering sunglasses are more breathable than I anticipated thanks to the lack of nose piece. While the majority of your eye is protected from any harmful light, there’s plenty of airflow through the middle to prevent fogging while sweating in cold conditions. At first, I experienced some minor fog once I stopped, but adjusting them a bit higher on my face fixed the issue. The Julbos aced the durability test with no damage whatsoever. But if something does break (or you want to Frankenstein a one-of-a-kind pair), Julbo offers replacement parts sold as a pair. The lack of peripheral vision didn’t bother me on trail, allowing my eyes to relax in the extra-bright conditions, but don’t drive in these.
The Leupold Cheyenne has a full wrap design that offers increased protection from the sun, debris, and casings. It’s the only pair rated for shooting making it ideal for hunting. The excellent visibility and air flow make them great for scouting, spot-and-stalk, and long pack outs. You can get some serious vertical feet in while working up a sweat with no fogging while being sure your eyes are protected if you take a shot. The brown polarization is great for bright, green environments and acquiring a moving target. These lenses are also decentered, which sounds counterproductive, but actually improves clarity. Each lens is designed to fit within the perspective frame so that the clearest part is directly in front of the eye.
The Cheyennes aced the durability test with no damage. I have managed to minorly scratch my black pair of Cheyennes over the past three years, but I do tend to abuse sunglasses more than any other piece of gear I own. The 8 mm circle of scratches don’t distract me while wearing the glasses. Happily, if you damage any performance eyewear from Leupold, they can repair or replace them for a fee. There is a lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects. While Leupold says these frames are low-profile, they are still large for my face. This doesn’t affect fit, only aesthetics.
If you want to protect your eyes while feeling like you aren’t wearing sunglasses at all, the Tifosi Seek 2.0 is for you. These are excellent at co*fortably staying in place thanks to the co*fort Grip technology. Essentially, the ends of the arms are a stiff rubber that can be bent to 90 degrees and immediately returns to its original shape once you let go. It adds a flex to the ear pads that holds the sunglasses securely without causing pressure, also allowing them to fit a wide range of face sizes. The Grilamid TR-90 frame is a durable and lightweight material that retains its shape. This material paired with the co*fort Grip and rimless lenses makes for a barely-there pair that won’t bug you, even during high-intensity workouts.
Besides the co*fortable fit, the Seek 2.0 is best for running because it handles sweat differently than other sunglasses. The hydrophilic ear and nose pieces increase grip the more you sweat. The other best hiking sunglasses relied on fit to stay in place while sweating, but the Tifosi’s material was even more grippy when wet. I also appreciate that the streamlined frames decrease the footprint susceptible to embarrassing glasses tan lines. One drawback is that these frames don’t look great on everyone, but they’ll only see you for a second before you pass them, right?
Dragon’s Lumalens technology filters out blue and green light attributed to haze and glare while enhancing the landscape’s true color. The reduction of blue light also prevents eye fatigue. These are co*fortable to wear but have a large frame which felt a bit big for my medium sized face. During the durability test these sustained shallow 5 mm scratches on both lenses and five pricks under 1 mm distributed across both lenses. They’re easy to ignore though not unnoticeable when wearing the glasses.
If you’re floating a river, scrambling through a stream, or hiking to your fishing spot, the Mari are the pair for you. I’ve lost plenty of sunglasses in bodies of water, and it makes the rest of your hike a lot less enjoyable. The Mari’s frames are made with injection molded resin that has a lower density than water, allowing them to float.