Jump to content

Good hiking sunglasses


hwyhobo

Recommended Posts

I lost my hiking sunglasses, and I am looking for a new pair. I don't want to spend a huge amount of money, as I don't baby them on the trail, but they should be good quality. They should also be wraparound, not allow much direct light from any angle, black frames, decent size. Any recommendations? I would prefer to buy them from a brick & mortar where I could try them on first. I have an REI and Any Mountain nearby.

 

I am asking instead of just buying ones that fit because one of the pairs I bought in the past fell apart after a week in Saudi Arabia from exposure to sun (plastic literally disintegrated). :ninja: I do hike frequently in hot, sunny weather, so the temperature might not be that much different.

 

Any recommendations will be appreciated.

Link to comment

I lost my hiking sunglasses, and I am looking for a new pair. I don't want to spend a huge amount of money, as I don't baby them on the trail, but they should be good quality. They should also be wraparound, not allow much direct light from any angle, black frames, decent size. Any recommendations? I would prefer to buy them from a brick & mortar where I could try them on first. I have an REI and Any Mountain nearby.

 

I am asking instead of just buying ones that fit because one of the pairs I bought in the past fell apart after a week in Saudi Arabia from exposure to sun (plastic literally disintegrated). :ninja: I do hike frequently in hot, sunny weather, so the temperature might not be that much different.

 

Any recommendations will be appreciated.

 

Aye.

 

That's tough... what's the budget?

 

A couple of years ago I purchased Oakley M Frame's with the Hybrid S lenses for a lot of reasons - fit/availability of DOCUMENTED low light transmission lenses/changeability of the lenses depending on what I was doing/no-slip frame making them usable for all sorts of activities w/o falling off or moving even slightly.

 

All sorts of yadda.

 

Rudy Project also makes great glasses...

I have a couple pair of Smith's that fit into my 'other-than-sports' category, but they also make good sport glasses.

Sometimes Nike makes a good pair.

 

You should start looking around, see what's available, and then research them when you know what you're dealing with.

 

 

michelle

Link to comment

I have a pair of smith voodoo sliders. They come in around $100 at brick & mortar type stores, but can be found online for less. They're supposedly for people with small heads, but I have a fairly big melon and they fit me well. I wear them for just about everything and they've been pretty bombproof.

 

I wore them daily for 3 months straight in the UT desert and they didn't fall apart. I have scratched the lenses a bit from when I've been whacked in the face with branches, but the scratches aren't so significant that I feel the need to replace the lenses when I wear them.

 

Mine came with 3 different lenses...brown, orange, and yellow. The brown ones work well in bright conditions, the orange ones work well in dark, but daylight woods, or on overcast days, and the yellow ones work when it's pretty dark out...down to about twilight. Polarized and clear lenses (among others) are available aftermarket.

 

The frames are available in different colors. Mine are the 'smoke fade' variety, which is more of a gray, but I think there's also a black frame.

 

They're not quite as expensive as most oakleys and they are still good glasses.

Link to comment

Sweet! A topic that's right up my alley!

 

Your main consideration should be quality. Good quality sunglasses will hold up better and last longer than cheap "drugstore" sunglasses. The lenses in quality sunglasses are optical quality and won't distort light as it passes through the lens. This reduces eye strain and helps the visual system work more efficiently. The lenses in cheap sunglasses are not optical quality and distort the light passing through them causing eye strain and often headaches (they are most often cookie-cutter-stamped out of a large piece of plastic). Then there's the warranty, all major sunglass manufacturers have some sort of warranty program. Sounds like this will be a benefit to you so while you're researching products, check out the warranties as well.

 

Look for 100% UV protection, important because UV light is known to cause and/or contribute to pinguecula, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Think of it as sunscreen for your eyes.

 

Polarized lenses are important. There are only a few rare instances where I won't recommend polarized lenses to a patient. Glare is a leading cause of car accidents. Polarization reduces glare. Get it.

 

Tint is also important. Grey lenses filter out the yellow end of the light spectrum making things appear darker and less "sunny". Brown lenses block more of the damage-causing high-energy blue light making things appear brighter and sunnier (more contrast). While we need blue light to balance color, it is known to contribute to macular degeneration. The optical industry is starting to see a sway in the recommendation of brown or rose tints over grey. I prefer brown and rose lenses for hiking because they're high contrast. Contrast is important to me when dealing with uneven terrain.

 

Make certain there's an anti-reflective coating on the back surface of the lenses. This treatment absorbs bounce-back glare, or that irritating reflection on the back of the lens of your eye and the stuff behind you. Again, less eye strain = a happier visual system.

 

You're looking for a "wrap" which is good. The closer the lens sits to your eyes, the less light can get in around them. Make sure the sunglasses fit well. You don't want too small a lens but too large a lens is bad too. Make sure the frame isn't too wide or too narrow and make sure the temples and bridge (or nose pads depending on the style) fit properly. There's nothing worse than an ill-fitting pair of sunglasses when you're hot and sweaty and all moving around and stuff.

 

My recommendations are:

 

#1) Maui Jim: These are my all-time favorite sunglasses ... I can't say enough good things about them. I have three or four pair. I keep trying Oakley because they have some mad styles for women now but I keep going back to my Mauis. Maui Jim has a patented "PolarizedPlus Technology" that absorbs 99% of reflected glare. Less glare reaching the eyes means less squinting and less eye strain. They also apply an anti-reflective coating to the back surface of the lens, absorbing bounce-back glare. They have three tint colors; Grey, Maui Rose and HCL Bronze. I prefer the Maui Rose hands down. Maui Jim has without a doubt been the best company to work with service-wise. Most of their styles are also available in prescription. They have a very informative website where you can search for an authorized dealer in your area.

 

These are the Mauis I recommend:

:ph34r: Titanium Sport Collection has three styles. No hinges, no screws to come loose. Extremely flexible metal temples and wicked comfortable fit, they're made for people with an active lifestyle. They have a good wrap and fit wide faces well. These stay put.

LQG501-02.jpg

 

:( Titanium Elite Collection has four styles to choose from. Extremely lightweight and comfortable, these are my current favorites. I have no problems with slippage when I'm dewy (girls don't sweat, you know that ... right?)

LQR509-23.jpg

 

B) MJ Sport has twelve styles to choose from. This is Maui Jim's lowest priced line. Like the Titanium Sport collection, this line is made with the active person in mind. The pic shows one of the newest styles. Air-light plastic flexible "no-frame frame". These are prolly my next purchase. Love them.

LQR576-07.jpg

 

#2) Oakley. I have three pair of Oakleys; the M-Frame, the Crosshair and the Dart. I have a love-hate relationship with them because they look so cool but feel so awful. Their customer service borders on abysmal. They have some great styles and some good lens colors. Their website offers simulations of different outdoor environments as viewed through their tints. They also have extensive information (or used to, anyway) on all their tints as far as percentage of light transmission and recommended usage. Many of their styles are available in prescription. None of mine are terribly comfortable but they still have their purposes. Criminal has the M-Frame Magnesium, the Half Jacket and the Juliet and all of his are comfortable.

 

These are the Oakleys I recommend:

B) Crosshair: really cool look that stays put on top of my ball cap as well as on my face. Large lens size. Comes polarized and non-polarized so pay attention. There's also a Crosshair-S for a trimmed-down look.

 

B) Half Jacket: Criminal's choice for hiking, this is one versatile pair of sunglasses. Durable and lightweight, the frame stays in place. The lenses are removable so you can purchase multiple lens tints for different light situations. They also have a case that houses not only the frame but (I think) three pair of additional lenses. If you want Oakley for hiking, in my opinion this is the best. Some of the Half Jackets are fairly inexpensive but they're going to be the non-polarized ones. Like the Crosshair, these come both polarized and non-polarized so pay attention to what you're getting.

 

#3) Wiley-X. These guys are a smaller company and have good customer service. They have the military contract (or did the last I heard). I don't have as much experience with them as I do with MJ and Oakley but my patients who've purchased them seem happy. Many styles are available in prescription. They don't have anything labeled "hiking-specific" but there are styles that would work well for hiking. Their claim to fame is their motorcycle-specific styles.

 

I don't have anything good to say about most of the other brands. Like Thumper said "if you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all". Plus, this post is already *way* too long.

 

Remember, this is really a personal preference type of decision and what works well for one person isn't necessarily going to work well for another. Crim likes his M-Frames (now that he has the smaller lenses) and I really dislike mine. I love the Maui Rose tint and my friend hates it.

 

My final suggestion is to find a licensed optician to help you with the fit and selection of your sunglasses. Places like REI, and Sportsman's Warehouse do not employ people that are trained in the proper fit and adjustment of eyewear. Good fit = good comfort = happy hiker.

 

Good luck and like Michelle said ... research, research, research.

 

Edit to add missing pic.

Edited by ...The Girl
Link to comment

Polarized lenses are important. There are only a few rare instances where I won't recommend polarized lenses to a patient. Glare is a leading cause of car accidents. Polarization reduces glare. Get it.

 

I have a love-hate relationship with polarizing. Since the topic is hiking sunglasses, it is a must.

However....... polarization has a few issues with other activities; in my world, at least. First, it's harder to read LCD displays (like on a GPS) with polarized lenses. second, looking at/thru a polarized object while wearing polarized lenses is really funky. Examples are the polarized faceshield on my motorcycle helmet or the polarized windshield in a rental car. And reading an LCD display while wearing polarized glasses and looking through a polarized faceshield is almost impossible. :ph34r:

Link to comment

#1) Maui Jim: These are my all-time favorite sunglasses ... I can't say enough good things about them. I have three or four pair.

 

Mmm, Maui Jim's.

 

I specifically didn't mention MJ's, even though I was looking at their site while I was writing my post. They would fit into my 'other glasses I own' category, and honestly, I wouldn't have considered wearing them hiking (until now).

 

Huh.

 

I LOVE my MJ's. The fit is so much better than, say, the Oakleys... but I tend to treat them with kid gloves, whereas with the Oakleys... well, I can endo on the bike and they still come out ok.

 

Well, now... cool.

 

 

 

michelle

Link to comment

In light of The Girls's post I may have to rethink my approach to sunglasses.

 

For the past ten years I have been using the sunglasses landscapers buy at the hardware store. I can usually find tinted & mirrored, wrap arounds. Prices are good and they have proven to be very durable and great in bright light.

Link to comment

Wow, incredible answers. I must admit I did not expect anything that exhaustive, particularly like the post from ...The Girl. I much appreciate the effort and time.

 

I've tried Oakleys before, but could never find one I really, truly liked. Perhaps their radical designs were a bit much for me. I like "snake-like" glasses because they provide nice protection from side reflections. I've heard of Maui Jim, but never seen them in any store. I will make it a point to try some before I buy the next pair. In the meantime a restaurant I lost my sunglasses at found them, so I have something to tie me over, but I definitely want to look at something high quality.

 

I was surprised by recommendation of wire-framed glasses. Perhaps I've never tried a really good pair, cause none of those I've seen were sufficiently "wrap-around" and allowed side reflections.

 

I've occasionally encountered some strong winds while hiking (last year on Lassen freezing wind wanted to rip the skin off my face), so I want to make sure the glasses "coat" my face and do not stand out too far so that wind wouldn't blow them off.

 

I'm also intrigued by the rose and brown colors. I've always tended to gravitate toward neutral gray. Out of curiosity, would brown or rose always work well on snow? I rarely hike on snow, so this is not a critical requirement, more curiosity (Lassen hike was the only one in the last year that was mostly on snow and ice).

 

Thank you again for all the answers. With ...The Girl's post, this might almost qualify as a "sticky". :ph34r:

Link to comment

Wow, incredible answers. I must admit I did not expect anything that exhaustive, particularly like the post from ...The Girl. I much appreciate the effort and time.

 

I've tried Oakleys before, but could never find one I really, truly liked. Perhaps their radical designs were a bit much for me. I like "snake-like" glasses because they provide nice protection from side reflections. I've heard of Maui Jim, but never seen them in any store. I will make it a point to try some before I buy the next pair. In the meantime a restaurant I lost my sunglasses at found them, so I have something to tie me over, but I definitely want to look at something high quality.

 

I was surprised by recommendation of wire-framed glasses. Perhaps I've never tried a really good pair, cause none of those I've seen were sufficiently "wrap-around" and allowed side reflections.

 

I've occasionally encountered some strong winds while hiking (last year on Lassen freezing wind wanted to rip the skin off my face), so I want to make sure the glasses "coat" my face and do not stand out too far so that wind wouldn't blow them off.

 

I'm also intrigued by the rose and brown colors. I've always tended to gravitate toward neutral gray. Out of curiosity, would brown or rose always work well on snow? I rarely hike on snow, so this is not a critical requirement, more curiosity (Lassen hike was the only one in the last year that was mostly on snow and ice).

 

Thank you again for all the answers. With ...The Girl's post, this might almost qualify as a "sticky". :ph34r:

I'm happy my suggestions are helpful and I'm glad your sunglasses were found!

 

What you want to get the best "wrap effect" is an 8-base lens. Lenses are made in two basic base curves: 6-base and 8-base. The 6 is flatter and what most people are used to. I noticed on the MJ site they give you the base curve in the individual frame information pages ... I didn't check the other manufacturers websites.

 

As far as tint color in relation to snowy environments goes ... you want a high contrast lens. For snow-specific lenses, you'll see tints in red, pink, yellow, amber, persimmon ... all colors that block that evil blue light.

 

All this talk about brown being the better tint is not to say you'll actually prefer the brown or rose tints. Criminal has a considerable dislike for them ... they just don't seem dark enough for him. The best lenses we've found for him to date are the Oakley Black Iridium Polarized and the Ice Iridium Polarized. When he puts on a brown or rose lens he feels like he's squinting. One of my friends has the same problem, her Maui Rose tint makes her feel squinty so she bought a pair in grey and she loves them.

 

The basic grey, brown and rose colors aren't entirely sport or condition specific. If you need something that's more task-specific, this is where the Oakley Half Jackets come in handy ... you can have lots of different colored lenses that mount in one frame.

 

Two asides; Nickel-based frames can and will corrode. Sweat is loaded with acid from your skin and will eat through the coating on the frames and then into the metal. This causes green on your skin where the exposed metal makes contact. If you decide to purchase a metal frame, make sure it's titanium or stainless steel. Also, polycarbonate and trivex lenses are the most shatter-resistant materials available. If you're doing anything where impact is a consideration, do not wear glass or plastic lenses! As much as I love my Mauis, the ones I own are all glass. I never shoot in them. I wear my Oakley Crosshairs for shooting.

Link to comment
What you want to get the best "wrap effect" is an 8-base lens. Lenses are made in two basic base curves: 6-base and 8-base.

I noticed those and other measurements on their website. I will have to decipher them all.

 

One of my friends has the same problem, her Maui Rose tint makes her feel squinty so she bought a pair in grey and she loves them.

I am quite sensitive to bright light and can't leave my home on a sunny day without sunglasses. Otherwise, I constantly avert and squint my eyes. However, I do not like very dark glasses, either. I want to be able to both drive and hike in those glasses, and driving in dark glasses is not only uncomfortable but dangerous as well.

 

I wear my Oakley Crosshairs for shooting.

A girl with a gun... :ph34r::(

Link to comment

What a great topic, I just love all the talk about Oakleys. I have been a huge fan of Oakleys for 15 plus years and own 5 or 6 different pairs. Needless to say I won't wear any other style of sunglasses.

 

I love Oakley sunglasses for there style, ability to change lenses and there non slip ear pieces. The only style that works for me is the M-frames. I currently own a pair of the Pro M's, Regular Folding M-frames and a pair of Magnesium Frames.

 

I personally like there customer service department. They have always been responsive and prompt and just an overall joy to work with.

 

With the M-Frames, I like the ability to replace the nose and earpieces when they wear out. Not to mention the ability to mix and match colors if you choose.

 

I am currently in the market for a pair of Polarized M-Frames, I just have not found the right pair or have I had the money to shell out for them.

Link to comment

I am quite sensitive to bright light and can't leave my home on a sunny day without sunglasses. Otherwise, I constantly avert and squint my eyes. However, I do not like very dark glasses, either. I want to be able to both drive and hike in those glasses, and driving in dark glasses is not only uncomfortable but dangerous as well.

 

I have chronic headaches which are exacerbated by sunlight and/or glare from the clouds. (Migraines, anyone?) About three and a half years ago I purchased a pair of Oakleys with black iridium lenses which seemed to have solved that problem. When I bought my M-frames a couple of years ago (similar to above, mine are not exactly comfortable), I chose the Hybrid S as it was the smallest one they had, and one of the lenses I purchased was also black iridium.

 

Each person has their own personal preference, but it has never been 'too' dark for anything I use them for.

 

My bronze Wailea MJ's aren't as dark, so if things are worse in the headache front... I can't wear them and hope for any kind of relief. :unsure:

 

 

michelle

Link to comment
I have chronic headaches which are exacerbated by sunlight and/or glare from the clouds. (Migraines, anyone?)

I don't get headaches, I just get blinded by glare from the clouds. Not the best feeling, either. :unsure:

 

My bronze Wailea MJ's aren't as dark, so if things are worse in the headache front... I can't wear them and hope for any kind of relief. :(

I looked at them, and I am curious if anyone can translate these numbers:

 

Eye size: 54, Bridge: 18, Temple: 135, Base Curve: 8-base

I know what "Base Curve" is now, but what are the other measurements in? Milimeters? And how exactly do you take those measurements?

Link to comment

I looked at them, and I am curious if anyone can translate these numbers:

 

Eye size: 54, Bridge: 18, Temple: 135, Base Curve: 8-base

I know what "Base Curve" is now, but what are the other measurements in? Milimeters? And how exactly do you take those measurements?

 

The measurements are in mm. The widest portion of the lens is the eye size and is 54mm. The bridge measures 18mm across, and the temples (the side portion, arms... can't think of other things people call them... um, wings?!) are 135mm.

 

An optician can, of course, help you get the best fit... We have two, and both of our opticians are worth their weight in gold... maybe even twice that.

 

One of the things I've done to help my kids when we're choosing glasses, is to take digital photos of them with the new frames on... it sounds kinda silly, and may have less importance in your particular application, but one of my daughters can't see fer $|-|.+ after she's been dilated AND isn't wearing her corrective lenses... so it has helped us to avoid that,

 

"That's not the frame I chose!" argument when the new glasses arrive...

 

Because she can see exactly what each frame looks like ON her (by putting the 'good' glasses back on and looking at the picture)

 

AND it lets her get opinions from other people on the frames.

 

You can do the same thing with your sunglasses if you want to take time to mull over which ones look the best.

 

Otherwise, you might want to make sure you REALLY trust your optician.

 

 

Editing to add... you can use these numbers to also locate/identify which glasses you want to look at - i.e. most important to me is the eye size as I tend to look for lenses that are smaller so I wouldn't try to find an MJ Splash, but the Pele would be a contender... the bridge measurement can be important depending on what type of nose pads are used - are they adjustable? If so, it's less critical...

 

 

michelle

Edited by CurmudgeonlyGal
Link to comment

 

Half Jacket: Criminal's choice for hiking, this is one versatile pair of sunglasses. Durable and lightweight, the frame stays in place. The lenses are removable so you can purchase multiple lens tints for different light situations. They also have a case that houses not only the frame but (I think) three pair of additional lenses. If you want Oakley for hiking, in my opinion this is the best. Some of the Half Jackets are fairly inexpensive but they're going to be the non-polarized ones. Like the Crosshair, these come both polarized and non-polarized so pay attention to what you're getting.

 

 

I have been looking into purchasing these glasses for quite some time now and after reading your thread I'm thinking that my Oakley half jacket knock offs just aren't going to cut it. I have owned 2 Oakleys in my lifetime, but unfortunately they got ripped off when my truck got broke into twice, along with 2 stereos. :unsure: Since then I never wanted to splurge on sunglasses again, but I think I will take the plunge once again and not leave them in my truck. Besides, they come highly recommended by "Criminal", it just doesn't get any better than that! :P

Thanks (The Girl) for the review. :(

Link to comment
#1) Maui Jim: These are my all-time favorite sunglasses ... [...] I prefer the Maui Rose hands down.

Out of curiosity I found Maui Jim sunglasses at the local Any Mountain store. They didn't have the styles I wanted, but they did have one model with the Maui Rose tint, the Wavemaker (sorry, I couldn't stop myself with the font color :laughing:). I tried them on. WOW! I love that tint. It was perfect for my eyes. I know now that I want it, I just have to find the right style and frame. I wish they had a big showroom in the SF Bay Area. Any Mountain selection was rather limited (although REI doesn't have any, so Any Mountain sure has an upper hand here :laughing:).

Link to comment

The OP doesn't mention needing prescription SGs, but I thought I'd throw this out for those who do: SportRX.com can make your (mild) prescription in wraparound styles that most opticians can't handle. I purchased a pair of WilyX SGs/goggles from them and was very happy with the price, service and quality. To order, you need your prescription and your pupillary distance. The eye doc often does not put this # on the scrip, as an optician will take their own measurement.

Link to comment

I am now in the market for a new pair of glasses. I accidentally smashed mine on the last hike when they fell out of my pocket, and the spare I started wearing just fell apart today leaving me with one spare left. <_<

 

This makes me thankful for the pointers ...The Girl has provided here.

Link to comment

I've had a pair of the MJ Titanium Sport for about a year now. More specifically, I've got the Kapalua model in Maui Rose lens color. I originally bought them because of the fit and flexibility of the frame. Plus they look great!

 

It's funny these were so highly recommended for hiking. I've been doing quite a bit of hiking lately and have been using them. On the plus side, they are very comfortable and the color contrast is great. I'm not so sure they give good side protection, but I've never really had full wraparounds so don't know what I'm missing.

 

My only complaint for them in the woods is that they are very light. How is this a problem? Sometimes I push them up on the top of my head (its easier to read the GPSr without them, which may be a different issue). Twice I've had branches catch them and pull them off because they are so light. I've found them each time but it worried me I might not be so lucky.

 

I was thinking about buying a pair just for hiking, but now that I've read this thread, maybe I'll stick with them!

Link to comment

 

I'm also intrigued by the rose and brown colors. I've always tended to gravitate toward neutral gray. Out of curiosity, would brown or rose always work well on snow? I rarely hike on snow, so this is not a critical requirement, more curiosity (Lassen hike was the only one in the last year that was mostly on snow and ice).

 

Thank you again for all the answers. With ...The Girl's post, this might almost qualify as a "sticky". :blink:

 

I have run through two pair of oakleys in the last 6/7 years. last set were a pair of box(something) which had a nice frame size and worked well for everything from driving, motorcycling, driving, hiking ad nausium. they were made into prescription and I had them tinted with a brown serenghetti style tint. While driving in heavy snow (a common occurance come wintertime) I tried driving with regular galsses and the brown tint. I stopped trying to use normal glasses after about 5 minutes. The brown lenses let me see so much more in those conditions. I also love the contrast that they give. I see rainbows with them that people without don't.

Link to comment

another brand to consider is Native Eyewear. i got a pair this summer and have been very pleased. 0.6 oz, polarized lenses, interchangeable lenses, lifetime guarantee. took them on a vacation trip to the carribean, and have used them canoeing and kayaking this summer and have nothing bad to say about them at all. i do recommend trying on any new style you might like to check and make sure it fits your face. the model that worked best for me was the Dash xp. - good luck on your search. -harry

Link to comment
I lost my hiking sunglasses, and I am looking for a new pair. I don't want to spend a huge amount of money, as I don't baby them on the trail, but they should be good quality. They should also be wraparound, not allow much direct light from any angle, black frames, decent size. Any recommendations? I would prefer to buy them from a brick & mortar where I could try them on first. I have an REI and Any Mountain nearby.

 

I am asking instead of just buying ones that fit because one of the pairs I bought in the past fell apart after a week in Saudi Arabia from exposure to sun (plastic literally disintegrated). :) I do hike frequently in hot, sunny weather, so the temperature might not be that much different.

 

Any recommendations will be appreciated.

 

I just bought my wife a pair of ploarized wraparounds at the local REI. Came of the budget rack--with case, came to $25. She loves them.

Link to comment

On the advice of ...the Girl, I bought Maui Jim's Makaha prescription sunglasses in the Maui Rose tint. WOW!! I have no idea how I saw anything before. Just kidding, but they are fabulous! Thank you so much for your reviews of products and advice. I really appreciate it, and I love my glasses.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...