Sunglasses

Why should you protect yourself from the sun?

Inuits understood it over 800 years ago. If you want to avoid irreversible eye damage and be able to view properly for as long as possible, you need to protect your eyes from the sun which can be harmful. If the arctic people used to use achaic goggles made of wood or bones with two thin see-through slots designed to reduce the amount of light and reverberation their eyes received, industry has progressed and all modern normed sunglasses can filter all UVA, UVB and UVC as well as visible light. Protection is ranked in 4 classes ranging from 1 to 4. It helps you know how much light the lens filters depending on what use you’re going to have of it.

What class of protection do you need?

Let’s have a look at what each class can do. Class 1 is the ‘lightest’ one with lenses filtering from 20 to 47% of light. Suited for days when light is low or when the sky is cloudy. Class 2 lenses filter from 47% to 82%, they are recommended for moderate light. The class 3 may be the most important as it is the one that should be used when the sky is blue and the sun is bright. And on top stands class 4, the most filtering one, not allowed for driving by the way. These models are suited for extreme sports such as high alpine skiing or hiking on glaciers.

Which sunglasses for which use?

You got the point, you need to pick your sunglasses according to your activity. Of course, the best option is to have a couple of models from each class so you can adapt to varying light conditions. But this is not always possible and not super convenient to carry 2 or 3 sunglasses on you. Another option is to go for photochromic glasses. These high end products adapt to the amount of light automatically. Lenses darken or lighten by themselves. This means you can wear them from dawn to dusk and always get the best protection with the best visibility. The only flaw is that the change is not instant but takes a few seconds. If you ride through a tunnel for instance, you may be out of it before your glasses adapt. You may also be interested into polarized lenses. These are designed to reduce glare on snow or water for optimal comfort. Maui Jim's polarized lenses are worth having a look at. Finally, some models like the Montebianco by Julbo carry lateral protection and others feature anti-fog treatment.

In order to feel at best every moment, manufacturers designed sunglasses for every type of activity. Glacier sunglasses for instance were designed for mountaineering. They offer a global eye protection and feature side shields for the best protection ever when you need it most. Slightly less "powerful", mountain sunglasses are way more versatile and best suited for random tours and hikes. Skiers will appreciate skiing sunglasses designed to shield the wind. We also have golf-specific sunglasses, profiled cycling sunglasses, mountain bike or trail sunglasses ensuring a strong grip on your skin while you sweat and go under a lot of stress. We have driving sunglasses offering a better visual acuity and even watersports-specific sunglasses. These are often polarized to eliminate glare off water surface. And if you're more into the air, if you like paragliding for instance, check out our wrapping models.
See, our selection is huge but there is definitely the shades you need on our shelves.