Search for:

Every kind of recreation requires equipment suited to its environment. Mountaineering is more than a pastime; it is a serious sport, and without the necessary gear the risk of accidents rises. Choosing the best mountaineering sunglasses must be done carefully and strictly, because they protect your eyes from rocks, dust, water, UV rays and more. By understanding the factors that make up the best mountaineering sunglasses, we can protect our eyes from the hazards of the mountain environment. Choosing the right glasses for each sport is one of the most important decisions an athlete makes. A professional mountaineer knows what eye care their work demands. In this article, we look at the factors you should keep in mind when choosing suitable mountaineering glasses. Sunglasses come in different frame styles. When buying sunglasses, we need to consider several important factors. Perhaps the most important is a frame that suits our face, and by knowing the frame styles and the geometric shape of our own face, we can make the best choice. Styles include round, butterfly, cat-eye, aviator, geometric, wayfarer (everyday), oval, square and rectangular. Aviator glasses suit a variety of faces. Diamond-shaped faces suit oval and round frames; oval faces can wear polygonal and square frames; round faces can wear aviator and butterfly frames; and rectangular faces can wear any frame except rectangular and square ones. 1. Lens types There are several categories of lenses: Category 1 These offer minimal eye protection and are usually known as "fashion glasses". You may feel that wearing them is the best idea. However, you should know that they do not protect your eyes from the intense sunlight at high altitude. Category 2 This category of sunglasses filters out 20–45% of ultraviolet rays through the lens. This category is not useful for mountaineering either. Both of these categories are generally suitable for strolling around town on a sunny afternoon. Category 3 Category III lenses block roughly 80% of ultraviolet rays. If you go hiking, this type is very useful. However, it is not enough for mountaineering. Category 4 Most mountaineering sunglasses usually fall into this group, letting through only 3–8% of UV rays. They also have a very low VLT rating. All of this helps protect your eyes from annoying glare and intense ultraviolet radiation, which can even burn your skin. 2. Polarization The next important point to remember is the polarization of the lenses. If your lens is polarized, it reduces annoying glare. When climbing to high altitudes, protecting your eyes from intense sunlight is essential. Polarized lenses do not have a significant effect on your eyes. They also give you a clearer image and better vision so that you can see your surroundings sharply. However, because of the polarization, it can sometimes be difficult to spot ice and snow. Some sunglasses use special coatings. The polarization may be reduced, but other types of coatings help you see perfectly clearly. There are even photochromic (transition) lenses that adapt to the amount of sunlight. As the sunlight increases, they darken automatically. This type of lens is very popular among mountaineers. 3. Additional coatings Additional coatings such as scratch-resistant and anti-fog layers can be very helpful at high altitude. If you search enough, you may even find sunglasses with both an anti-fog and a water-repellent coating. Together, these two coatings are the best option for humid regions. 4. Lens colour Lenses of different colours serve different functions. Different colours provide different levels of protection for your eyes. Some are only used in specific situations, and on complex climbs you may not be able to rely on a single lens colour. For this reason, you should take great care when choosing the lens colour of your mountaineering glasses. 5. Materials Another important factor is the material the sunglasses are made of. The material of the frame determines how long it lasts. The most common material is plastic, which is the least durable, and if you use it you must make sure your sunglasses are not put under stress. The most durable materials are alloys made from titanium or some hard metal alloys. Titanium may be a little more expensive, but it is the most durable and even the most flexible of them. In addition, you should consider the materials the lenses are made of: • The most common is glass. Most lenses are made of glass. Although it is scratch-resistant, it is quite likely to break. •If you compare a polycarbonate lens with a glass lens, you will find that it is more durable. It does not break easily, but it can be scratched easily. • Plastic is another common lens material. However, if you are looking for sunglasses for mountaineering, they are not very suitable. They cannot protect you from the strong ultraviolet rays of a high-altitude environment. • Polyurethane is the best material for mountaineering sunglass lenses. It is very strong and scratch-resistant. It even provides excellent optics. These lenses do not need additional coatings. If you can use polyurethane-lens sunglasses, you need not worry any more. They may be expensive, but they are very durable. 6. Side coverage When you are at high altitude, the cold wind blows from every direction. Since you will be wearing sunglasses, the area around them needs protection too. For this reason, manufacturers add side shields to mountaineering sunglasses, and these are usually removable, so you can take them off if you prefer. You can also wear protective goggles, since they cover your face completely. However, keep in mind that fogging is very likely. That is why removable shields are provided, to let air pass through. There are also a few types of sunglasses with vents that allow ventilation. The best mountaineering sunglasses brands Below, we briefly introduce some of the best mountaineering sunglasses brands. ... sunglasses among Iranian climbers.