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Selecting Glacier Glasses (how're Julbo VT's?)
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If anyone is looking for more options, a skiier friend who wears heavy prescription glasses turned me on to this place: https://safetyglassesusa.com/collections/welding-safety-glasses https://safetyglassesusa.com/collections/welding-goggles Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there are any class 4 tints -- I guess safety glasses tend to either have class 3 or class 5, but not in between? Probably something to do with OSHA regs for welding. Per Andy Shoemaker's earlier post, anything with a class 3 tint would meet the UV & VLT recommendations for glaciers ~14k' (like Rainier). Light leakage will depend on how the glasses fit you -- but a lot of these do have foam edge gaskets. |
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I strongly prefer wide and tall single piece lenses that provide the type of face coverage you get from goggles (minimal gap between helmet / hat and glasses, minimal gap between balaclava / buff and and glasses). They provide better wind protection and avoid having the need for sunscreen on your forehead that can run into your eyes. Generally, these designs also have better field of vision and a larger stand-off distance to allow better air circulation, which helps prevent fogging. However, they do leave your nose exposed. The Julbo Ultimate Cover is really the only model of this type (that I am aware of) that is designed to work with a nose guard. If you don’t want a nose guard, then there are lots of other options that are marketed for biking or skiing. I would also recommend against having a cat 4 lens as your only lens. When it gets stormy, you will want a clear or low-light lens. Photochromic lenses are fine, if you don’t want to being a separate lens. I would go for a frame that allows you to easily swap lenses, if you don’t have a photochromic lens. I consider so called “classic“ mountaineering glasses obsolete. I wouldn’t bring Vermont Classics or any similar models on any serious mountaineering trips. |
Karl Henize wrote: I honestly wouldn't describe the Ultimate Cover as really tall, or anything close to a goggle in sunglass form. I have the Shields (and the Ultimate) and their coverage is pretty similar, with the Ultimate have a bit more lens for my peripheral vision, where the Shields have the much-maligned-in-this-thread side shields. That nose piece can be useful, but if you want, you can grab an additional accessory to use on whatever sunglasses you have, https://www.amazon.com/CoolNES-Glasses-Protection-Protector-Patented/dp/B0871XT2TN Very fashionable,  |
Long Ranger wrote: I have the Oakley Wind Jacket 2.0, which is a quite a bit bigger than the Julbo Ultimate Cover, but I don’t believe there are any mass produced nose guards that work for similar single lens designs. |
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How much fogging do you get with the Shield/Ultimate Cover? |
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Whatever brand you decide on, please just don't Google image search "mountaineering cosplay" you have been warned. |
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I was thinking about this post today while out. For the last 9 years, I've pretty much worn one model or another from Julbo. The last 2-3 years, it has been the Shield and the Ultimate Coverage. I really love the Ultimate Coverage. The side shields, and nose guard work great when on glaciers. This season I had a chance to try out Smith's offering. The Pursuit. On paper these glasses should be at least as good, if not better than the Ultimate Coverage. For the money I've spent, I can't say that I'm all that impressed. My first pair had a defect in the lens coating and was very blurry. Smith warranty was fast and easy to work with but I didn't feel like this should have even been a possibility for the price. Now that I've been using the replacement pair here are my thoughts for anyone considering. -The lenses are quite dark. They seem to be a full cat darker for any given number than my Julbos. This necessitated purchasing a low light lens in addition because they don't transition enough on overcast days to use them in flat light. -They fog easily. If you stop moving, they start fogging. It clears pretty fast while skinning, but has been really nerve wracking while ice climbing. If I stop to shake, the pump goes away but so does my visibility for my next placements. I don't think a sunglass intended for an aerobic activity like ski touring should fog so easily. Long story short, the Smith Pursuit come with as many features as the Julbo Ultimate Coverage, but the performance falls short in comparison. |
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i like my julbos. quick plug tho for sun ski and their amazing warranty service. i snapped a pair in half and they came through the next day with a free pair: https://sunski.com/collections/polarized-glacier-sunglasses |
Ryan Mac wrote: When I'm wearing them? None. If they're on my head, they'll fog up. If I have my full face covered, they'll fog up. When I use something like a Beekp Cheeko, they'll be fine. |
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Only posting this to remind people that sunglasses technology is really, really cheap and it may be possible to get stuff beyond adequate for less than the decades-long market leader charges. I broke my julbos in self-arrest school, got snowblindness. 3 days later I went back up Shasta in May with these 'Elvis' glasses I bought for $15 (1993).  They did have tinted plastic side shields.  |
