Sunglasses recommendation for alpine and ice.

So I'm browsing around Steep and Cheap for some good sunglasses that I can use in the alpine during the summer as well as on ice during the winter (moving out to CO in about a month and a half).  Anyone have any recommendations on brands to chose based of clarity on ice especially?  I know I generally want to chose something with some good side coverage for these situations and so far have been looking at Smith, Costa Del Mar and Dragons that have good side coverage and really good deals.  Bonus points if they are also good for fishing (which certainly most of the Smith and Costa glasses I'm looking at are pretty much made for).

I like the Oakley prizm snow lenses for increased contrast in snow & ice environments, especially when skiing to/from the climb.  These lenses only come standard on the Wind Jacket 2.0, which is a sunglass / goggle hybrid design (which provides goggle like coverage, yet ventilates well.  

The Julbo photochromic lenses seem to generally be regarded as the best general purpose lenses for high altitude alpine climbing.  For high altitude climbing, I think most would prefer the Camel lenses.  

You are likely to find better deals on eBay or MountainProject than what you can find on Steep and Cheap.  

Karl Henize wrote: I like the Oakley prizm snow lenses for increased contrast in snow & ice environments, especially when skiing to/from the climb.  These lenses only come standard on the Wind Jacket 2.0, which is a sunglass / goggle hybrid design (which provides goggle like coverage, yet ventilates well.  

The Julbo photochromic lenses seem to generally be regarded as the best general purpose lenses for high altitude alpine climbing.  For high altitude climbing, I think most would prefer the Camel lenses.  

You are likely to find better deals on eBay or MountainProject than what you can find on Steep and Cheap.  

I was actually looking at some Jublo photochromatics on REI outlet (which I still haven't spent my 20% off coupon at) https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/155069/julbo-bivouak-sunglasses.  I'm just worried that the Asian fit might not work well for me.  I don't exactly have a skinny nose bridge but IDK if it's what they would consider an Asian one.  I suppose it's worth a shot though with REI's return policy.  Would you say I would probably be best off with different sunglasses for each activity?  I can always wait and keep browsing for ones for ice since I've got until next season till I actually try my hand at it.

Well darn, now I'm even more torn.  I've found the Bivouak's with two different lens types.  One of them is the Cameleon that is polarised and has 5-20% light transmission and the other is the Zebra with 7-35% and non-polarised.  And to make matters worse the Zebras come in the lime green color that most of gear comes in whereas the Cameleon's look a little dorky with black and brown.......the Cameleon's would also do double duty for fishing since they are polarised (not that I couldn't get another pair for that though).

Anything polarized is going to help cut glare on ice and the water.

I actually have some Smith attacks for sale right now I could cut you a great deal on! Brand new! The chromapop lenses fantastic and it's nice having a low light option. Even if you don't buy mine you should check them out!

• https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/116691290/fs-smith-attack-glasses-obo-price-drop

Christopher Smith wrote:

I was actually looking at some Jublo photochromatics on REI outlet (which I still haven't spent my 20% off coupon at) https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/155069/julbo-bivouak-sunglasses.  I'm just worried that the Asian fit might not work well for me.  I don't exactly have a skinny nose bridge but IDK if it's what they would consider an Asian one.  I suppose it's worth a shot though with REI's return policy.  Would you say I would probably be best off with different sunglasses for each activity?  I can always wait and keep browsing for ones for ice since I've got until next season till I actually try my hand at it.

I would just wait for a good deal on a used pair to become available.  There is a pair of used Julbos with Camel lenses available for $41 on eBay right now...

I've got a pair of Bivouacs with Camel lenses I'd like to sell for a good deal. Also a pair of Explorers. Why are glasses called a pair anyway? ... No scratches on either of the glasses. The Bivouacs are basically new. Pm me if anyone is interested. I'll probably post these on the For Sale forum eventually once I get around to taking some pictures of them..

The Zebra lenses are not dark enough for me at all, especially on snow. Even mid-summer on granite it's too bright. I don't know if they don't work as well as they age (mine are old) or if I'm particularly sensitive, but that's my experience. Meanwhile, the Camel lens is incredible. I love them for alpine climbing especially.

Kaenon is the best, hands down. I have tried just about every brand over the last 20 years. I was a big fan of Smith, Oakley, and Maui Jim until I found Kaenon, They manufacture there own lens material SR91, other sun glass companies use the same polycarbonate as everyone else. The biggest difference is how they polarize. most sunglasses i.e Smith, Oakley, Ray Ban, Maui Jim, and others only achieve around 20% while Kaenon is near 100% polarization, best for snow and water reflection. Kaenon's SR98 is lighter, more scratch resistant than ploycarbanate and clearer than glass. Well worth the price.

Norm Larson wrote: I've got a pair of Bivouacs with Camel lenses I'd like to sell for a good deal. Also a pair of Explorers. Why are glasses called a pair anyway? ... No scratches on either of the glasses. The Bivouacs are basically new. Pm me if anyone is interested. I'll probably post these on the For Sale forum eventually once I get around to taking some pictures of them..

I already pulled the plug last night on the REI outlet ones....thanks for offering though.

Super Fluke wrote: Kaenon is the best, hands down. I have tried just about every brand over the last 20 years. I was a big fan of Smith, Oakley, and Maui Jim until I found Kaenon, They manufacture there own lens material SR91, other sun glass companies use the same polycarbonate as everyone else. The biggest difference is how they polarize. most sunglasses i.e Smith, Oakley, Ray Ban, Maui Jim, and others only achieve around 20% while Kaenon is near 100% polarization, best for snow and water reflection. Kaenon's SR98 is lighter, more scratch resistant than ploycarbanate and clearer than glass. Well worth the price.

Julbo apparently uses some special polycarbonate that is the same thing they use on helicopter cockpits and is quite impact resistant.  Also the Camel lenses are 80% polarised.

My Julbos have been summarily abused for the past 3 years with climbing of all kinds, whitewater paddling, and tree work. Last summer they were run over by the chipper and chip truck three times, and are still useable.