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Favorite eyewear for winter climbing?
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I've found that any time I'm ice/mixed climbing, but especially in stormy or windy weather, my face is a lot more comfortable if I have some sort of eyewear. Any AK climber who has skied into Caribou for climbing knows the sting of the cold wind in your face, both directions. Or looking up to belay in spindrifting, stormy conditions in Portage. I've tried everything from yellow hardware store safety glasses to expensive photochromatic Julbos and Zeals and not really found something that checks all the boxes for me. I've even worn ski goggles a few times in really stormy conditions but obviously that isn't an ideal solution. What I want - Light colored (i.e. yellow) photochromic or interchangeable lenses. I want to be able to use these in low-light conditions and windy gray days and in sunny conditions. Doesn't fog up easily and offers up at least some nominal protection. Doesn't look like something a douchebag skimo racer or road biker would wear. I'd rather have a cold face, honestly. |
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BITD when I ice climbed, I always used ski goggles. Especially the ones with changable lenses. |
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I use the Smith Pursuit with the photochromsric lens. Good for alpine climbs on glaciers/snow in sunny conditions and it comes with a clear lens that’s amazing for low light conditions. It serves as my backcountry glasses as well. They wrap around the eyes well for good full coverage and don’t look goofy (modern style). Pricy but could be had on sale |
Dimitri Duma wrote: +1 for the Pursuits, definitely pricey but you get what you pay for. I’m a big fan of mine, and used them 30-50+ days in both summer/winter. The photochromic is really nice and it’s easy to switch out lenses. The added removable nose guard is also really nice for those ultra sunny days where no matter how much sunscreen you put on you still burn your nose. For a 1st gen product I’ve been impressed. Really curious what they change when/if they update it |
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I have not tried the pursuits, I have the embarks. Not an eyewear wearer while winter climbing...but..my mom works for an optometrist so I get a few pairs of sunglasses from their inventory for free a year. I have basically tried all the mainstream ~$300-$800 brands over the years. I’ve actually been very impressed with Smiths durability and quality. Wear embarks daily raft guiding |
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I have two favorite climbing sunglasses. The Smith Pursuit glasses that the above posters recommended, and the Julbo Ultimate Cover sunglasses. Both are available with photochromatic lenses that darken or lighten with changes in brightness. Both have removable side shields. Both resist fogging better than most other sunglasses I've used. Both have excellent peripheral vision. Both also have a removable nose cover for bright days when your nose can get burned by the sun. Highly recommend either of these options. https://julbo.us/products/ultimate-cover?variant=44275600687390 https://www.smithoptics.com/en_US/p/sunglass/pursuit-performance-sunglass/20572900399GH.html |
Kai Larson wrote: I’ve been looking at both of these. Which do you prefer? |
Matthew L wrote: I would give the slight edge to the Smith Pursuit. The lens is so large that they have a little bit better field of vision. Also, the side shields on the Smiths are a little less fiddley and less prone to falling off accidentally. They are both excellent, however. Really can't go wrong with either one. |
Matthew L wrote: I own both and my preference is for the Julbo. The Smith has fogged on me while ice climbing (but less when ski touring which is weird) and the ear pieces don’t flex as easily so it can tend to sit poorly on my face while climbing. |
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How do you guys like the Smiths for rock climbing? Any meaningful difference vs glacier travel and ice climbing? They seem so much bigger than what I'm used to feel like they'd be clunky, but it probably doesn't matter |
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Hey Jake I would consider getting a pair of Oakley Holbrook Prizms. I have two sets. One for bright conditions. And one for low light conditions. For low light conditions, I wear the Gaming Collection version. They have been great for skiing and ice climbing on overcast days, skiing in the shade and at dusk, and hiking/skiing while it's snowing. Keep both pairs in my chest pocket at all times. And just swap them out depending on the conditions. Goggles have been collecting dust since I got these glasses. Love them. Good luck.  |
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I’ve had the Julbo Ultimates and Oakley Prizms and you wont be let down with either. For ice I mostly used Julbo Aero 0-3 though. |
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Question for those wearing the Smith Pursuit: They look like they might interfere with a helmet along the brow line, with those big lenses. Any issues? |
Grant Watson wrote: They have the same shape as Smith goggles and are intended to generally match the brow line of most helmets. I haven't had a problem with it in that area. |
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I own 2 pairs of Julbo Reactiv I am afraid you will not like the "douchebag skimo racer or road biker " style of the Aerospeed but they are still a great pair of sunnies for ice climbing. |
