Gear guidance— Glacier sunglasses or goggles?

Hey everyone! I’m registered to do a guided climb up Mt. Baker in June. This will be my first time doing any type of mountaineering— I’m feeling good about my training and starting to buy gear. The company I’m going with says the glacier glasses need to be CAT4 with side shields. I’m curious what do most people wear- sunglasses or like ski googles? I see some Julbo, Smith, Pitviper…and just wanting some guidance. TIA!

For such a trip I would take both. Even 3 pairs.
glacier glasses cat 4 for good weather.
goggles with a light screen shade for bad weather 

And maybe even a back up for your glacier glasses. If you lose/break the only pair you have, your summit is gone…

You want glacier glasses. Googles get too hot especially in June. You can certainly have weather that could warrant google but I would take a second pair of glacier glasses over googles. I would highly recommend Julbo. I have several pairs. One pair are my all-round sun glasses, the other pair are my mountaineering glasses. Both of my glasses have an Rx.

Fabien M wrote:

For such a trip I would take both. Even 3 pairs.
glacier glasses cat 4 for good weather.
goggles with a light screen shade for bad weather 

And maybe even a back up for your glacier glasses. If you lose/break the only pair you have, your summit is gone…

Excellent advice, thank you so much… I didn’t even think about bringing multiple pairs/one of each but this is definitely the direction I’m going. Yeap totally makes sense to bring a spare pair or 2 especially given my track record with normal sunglasses and accidentally breaking them, ha— a huge thanks again  

Allen Sanderson wrote:

You want glacier glasses. Googles get too hot especially in June. You can certainly have weather that could warrant google but I would take a second pair of glacier glasses over googles. I would highly recommend Julbo. I have several pairs. One pair are my all-round sun glasses, the other pair are my mountaineering glasses. Both of my glasses have an Rx.

Awesome Allen, thank you. Julbo was the brand I’m leaning towards so really good to hear those are reputable. I actually wear RX contacts… I very well may invest in one pair RX and one normal (was planning to wear contacts on the climb but what if my contacts are messed up or something…not a bad idea to have the RX glasses.) Another thing I didn’t even think about so thanks again 

Agree with Allen that glasses are best for this trip.  I took a guided trip up Baker last year and we brought goggles and glasses.  At the gear check in Seattle before driving to the trailhead, the guides said to leave the goggles.   Ultimately, if the weather is bad enough for goggles, you probably won't be summiting. 

Bringing 2 pair is a personal decision that may be excessive.  Other options are to bring a sturdy case and/or Chums straps.

Have a fun trip!

Chelsea Stepchuk wrote:

Awesome Allen, thank you. Julbo was the brand I’m leaning towards so really good to hear those are reputable. I actually wear RX contacts… I very well may invest in one pair RX and one normal (was planning to wear contacts on the climb but what if my contacts are messed up or something…not a bad idea to have the RX glasses.) Another thing I didn’t even think about so thanks again 

If you are going to go with Rx glasses contact Opticus they have Julbo frames (no lenses) and make the Rx lenses. They have done multiple pairs for me including progressive lenses. 

Dad Jokes wrote:

Agree with Allen that glasses are best for this trip.  I took a guided trip up Baker last year and we brought goggles and glasses.  At the gear check in Seattle before driving to the trailhead, the guides said to leave the goggles.   Ultimately, if the weather is bad enough for goggles, you probably won't be summiting. 

Bringing 2 pair is a personal decision that may be excessive.  Other options are to bring a sturdy case and/or Chums straps.

Have a fun trip!

Thank you! You brought up another good thing to think about with the case and straps… and make a good point that if conditions are to the point where googles are necessary, summit’s probably not gonna happen. Appreciate the helpful insight!!