Hiking Sunglasses
More Than a Hiking Fashion Statement . . .
In fact, hiking in sunglasses isn’t a fashion statement at all (well, not for most of us anyway Cindy Lou, or “Foxy Hiker Chick” as she prefers to be known, who ever heard of a trail name like that, I was just talking about it last weekend while I was hiking with Bogtrotter and Weeping Blisters, she’s such a bimbo, we all know where your eyes are wandering behind those dark hiker sunglasses, and it isn’t along the hiking trail).
Hiking sunglasses fulfil three very important duties:
- Protect your eyes from the potentially harmful UV rays
- Stop you from squinting and straining your eyes in the bright sunshine (and the glare from water / snow etc)
- Protect your eyes from wayward tree branches, flying debris and any other hazard you might come across on your hike
- Okay, I’ll add in number four just for “Foxy Hiker Chick”, “The Hunky Hiker” and anybody else with an over inflated opinion of themselves . . . they can also make you look cool (and disguise the fact that you’ve got a hangover . . . bloodshot eyes is not a good look)
Choosing Sunglasses For Hiking – Lenses
Before you can choose the best sunglasses to pack in your back pack, you need to know a little bit about them . . . we’re not talking designer labels and which ones are favored by Angelina Jolie, I’ve never actually bumped into her whilst I’ve been out hiking, or anywhere else for that matter, she’s usually busy in Cambodia or France, anyway, we’re talking about which sunglasses are actually best suited for hiking and the differences between them. There’s a lot more to sunglasses for hiking than meets the eye . . . hey, I think I was quite funny then without even meaning to be . . . I did say “think”!
- Hiking Sunglasses Lens Materials - this is probably the most important part of your sunglasses, and the material which is used to make the lenses in your hiking sunglasses (glass – good optical clarity but heavier than some substances and expensive / NXY polyurethane – lightweight, flexible and good impact resistance, but very pricey / Polycarbonate – affordable and lightweight but not good for scratch resistance – or Acrylic – cheaper but not always a clear image) will affect the weight, clarity, durability and the price you have to pay.
- Hiking Sunglasses Lens Tint – all sunglasses have tinted lenses, that’s the whole point, but the color of the tint you choose for your hiking sunglasses can affect your vision – how well you can see other colors, how clearly you can see contrasts and how much light actually reaches your eyes.
- Hiking Sunglasses Lens Coatings – the more you pay for your sunglasses, the more coatings there will be on your lenses . . . money equals coatings . . . simples.
- Hiking Polarized Sunglasses – now you’re talking, especially for dealing with the glare from the water (lake, pond, stream, ocean) or snow. Polarized sunglasses have filters which filter out the glare and reduces the strain on your eyes.
Choosing Sunglasses For Hiking – Frames
After the lenses on your hiking sunglasses, the next important part is the frames. These are important for your comfort, durability, safety and of course . . . style!
- Metal hiking sunglasses frames – are easily adjusted for a really good fit to your face and don’t interfere too much with your field of vision. They are, however, pricey, not as durable as other types of frame and get really hot if you leave them in the car too long on a sunny day.
- Nylon hiking sunglasses frames – are light, relatively cheap and pretty durable. They don’t, however, adjust to fit your face unless they have an adjustable wire core.
- Zyl and Acetate sunglasses frames – are used to make the really stylish hiking sunglasses, these are designed more for effect than for lots of outdoor activity.
Choosing Hiking Sunglasses That Fit
It’s important that the sunglasses you choose for your hiking and back packing trips fit well, you don’t want to be continually pushing them up your nose do you . . . they’ve got to:
- fit snugly around the ears and nose without pinching or nipping
- be light enough to be comfortable
- make sure that your eyelashes don’t touch the frame or the lens . . . leave your falsies at home
When to Wear Hiking SunglassesWhen you’re hiking . . . .
Okay, you should be particularly careful to wear your sunglasses when:
- It’s the summertime (lots of hikers hike in the summer time, that’s when many of the hiking trails really come to life)
- You’re hiking close to water (or you’re at the beach)
- You’re hiking at high elevations . . . lots of hiking is at high elevations
- There’s lots of snow around (cold weather hiking and camping) or you are partial to cold weather sports (ski-ing etc)
Wow, it’s a winter wonderland . . . looks just like Narnia . . . I really should pull myself away from the fireside and hike more in the winter time, brrrrr! I’ll just need to buy some thicker hiking socks, extra warm hiking gloves . . . I’ve got a nice warm hiking coat, woolly hat, ear muffs, yes, that should do it!
