Did you know that exposing your eyes to consistent UV rays can cause you to develop issues like cataracts? You could also face problems like light sensitivity, faded color vision, macular degeneration, and difficulty seeing at night as your eyes begin to deteriorate. In some places, it’s easy to assume that you don’t need to wear sunglasses since the sun doesn’t feel that powerful. But sunglasses are essential at high-elevations, no matter if the skies are overcast or sunny as can be. Here’s everything you need to know about finding the best sunglasses for high-elevation endurance sports.
Why You Need High-Elevation Sunglasses
Did you know that the snow can reflect up to 85% of the sun’s rays back at you? This is one reason why alpine athletes often come home with sunburns even when it’s freezing out. And, on the water, your eyes might face an additional 10% of harmful UV rays reflected from the sea. Sunglasses are an essential piece of gear for a variety of reasons; They help keep dust, debris, and the wind out of your eyes. They also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, and they can even help your eyes retain their moisture in low-humidity environments. Sunglasses may also give you better visual access to the environment.
Essential Qualities of High-Elevation Sunglasses
Eye health is often overlooked. But it shouldn’t be. Our eyes are one of our most important lenses into the world. Supporting our eyes supports our ability to adventure. When it comes to protecting your eyes in high-elevation environments, the consequences are higher. This isn’t a piece of gear you want to cut costs on if you spend a lot of time in high-elevation endurance sports settings. The best sunglasses for these expeditions should have the following features:
- Polarized lenses
- Scratch resistance
- Bigger frames or side panels
- A curved, sporty fit
- Anti-fogging technology
- UV protection
- Impact-resistance
While you may be able to get away without some of these features, these are some of the most helpful technologies that high-elevation endurance athletes will require. Here are some of The Dirtbag’s top high-elevation sunglass picks:
| Best Glacier Sunglasses: | Vallon Heron Glasses |
| Best Sport Sunglasses: | Vuarnet Racing 1918 |
| Best Casual Sunglasses: | Columbia Boulder Ridge |
| Best Cycling Sunglasses: | Tifosi Crit Matte |
| Best Sunglasses for UV Protection: | Costa Lido |
Best Sunglasses for High-Elevation Expeditions
Protecting your eye health at high elevations is a whole lot easier with the right eye wear. Take a look at some of our top picks of the season.
Vallon Heron Glacier Glasses
MSRP: $128
Color: 2 options
Best for: Snow travel
The Vallon Heron Glacier Glasses are very affordable for a reliable pair of glacier glasses. These glasses were Vallon’s very first product, although we’re now receiving the third edition of the glasses. What sets them apart from competitive products is the vintage style, the removable center piece and the bendable lobes. While most glacier glasses aren’t particularly versatile, the Heron Glasses can be adapted to fit your face more effectively.
When it comes to snow protection, few products are as impressive as the Heron Glacier Glasses. These pair well with most other winter gear, and protect your eyes from the wind, debris, and reflections on the snow. This pair of winter sunglasses also comes with mirrored lenses for added eye protection. And they’re best for women with a medium to wide face or men with a medium to narrow face.
Vuarnet Racing 1918 Blue/Red Grey Polar
MSRP: $305
Color: 10 options
Best for: Sports
The Vuarnet Racing 1918 Blue/Red Grey Polar Glasses come with grippy lobes that stay in place even while you’re bouncing around. The curved design of these glasses also creates a weightless feeling, which makes them a great option for sports lovers. Crafted in France, these glasses are built specifically for an alpine environment, but they easily transition to other environments as well.
These glasses are on the expensive side of the scale, but they also provide users with a wide range of perks like the mineral lenses that provide protection without compromising vision, or the NPE filter that improves color perception. Finally, we love the hydrophobic qualities of these sunglasses. And this is a must-have quality for serious athletes.
Columbia Boulder Ridge Black/Smoke
MSRP: $59
Color: 4 options
Best for: Casual settings
The Columbia Boulder Ridge Black/Smoke Sunglasses come with a plastic, polarized lens to keep your eyes protected from harmful UV rays. The classic design makes them a great option for just about anyone. And they transition really well from environment to environment. Featuring a lightweight design, you can stuff these glasses into a purse or backpack without noticing they’re there.
Tifosi Crit Matte Sunglasses
MSRP: $79.95
Color: 6 options
Best for: Cycling
We’ve all seen the cyclist with aerodynamic sunglasses that compliment the rest of their outfit. The sunglasses are usually bright, great at shedding moisture, and they stay on your face. This description easily fits the Tifosi Crit Matte Sunglasses. In fact, these sunglasses are made for endurance sports. The engineered lens ventilation allows sweat to evaporate, keeping your face dry over the course of the day. The arm and nose pieces are also adjustable, allowing you to customize your fit. But what we really love about these sunglasses is that the lens tint gets darker as the sun grows fiercer, ensuring that your eyes get the protection that they need.
These sunglasses come with a light and durable frame, a shatterproof polycarbonate lens, and a vented half frame. The medium size weighs just 31 grams. And they also come with a zippered hardshell case and microfiber cleaning rag for maintenance. Overall, they’re a great pick for cyclists. But they also work well in a variety of endurance situations. And they come in at an affordable price point.
Costa Lido, Matte Black
MSRP: $264
Color: 3 frame options, 4 lens options
Best for: UV protection
There are few sunglasses that perform as well as the Costa Lido. These sunglasses are phenomenal as a sun protector since they come with polarized lenses to keep your eyes safe in reflective environments like the water and the snow. In fact, the Costa Lidos absorb 100% of UV light – and not every pair of sunglasses can claim such a high percentage. You can expect these sunglasses to absorb harmful blue light while enhancing reds, and greens. Featuring a regular fit, these sunglasses are a great unisex option with a casual design. But they come with a performance-level construction.
The Costa Lido is also a lightweight product. They are about 20% thinner than standard polarized glasses. They also come with encapsulated, scratch-proof mirrors, they are impact resistant, and they even have adjustable nose pads. For these reasons, the Costa Lido is a phenomenal choice for high-elevation endurance expeditions. And they’re even backed by the Costa warranty and repair program.
Zeal Optics Hondo Glasses
MSRP: $179.00
Color: 2 options
Best for: Sustainable shoppers
Perhaps best-known for their goggles, Zeal Optics has been a leading brand in alpine environments for many years. And they use the same level of care and precision when crafting high-elevation sunglasses like the Hondo Glasses. Made with an angular style, the Hondo Glasses offer a fashion-forward option to those who care about their look. But how they’re made is just as relevant as how they look since Zeal Optics makes these sunglasses out of plant-based products, substantially cutting down on manufacturing waste and short-term solutions to market demands.
The Zeal Optics Hondo Glasses also set themselves apart with their scratch-resistant coating, their polarized lenses, and their sleek fit. When used in a high-elevation endurance sport setting, athletes can expect these sunglasses to stay on their faces regardless of how much they’re moving. And the sun protection that they offer give you the chance to focus on your sport instead of your eyes.
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