Outdoor Sunglasses Wich to choose
Are you looking on the internet for information on which Outdoor Sunglasses for Mountaineering or Hiking to choose? Have shapes, colors and all sorts of technology made your decision even more difficult?
We at DEMON have decided to create a mini guide to help you make some clarity on the type of Outdoor eyewear that is right for you.
WHAT TYPE OF FRAME TO CHOOSE:
Regardless of the fact if a cycling eyewear is chosen to practice Mountaineering or Hiking it is essential to choose the frame based on the following criteria:
1. WRAPPING: The mount for Mountain sunglasses differs first and foremost for its wrapping, which in addition to the role of comfort for the most difficult passages, serve to protect the eyes as well as from the air, from possible external projections, such as: dust, leaves, branches and insects.
2. LIGHT AND ELASTICICTY: Fundamental aspects, given the prolonged use of mountain sunglasses, are: lightness and elasticity. The sunglasses that you don’t feel wearing are the best sunglasses. All DEMON frames are created in TR90, a special composition of Nylon and carbon fiber that makes cycling eyewear 20% lighter than conventional materials, significantly increases elasticity and makes the sunglasses un deformable at high and low temperatures. The elasticity is important for the fit, in fact the sunglasses have the task of wrapping the face, without tightening and becoming annoying.
3. DIMENSION OF THE RODS: In addition to the aesthetic factor, the size of the rods serves as additional protection. It is a surplus to the wrap factor. Particularly in hiking, the use of wider rods is particularly favored for greater protection from leaves and branches in very dense woodlands, or difficult passages where one comes into contact with potentially dangerous objects.
4. PARASUDOR SPONGE: Particularly appreciated by those who practice mountain climbing, this particular accessory supplied with some technical mountaineering sunglasses from the collection, not only has the role of preventing the annoying drops of sweat from reaching the eyes, but prevents the light from enter laterally. Especially at very high altitudes where UVs are more intense.
5. ELASTIC CORD: Many mountain sunglasses in the collection are equipped with an adjustable and removable elastic cord package. This particular accessory can be very useful in case of difficult passages during the journey, or simply to have a better grip of the sunglasses so to avoid the annoying micro slipping towards the tip of the nose. If you use mountain sunglasses for ski mountaineering, the elastic cord can be very useful for you when going downhill to keep the sunglasses in place.
WHAT KIND OF LENSES TO CHOOSE:
It is fundamental to start from the assumption that regardless of the discipline practiced, Mountaineering or Hiking, the lens of the cycling sunglasses must be: ANTI-BRAKING and OPTICALLY PERFECT. Because your sunglasses, in addition to protecting your eyes from sunlight and UV rays, MUST provide maximum protection even in the event of accidental impacts. The Anti-breaking factor ensures that the lens does not break in the case of very strong impacts, thus creating no splinters, which could damage your eye, but rather creates a “spider web effect” without breaking into pieces. Optically perfect, it consists in seeing a point exactly where it is, to have the perfect perception of depth.
There are different types of lenses, below we will explain the main features, and for which discipline they are more similar:
- PHOTOCHROMATIC LENSES 2-4: Photochromic lenses are lenses that, when exposed to UV radiation or sunlight in general, start a reversible chemical reaction and darken. Once the radiation of light disappears, the lenses gradually return to the initial state of transparency. They can be used both for the practice of mountaineering and for hiking, it is therefore important to specify that the lens darkens and reaches category 4 only when necessary. If your exit will be at lower elevations the lens will darken until Category 3 is reached. Instead if the altitudes start to be high or in glacier where the UVs are more intense, the lens will reach Category 4 of safety, protecting at best your eyes, even for prolonged use with very intense light conditions.
By comparison, a Photochromic 2-4 lens
- LENSES Category 4: Recommended for the practice of Hiking and Mountaineering. They are very dark lenses, often used in glaciers. You get the most out of these lenses in areas of strong brightness and UV intensity. These lenses are generally equipped with anti-fog treatment, their peculiarity is that they are darker than the normal Category 3, and on very sunny days, especially on summer days, they allow you to keep your eyes always relaxed, even with very intense solar and UV conditions.
Below is an example of Category 4 lenses:
- DPOL LENS: The polarized lens guarantees protection from UV rays, but not only: this special type of lens, in fact, is able to concentrate or diverge the light rays and to attenuate the UV-A and UV-B radiations through a polarizing filter that eliminates transverse reflections.
The advantages of polarized lenses are:
1. Better perception of contrast
2. Clearer vision
3. No modification of natural colors
4. Elimination of transverse reflexes
This type of lens for mountain sunglasses is recommended for those who practice hiking, while it is less suitable for mountaineering as it may be too light at very high altitudes and with very intense UV and light. For the normal excursion instead, thanks to the perfect perception of natural colors, you will see the mountain with new eyes.
Below is an example of a Polarized lens
SMOKE LENS CATEGORY 3: It is the same Smoke lens mounted on the base of sports sunglasses. This lens is particularly recommended for the use of Hiking with sunny days. This type of lens is often chosen for those looking for a multi-purpose pair that can be used in combination with other disciplines, such as, for example, running. This type of lens allows you to spend something less than more complete lens packages, but you don’t have the need for them.
Below is an example of a Smoke lens Category 3
WHICH LENS WORKS FOR YOU?
- What is the main advantage of choosing a 2-4 photochromic lens or a Category 4 lens? The Smoke Photochromic lens is mainly indicated for those who are fond of itineraries with large wooded areas with low light, looking for sunglasses with advanced performance, which can be used both for mountaineering and ski mountaineering, and for a normal Trekking exit. While the Category 4 lens is more targeted for the practice of pure alpinism, for very prolonged uses with very intense light conditions.
- Do you particularly suffer from light? In the event that your choice is oriented towards a photochromic lens, definitely the Photochromic 2-4 lens. If instead you are oriented towards a dark lens, the Category 4 lens is for you.
- Do you travel routes with intense light? (fairly high altitude, desert, …). Our advice is the same for those who particularly suffer from light to avoid minor irritation to the eye for not having adequately protected themselves: If your choice is oriented towards a photochromic lens, surely the Photochromic 2-4 lens. If instead you are oriented towards a dark lens, the Category 4 lens is what you are looking for.
- Do you have the habit of hiking early in the morning or at the end of the day? In this case we suggest in case it is oriented for a photochromic lens we confirm that it can be a very interesting solution, because it will adapt with the increase or decrease in solar intensity.
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