NORDIC FOCUS ©

Which sunglasses for which sport?

 When practising sport, good vision is essential to read the terrain correctly. More than 70% of our movements are guided by our vision. Sunglasses are therefore much more than a simple fashion accessory and can be used as a tool to improve performance. The two key elements when it comes to choosing the right sunglasses for you are the frame and the sun lenses: two inseparable elements for one perfect combination. Before you start buying it is important to define how you will use them: For what sport? How often? Where (high mountain, desert, beach...) ? What's your budget? 


Here is a brief overview of the differences.  

 

Frame

Both multi-purpose mounts and those developed especially for a single sport are available. It’s up to you to decide how you will use them and most importantly to make sure that they sit well on your nose and do not cause you any discomfort: comfort and fit are two essential criteria.

High mountains: skiing, hiking, trekking, mountaineering

High mountains are an extreme environment that can quickly become hostile. Good equipment is essential, especially for your vision. We strongly recommend you choose a frame that wraps around as much as possible, with shields to block the sun’s rays from the side, as well as wind, cold and snow... It is also important to choose either straight arms so they slide easily under a helmet, woolly hat or cap, or adjustable ones for an optimal fit. 

Mathis Dumas ©

Endurance sports: mountain biking, trail running, Nordic skiing, triathlon

Most importantly, you must choose a light frame so that you can forget about it while you are out for long periods. We also recommend you choose adjustable and/or thin arms so your frame will slide easily under your helmet or cap. Also, choose non-slip arm tips and an adjustable nose piece to ensure a good fit regardless of speed or steep terrain. The ventilation of your frame is also an important consideration in order to prevent fogging.  

Michèle Mondini ©

Water sports: sailing, kitesurfing, paddle

We recommend a flexible, wraparound frame to protect against splashing water but with good ventilation to prevent fogging: suspended or perforated lenses. Floating glasses are also available; this can be important if you want to reach out and grab your glasses easily if needed. 

 

 

Sun lenses

verres Julbo

To find your winning combination, it is important you consider your sensitivity to the sun and the sunshine conditions of the location (desert, high mountain, beach, etc.). Then you should take into account the material, protection category, colour and treatments of your sun lenses. At Julbo, beyond the technical nature of the frame, it is the lenses that make the difference in cost and we always strive to offer you two solutions: polycarbonate lenses or NXT technical lenses (reactiv Photochromic). 

High mountains: skiing, hiking, trekking, mountaineering

The higher the altitude the more harmful the sun’s rays, therefore it is essential to have good sun protection in high mountains.We present the widest range of lenses dedicated to the mountain and high mountain. Within our range of lenses, we offer REACTIV photochromic lenses that adapt to light conditions throughout the day, SPECTRON polycarbonate lenses (fixed tint) and Alti Arc mineral lenses (fixed tint). In the high mountains, it is not only a question of being protected from the sun, but also from the wind, the cold, the snow and the weather, which can change very quickly. The advantage of a photochromic lens, which darkens or brightens according to the ambient light, is to benefit from optimal protection for your eyes whatever the sunlight conditions. We recommend the REACTIV lenses for high mountains:

  • REACTIV 2-4 Polarized: photochromic and polarized lens of cat. 2 to 4 (visible light transmission rate 20-5%). In addition to darkening and lightening according to the ambient light, it suppresses glare on reflective surfaces. Its brown color provides excellent surface perception on snow and improves contrast;
  • REACTIV 2-4: photochromic lens of category 2 to 4 (35-7%). Its brown-yellow vision color increases luminosity and provides excellent depth perception. It is clearer, brighter and offers faster activation than REACTIV 2-4 Polarized.

Endurance sports: mountain biking, trail running, Nordic skiing, triathlon

These sports are practised on a variety of terrains, from on the plain to in undergrowth. We strongly recommend a photochromic lens that will adapt to these changes in light variation. At Julbo we offer different ranges of protection so you can choose one that meets your needs:

  • from bright sunshine to cloudy weather: REACTIV 2-4 cat. 2 to 4 (visible light transmission rate 35 to 7%)
  • from sunny weather to overcast, or from dawn to dusk: REACTIV 1-3 Light Amplifier  cat. 1 to 3 (75 to 17%) or REACTIV 1-3 High Contrast cat. 1 to 3 (72 to 13%)

You can also choose a cat. 3 polycarbonate lens that has a wide range of uses (SPECTRON 3).

Water sports: sailing, kitesurfing, paddle

Near or on the water, we recommend you choose polarizing lenses. These eliminate glare from the sun on reflective surfaces and also offer a clear view of the horizon without any parasitic reflection so you can clearly make out any ridges. The only drawback comes when reading navigation screens, but if these are inside you’ll have to take your glasses off anyway!

Yet again, Reactiv photochromic lenses offer unrivalled vision comfort whatever the weather: from bright sunshine to cloudy. We recommend the REACTIV 2-3 Polarized lens (32 to 9%), which is also polarizing and has been specially developed for all water sports.

Next, for cost or versatility reasons, the cat. 3 (Polarized SPECTRON 3) in polycarbonate is also a very good option.

At Julbo we have a wide range of sun lenses and frames developed specifically for particular sports. It is up to you to find what makes you happy! Use our comparison tool or speak to our customer services to help you make the right decision. But don’t lose sight of the fact that the most important things when it comes to a good pair of sports sunglasses are comfort and fit!