No matter where you go on a hike it’s important that you have the best, most protective sunglasses. Hiking can have several different climates and rough terrain depending where you're hiking so it’s important to have a reliable pair of sunglasses. Below we will describe the type of sunglasses you should have if you’re ever hiking.
Specific Sunglass Lenses To Know
Picking the right pair of sunglass lenses are critical when finding the right pair of sunglasses for hiking since they protect your eyes from any harmful sun rays. VLT (Visible Light Transmission) are one of the more basic pairs of lenses. These lenses will prevent the amount of light from hitting your eyes. Sunglasses that have a low VLT are great for very bright conditions since they will help block rays from the sun. On the other hand, sunglasses with a high VLT are designed for times of overcast weather conditions. Having UV protection on your sunglass lenses are critical to the protection of your eyes. The sun radiates different rays which are UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. UVC rays are not as harmful to your eyes. UVB can cause certain diseases like skin cancer which is why it’s important to have that protection over your eyelids and around your eyes. UVA rays have a lower amount of energy and longer wavelengths than UVB rays. These rays can enter the middle layer of your skin known as the dermis. It’s important to pick out a pair of shades that offer this UV protection for your health.
Polarized Lenses
Polarized sunglass lenses are not essential for your typical everyday activities. However, for any physical activities like hiking these lenses can help your overall vision and performance. Polarized lenses will filter out any reflected light and also reduce glare to help your vision. For example, polarized lenses can reduce the sun’s glare from any light being reflected on water or on snow which will help your vision if you're on a hike in the mountains or in a warmer climate.
Different Sunglass Lens Materials
Most sunglass lenses are built with polycarbonate, polyurethane, or other different materials made from plastic. Polyurethane was made from glass and polycarbonate. These lenses are more expensive, but are also the most lightweight and strongest. Polycarbonate on the other hand is very strong and is very impact resistant. You could choose to get lower quality, regular plastic lenses, but they will scratch and break more easily.
Best Sunglass Frame Materials
The best frame materials to look for will be made of nylon and plastic customers. These frames will be the best quality and will last a long amount of time. Try to keep away from aluminum sunglass frames since they can overheat in the sun and burn you. Try to find a frame made from nylon and some plastic elements since they will last the longest and are the highest quality.