Health

Julbo Sherpa Sunglasses

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Lightweight traditional glacier glass

I’ve had my Julbo Sherpas for a couple months now, and boy do I wish I’d found these a long time ago. They’re possibly the best pair of sunglasses I’ve ever owned – not to mention, coolest?

First, the flaws (but not dealbreakers): they will make you look like you have some sort of special-needs eye-condition. Maybe this is a pro, not a con, but mislead other people about your vision requirements at your own risk. Also, you cannot wear them while driving, or cycling – the leather blinders knock your peripheral vision out, so unless you have a very fancy car with a lot of blind-spot technology, merging and checking for cyclists becomes challenging, and possibly dangerous.

For everything else, these sunglasses can’t be beat. The lense quality is spectacular for a pair at this price. The leather blinders work well to prevent internal reflections or glare sneaking in – they are detachable, I suppose, if you really do want to drive with them on. The frames themselves are very lightweight and comfortable, and the arms have a great wraparound-ear feature that prevents them from flying off your head in strong gusts. This wraparound piece is made of a soft rubber, so it doesn’t hold too tightly – which means they don’t really rub, so they don’t bother you. I don’t know why more sunglasses don’t do this.

I’ve used them while skiing, as very capable replacements for goggles. I’ve fished and hiked with them on, getting them wet and sweaty, and I’ve worn them just floating around in the pool while reading. The style might not be for everyone, but at this price, there’s not a lot to say no to.

-- Alexander Parkinson 06/27/16

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