Anybody who rides their bike in cold weather knows the frustration of glasses that fog up. Though there are a number of home-remedies and commercial products designed to fight foggy lenses, in truth its an on-going challenge.
Another related problem is the blast of icy air and what it can do to one's eyeballs. I've been out riding on a cold day, screaming down a big hill at the same time I'm squinting, trying desperately to see through the watery eyes caused by the strong cold wind coming at me.
The answer, it seemed, might be found in those glasses worn by mountain climbers and people out in the desert. You know, the ones that have the little side shades that wrap around to help block peripheral light, wind, cold and dust. Mountain climbers in particular are dealing with the same sorts of problems that we cold-weather cyclists face: glasses fogging up, cold air making one's eyes water, and the basic need for eye wear that protects from sunlight and debris.
To that end, we had the opportunity to try out some sunglasses by Julbo, a leader in outdoor eyewear for mountaineering and action sports like surfing, skiing and cycling. Specifically we demo'ed the Julbo Explorer model, ($125-$190 from various sellers, depending on specific model) which is designed for high-altitude environments where wind, bright light and frigid temps are a reality.
The Jublo Explorer features lenses with polarized, photochromic, and anti-fog treatment, plus side and top extensions to the frame to essential seal the glasses closely to the wearer's face, exactly the right type of glasses to test our theory about the usefulness and transferability of these from mountaineering to cold-weather cycling to solve the on-going problem of foggy lenses and watery eyes.
First the price. Is $125 perhaps at the high end of the price range for a pair of sunglasses? For many people yes. However, if you can manage to hang on to these, and not lose them, drive off with them on the top of your car, or loan them to a friend who never gives them back, then it will be money well spent. They are extremely durable and well-made; you may never need to buy another pair of sunglasses again. Julbo is not joking in the Explorer product description when they call these their "top-of-the-line" mountaineering sunglasses. The quality and design is immediately apparent just on picking them up. They are solid and well-made, without being particularly heavy or bulky. Vision through the lenses is clear, sharp and distortion free.
Now, did they work for solving those problems described above that come up with cold-weather cycling? In a word, yes. I was thrilled to discover finally, a pair of glasses that do not fog up in winter. This awesome achievement is accomplished by two features built into the glasses design. First, the side seals keep cold air out from behind the lenses, keeping them warm from your body's natural heat produced from the skin around your eyes inside the glasses. Warm lenses do not allow moisture from one's hot and damp exhaled breath to freeze onto them, which is what happens with ordinary lenses in cold weather. Next a sophisticated venting system does allow a slight and gentle air exchange to occur, enough to allow the warm and humid air from your sweat and the moisture from your own eyes to be swapped with cool, dry air from the outside. This effectively prevents excessive moisture build-up and condensation inside the lenses. (Sounds funny to talk about sweating and cold-weather riding in the same sentence, but it's true that dressing in layers will keep you plenty warm, perhaps even to the point of overheating if one is not just a little bit careful.)
At the same time the other problem, watery eyes, is solved too with these style of glasses. The side wraps keep the cold blast of air from either strong winter winds or a strong cyclist riding downhill from creating the wave of tears that threatened to blind me that day I rode outside in the cold with ordinary glasses that lacked side protection.
The Julbo Explorer glasses are designed to be customized to fit each specific user and situation. The included security strap designed keep the glasses on the wearer can be adjusted for length, and the 360° adjustable temple stems ends can bend in every direction, making the glasses fit right whether worn with a helmet, beanie or simply alone. Additionally, the side shades can be removed if desired, simply snapped in and out of place.
So, if you find yourself complaining about foggy glasses and/or watery eyes when you're out riding in cold weather, check out some mountain climber glasses, in particular the ones with the side wraps like the Julbo Explorer. This will solve your problem.
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
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