3 tips for choosing the right pair of glasses | Winter sports edition

Looking for sports frames that are adapted to your favourite winter activity? Our team shares 3 tips to help you pick the right glasses.

1 – Make comfort your top priority

The right frames make all the difference

Your vision is obviously of the utmost importance when you take part in your favourite outdoor activity or sport. That’s why sunglasses play a key role in your quest for performance.

First, let’s talk comfort. We all know that winter adventures require more clothing and equipment. Helmets, tuques, turtlenecks, hoods… You’ll be wearing several items on your head and face. That’s why you should prioritize your comfort when picking your next pair of sports sunglasses.

Frames: Julbo

Depending on your sport and the environment in which it takes place, our vision experts will be able to recommend the product that suits your needs the most. They’ll take into account your preferences in terms of style but will also describe the features and advantages of every frame to help you make an informed decision.

For instance, if you love spending time on the mountain, our experts might recommend a pair of sunglasses that are curved with adjustable temples or that are thin enough to seamlessly fit under your tuque or helmet. Julbo’s models are the perfect example:

Video: Laurent Bilodeau

On the other hand, if you’re all about endurance and speed, our vision experts might recommend a pair of light, vented frames (to prevent them from fogging up) with a no-slip fit.

Photos : Julbo

When you think of comfort, you’re probably thinking about the shape of the frame. But you also have to take your visual comfort into account. That’s why choosing the lenses is as important as choosing the frames.

Choosing the right lenses

When you visit our clinic, our opticians will ask you a few simple questions. With your prescription in hand, (if you’re shopping for prescription sunglasses), they’ll be able to help you pick the right lenses.

Our experts will make sure to understand how you’ll be using your sunglasses to determine the best options for:

• The type of lenses (materials)
• Colour/tint
• Glare protection
• Any additional lens coatings

Which lenses you pick will depend on your criteria and budget. Your vision advisor will help you determine the tint and level of protection that is suitable for your activities, all while taking into account how sensitive your eyes are.

For instance, if you love mountain sports, your advisor might recommend lenses that filter more light for maximum protection against glare.

In terms of the materials used for the lenses, your clinic experts will describe the features of each option. Here are a few examples from the Julbo laboratory:

• Mineral glass
  • Unmatched optical quality
  • Scratch-resistant
• Polycarbonate organic lenses
  • Light
  • Unbreakable
• Trivex lenses
  • Similar optical quality to mineral glass
  • Light
  • Stronger than polycarbonate lenses

Once you’ve selected the tint and materials, your advisor will then present a few options for coatings that can be added to your sunglasses. Here are few options (depending on the model selected):

• Photochromic
• Polarized
• Anti-reflective
• Mirrored

Photo : Julbo

2 – Don’t forget to protect your eyes

Your sunglasses should also provide you with optimal protection against UV rays. This is especially true in the winter when the sunlight reflects off of the snow and ice to cause intense glare.

In fact, snow reflects 80 to 90% of the light that falls on it (versus 20% for surfaces not covered in snow). And keep in mind that on a mountain, exposure to solar radiation increases by approximately 10% per 1,000 metres. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your lenses are adapted to your winter activities.

In addition to protecting you against damaging UV rays, your sunglasses should also act as a barrier between your eyes and the wind and snow.

Photos : Julbo

3 – Pair performance with practicality

Are you thinking of adding prescription lenses to your sunglasses for increased visual comfort this winter but would like to explore more options?

You could opt for daily contact lenses, such as MyDay or clairi 1 day. This is a flexible solution that will provide you with a sharp vision when wearing your non-prescription sunglasses or ski goggles. And because you’ll be disposing your contact lenses after every use, you don’t need to worry about maintenance.

Going on a last-minute ski trip? You only need a pair of contact lenses for every day of your trip.

Need advice?

To make sure you pick the option that’s the most appropriate for you, book a free try-on session at your clinic. Our vision experts will be more than happy to recommend some frames and/or lenses that meet your needs so you can remain safe and comfortable when you practice your favourite winter sport.