Best Glacier Glasses of 2022

Although boots, crampons, and ice axes might be the first things that come to mind when you think of mountaineering gear, glacier glasses are equally important on alpine expeditions. When you’re high up in the mountains, the thinner atmosphere filters less UV rays and the sun reflects off the snow, so you must wear glacier glasses to help you see clearly and prevent vision damage. But how do you determine the right glacier glasses for you? Here at The Adventure Junkies, we have sorted through the options to help you find the best glacier glasses to protect your eyes.

For more of our top mountaineering gear recommendations, check out the Best Mountaineering Boots.

Reviews - The Best Glasses for Glacier Hiking

Julbo Vermont Classic

Specs

• Frame Material: Metal
• Polarized: No
• Side Shields: Removable

Features

• Darkest Lens Option Provides 100% UV Protection
• Moldable Temples Allow For A Precise Fit
• Side Shields Are Vented To Prevent Lenses From Fogging

BEST FOR: RETRO STYLE

Created for Julbo’s 125th anniversary, the Vermont Classic glacier sunglasses have a decidedly old-school style combined with the latest technology to protect your eyes. If you choose the darkest lenses, you will be protected from 100% of UV rays and 95% of all visible light. Side shields and a leather nose piece prevent light from entering at all angles and can be removed when not needed.

The Vermont Classic glacier glasses are extremely comfortable, thanks to flexible temples which mold to your face to keep the glasses on without being too tight. However, the glasses might be a bit large for people with smaller heads.

View at REI

View at Backcountry

Vuarnet Glacier

Specs

• Frame Material: Metal
• Polarized: Yes
• Side Shields: Removable

Features

• Lenses Resist Scratches, Oils, And Water
• Leather Side Shields Are Magnetic For Easy Removal & Attachment
• Neck Strap Secures Glasses To Prevent Dropping Them

BEST FOR: QUALITY CONSTRUCTION

The Vuarnet Glacier glasses are extremely high quality glasses that come with an extremely high price tag, but they are also designed to last. The lenses are scratch-resistant, as well as coated to repel water and oils. The glasses also feature a raised bumper to protect the lenses if they are accidentally dropped.

One potential downside to the Vuarnet Glacier glasses is that they are quite heavy. The weight of the glasses can lead to pain when wearing them, and also makes them more prone to slipping off when you’re on the move. A neck strap is included to prevent them from falling completely off, but you’ll want to make sure it is tightly secured.

View at Backcountry

Julbo Explorer 2.0

Specs

• Frame Material: Nylon
• Polarized: No
• Side Shields: Removable

Features

• Lenses Offer 100% Protection From UV Rays
• Temples Are Adjustable Up To 360°
• Nose Features A Shock-Absorbent Insert For Comfort

BEST FOR: ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE

With ergonomic style and plenty of thoughtfully designed features, the Julbo Explorer 2 glacier glasses provide exceptional performance. Large lenses and removable side shields offer a wide field of vision while keeping out peripheral light. A coating on the lens offers a mirrored effect, which filters visible light, and another coating on the back of the lens significantly reduces glare.

The Julbo Explorer 2 glacier glasses are also constructed for comfort. The temples can be adjusted up to 360° and feature a grippy layer to keep them on. The nose also has a soft grip, as well as a shock-absorbent insert to maintain comfort during high-impact activity.

View at REI

View at Backcountry

Julbo Sherpa

Specs

• Frame Material: Plastic
• Polarized: No
• Side Shields: Removable

Features

• Wrap-Around Ear Temples Are Flexible For A Custom Fit
• Vented Side Shields Provide Breathability & Reduce Lens Fogging
• Included Neck Cord & Carrying Case

BEST FOR: VALUE

If you need a pair of good glacier glasses but aren’t looking to invest a lot of money, the Julbo Sherpa glasses are a great value. The side shields protect your eyes from peripheral light, and they are breathable so the glasses won’t fog up and obstruct your vision. Wrap-around ear temples can be molded for a custom and comfortable fit. A carrying case and neck strap are also included with the glasses.

While the lenses of the Julbo Sherpa block all UV light, they only block 88% of visible light, which is less than higher quality, more expensive lenses, but still provides enough protection for many mountaineering adventures.

View at Backcountry

Julbo MonteBianco

Specs

• Frame Material: Nylon & Rubber
• Polarized: No
• Side Shields: Removable

Features

• Inserts At Ear Stems Become Grippy When You Sweat So They Won’t Slip
• Lightweight Frames Are Designed To Fit A Range Of Face Shapes
• Unobtrusive Side Shields Block Light & Are Removable

BEST FOR: EVERYDAY WEAR

The Julbo Montebianco glacier glasses provide eye protection for extreme mountaineering environments in a more classic sunglasses shape so you can also wear them in your day-to-day life without looking like you belong on a mountain. The removable side shields make it easy to transition from everyday wear to alpine adventure.

The frames of the Julbo Montebianco glasses are lightweight and have flexible temples which allow them to comfortably fit a variety of face shapes, though they might be too large for people with small heads. A special grippy coating at the end of the temples actually grip more as you sweat to keep the glasses securely on your head even as you’re working up a sweat.

View at REI

View at Backcountry

Julbo Shield

Specs

• Frame Material: Polymer
• Polarized: No
• Side Shields: Removable

Features

• Removable Fabric Side Shields Block Light Comfortably
• Non-Slip Temples Stay In Place
• Anti-Reflective Coating Reduces Glare On Back Of Lens

BEST FOR: VERSATILITY

If you want glacier glasses that you can also use for all of your other outdoor activities, the Julbo Shield glasses perform well in a variety of conditions. The lenses are lightweight yet block 95% of visible light, so they can handle everything from alpine mountaineering to bright sunny days on a trail run or mountain bike ride.

The side shields of the Julbo Shield are comfortable fabric with a soft feel and can be removed when you don’t need peripheral light protection. A non-slip grip on the nose and temples keeps the glasses in place no matter how much you sweat.

View at REI

View at Backcountry

Julbo Cham

Specs

• Frame Material: Polymer
• Polarized: No
• Side Shields: Removable

Features

• Soft, Moldable Nose Pieces Offer Custom Fit
• Mirror Finish Provides Increased Light Filtering
• Temples Are Covered In A Soft Finish For Comfort

BEST FOR: COMFORT

The Julbo Cham glacier glasses are extremely comfortable while also providing great performance during the rigors of mountaineering. The temples are completely adjustable to stay in place without pressure, and a soft finish keeps them from slipping and prevents them from getting stuck in your hair.

The pliable leather side shields and nose cover block light in retro-style, and are removable when not necessary. The nose pieces are soft and moldable to provide a custom fit that stays in place. However, the nose pieces also can be prone to falling off, so it might be worth reinforcing them before wearing.

View at REI

View at Backcountry

Julbo MonteRosa Spectron

Specs

• Frame Material: Nylon
• Polarized: No
• Side Shields: Removable

Features

• Anti-Reflective Finish Reduces Glare
• Cured Temples Provide Peripheral Coverage
• Side Shields Are Easy To Remove Or Install In Changing Conditions

BEST FOR: WOMEN

Many glacier glasses are too big for petite women, but the Julbo Monterosa are specifically sized in a narrow fit to better accommodate smaller heads. The curved temples offer greater peripheral coverage while a soft grippy layer keeps the glasses comfortably in place without getting caught in your hair.

The side shields on the Julbo Monterosa block light when you’re mountaineering, yet can be removed when you are doing other activities or even just to wear around town. The lenses block all UV light, and an anti-reflective coating on the lens significantly reduces glare in all conditions.

View at REI

Bertoni Glacier

Specs

• Frame Material: Nylon & Rubber
• Polarized: Yes
• Side Shields: Fixed

Features

• Polarization Of Lens Reduces Reflections From Snow & Ice
• Curved Ear Pieces Keep Glasses Securely In Place
• Side Shields Have Aeration Holes To Prevent Lens Fogging

BEST FOR: POLARIZED LENSES

The Bertoni Glacier glasses feature polarized lenses to significantly reduce reflections from snow and ice. The blue version of the lenses also block 88% of visible light while the brown lenses block 86%, and both block 100% of UV light. You can find glacier glasses with higher quality lenses that block more visible light, but they come at a higher price.

Another drawback to the Bertoni Glacier glasses is that the side shields are not removable, although they are breathable to prevent fogging on the lenses. The glasses also come with a carrying case, a microfiber cloth for lens cleaning, and a neck cord.

View at Amazon

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING GLACIER GLASSES

When you’re mountaineering, you absolutely need to protect your eyes with more than just typical sunglasses. Glacier glasses are specifically designed to protect your eyes from the extra strong UV rays at high altitudes and the reflection of sun off the snow and ice in the mountains.

This article from Alpine Ascents explains the importance of glacier glasses when mountaineering, while Outside Online goes behind the scenes at Julbo to see how glacier glasses are specially designed for alpine athletes.

PERCENTAGE OF LIGHT FILTERED

Most glacier glasses offer a choice of lenses, and you should consider the amount of light they filter when making your decision. All lenses for glacier glasses should block 100% of UV rays, so make sure that is the case. For mountaineering, you should have either Spectron 4 or Spectron 3 CF lenses. Spectron 4 lenses block around 95% of all visible light, while Spectron 3 CF lenses block about 88% of visible light. Although Spectron 4 lenses will be more expensive, they are worth it if you will be spending time at high altitudes.

PERIPHERAL COVERAGE

Beyond the light that is filtered by the lenses, glacier glasses are specifically designed to prevent light from getting in around the lenses. Side shields prevent peripheral light from entering your eyes while nose guards prevent light from filtering in between the eyes. The amount of coverage differs between glasses, so you’ll want to make sure to find glasses with enough coverage for your adventures.

FEATURES EXPLAINED

SIDE SHIELDS

Pieces of material (often leather) that block peripheral light.

POLARIZED

Filter that specifically reduces glare.