Mountains and water offer similar challenges for good eyewear聴lots of glare, the need for excellent contrast, and a requirement for good protection from UV rays. On snow, it聮s also important that glasses offer protection on the sides, although there are several different ways they can accomplish this. It would help if they don聮t break the bank, but a good pair of sunglasses is a worthwhile investment in safe vision.
Julbo Nomad Sunglasses
Julbo Nomad听
You mentioned three that you聮ve looked at: the Zeal Optics Maestro ($130; www.zealoptics.com), the Julbo Nomad X4 ($104; www.julbousa.com), and the Native Nano 2 ($115; www.nativeyewear.com). 聴have a generous wrap design for side protection. They come with a polarized ZB13 (Zeal聮s label) lens, and have an option for a polarized brown lens for slightly greater light reduction, although it聮s a very slight change, so I聮m not sure it聮s worth the bother. Overall these would work great on snow or water.
Julbo聮s Nomads are more of a traditional glacier glass. They have snap-out side protectors that offer a little more coverage than the Zeal glasses, and their brown progressive lenses offer light reduction of 87 to 95 percent聴a little darker than the Zeals. If you intend to be on snow a lot, then these might be the best choice. In my opinion, however, they聮re not quite as fashionable as the Zeals.
The Native Nano 2s, while an excellent pair of glasses, might not be the best choice here. They聮re a little bit more of an all-purpose glass, with decent side coverage but not the extensive coverage of the Zeals or the Julbos. They do, however, come with four interchangeable lenses from dark to clear, so that might be a consideration.
I think you have a good set from which to choose. If your time is split 50/50 between water and snow, then probably go with the Zeals. If it聮s split 30/70, with the 70 on snow, particularly mountaineering at higher altitudes, then go with the Julbos.
Check out this year聮s more than 400 must-have gear items, including , in the 2006 Buyer聮s Guide.