What’s the point of glacier glasses?
Glacier glasses, also known as glacier goggles or mountain sunglasses, refer to specialized sunglasses designed for use in high-altitude and glacial environments. This eyewear serves to protect your eyes from the harsh conditions found in snowy, icy, or glacial terrains you plan to visit during mountaineering or other winter activities.
What is the history of glacier glasses?
The beginnings of glacier glasses started over 2,000 years ago when the Inuit and Yupik of Alaska and Northern Canada made 'iggaak' - or as we would now call them, snow goggles - from walrus ivory, bone, wood, and caribou antler, rooted in the need for eye protection in extreme environments.
Early Expeditions: in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, mountaineers and explorers began to realize the importance of eye protection at high altitudes and in snowy or glaciated terrain. Early glacier glasses were often makeshift or adapted from existing eyewear, such as welding goggles or tinted spectacles, to provide some level of protection against intense sunlight, snow glare, and wind.
Innovation and Design: as mountaineering and exploration became more popular, especially during the golden age of mountaineering in the early to mid-20th century, there was a demand for specialized eyewear designed specifically for the harsh conditions encountered in alpine and polar regions. Companies like Julbo, Bollé, and Ray-Ban started to produce glacier glasses with features such as side shields, dark tinted lenses, and wrap-around designs to protect the eyes from glare, UV rays, snow blindness, and wind. The lenses were often made from glass to provide better optical clarity and scratch resistance, although modern glacier glasses now often use polycarbonate lenses for lighter weight and impact resistance.
Function and Features: glacier glasses are designed to offer maximum protection against harmful UV rays, glare from snow and ice, wind, and debris.
Features:
Dark tinted lenses to reduce glare and filter out UV rays.
Side shields to block peripheral light and wind.
Wrap-around designs to provide full coverage and protection.
Adjustable temples and nose pads for a secure and comfortable fit, especially when wearing them over prescription glasses or with helmets.
Today: glacier glasses continue to be an essential piece of equipment for mountaineers, climbers, skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts venturing into high-altitude or snowy environments. Advances in technology and materials have led to the development of glacier glasses with polarized lenses, photochromic lenses (that adjust to changing light conditions), anti-fog coatings, and lightweight, durable frames.The basic design and function of glacier glasses have remained relatively unchanged, but the materials, technology, and aesthetics have evolved into high-performance sunglasses.
Vallon.com
This history reflects the ongoing quest for innovation, functionality, and protection in the world of outdoor gear and mountaineering equipment.
