Posts Tagged sports sunglasses
They’re the Bomba: Sunglasses from Costa del Mar
I just moved to a new country for a year, taking only what I could pack into a few suitcases. When it came to sunglasses, the first ones I reached for were these Bomba sunglasses from Costa del Mar. They’re the best all-around pair I’ve ever worn, simple as that.
I checked out a whole range of Costa del Mar sunglasses on the trade floor of the Outdoor Retailers Show back in January, but this model made me sit up and notice because of the extra shielding on the side. While the Julbo Bivouac sunglasses I reviewed a few weeks ago do a good job of keeping harmful rays from getting in from the sides, these take a step further by letting you still see out of the side in your peripheral vision.
All well and good, but that feature alone is just a sideshow if they don’t fit well and have high-performance lenses. Fortunately, the Bomba is the complete package, with amazingly comfortable lenses and frame design. These sunglasses stay in place better than most, thanks to the built-in grip pads in strategic places. Plus my eyes feel very rested with them on: more than once I’ve forgotten I had them on.
The company touts their lenses as “beyond polarized,” because they see that as just the starting point for quality glasses, so naturally the brand is a big hit with fishing enthusiasts and others who spend lots of time on a boat. Costa del Mar offers three levels of lenses in glass and polycarbonate, with the 580s being the top of the line.
So the type of lens can have a big impact on the price—the Bomba can run from around $140 to $240. Then there are seven lens colors to choose from, each with its own characteristics. The blue mirror ones pictured to the left, for example, are meant for open water. The company rep I met with a couple months ago matched the lenses on my model to my blue eyes, correctly judging the gray ones to offer the best mix of protection and clarity. The colors came alive riding across the Blue Ridge Mountains on my way home and these shades have opened up impressive vistas every time I’ve worn them since.
This is just one model out of more than 50 from Costa del Mar (Coast of the Sea, appropriately), so you won’t be hurting for choices, no matter what kind of frame you like best. Surfers, beach bums, yacht crews, and sport fisherman may gravitate to this brand naturally, but it’s a good choice for travelers as well. All models come with a hard shell case to protect them from the rigors of travel when the sun’s not shining.
Get the Costa Del Mar Bomba Sunglasses at Backcountry.com, where there is a great selection of other models.
See all the choices at CostadelMar.com
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, General Gear on July 8th, 2010
Triumph Sunglasses from Native Eyewear
My husband co-owns a couple of outdoor-industry publications. I always like going to his company holiday party, because it’s not unusual to come home with some awesome door prize, courtesy of the advertising department who secured staff (and spouses) great schwag. This Christmas, each who attended the party received a pair of Native Eyewear sunglasses. I’m thrilled I ended up with the box I did: the Triumph style in “Moss” frame color with Polarized Silver Reflex lenses. After breaking my beloved Julbos last month, I felt like I totally scored with a new pair of sporty, versatile shades.
This Triumph Style Has a Frame Color of "Tobacco" with Brown Polarized Lenses
These sunglasses feel super sturdy. The “arms” (“temples” in industry speak) are thick and wide, and the patented “Cam-Action Hinges” allow the arms open quickly and snap firmly into place. Another proprietary design feature is the “Mastoid Temple Grip,” which means they hug the mastoid bone behind your ears snugly. These definitely fit securely on my head.
The glasses also have this cool venting system — three small holes in the frame above each lens allow air to pass through, preventing fog and condensation.
If I had one complaint about the glasses it’s that they sit very high and back on the bridge of my nose — practically in between my eyes. Perhaps this is the proper fit for sporting activities — tight against your face. But typically I like my sunglasses to rest further down my nose. Just a feature to get used to, I suppose.
The lenses are fully interchangeable, and they come in shades like bronze, copper, and blue. The Polarized Silver Reflex lenses I have are especially good in bright sunlight and help with glare reduction — great for wearing them on Colorado ski slopes this winter. The “Reflex” lenses cost about $20 more than the regular Polarized lenses, so my pair has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $120. (Browse various Triumph styles on Amazon.com.)
I’m packing these sunglasses — and only these shades — for my trip to Jamaica next week. They’ll seamlessly pull triple duty while hiking, sightseeing and relaxing by the pool.
Posted by Kara in General Gear on January 8th, 2010
I Can See Clearly Now: Julbo Sunglasses for Travel, Sports
Working outdoors a lot, I’m always in search of the ultimate sunglasses. And after trying out several models from Julbo, I’d have to say I was impressed.
First, and most importantly, these shades have great optics–stunningly clear and sharp.
They bring out vivid details that are lost with some other brands of sunglasses.
Of course, the Julbos provide 100 percent protection from ultraviolet rays. And they’re tough, with impact-resistant lenses.
Julbo is not a new kid on the block. The craftsmen in the Jura mountains of France started more than a century ago making corrective lenses and now they specialize in sunglasses and goggles for active pursuits–travel, driving, boating, fishing, skiing, mountain biking or mountain climbing.
Julbo also does an excellent job combining style with performance. There are more than 50 styles to choose from, including models for children.
The Run shades I tested are made for mountain biking. They are designed to fit under a helmet, the lenses are wide for good visibility and the temples and nose pads help absorb those bumps on the trail. They fit securely, but are comfortable even after hours of wear. You can quickly forget you have them on.
This model is available with Julbo’s Zebra photochromic lenses. They automatically (and very quickly) turn lighter or darker to adjust to changing conditions.
While made for mountain biking, they would be right at home in many outdoor pursuits. The Zebra lenses are not recommended, though, for normal driving because of their darkness, but standard polarized lenses are also available in this model.
Julbo’s Zulu line is a good example of blending sport and style. And the Boogie model (pictured above) would be a versatile choice for travel.
Prices are reasonable, with suggested retail ranging from $55 to $190 for the adult styles.
Overall, Julbo’s quality shows through in all their models. And they should last for years and many miles on the road. See the full line at the Julbo USA site.
Julbo sunglasses are also available at REI.com and Backcountry.com
Posted by JohnG in Adventure Gear, Business Gear on June 8th, 2009
