Eyewear

Hiking Eyewear: Sunglasses and Glacier Glasses for the Mountains

The hiking eyewear category at Šport 11 brings together sunglasses and glacier glasses for hiking, trekking, high-altitude tours and everyday time outdoors. These are UV-protective glasses that shield your eyes from intense sun, glare off snow and ice, wind and trail dust. They suit hikers, mountaineers, trail runners and anyone spending long hours above the treeline.

What this category covers

• Sports sunglasses with medium-tint or mirrored lenses for forest trails and mid-altitude hiking.
• Glacier glasses with side shields and very dark lenses for snowfields, glaciers and high alpine climbs.
• Photochromic sunglasses that adapt their tint to the light, covering everything from shaded woods to an open ridge.
• Polarised models that cut glare from water, wet rock and snow.
• Interchangeable-lens eyewear for changeable weather and full-day outings.

How to choose hiking sunglasses

• Lens category (0–4): category 2 for mixed conditions, category 3 for sunny summer hikes, category 4 for glaciers and high altitude. Category 4 lenses are not road legal for driving.
• UV protection: look for UV400 or 100% UVA/UVB filtering. A dark lens without a UV filter is worse than no sunglasses at all.
• Lens material: polycarbonate is light and impact resistant, while premium lens materials deliver the sharpest optics.
• Fit and coverage: wrapped frames and side shields block light entering from the sides; rubberised nose pads and temple tips keep the glasses in place on steep climbs.
• Ventilation: vents in the frame or lens reduce fogging when you are working hard.
• Weight and helmet compatibility: slim-temple, lightweight models sit comfortably under a helmet or a beanie.
• Lens tint: brown and bronze tints boost contrast on the trail, grey tints give the most natural colour rendering.

Brands

This category features Cébé, Bollé, 100 Percent, Dynafit and Mint – from classic mountain and sun models to sporty frames built for fast tours and ski touring.

Frequently asked questions

Which lens category is best for hiking?

Category 3 covers most summer hiking, while snow, glaciers and high altitude call for category 4 or a wide-range photochromic lens.

Do I need polarised lenses?

Polarisation helps a lot around water, wet rock and snow because it removes blinding glare. Keep in mind that it can make some phone and GPS screens harder to read.

How are glacier glasses different from normal sunglasses?

They use darker lenses, cover more of the eye area and usually add side shields that block light coming in from the sides and reflecting up off the snow.

How do I stop my sunglasses fogging up?

Choose a vented frame, avoid parking the glasses on your forehead while you are sweating, and use an anti-fog treatment with a soft cleaning cloth.

Can I wear these under a climbing helmet?

Yes, provided the temples are slim and straight. Check that the glasses do not lift the helmet rim and do not press on your temples.

Browse the full hiking eyewear range and find a pair that matches your trails, light conditions and face shape.