Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#137251 - 08/05/10 11:57 AM Lightweight backup sunglasses
Pika Offline
member

Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 1814
Loc: Rural Southeast Arizona
My eyes are quite sensitive to high altitude sun, especially when I am on snow. I have suffered snow-blindness on several occasions. For this reason, I almost always carry backup sunglasses when I anticipate sustained hikes on snow.

For several years now, I have been using the throwaway sun glasses that ophthalmologists provide after an eye dilation exam as backups. They are just a thin sheet of plastic colored to block UV and bright sun and are designed to fit behind your normal glasses. They can be converted to stand-alone sunglasses with a little duct tape and a rubber band or two. I have obtained a set just by asking at my ophthalmologists reception desk; some offices may charge you for them though.

The ones that I have weigh about a gram and provide me with a bit of security and backup during my clumsy senior moments. I have, once, in the past dropped my sunglasses and watched them slide down a steep snow slope never to be seen again. Now I have an adequate backup.
_________________________
May I walk in beauty.

Top
#137254 - 08/05/10 12:34 PM Re: Lightweight backup sunglasses [Re: Pika]
OregonMouse Offline
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Great minds think alike! I've been doing this for over 5 years now! cool


Edited by OregonMouse (08/05/10 12:35 PM)
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

Top
#137261 - 08/05/10 01:47 PM Re: Lightweight backup sunglasses [Re: Pika]
DJ2 Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 1348
Loc: Seattle, WA
Let's play "Can you top this". I'm pretty sure I have been carrying them in my gear for 25 years or more.

Top
#137274 - 08/05/10 07:49 PM Re: Lightweight backup sunglasses [Re: Pika]
Wolfeye Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/07
Posts: 413
Loc: Seattle, WA
For a while I used cheap, UV-blocking rollup sunglasses as my only set. They worked, and I'm sure they weighed less than their case, which was like a film canister. I wish I'd slipped some kind of smooth paper around it before storage, though, as they got scratched after a while.

They can fly off your face in a gust of wind. Running a web search, I've found that some come with a string.

No idea how much they weigh as I haven't had a set in decades.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 257 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum