Hi. I have not used them, but would think they'd be similar to the glasses you may get at the eye doc. I have used the roll up type from the eye doc (for 4 day winter snowshoe trip) and they seem like a great survival sunglass.

Respectfully, it's vitally important to *know* the protective qualities of sunglasses for work in snow or at high altitude. The wrong sunglasses in these situations could do more harm than no sunglasses at all. Ask questions, and be skeptical. Eyes do not grow back.

The manufacturer says 100% UVA and UVB protection. Are you suggesting that these claims need to be verified somehow?

I'm just the opposite. I can't go out without them or I get a headache. Sunglasses and a hat are musts for me.

And they are the finishing touch to your mysterious Hollywood celebrity image.....

LOL!!

From the ANSI website (www.ansi.org):

"One safety issue that consumers do tend to be aware of is protection from ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB). Mr. Wood notes that the amount of UVA and UVB protection depends upon how a consumer intends to use the sunglasses, the two types of use classified as Normal Use (from home to the car to the office) or High and Prolonged Exposure (at the beach, fishing, skiing). Lenses are also classified for intended function as special, dark, general purpose or cosmetic tint. The combination of the intended function and the type of use gives a total of eight UV transmittance specifications."

Makes sense. How can we tell? For this particular product they talk about sporting uses and the beach in particular along with the UV protection.

When I buy sunglasses I always make sure that they say that they have UV protection, but beyond that I don't know what else to do.

I still use a pair of 20 year old Bolle Edge cycling sunglasses with a Berghaus Case.. They have proven to be quite durable over the years.

Most times and places sunglasses are comfort items. The exceptions are mountains, deserts, snow fields, and near or on water. Lacking purpose-made sunglasses it is possible to manufacture field expedients by rigging a blind fold and poking holes or cutting a slit. You can used cardboard, plastic, thin wood, various barks, or cloth to make sunglasses that are effective enough to prevent snow-blindness and debilitating eye strain.

A variation I've messed around with is using a large bandana. I lay it out flat and roll up two of the diagonal points, cut a couple of slits and then putting it on as a blindfold. Using small slits and messing with it a bit I got a workable vision protector. I also found I could be wearing prescription glasses and put the bandanna on over them. The result was corrected vision, protection from the sun, and the cloth could be adjusted to allow ventilation, and a handy sweatband, while keeping blown sand and dust out. I tried it on dunes in Florida where the sun was blindingly bright, and the wind was making the sand a major nuisance. Most of the regular sunglasses were allowing sand in as the wind shifted.

Try it out and tell me works out for you.

If you have glasses, safety or prescription, you can make effective sunglasses by blacking part of the lenses out with cardboard, electrical or duct tape, paint, even mud. Tape is easy to work because you can run a couple of horizontal bands leaving a millimeter or two between them.