Clear visibility even on the sun-drenched slopes of spring mountains! | '24-25 Backcountry pro guide's favorite sunglasses

This season saw record-breaking snowfall, and with plenty of snow remaining even into spring, it looks like we'll be able to enjoy skiing for a long time. With the vast snowfields dazzling and UV levels high during the spring season, sunglasses are a must-have. How well you can see on the intensely reflective slopes greatly impacts safe and comfortable skiing . Therefore, let's introduce some of the excellent sunglasses favored by 2024-2025 BC pro guides.

*The frame and lens colors in the images may differ from the actual colors used by the person wearing them. Please view them only as an introduction to the model

OAKLEY｜Latch (Low Bridge Fit)

It comes with a clip that can be hung around your neck, making it super convenient and fashionable!

The "Latch" sunglasses were born from a design created in collaboration with the skateboarding world. "Latch" means a fastener or latch. The name comes from the innovative latch piece that can be clipped onto a T-shirt. Being able to hang sunglasses around your neck is not only fashionable, but also extremely convenient when using them in the mountains. When you want to take your sunglasses off briefly during a hike, simply resting them on your head can be risky as they might fall off. The Latch securely fastens them.

The frame material is lightweight O Matter™. The Square O metal icon accent is cool, and the curve of the round lenses creates a unique atmosphere. The lenses are equipped with Oakley's proud Prizm™ lens technology. By enhancing color tone and contrast, the boundaries of the surrounding environment become easier to see, resulting in a clear view of even the smallest details. Polarized lenses and Iridium® lenses are also available as options. Oakley's genuine prescription lenses can also be fitted. The curve of the round lens creates a unique atmosphere.

"Low Bridge Fit" is an Asian fit type. The lens shape, frame angle, and nose piece fit comfortably even on low noses. This is sure to please many Japanese people. There is also a wide range of colors available

◆Official Website:https://www.oakley.com/ja-jp/product/W0OO9349

Reviewer:
Riki Nakajima |RIKI JAPOW GUIDE
It's extremely lightweight and simply constructed, so it doesn't take up much space when folded. It can fit into even the smallest gaps, so I always keep it with me regardless of location or purpose.

---

OAKLEY｜Sutro

It's cool, cute and great!

Prizm™ lenses enhance color, contrast, and detail, protecting your vision even in bad weather. The stylish form, designed with the everyday life of urban cyclists in mind, features a large lens with a deep, wrap-around shield for a wide field of view and a comfortable fit

◆Official Website:https://www.oakley.com/ja-jp/

Reviewer
Mariko Sato |Spur Akita Mountain Guide Service
I saw a foreign rider (female) I follow on Instagram using these sunglasses, and I thought they looked cool, cute, and great! So I tried them out and I'm really happy with them. The lenses are large, so not much light gets in, they fit well, they don't fog up easily, and I can see the slopes clearly.

---

OAKLEY｜Wind Jacket 2.0 & Holbrook

Oakley's Prizm™ lenses deliver crisp, clear vision

Wind Jacket 2.0

The large spherical lenses block wind and glare, while the Prizm™ lenses provide clear color, contrast, and detail. The frame is made of durable, lightweight material, making it comfortable to wear for long periods of time, even when used roughly in spring backcountry skiing. The removable strap makes it easy to put on and take off the glasses while skiing or when you need to take them on and off frequently

Holbrook

This model combines Oakley's traditional American frame design with the latest Oakley technology. Metal rivets on the frame add an accent. This model combines design and functionality

◆Official Website:https://www.oakley.com/ja-jp/

Reviewer
Satoshi Arakawa |GRANIX mountain guide
I'm a big fan of Oakley sunglasses, and I'm particularly drawn to their unique Prizm lens technology. Prizm lenses are a different technology from polarization; they adjust contrast and optimize vision. This ensures clear vision, even in harsh environments like snowy mountains, supporting comfortable hikes and skiing.

In particular, the "Prizm Snow" lens, designed for snowy mountains, can handle a wide range of weather conditions, from bad weather to sunny days, making it extremely convenient for backcountry use.
Good visibility is crucial for beacon monitors. Because Prizm lenses are different from polarized lenses, the fact that beacon monitors are clearly visible is a major advantage.

Oakley's "Wind Jacket 2.0" features a large frame that provides a wide field of view and protects against wind, making it comfortable for everything from hikes up to skiing on slushy snow in early spring. The "Holbrook" has a design that can be used casually without looking out of place, making it suitable for everyday use. Oakley sunglasses are invaluable because they combine functionality and fashion.

---

POC｜KNOW

I don't mind wearing it for a long time

The fashionable design suits any occasion and style. Though they appear very lightweight, the frames are made from durable Grilamid. The nose section is made with hydrophilic rubber for superior grip, preventing slippage even when wet during water sports. All frame colors come standard with Clarity lenses, developed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss, which enhance contrast and offer superior optical performance. Enjoy clear, distortion-free vision. Polarized models are also available, featuring polarized lenses that cut out scattered reflections and reduce glare

◆Official Website:https://www.full-marks.com/poc/

Reviewer:　
Kenichi Minegishi |KinTouN Backcountry Guide
I've been using these sunglasses for many years because of their design, which is great for both outdoor activities and casual use in the city. They're lightweight, and the lenses block just the right amount of light, so I often forget I'm wearing sunglasses because they feel so natural. I highly recommend them because you won't even notice you're wearing them for extended periods!

---

SMITH｜Pursuit

SMITH's unique ChromaPop lenses provide goggle-like performance

Popular for their goggle-like coverage, ease of wearing, and comfort, the side shields now feature a magnetic system for even easier use. The ChromaPop Glacier photochromic lenses are less sensitive to temperature changes and adapt to light conditions, while ChromaPop enhances contrast and color across the entire color range. The lens change system allows you to change lenses depending on the weather, and the 5-base flat lenses provide a wide field of view, making them a good fit for Japanese people. Two types of nose rubber with different thicknesses and an adjustable nose piece ensure a better fit. This season, the glasses have been updated to three colors

◆Official Website:https://smithjapan.co.jp/

Reviewer:
Asahi Tatsuta |Rhythm Works
The ChromaPop photochromic lenses, which change color even in low-temperature environments, are excellent. The nose guard, which protects your nose from sunburn and storms at high altitudes, and the removable side shields are also very good. Comes with two sets of lenses.

---

STONE D | All models

Handmade sunglasses created through communication

This sunglasses brand, based in Sabae, Fukui Prefecture, a world-famous glasses production area, is 100% handmade. Owner Yato Takeuchi handles over 100 steps, from design and shaping to finishing, and even shipping, all by hand. Each product is carefully crafted to be made to order, with the goal of delivering it to someone who truly wants to wear eyewear. The highly unique pieces, imbued with the spirit of artisanship, are attracting attention from around the world

◆Official Website:http://www.stone-d.co/

Reviewer:
Shin Arima |
I'm a big fan of "STONE D," a sunglasses brand run by a friend of mine in Sabae, Fukui Prefecture. They're soft and comfortable, fitting my face perfectly. I use them with my eyeglasses, and by getting photochromic lenses, I wear the same pair both indoors and outdoors, except during the coldest winter months. I own almost every model, so I switch them up depending on my mood.

---

SWEET PROTECTION｜Tachi RIG Reflect

High-performance multi-use model equipped with RIG® lens

These sunglasses feature RIG® lenses, a proprietary lens technology. The square-style frames are fashionable and perfectly suited to both outdoor and urban use. RIG® lenses are an innovative technology that minimizes color distortion with excellent contrast and reduces eye fatigue. The toric spherical lenses are 2.2 mm thick, providing excellent impact resistance and minimizes color distortion while providing excellent visibility. The frames are made from lightweight, durable materials and feature a form that minimizes wind and rain penetration, ensuring a comfortable fit

◆Official Website:https://sweetprotection.jp/

Reviewer
Toyokazu Nakano |Infield: The
basic design provides a good fit and is stress-free to wear. It's also great that you can choose a lens color that suits the situation you'll be using it in from the wide range of colors available.

I also use and love the "SWEET PROTECTION | Tachi RIG Reflect"

Reviewer
Shohei Sasaki |CIRCLE GAME guide service:
I've been using these for many years, regardless of the field, city, or season. I like that they fit well and don't hurt my ears even after wearing them for a long time.

---

SUNSKI | Couloir

Another attractive feature is the affordable price of replacement lenses

SUNSKI is an eco-friendly sunglasses brand born in San Francisco that always makes products with the environment in mind. In fact, it is sold by Goldwin, a well-known apparel manufacturer. The Couloir is a model from the Alpine series, with a bold rectangular style. In addition to its unique shape, the price is also attractive, at a reasonable 14,300 yen (official website)

Equipped with magnetically detachable side shields and rubber nose pads, these glasses are perfect for active wear. The large lenses provide excellent eye protection. The Alpine series comes with a dedicated zippered case. The lenses have a visible light transmittance of 11%, and the "Black Forest" lens color is green-based black

◆Official Website:https://www.goldwin.co.jp/store/brand/sunski/

Reviewer:　
Makoto Kuroda|Kuroda Mountain Guide Office.　
Because it has polarized lenses, glare in sunny weather is reduced, and it doesn't strain the eyes. Replacement lenses are also inexpensive. They inevitably get scratched in the bush at the beginning of the season, so expensive ones wouldn't be usable...

---

TALEX | Overglasses Clip Type

Convenient to wear over your own glasses!

TALEX is the world's only manufacturer specializing in polarized lenses, with a history of over 50 years. TALEX sunglasses use a proprietary high-performance stray light® cut filter, and over 60% of the process, including the final finishing, is handmade. In the winter sports world, mountaineer and skier Yuichiro Miura is a fan, commenting, "The view is more amazing than with the naked eye, and I definitely feel less tired. This is because the filter effectively removes excess light."

These over-glasses can be worn over your glasses. For those who wear glasses, they are convenient and appreciated as they eliminate the need for prescription sunglasses. They are sized to fit any type of glasses, and their wide width and outer dimensions are large enough to accommodate any eyeglass frame. Furthermore, the frame tightly wraps around the eyes, blocking not only light but also UV rays and pollen, making them useful in a variety of situations all year round

The TALEX-developed stray light cut filter built into the lenses is the only technology in the world that cuts out unwanted stray light, such as ultraviolet rays and reflected light, and has earned high praise from professional athletes and outdoor sports fans for its excellent visibility. You can try out TALEX lenses at certified pro shops nationwide. Pro shops will also create original prescription sunglasses for you

Switching to clip-on sunglasses is possible with a single touch

It clips onto your glasses, and when you want to wear sunglasses, just drop them down. Switching to sunglasses is quick and easy with just one touch, making it incredibly convenient. You can keep them on at all times, so there's no need to take the time to put them on and take them off. Since it has no arms, it's compact and fits easily in your pocket or bag, making it easy to carry around without taking up too much space. It's perfect for people who want to switch between sunglasses for short periods of time or depending on the situation

The clip-on handle prevents the lenses from getting dirty, making it easy to use. You can choose from four frame colors. Glasses wearers will want to try them out. You can also try them out at a certified pro shop

◆Official Website:https://talex.co.jp/ct/wintersport/

Reviewer
Kazuya Igarashi |Kagura Powder Station
Himalaya, I had custom-made prescription sunglasses tailored to my vision. Because the UV rays are strong on the snow, they're darker than regular sunglasses. I often use TALEX overglasses when fishing. Both overglasses and clip-on types are convenient for people who wear glasses.

---

TRIPOINT｜001 Treriksröset

It blocks harmful rays regardless of the sun or cloud conditions, so you can feel safe even in the spring mountains

 Tripoint is a Swedish sunglasses brand founded in 2022, produced with a focus on sustainability. It features bio-based nylon lenses that are flexible, durable, and possess excellent shape retention, returning to their original shape even after being bumped or bent. The nylon material is also environmentally friendly. The lenses, which wrap around the eyes, protect them from wind at high speeds and from sudden obstacles.

◆Official Website:https://tripoint.jp/

Reviewer:
Takahiro Ishizawa |TEREMARK & MOUNTAIN GUIDE IDEHA
Like the Tripoint goggles that debuted this season, the visibility is superb. The design is appealing, and the lightness that makes you forget you're wearing them is also fantastic. Tripoint sunglasses use BIO-BASED/Nylon lenses, providing a clear and sharp view.

In addition, many models of Tripoint sports sunglasses are ultra-lightweight, weighing less than 40g, while ensuring safety with high durability and resistance to breakage.
I have actually been using them since their release around the summer of 2024, and first of all, the lightness that makes them stress-free to wear is wonderful. The height of the nose piece of the sunglasses is also adjustable, so you can adjust it to the shape of your nose for a good fit, and they don't slip even when skiing down the slopes.

Also, when hiking up in the summer or winter backcountry, sunglasses often fog up, but these Tripoint sunglasses have good airflow and hardly fog up at all, which is a distinctive feature.

The lenses block all harmful UVA, UVB, and UVC rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, regardless of sun or cloud conditions, so you can rest assured even on spring tours with strong snow glare. Tripoint sunglasses have a great design, and this particular model I use has a simple, timeless design.

When traveling by car, I often wear a different pair of sunglasses, the 004 (Leica). They are large sunglasses, but I like their playful design for everyday wear.

---

UVEX｜uvex sportstyle 237

Wide field of view and moderate lens color make it easy to see in any weather

UVEX is a popular brand, especially among alpine racers, and its high performance is guaranteed. This highly functional shield style combines smart, sharp design with sporty functionality. Filter category 3 light transmission of 9-18% significantly reduces solar radiation, and uvex supravision® anti-fog coating ensures clear vision in any weather conditions. Furthermore, adjustable nose pads and soft, pressure-free temple ends ensure an excellent fit and comfort

◆Official Website:http://www.uvex-sports.jp/uvex/index/

Reviewer Terui Daichi | I really like uvex sunglasses because they have distortion-free, wide-field lenses. They're also lightweight and don't slip easily. This Sportstyle 237 has a unique design, is lightweight, and doesn't rub easily. I prefer darker lenses, so I use Category 3 lenses. The nose pads and temples are adjustable, so the fit is great, and I highly recommend them.

---