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

This season saw record snowfall, and there's still plenty of snow remaining in the spring, so it looks like we'll be able to enjoy skiing for a long time. Sunglasses are a necessity in the spring, when the vast snowy surfaces are dazzling and UV rays are high. How well you can see on slopes with intense glare has a big impact on your safety and comfort while skiing Here, we'll introduce some 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!

"Latch" was born from a design collaboration with the skateboarding world. "Latch" means a hook or latch. The name comes from the innovative latch piece that clips to a T-shirt. Hanging sunglasses around your neck is not only fashionable, but extremely convenient for mountain climbing. If you need to take off your sunglasses mid-hike, simply resting them on your head can be a worry, as they may fall off. Latch keeps them securely in place.

The frame is made of lightweight O Matter™. The Square O metal icon accents add a cool touch, while the rounded lens curves create a unique look. The lenses are equipped with OAKLEY's renowned Prizm™ lens technology, which enhances color and contrast, making it easier to distinguish the boundaries of your surroundings and providing a clear view of every detail. Polarized and Iridium® lenses are also available as options. Authentic OAKLEY prescription lenses are also available. 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 GUIDEIt
's extremely lightweight and simple, so it doesn't take up much space when folded.It can be stored in even the smallest of spaces, so I keep it handy no matter where I go or what I use it for.

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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 female foreign rider I follow on Instagram using these and thought they were cool, cute, and great! So I tried them out and they're great! I love them now. The large lenses block out light, fit well, don't fog up easily, and make it easy to see the slopes.

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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 love OAKLEY sunglasses and am particularly drawn to their unique Prizm lens technology. Prizm lenses are a different technology from polarization, adjusting contrast and optimizing vision. This provides clear vision, especially in harsh environments like snowy mountains, supporting comfortable hiking and skiing. The

"Prizm Snow" lenses, specifically designed for snowy mountains, are suitable for a wide range of weather conditions, from stormy to sunny, making them extremely useful for backcountry skiing.
High visibility is crucial for beacon monitors. Unlike polarized lenses, Prizm lenses offer a clear view of beacon monitors, a major advantage.

Oakley's "Wind Jacket 2.0" features a large frame that ensures a wide field of view and blocks wind, making it comfortable for hiking and skiing on early spring granular snow. The "Holbrook" has a casual design that suits everyday wear. I value OAKLEY sunglasses for their combination of functionality and fashion.

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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 can be worn casually in the field or around town. They're light and the lenses block out light just right, so I often forget I'm even wearing sunglasses, as they feel natural. I recommend them because they're completely unnoticeable even when worn for long periods of time!

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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:
Ryuta Asahi | Rhythm Works
The ChromaPop photochromic lenses, which change color even in low temperatures, are great. The nose guard protects your nose from sunburn and storms at high altitudes, and the removable side shields are also great. Two sets of lenses are included.

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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:
Arata Arima | WARP
I love the sunglasses brand "STONE D" run by a friend, handmade in Sabae, Fukui. They're soft and comfortable to wear, and fit my face well. The lenses are photochromic, so I use the same pair both indoors and outdoors, except during the harsh winter months. I own almost every model, so I change them depending on my mood.

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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 comfortable fit and is stress-free to wear. You can also choose from a wide range of lens colors to suit your needs.

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, both in the field and on the town, and in all seasons. I like how they fit well and don't hurt my ears even when worn for long periods of time.

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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　
The polarized lenses reduce glare on sunny days and prevent eye fatigue. Replacement lenses are also inexpensive. At the beginning of the season, they inevitably get damaged in the bushes, so I can't use expensive ones.

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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

Switch to clip-on

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
While I was in the Himalayas, I had prescription sunglasses made to suit my eyesight. Because UV rays are strong on the snow, the tint is darker than regular sunglasses. I often wear TALEX overglasses when fishing. Both overglasses and clip-on glasses are convenient for people who wear glasses.

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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 and produced with a sustainable philosophy.  Their sunglasses feature bio-based nylon lenses, which are flexible, durable, and have excellent shape memory, allowing them to return to their original shape even after being bumped or bent. The nylon material is also environmentally friendly. The lenses wrap around the eyes, protecting them from wind and sudden obstacles at high speeds.

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

Reviewer:
Takahiro Ishizawa | TEREMARK & MOUNTAIN GUIDE IDEHA
Like the tripoint goggles introduced this season, these offer excellent visibility. Their attractive design and lightness make them so light you'll forget you're wearing them are also fantastic. Tripoint sunglasses feature a bio-based nylon lens, providing a crisp, clear view.

Many tripoint sports sunglasses weigh less than 40g, yet offer high durability and breakage resistance for safety.
I've been using them since their release in the summer of 2024, and I'm impressed by their comfortable, lightweight feel. The nose height of the sunglasses is adjustable, allowing you to customize them to fit your nose shape for a snug fit, and they stay in place even on the slopes.

I often found my sunglasses fogging up during summer mountain climbing or winter backcountry hikes, but these tripoint sunglasses allow air to circulate easily, preventing fogging.

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 upcoming spring tours when snow can be reflective. Tripoint also offers excellent design, and this model I love has a simple, timeless design.

When traveling by car, I often wear another pair of sunglasses, the 004 (Leica). While they're large, they have a playful design that makes them perfect for everyday use, and I like them.

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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 lenses with a wide field of view. They're also lightweight and stay in place. These Sport Style 237s have a unique design, are lightweight, and don't rub easily. I prefer darker lenses, so I use Category 3 lenses. The nose and temples can be adjusted for a comfortable fit, so I highly recommend them.

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