Like many sailors, I’m a bit precious about my sun exposure. I prefer to stay covered up and in the shade whenever possible, and a travel tube of sunscreen rarely leaves my pocket when I’m on the boat. So, last week’s trip to Antigua (where the UV index is brutal) was the perfect chance to test out the latest addition to my arsenal of protective gear: the Greenland sunglasses from Bajio.
They consider these to be the techiest frames they have ever made and were designed with fishermen who need to be able to see below the waves in mind. I was particularly impressed by the coverage, which encompassed my entire field of vision. When wearing glasses that aren’t UV blocking or don’t cover enough of your field of vision, your pupils can dilate to account for the shaded area you’re looking though, leaving them even more exposed to harmful rays passing through or around the sides of them. Unlike other sunglasses I’ve owned where sparks of light from around the outside of the frame hurt my eyes all day long, I really wasn’t feeling much eye strain at the end of a long day on the water. Only when I looked as far to the side as possible could I see the daylight in the very edge of my peripheral vision. A+ for that.
I went with the blue mirror glass because it has the lowest percentage light transmission (10%), which is good for extreme brightness and long days on the water. They are polarized and therefore also good for spotting obstructions in the water or fish. But if blue isn’t your style or you don’t need the darkest tint available, you can also get them in green mirror, gray, silver mirror, copper, rose mirror, or violet mirror. These color options range from 12 to 22% light transmission, and all lens options block 100% of UV light. You also have the choice between glass and polycarbonate.
The bio-based nylon frames also come in three different colors, making for a fun mix and match experience when choosing your glasses. You can also get them as readers or with prescription lenses. Though the flat frame line across my brows wasn’t the most flattering on my face, it really lined up well with the brim of a baseball cap to keep light out.
These sunglasses have a fairly large frame but we’re still a good fit on my medium sized face. I have a pretty dismal track record with losing sunglasses right off my face, but had no slipping problems with these. (Given my history, though, I won’t be taking any risks with ditching the croakies…)
All in all, I was very pleased with them and have already put them on my packing list for the Annapolis-Newport this summer.
$209-259, bajiosunglasses.com
