The glasses restart The eighties and nineties. Much to the credit of the era’s pulse-quickening neon fashions (or intense soundtracks), but it seems designers of winter sports and snow sports sunglasses looked through old boxes to find aesthetic inspiration from the past. Shields, icy glasses, chunky eyeglass frames, and flashy colors are popular design trends among the 2022–23 styles. Everything seemed so futuristic 30 years ago. Now, these retro visuals evoke a simpler age and offer a link to carefree, old fun.
Fortunately, this winter’s retro look dictates appearances only. Lens and frame technologies are aggressively forward-looking, with companies releasing 3D-printed frames, innovative anti-fog materials, improved color and contrast tints, and smarter interfaces between eyeglass straps and frames.
Even while this winter Snow sports optics They may look like blasts from the past, they actually introduce new construction methods and deliver unprecedented performance on the ice. And that’s the key—because there is nothing desirable about ’80s optics technology. With these sunglasses and goggles, you get futuristic technology with a nice look.
1. Obermeyer Rallye sunglasses
ski icon Klaus Obermayer He invented mirrored lenses in the ’60s, and now, his ski apparel company is celebrating its 75th birthday with this update of the original reflective ski sunglasses. The Rallye is crafted from lightweight vegan acetate and vegan glass lenses using 700 minutes of hand molding involving 300 separate steps. Removable leather side shields protect eyes from high-altitude UV rays, and a mirror finish (on black, navy, and clear frames) enhances the glare-diffusing powers of the polarized glass.
[$500; obermeyer.com]
2. Dynafit Ultra Evo sunglasses
Modern materials make these shield-style sunglasses lighter and more sweat-resistant than the original ’90s sunglasses. The grilamid frame and polycarbonate lenses cut the weight down to just 31 grams, the silicone nose plate stays in place through sweaty efforts, and the high-contrast lenses increase visibility on the snow. Plus, the neon colors match the sky-high energy levels required for ski mountaineering (the sport these tires are designed for).
[$150; dynafit.com]
To access exclusive videos about the equipment, interviews with celebrities, and more, Subscribe on YouTube!
Discussion about this post