Hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, kayaking… all of these are sports that require plenty of time in the sun. When preparing for any sun-drenched sport, you take into consideration your clothing, gear, and provisions. You also need to consider the sunglasses or goggles you are going to wear. What you may not know is that there are certain types of glasses designed for certain sports. They are meant to make visibility better rather than decreasing it.
Generally the lens color determines what the glasses are used for. A gray lens or smoke colored lens offers the wearer true color perception. They give the most accurate view of the world. They are not typically used in sports, but are for normal wear. Yellow or amber colored lens decrease the blue light. They are typically used in hazy lighting conditions. These glasses are best for high altitude sports. By getting rid of the blue light they increase visibility because the blue light can make it difficult to focus properly.
Glasses designed with winter sports in mind often have a pink tint to the lens. This is because the pink color gives the wearer greater contrast in his vision as well as increased depth perception. This is essential for the extreme sports fan who loves to fly down a mountain at unnatural speeds.
You have probably noticed that some glasses have a brown tint while others have a blue or purple tint. The blue and purple colors are strictly used for fashion. They have no benefit in any sport. The brown has the same effect as the gray lens, but it does cut out more of the blue light. Again, this allows the wearer to see a greater contrast.
When you are out choosing your glasses keep this color coding in mind. You might want to talk to a knowledgeable sales associate. He should be able to tell you which glasses will work best with your sport.
Ojo Designs offers Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses along with many other brands and styles. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.