Julbo Cham Sunglasses

From Julbo, a French company that’s been around for more than 125 years, the Cham sunglasses are more than just top-notch eye protection—they’ve become a popular style piece as well. The flexible side arms and adjustable temples ensure you'll get a snug, custom fit. Meanwhile, the ventilated, removable leather side shields (a longtime staple of glacier sunglasses) protect from glare and help avoid snow blindness.

The category-3 3CF lenses block up to 88 percent of visible light and are made to protect your eyes from glare reflecting off flat horizontal surfaces (like water or snow). The category-4 Spectron 4 lenses block 100 percent of UV rays and block up to 95 percent of visible light, making them ideal for long, intense exposure high up in the mountains. Finally, the category-4 Alti Arc 4 lenses block up to 93 percent of visible light and boast a flash mirror finish and anti-reflective coating with an infrared filter.

Named for its founder, Jules Baud, Julbo has its roots in the Jura region of France, dating all the way back to 1888. Baud started out designing optical eyewear, and at the request of crystal hunters braving the mountains of Chamonix, began making protective sunglasses for the most extreme conditions. In the 1950s, the company revolutionized the market with the Vermont glacier goggles, built for mountaineers conquering the highest peaks in the world. And that’s exactly where Julbo tested its products—on 8,000ers like K2, Gasherbrum II, Broad Peak, and Nanga Parbat, among others. In the ‘90s and early aughts, Julbo expanded its line to include a wide range of sports and terrains, and today it even makes eyewear for children.