Whether you are climbing Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail leading to Machu Picchu or the Pays Dogon in Mali, having the right eyewear is essential. Firstly, being able to see the nature surrounding you is paramount to your experience. Even for someone with the slightest deficiency in their eyesight could be missing the details of trees, wildlife, and mountains which make the trek worth the long hard days of climbing. Your glasses also need to stay on your face and be durable, as you might be going across rivers or up cliff faces – you could face volcanic dust, heavy rainfall or sharp sand, and if you were to lose your glasses then it could be heartbreaking consequences. Imagine reaching the peak of the mountain and only being able to see a blurred version of what you had already seen online.
So, it is pretty plain why having clear vision is so important, particularly when trekking. We recommend that you get your glasses from EyeBuyDirect as they are great quality and inexpensive. Plus, there are lots of options to add things onto your glasses such as anti-glare or anti-scratch. They also have an option to add protection from blue light which comes off devices, such as your phone or laptop. This may not be necessary for your trek but might be a consideration for the rest of your trip.
Another thing for a trekker to consider is protection from the sun. The sun can be very damaging to your eyes, however, the wrong pair of sunglasses can stop us from seeing our surroundings properly. You do not want to have to miss a moment of the natural beauty surrounding you on your trip. You are probably also planning on traveling as light as possible, after all, the smaller the bag the easier it will be to carry up and down the mountainous terrain.
One viable option could be to look at transition lenses, which will darken depending on how much light and UV surrounds you. This is a brilliant option as protection and sight will always be optimized. This may be especially helpful as you reach high altitudes, as although it might be cold the UV will be strong. Transition lenses will keep you protected no matter what.
Remember, even if you are trekking through the snow you still need to protect yourself from the sun. The sun can reflect from the snow or water on the floor and still hit your eyes. Therefore, you may also want to consider a larger pair of glasses that give you fuller protection. You can even get glasses that cover the sides of your eyes. These could be a serious consideration for more extreme trekkers, despite the fact that they might not feel as stylish.
In conclusion, if you are preparing for your next trek, be sure to get your eyewear right. Choose something which is going to securely stay on your face, offer you the best opportunity to take in all of the beauty you will be surrounding yourself with, whilst keeping you protected.
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