Polarized sunglasses have been around for years, though traditionally used mostly by boaters to reduce the glare from the surrounding water. What these early models offered in terms of performance unfortunately was often offset by limited and rather ‘clunky’ styles. In the past few years, however, enthusiasts of other outdoor activities such as skiing, rock climbing and cycling have embraced the benefits of the technology, and manufacturers have responded with many new stylish models. Native Eyewear, offered by online outdoor gear retailer Mountains Plus (www.mpgear.com) is an excellent example of this new generation of polarized sunglasses maker.The benefit of using polarized lenses is the reduction of glare. Many surfaces can be a source of glare, including water, sand, pavement, ice and snow. The result can be a bright light blazing into the eyes of enthusiasts trying to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities. Not only is this glare annoying, it can be dangerous. A common example can be found on the ski slopes on a clear sunny day, when skiers are squinting with their unprotected eyes to keep out the bright glare while attempting to maneuver between moguls, rocks and other skiers. “Skiing a black diamond run full of moguls with your eyes virtually shut is not the safest way to enjoy the slopes,” said Mountains Plus co-owner Erik Viafore. A polarized lens reduces this sometimes-dangerous glare and can enhance even less-exerting activities such as golfing and long drives in the car.
How do these lenses work? Glare is reflected sunlight that travels on a wavelength that is generally horizontal to the surface it is hitting (for example, the flat road in front of the car). This reflected sunlight can be extremely bright to the unprotected eye, even one with sunglasses if they aren’t polarized. Like other polarized lens makers, all of Native Eyewear’s lenses incorporate a "vertical" polarized filter that absorbs the horizontal light thus eliminating the glare. You're left with sharp, crisp, glare-free vision with increased contrast and depth perception. This results in safer and more enjoyable outdoor activities.
Native Eyewear offers a variety of styles and sizes of polarized sunglasses to fit almost any shaped head and face. From the petite rock climber to the big backpacker, Native carries frames that will make any outdoor enthusiast look great. “We carry lenses for the active yet style conscious skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts, as well as stylish shades you’d see at the beach or even on the way to the shopping mall,” said Viafore. Many of Native’s models come with multiple lenses for different light conditions, from gray to block the bright sun of mid-day to yellow to enhance low-light conditions. And best yet, Native offers a lifetime guarantee on all their frames. This goes hand in hand with Mountains Plus’ Worry Free Guarantee, which allows customers to return any product at any time if they are not happy with their purchase.
Sunglasses for the active outdoor adventurers no longer have to be stylish or functional (i.e., polarized). Now, with products like Native Eyewear, offered by Mountains Plus, people can have it all. With polarized lenses, hikers, cyclists and others can cut the annoying and potentially dangerous glare while still looking great.
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