Heron Glacier

Glacier glasses are sunglasses built for snow, ice and high altitude. They combine very dark Category 4 lenses with side shields that block light from the edges. They are a popular piece of equipment for glacier travel, ski touring and high-altitude mountaineering. Fresh snow can reflect up to 80% of UV radiation, so ordinary sunglasses leave your eyes exposed to snow blindness. Our Heron Glacier glacier glasses are inspired by classic styles, pair Cat. 4 mirror-coated lenses with leather side shields for eye protection above the snowline.

Category 4 is the darkest lens rating for sunglasses. A Cat. 4 lens lets through only 3–8% of visible light, compared with 8–18% for Cat. 3. That makes them right for extreme glare: glaciers, snowfields, and high-altitude climbs where UV increases with every 1,000m. Cat. 4 lenses are too dark for driving and are marked as unsuitable for it under the international sunglasses standard (ISO 12312-1). If you need one pair for mountain days and the drive to the trailhead, choose Cat. 3. For time on the ice, choose Cat. 4 glacier glasses like the Heron Glacier.

Side shields close the gap at the edges of the frame, where light, wind and dust get in around a regular pair of sunglasses. On snow and ice, glare comes from every direction, so blocking it at the sides makes a real difference to eye strain and comfort. Leather side shields have been used on mountaineering glasses since the early 1900s and are still the most effective option at altitude. The Heron Glacier, with leather side shields and Cat. 4 lenses, is our version built for the ski touring, glacier expeditions, and high-altitude mountaineering. For Cat. 4 protection with your own prescription, see the Heron Glacier Rx.