Native Eyewear Andes Sunglass Review
If you are in the market for sporty shades that can hang with you on a mountain bike adventure, trail run, hike, etc you should give Native Eyewear’s Andes Sunglasses a try. The Andes were new for the 2012 season and have really come out as a favorite pair of sunglasses for just about any adventure.
The Andes feature some of Native’s cutting edge technologies, but most important of all, they provide excellent sun protection while staying in place on your face. The Andes feature Native’s Mastoid Temple Grip technology and Cushinol nose pads, these two features combine to keep the glasses in place during your activity. As a runner, I cannot stand when glasses jostle up and down out of sync with each stride, this is not the case with the Andes. Equally important is maintaining a clear visual field while working up a sweat. Some glasses on the market claim to be “fog free” and you put them to the test and they simply don’t stand up to their claims. The Andes, however, have exhaust vents at each temple and really do prevent condensation or fogging during high intensity activities, even when worn with a running hat or bike helmet, which often blocks heat escaping from above.
The Native Andes are designed for medium framed faces and I would agree with this statement. If the glasses are purchased by the right wearer, you will get a nice wrap around fit the provides total coverage of your eyes from all angles. This feature is important for not only eye protection from debri such as rocks and dirt, but also allows for more complete protection from the sun, including rays that may reflect up off of the water. These glasses are really gender neutral as well, as my husband and I would take turns wearing the Andes as our faces are of similar size.
The fit, anti-fog, and protection properties are not the only features worth mentioning. The Andes are available in a variety of frame and lens options to give you a bit of style as well. The Andes are available in Polarized as well as Polarized Reflex lenses, with the Reflex costing you and extra $20. We tested out the Polarized Bronze Reflex with provides 12% VLT (Visual Light Transmittance), which is great for moderate to bright sunlight. I found these lenses to be suitable for just about any lighting conditions, include low light situations due to the yellow or sunny glow that they give off. The lenses have been relatively durable and have yet to scratch or chip after a few falls, bumps, and scrapes. If you prefer darker shades, the lens options include blue reflex, gray, and brown. If you need a little more transmittance, then check out the copper reflex with 18% VLT. The Andes come in a variety of frame colors that can be mixed and matched with the lens of your choice.
The Andes retail for $129-$149, depending on your decision to add Reflex or not to your lens. Please visit one of our partners below for more information and product specs or to purchase.
