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Sunglasses - 1999 Men's Fitness Gear Guide - Buyers Guide

Men's Fitness, Dec, 1998 by Chris Rubin

One of the constants in outdoor exercise is the need for eye protection sunglasses that block out bright light and protect the eyes from wind, debris, damaging rays and impact. Most sports glasses are lightweight, made with nylon frames and polycarbonate lenses, and are like cross-training shoes - good for all kinds of activities. But if you spend your time on water or snow, you'd do better with glass that's been polarized, a process that cuts out glare. With street and sports styles moving ever closer together, you can wear all of the following shades just about anywhere.

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The lightweight Adidas Lizards (1) feature a patented breakaway temple technology to prevent injury to the eyes and face, important if you're engaged in contact sports or have balls flying at your face at high speeds. These goggle-like wraps, with polycarbonate lenses, come with rubber inserts on the earpieces and a rubber nose bridge for an extra-snug, no-slip fit, useful if your sport of choice involves a lot of motion. Lizards will stick to your face no matter how much you sweat or how hard you run ($100).

Good eyewear doesn't always have to come at a high price. Oakley Fives (2), available in 10 colors, are stripped down to the basics and sold at a basic price. They've got Oakley's patented Plutonite lenses (with superior optical clarity and impact resistance). And they're very lightweight in a mild wraparound frame, not unlike the Minutes but without the cat-eye curve, rubber pads and other bells and whistles that might drive up the price ($60 to $100, depending on lens tint and frame combination).

Dita Hi-balls (3), computer-designed and available in half a dozen colors, boast a retro-futuristic look; the French-made lenses' big curve offers the light protection of a full wrap without the bug-eyed look, and wide, almost '60s-style earpieces block out side-stream light. Made with nylon frames and polycarbonate lenses, Hi-balls are lightweight and easy to wear. They have no special features to keep them on your face, so turbulent sports might not be their best application ($105).

The new Smith Flipsides (4) from the Speed series come with your choice of regular or polarized lenses. Smith is known for its ski optics, and these shades are great for skiing and snowboarding. Megol (water-activated nylon) inserts where the glasses rest on the bridge of the nose get sticky when wet, so these shades cling to your face whether you're slaloming down a slope or running down your favorite trail. The narrow wrap is not unlike the Oakley Minutes but offers more of a cat-eye shape, Meanwhile, tapered-lens technology prevents distortion, even at the corners ($95).

On the water, you really can't beat Maul Jim - every pair is optically correct, all glass and polarized. Backside coating absorbs bounce-back light, and a waterproof finish makes [H.sub.2]O slide off for easy cleaning and maintenance. And the rose-tint lenses in the new Maul Jim Mai Tai (5) offer excellent vision for skiing, as well. These new lenses will soon be available in several other Maul Jim frames ($199).

Fila Eyes 8507 (6) offer a full bug-eyed wrap style with a strong but comfortable grip. Rubber pads grab behind the ears, and special hydrophilic material that contacts the bridge of the nose gets sticky when wet. The lightweight frames come in tight across the eyebrows for leak-free light blocking. And these are good-quality, decentered polycarbonate lenses, so there's no distortion at the far ends of the curve. Vents over the nosepiece and where the shatterproof lenses connect near the earpieces keep air flowing through to prevent fogging ($89).

Ultra-sleek narrow wraps, Oakley Minutes (7) are well made, super-light and a damn good fit. Rubber pads at the end of the earpieces provide a good hold and comfortable grip. These are fine all-purpose shades: functional, trendy and cool. Made with polycarbonate lenses, they come in five colors, including stylish tortoise with a gold Iridium lens tint ($90 to $125).

For sport-inspired streetwear, it's tough to beat the ultra-stylish LA Eyeworks Axles (8). These metal-framed shades come in 12 colors. Their sports heritage shows in the sleek rounded frame front and the color selection, which runs the gamut from metallic blue and orange to black matte. These narrow shades are lightweight and snug enough to keep on if you suddenly find yourself in a pickup game of hoops or Frisbee ($325).

Pewter-colored frames with oval polycarbonate lenses give the Police 2404 (9) a distinct and attractive look. These metal frames are a definite no-no for contact sports but are fine for street wear and water activities. Attiva lenses employ European technology that mimics the properties of melanin, the natural pigment that provides the most effective defense against the sun and its damaging rays. Double hinges on the earpieces indicate quality workmanship and durability ($135).

Sunglasses - 1999 Men's Fitness Gear Guide - Buyers Guide

Men's Fitness, Dec, 1998 by Chris Rubin

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