When it comes to protective eyewear for the mountains, Julbo is the only company I buy from. I used to be a huge fan of Oakley, but they don’t sell sunglasses with the category 4 lenses my eyes need for protection at high elevation. For 90% of my time on the trail, I wear my Julbo Dust with photochromic Zebra Lenses. The Zebra lens adjusts from 7% light transmission to 42% light transmission, and does so in less than 30 seconds. For this reason, they’re perfect for almost all hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and trail running activities. The only time I find myself needing more protection is when I am hiking at high elevation for long periods of time, with ice and snow reflecting light back into my eyes. For these situations, I wear my Julbo Explorers with Spectron 4 lenses.
The Julbo Explorer comes in a standard frame size as well as an XL size for larger faces and heads. Below you will find the dimensions for the standard Julbo Explorer and the XL. I bought the Explorer XL, as I found the standard frame to fit a bit tight on my temples. The Explorer ear stems are fully customizable with 360 degrees of articulation, so you can dial in the fit on your face and also while wearing a beanie, hat, or helmet. The ear stems are rubberized and grip very well on my head without causing any discomfort or pressure points. The ear stems also give you the ability to attach an adjustable neck strap, which is something I’ve found to be very useful and comforting. At 1.4 oz, these sunglasses are a little heavier than what I’m used to wearing, but that’s to be expected with the extra materials used for sun protection.
The frames of the Explorer have incorporated vents on the bottom outside corner of each eye and at the attachment point of each ear stem. Even though the lenses are anti-fog, I’ve found that the frames trap quite a bit of heat and moisture, causing some buildup on the lenses in moist environments. This is usually only the case when I’m wearing a hat, as the bill keeps the heat from escaping upwards. It’s a bit of a trade off, as the fully enclosed glasses offer a ton or protection, but in doing so leave limited spaces for ventilation.
The wings aren’t great for ventilation, but that was to be expected. What they are great for is blocking out the sun and other light sources. Starting at the middle, the frame hugs my nose closely and doesn’t allow any light in from the keyhole at the bridge of my nose. The wings fit my face very well and map the contours of my cheekbone without actually touching it. There is a very limited amount of space for light to sneak in here, and the only time I notice any seepage is when I intentionally look down to check. The peripheral light blockage is also superb, which is a combination of the wings and a thick ear stem. I had a few issues with light seeping in from above at first, but I was able to remedy this by adjusting the earstems to hold the frame tighter to my face. This is only necessary when I’m not wearing a hat. Mountaineer spending long days on the mountain will be happy to see that the Explorer comes with the clip between the eyes for a nose guard. This is not something I use, but worth mentioning for those that do.
The Julbo Spectron 4 lens is a category 4 lens that allows 5% light transmission. The Spectron 4 has a beautiful chrome flash finish for reflection, and the inside of the lens has an anti-fog and anti-reflective coating. As I mentioned above, the anti-fog works well in most conditions, with the exception being moist environments when I’m sweating hard. The anti-reflective coating works really well, as I hardly notice the reflection of my own eye, where I tend to on other freshly cleaned lenses. The anti-reflective coating also improves visual comfort by eliminating stray reflections according to Julbo. On the Julbo website, the flash finish is described as improving “visible light filtering with mirror effect lenses. It reflects the rays of light and increases the filter effect. It eliminates the radiation reflected by the outer mirrored surface of the lens.”
I’ve worn the Explorer with Spectron 4 lenses in a number of different conditions, and they excel at just about everything. Julbo recommends that you don’t use these for driving, but I wear them from my house to the trailhead in the car, and don’t find them to be too dark during the daytime. When I’m starting my hikes just before daybreak, the 5% transmission is a bit dark, and I leave the frames hanging from my neck until the landscape lights up. The Specron 4 is the very best on really bright days. These are my sunglasses of choice on hikes above 10,000 ft, hikes with snow and ice, or any hikes with lots of reflective granite. From the inside, the lenses render the world in an amber hue which offers great contrast and visual clarity.
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Product Description
ABOUT JULBO
Julbo has devoted over 125 years building quality, performance products and stands behind them 100%. Julbo warranties all sunglasses and goggles for the original owner against manufacturing defects for the lifetime of the product.
THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR VISION
Observing, listening, sharing, innovating and amazing: since our foundation by Jules Baud in 1888, these values have always been part of our family business. Enjoying a very close relationship with our athletes and users, we design products to meet actual needs and bring greater comfort and convenience to everyday life. Whether at the ends of the earth or the end of the street.
- CRAFTED FOR COMFORT: A soft and comfortable material on the temples doesn’t stick to hair, while creating a snug fit for all outdoor activities.
- SHIELDS AGAINST SUNLIGHT: Wrap-around profile provides maximum protection in extreme conditions against harsh sunlight. Julbo lenses provide 100% protection from UV A, B, and C rays.
- BEST FOR: The Luky Junior Sunglasses are specifically designed for boys between the ages of 4 - 6 years.
Product Details
- Cord attachment : Allows attachment of a cord.
- Curved temples : Ergonomic profile for good grip on the face and head.
- Flex System : Articulated sides at the temples for different head shapes and added comfort
- Grip Tech : Exclusive soft-comfort material on the temples that doesn't stick to hair, giving perfect grip and comfort
- Wraparound wide shape : Wraparound profile combining protection and good vision.
TECH SPECS
- Lens depth: 34
- Distance: 17
- Temple length: 113
- Base: 6
- Lens size: 47
- Age: 4 - 6 years
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| Customer Reviews |
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| Use Case | Outdoors and family outings | Outdoors and family outings | Outdoors and family outings | Outdoors and family outings |
| Ideal Age | 4-6 years | 4-6 years | 4-6 years | 3-5 years |
| UV Protection | A, B, C | A, B, C | A, B, C | A, B, C |
| Lens Type | Spectron 3 | Spectron 3 | Spectron 3 | Spectron 3 |
| Features | Suitable for use in moderate to full sun, or in all outdoor activities in good conditions. Anti-fog coating. | Improves filtration of visible light by applying a mirror effect to the lens. Multipurpose lens suitable for all uses. | Suitable for use in moderate to full sun, or in all outdoor activities in good conditions. Anti-fog coating. | Suitable for use in moderate to full sun, or in all outdoor activities in good conditions. Anti-fog coating. |
Reviews with images
Perfect sunglasses for me, very durable
This is the second pair I've bought in 3 years, not because they broke, but because I lost the first. I then proceeded to find the lost pair, and lose the new pair.I've attached an image, this is what they're like after 3 years of wear.I live in Arizona, and the sun here is very bright. The tint is also a slight amber hue, which offers superior visibility in Rain, Dust, and even clouds on an airplane.The lenses are very dark, because of this, I've not felt the brutal shock of bright sunlight since I bought them, nor do my eyes have to re-adjust to indoor lighting after being outside.Additionally, they work great in windy conditions to protect your eyes from whatever may come at them, and I've found they work fine for skiing, too. Great resistance to wind, and the darkness of the lenses prevents the snow-blind effect from occurring.The "horse blinders" as I like to call them on the side are great when driving with the sun to your side, and are removable, though I've never worn them without said "horse blinders" as they do not hardly limit my vision.I love them and I'll buy another pair the moment I lose these again.
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Petra
Leider nicht die gewohnte Julbo Qualität
Reviewed in Germany on February 18, 2019Color: Green/GreenSize: One SizeVerified Purchase
