I long ago found that the advantages of a high quality pair of shades more than justifies the price.  Well crafted sunglasses fit better, have clearer less distorted lenses, last longer, and in general look better than their mass produced 5 dollar counterparts gracing the shelves of your local convenience store.  I also trust that the lenses in sunglasses made by a known manufacturer will actually block the the damaging UV rays that will cause long term eye complications.  UV exposure to the eyes has been linked to all sorts of maladies including macular degeneration and cataracts.  Wearing sunglasses with out proven UV protection just compounds the problem by dilating your eyes with the dark lenses.

I was fortunate to get hooked up with a few pairs of Julbo sunglasses for my daughters and myself.  Unlike the cheapie sunglasses these high quality shades encourage my children to protect their eyes from the damaging sun.  They are constantly wanting to remove their old  sunglasses as the lenses tend to be distorted and the frames uncomfortable. The Julbo Kitty, and the Looping both are comfortable enough, and clear enough that my kids forget they are on.  The looping sunglasses are exceptionally ingenious as they can be worn either direction,  and my directionally challenged 4 year old does not run around with upside-down shades on her face. There is a removable stretchy elastic strap that helps secure the shades to their head. The sunglasses come in a whole bunch of different colors, and are particularly stylish.

The Julbo Dirt Sunglasses I have had the pleasure of wearing are fantastic backpacking shades.  Julbo designed markets them as being well suited for mountain biking, but I contend they are just as functional while hiking and backpacking.  My favorite feature are the photochromic lenses, which lighten and darken according to the amount of light.  This means I do not have to worry about my shades in the morning, evening or even the shady side of a peak.  I plop them on, and wear them all day.  There is no need to take them and try to find a safe place to stash them while on the trail.

The lenses are clear, and I cannot detect any real distortion.  The large wrap around frames keep stray UV rays out, and the wind from irritating my eyes.  The shape of the frames are comfortable even in conjunction with a hat which is often a problem with me and sunglasses.  The biggest problem I have with the Julbo Dirt Sunglasses is with the satin texture of the lenses.  This texture makes them hard to clean as a a cloth or my shirt, or what is available does not slide over the lens easily.

The 120-year-old Julbo brand is built from a rich history in alpine-mountaineering, high-altitude and glacier exploration optics. Today they have expanded their scope,  introducing their products to the United States, and building quality sunglasses and goggles for us ordinary mortals.  If you or anyone in your family are looking for high quality sun protection for your eye,  Julbo deserves consideration.