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The cold world of skimo & alpine climbing

The cold world of skimo & alpine climbing

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Sledge sunglesses by Tifosi?



    -click on the photos to get a full size version-

My environment has changed a good bit in the last couple of years.     I live in an area now that gets 210+ days a year of sun and 82 days of precipitation.   It is a desert.    Beautiful as it is here the barren land and glare here are both rough on the eyes.

We moved here from a environment of 205 sunny days  and some kind of precipitation, on average, 173+ days per year.   Needless to say there was a lot of green :)

With a enough green in the environment light colored glasses are usable even with blue eyes that are more prone to bright light damage.

If you have read through CT it is likely obvious I own and use lot of different sun glasses.   Skiing, climbing, on a horse or bike, or just in the field,  I literally don't leave the house without a pair of high quality sun glasses on or stashed on my person.  

I rate my own glasses two ways.  Sun protection and eye protection.   On a tight single track or a fast road bike decent I want eye protection.   On a horse here in the desert I want eye protection from the blowing sand and dirt.   Shooting?  Eye protection is mandatory as a safety concern.



Enter Tifoi's newest sunglass, the "Sledge".    Or maybe better described as a "google"?   In the last few years any number of sunglass companies have enlarged their lens to almost the size of a small pair of ski goggles.    The Sledge is one of them  and it was designed ground up specifically for cycling.   And they work extremely well there.  Great protection and most importantly great vision with the super large lens.  There are no blind spots with the Sledge on a bike.  If you have ever been hunched over for hours on aero bars looking through the frames (not the lens) of a poorly designed sun glass frame you know the pain.   That is not a Sledge problem.   Ever done that quick lane change and snapped your head left for a second to check oncoming and not have a clear view of what's coming because of a bad frame/lens design?!

I wanted the Sledge in the darkest lens they had available.  Which is a mirrored gray.  And it is dark (3).  Good enough for the bright summer days here.   But it was the clear and intermediate lens that got my attention for every day use in less harsh conditions.

I have a couple pair of clear lens glasses that I use as safety glass for shooting or crashing through the brush.   If I am weed wacking or mowing the lawn  I use a sun glass of some sort as a "safety glass".    But typically none of them offer the eye coverage and protection of the Sledge.  

The lens come as filter rated clear is a 0, the intermediate lens is a 2 and the gray mirrored version a 3.  All tucked into a handy carrying case.

The last time I had an eye injury was from a shard of ice while climbing.   It actually cut my cornea from a pick placement mid lead .  From then on I have generally climb with a visor attached to my helmet.  A eye injury in the middle of a week long climbing trip was not something I want to ever repeat.   Ice climbing is  a place the typical sun glass might be too dark or too light or simply not offer enough protection all the while guaranteed to fog up on you.   I like having multiple len shades to choose from and good venting.

The Sledge has great venting.  I've had no fogging even when just working while stationary wearing  them during 80F temps and 70% humidity and sweating badly.    On a bike...I don't think you'd ever have a problem.  Ice climbing?   I still need to check out.

The company spiel?

Grilamid TR 90 frames.   My Dynafit ski boots are made of some sort of Grilamid.  I have yet to break any of them.  Not without trying!   :)

Polycarbonate lens...tough stuff.  Ballistics tough.
100% UVA and UV protection
Hydrophilic rubber on the frames that gets stickier as you sweat
Lens are coated to reduce eye strain

[b]and a lifetime guarantee against defects[/b]




Sold in four colors, you’ll have the choice of Crystal Orange with a Clarion Blue lens, Crystal Red with a Clarion Yellow lens, Matte Black with a Smoke lens, or Matte White with a Smoke lens – all of which are shatter proof and provide 100% UV protection.

May be the best thing about the Tifosi Sledge from my point of view is the price....$80. MSRP     I am way over what most are asking as the going rate for a decent pair of sunglasses these days @ $200+.  The Sledge is my first pair of Tifosi.   I am impressed.  They won't be my last pair of the brand.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Rethinking tech Bindings?



The most difficult lines I have skied have all been in lwt "race level" Tech bindings.    The story linked below isn't the first time I have heard of a major failure on a tech binding toe while in use.    

Y'all be careful out there!

"How a Close Call in La Grave Changed My Thoughts About Bindings" 


Gear failure is part of the risk we accept as skiers—so how do we stay safe?

https://www.powder.com/gear-locker/how-a-close-call-in-la-grave-changed-my-thoughts-about-bindings/