Editors’ Choice: Julbo Cyrius Black 0-4 Reactiv High Contrast Lens
$250, julbo.com
“How did I ever live without these?” our tester asked. A new member of Julbo’s Cyrius line, the 0-4 Reactiv High Contrast lens has the company’s broadest photochromic range. “These lighten enough to work well at dawn, dusk, and dark and dreary days,” our tester said. “And they turn dark enough to stay comfortable on sunny, bluebird days.” He liked the size, which toed the line between welding mask and children’s goggles, but the strap “came up short, literally,” as it barely fit around a midsize helmet. Still, his conclusion was overwhelmingly positive: “They are the perfect eye covering anytime you need goggles instead of sunglasses.”
Atomic 4 Q HD
$260, atomic.com
That old cliché about rose-colored glasses is true, according to our tester. “These could easily be an everyday pair of goggles,” he said. The Cylindrical Fusion double lens with a hydrophobic coating offered a large range of vision, though our tester felt these would be too big for small-faced folks. After hiking short pitches with the goggles on, he didn’t notice any fogging up, crediting the anti-fog coating. Atomic’s Quick Click lens changing system, which uses four buttons, allowed him to swap in a matter of seconds. “Nifty,” he said after changing them in stormy conditions. In conclusion, “Life is good with rose-colored lenses.”
Anon M4S
$320, anonoptics.com
This year, Anon introduced the small-sized M4S, which boasts the same detachable facemask and ability to swap between toric and cylindrical lenses as the larger M4. “Full-face coverage on my small face, still comfortable,” a tester said. While she noted that the cylindrical lenses didn’t have the highest definition, she called swapping them “super-fast. Seamless.” Ringing the frames are eight magnets, which are strong enough to keep the lens in place through impacts. When the light changes, however, the lens still pops out easily for swaps. Her final thoughts? “Didn’t fog, kept my eyes from frying on sunny days and kept snow out of my face on deeper days. All big wins.”
Marker Smooth Operator
$80, markerbindings.com
With a lens that sits directly on a layer of foam instead of a plastic frame, the Smooth Operator is low profile and flexible. “Takes up less space in a pack, and I’m never worried about squishing them,” a tester said. “The lenses can’t be swapped, but the price tag per goggle is cheaper than most replacement lenses.” Marker claims that placing the cylindrical lens closer to the face provides a wider field of vision, and that an anti-fogging coating keeps the lens clear, despite the minimal vents. “They fit surprisingly well with most helmets,” one tester noted. She added that the medium and large sizes run small: “Both fit my tiny face without squishing my nose.”
Scott React
$250, scott-sports.com
When our tester swapped out the React’s lens via a magnetic system, a satisfying “clop” told him the goggles were ready to rip. “Snapping the lens into place is as easy as closing a door. The lock clicks back into place without needing to be held open or manually closed,” he explained. He found the wide, silicone-coated strap kept the goggles in place, and the foam sealed to his cheeks for a comfortable fit. That foam is designed to vent sweat and pairs with an anti-fog coating to keep vision clear all day. While our tester deemed the two included cylindrical lenses to be “fine for everywhere,” he noted that “the peripheral range is slightly below average.”
This article was originally published in Issue No. 147. To read more, pick up a copy at BackcountryMagazine.com/147 or subscribe to read gear reviews earlier when they are published in print.
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