Gear Review: Zeal Slingshot Sunglasses

We don’t do too many gear reviews here at 14erskiers, but it’s something we’ll probably do more of as time goes on. This winter I was using Zeal’s Slingshot sunglasses, and now have enough information to give them a full review. Full disclosure: I have been an athlete/ambassador for Zeal Optics for the past 10 years. That said, I wouldn’t ask them for gear if they weren’t truly the best goggles and glasses out there.

One look and it’s obvious that the Slingshot is a technical piece of optical gear. These are not the frames I grab when I’m heading out on the red carpet. OK, I’ve never done that, but the point remains. Function trumps fashion out in the backcountry, though, and these glasses are built for function. The first thing you’ll notice when you pick them up is how light they are- not a big deal in my world, but still an added bonus. The lenses are as high tech as they come- they are photochromic, which means they offer exceptional clarity and change the tint based on how bright it is outside. They’re equally at home in the dark timber of deep winter when you barely need sunglasses at all, as they are in the bright sunshine of springtime peak descents. Zeal’s photochromic offerings have been getting better by leaps and bounds over the past few years- they change tint rapidly and seem to have a wider range as well.

My favorite trait about these sunglasses? They don’t seem to fog, ever. The lenses have quite a bit of venting, as do the frames, and when you combine that with a lens that sits fairly far away from your face, they just won’t fog. Considering their full coverage and lack of fogging, these sunglasses are going to transition nicely to mountain biking use if the snow ever melts and I get back into that again. My only complaint? They are a little loose on my face- I will need to use Croakies to keep them on while biking. Of course, someone with a bigger face wouldn’t have that problem at all.

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Frank Konsella

Frank loves snow more than anything... except his wife.  He ensures his food is digested properly by chewing it 32 times before swallowing.He is a full-time real estate agent serving Crested Butte and Gunnison and would be honored to send you his monthly newsletter.

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