Guide for Choosing The Best Hiking Lenses

Day hiking typically involves exploring trails during daylight hours, often through forests, fields, or open spaces. It’s important to choose lenses that provide both glare reduction and enhanced contrast, allowing you to easily navigate between shady and sunny areas.

• Recommended View Tint: Gray, Brown
• Seek Optics Match: Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror, Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror Brown View Tint: Dark Brown or Fire Red Mirror
• Why It Works: Gray lenses like Volcanic Black offer neutral color perception, making them perfect for sunny day hikes where reducing glare is essential. The brown tint of Dark Brown lenses enhances contrast and depth perception, allowing you to clearly see uneven terrain, roots, or rocks as you switch between sunlit paths and shaded forest trails. These lenses ensure comfortable vision all day long.

Best For: Day hiking on forest trails, open fields, and sunny conditions.

Backpacking involves multi-day hiking adventures, often through diverse terrain and varying lighting conditions. When you're carrying gear and covering long distances, you need lenses that provide comfort, durability, and adaptability to changing light from dawn to dusk.

• Recommended View Tint: Photochromic/Transitions, Dark Brown, Light Brown
• Seek Optics Match: Photochromic Lenses: Photochromic , Light Brown View Tint: Bronze Mirror, Brown View Tint: Dark Brown or Fire Red Mirror
• Why It Works: Photochromic lenses automatically adjust to changing light, making them ideal for backpacking trips where you start hiking early in low light and continue into bright afternoon sun. Brown lenses like Bronze Mirror offer excellent contrast, enhancing your ability to see details like trail markers or uneven ground in shadowed areas. Both options are durable and lightweight, perfect for long adventures with a heavy pack.

Best For: Multi-day backpacking trips through forests, mountains, and varying terrain.

Thru-hiking involves trekking a long-distance trail, like the Pacific Crest or Appalachian Trail, over an extended period. This can mean exposure to all types of weather and lighting conditions. Thru-hikers need lenses that provide consistent protection and visual clarity, no matter the environment.

• Recommended View Tint: Photochromic, Gray
• Seek Optics Match: Photochromic Lenses: Photochromic Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror,  Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror
• Why It Works: Photochromic lenses adapt to the full spectrum of light, from dawn to dusk, and are perfect for long-distance hikers who face constantly changing conditions. Gray lenses like Volcanic Black reduce glare in bright light without distorting colors, offering clear, comfortable vision during long stretches in direct sunlight. Both options ensure that your eyes are protected for the entirety of the hike, helping you focus on the trail ahead.

Best For: Long-distance thru-hiking on trails like the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail, and in unpredictable lighting conditions.

Fastpacking is a combination of running and hiking over long distances, typically with minimal gear. You need lightweight lenses that offer superior clarity and contrast, allowing you to react quickly to obstacles while maintaining comfortable vision.

• Recommended View Tint: Gray, Rose
• Seek Optics Match: Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror,  Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror Rose View Tint: Arctic Blue Mirror or Nebula Green Mirror
• Why It Works: Gray lenses like Deep Red Mirror reduce glare while maintaining color accuracy, perfect for fast transitions between bright sunlight and shaded areas. Rose lenses like Arctic Blue Mirror enhance contrast, helping you see roots, rocks, or dips in the trail more clearly. Their lightweight construction and shatterproof polycarbonate material make these lenses ideal for high-speed, high-impact activities like fastpacking.

Best For: High-speed hiking or running on varied terrain and in fluctuating light conditions.

Summit hiking takes you to high altitudes where bright sunlight, reflective snow, and thin air create challenging conditions for your eyes. Lenses that offer maximum UV protection, glare reduction, and enhanced contrast are critical for safely navigating steep and rocky terrain.

• Recommended View Tint: Gray, Green
• Seek Optics Match: Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror, Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror Green View Tint: Gray Green, Rose Gold Mirror, Pure Gold Mirror or Epic Purple Mirror
• Why It Works: Gray lenses like Volcanic Black are essential for cutting through the intense glare found at high altitudes, especially when you're hiking above the treeline where direct sunlight is harsh. Green lenses like Epic Purple Mirror enhance contrast and provide depth perception, making it easier to spot obstacles or changes in terrain. Both tints help reduce eye strain, ensuring you stay focused on reaching the summit.

Best For: High-altitude summit hiking on exposed mountain peaks and in bright, reflective environments.

Scrambling involves a combination of hiking and climbing over rugged, rocky terrain, where handholds and footholds are key. Clear, sharp vision with good depth perception is vital for safely navigating steep slopes and unstable surfaces.

• Recommended View Tint: Green, Brown
• Seek Optics Match: Brown View Tint: Dark Brown or Fire Red Mirror Green View Tint: Gray Green, Rose Gold Mirror, Pure Gold Mirror or Epic Purple Mirror
• Why It Works: Green lenses like Gray Green boost contrast and depth perception, essential for assessing distances between rocks or ledges when scrambling up steep surfaces. Brown lenses like Dark Brown add warmth to your view, reducing glare while helping you see details like cracks or crevices in the rock. These lenses ensure you can scramble with confidence, even in tricky lighting.

Best For: Hiking on steep, rocky terrain with a mix of bright and shaded conditions.

Trail running combines speed with agility, requiring lenses that offer clear, uninterrupted vision in varying lighting conditions. You need lenses that reduce glare, improve contrast, and ensure protection from the elements without impeding your performance.

• Recommended View Tint: Gray, Rose
• Seek Optics Match: Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror,  Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror Rose View Tint: Arctic Blue Mirror or Nebula Green Mirror
• Why It Works: Gray lenses like Flash Black Iridium Mirror help maintain color accuracy while reducing glare in bright sunlight, which is perfect for fast-moving runs through forest trails or open fields. Rose lenses like Nebula Green Mirror enhance contrast and brighten low-light areas, helping you avoid obstacles like rocks or roots as you switch between light and shade.

Best For: Running on forested trails, rocky paths, or open terrain with rapidly changing light conditions.

Section hiking involves completing long-distance trails in stages, often over a period of months or years. Since each section of the trail might have different environments and lighting conditions, lenses that offer adaptability and contrast enhancement are key.

• Recommended View Tint: Photochromic, Brown
• Seek Optics Match: Photochromic Lenses: Photochromic , Light Brown View Tint: Bronze Mirror, Brown View Tint: Dark Brown or Fire Red Mirror
• Why It Works: Photochromic lenses are ideal for section hikers because they adjust automatically to changes in light, providing comfort throughout the day as conditions change. Brown lenses like Bronze Mirror enhance contrast, making them suitable for navigating a variety of terrains, from forested trails to open ridgelines, under variable light conditions.

Best For: Section hiking on long-distance trails with diverse environments and lighting.

Alpine hiking involves tackling steep, rocky, and often snowy trails at high altitudes. Lenses that can handle bright sunlight, snow glare, and rapidly changing weather conditions are essential for keeping your vision clear and your hike safe.

• Recommended View Tint: Rose, Green
• Seek Optics Match: Green View Tint: Gray Green, Rose Gold Mirror, Pure Gold Mirror or Epic Purple Mirror Rose View Tint: Arctic Blue Mirror or Nebula Green Mirror
• Why It Works: Green lenses like Epic Purple Mirror offer excellent protection against the intense glare from snow and ice, helping you maintain clarity in harsh light. Rose lenses like Arctic Blue Mirror enhance depth perception and contrast, allowing you to better navigate rocky paths and snow-covered trails. These lenses also reduce eye strain, important for hikes in high-altitude conditions.

Best For: Alpine hiking in bright, snowy, or rocky environments at high altitudes.

Snowshoe hiking takes you through snowy, reflective landscapes where intense sunlight can cause significant glare. Lenses that reduce glare and enhance contrast are necessary to safely navigate through snow-covered terrain.

• Recommended View Tint: Gray, Rose
• Seek Optics Match: Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror,  Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror Rose View Tint: Arctic Blue Mirror or Nebula Green Mirror
• Why It Works: Gray lenses like Chromium Mirror are perfect for minimizing glare off reflective snow while maintaining natural color perception. Rose lenses like Arctic Blue Mirror brighten your surroundings and improve contrast, helping you see details like snowdrifts or ice patches, even in overcast or flat light conditions.

Best For: Snowshoeing in snowy, reflective environments with bright sunlight or low-light conditions.

Nordic hiking involves traversing cold, snowy landscapes, similar to alpine hiking but often with a more endurance-focused style. Lenses that reduce glare and provide visual clarity are essential for navigating icy paths and spotting potential hazards in snowy conditions.

• Recommended View Tint: Gray, Rose
• Seek Optics Match: Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror,  Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror Rose View Tint: Arctic Blue Mirror or Nebula Green Mirror
• Why It Works: Gray lenses like Volcanic Black reduce the harsh glare reflected off snow, allowing for clear vision while navigating icy paths. Rose lenses like Nebula Green Mirror enhance contrast and brighten the environment, improving visibility in flat light or overcast skies commonly found in Nordic regions.

Best For: Nordic hiking in snowy, icy landscapes with varying light conditions.

Bushwalking is the Australian term for hiking, often through dense forests or bushland. Lenses that enhance contrast and reduce glare are necessary for navigating trails with mixed lighting, especially when moving between dense canopy cover and open areas.

Recommended View Tint: Brown, Green
Seek Optics Match: Brown View Tint: Dark Brown or Fire Red Mirror Green View Tint: Gray Green, Rose Gold Mirror, Pure Gold Mirror or Epic Purple Mirror
Why It Works: Brown lenses like Dark Brown improve contrast and make it easier to spot obstacles on forested trails, while green lenses like Rose Gold Mirror enhance depth perception and reduce glare in open, sunlit areas. Both lenses ensure comfort and clear vision, no matter the light conditions.

Best For: Hiking through dense forests or bushland with changing light conditions.

Trekking is a long-distance hiking activity often involving rugged terrain and remote environments. Lenses that offer adaptability, durability, and protection in a wide range of conditions are critical for trekkers.

• Recommended View Tint: Photochromic/Transitions, Dark Brown, Light Brown
• Seek Optics Match: Photochromic Lenses: Photochromic , Light Brown View Tint: Bronze Mirror, Brown View Tint: Dark Brown or Fire Red Mirror
• Why It Works: Photochromic lenses adjust to different light conditions, making them ideal for long treks that start in low light and continue into bright sunlight. Brown lenses like Fire Red Mirror enhance contrast and provide clarity in variable conditions, from dense forests to open valleys, while reducing glare for extended outdoor exposure.

Best For: Trekking through remote and varied terrain in fluctuating light conditions.

Sunny weather can be tough on hikers eyes due to the intense sunlight and glare from reflective surfaces like rocks or water. To prevent eye strain and maintain clear vision, you need lenses that can effectively reduce glare while preserving natural color perception.

• Recommended View Tint: Gray, Green
• Seek Optics Match: Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror, Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror Green View Tint: Gray Green, Rose Gold Mirror, Pure Gold Mirror or Epic Purple Mirror
• Why It Works: Gray lenses like Volcanic Black are ideal for sunny conditions because they provide neutral color balance while cutting down on harsh glare, helping you maintain accurate vision on bright, open trails. Green lenses like Epic Purple Mirror offer enhanced contrast and reduce eye fatigue by softening the intensity of sunlight, making them perfect for prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Both tints are designed to reduce UV rays and glare, providing protection for your eyes during long hikes in sunny environments.

Best For: Bright sunlight, high-altitude trails, desert hiking, beach hiking, and hiking in open fields.

On cloudy or overcast days, the light is often diffuse, making it difficult to see clearly. The light can still be bright enough to cause discomfort, especially when transitioning between shaded and more open areas. In these conditions, it’s essential to use lenses that enhance contrast without darkening your view too much.

• Recommended View Tint: Light Brown, Rose
• Seek Optics Match: Rose View Tint: Arctic Blue Mirror or Nebula Green Mirror Light Brown View Tint: Bronze Mirror
• Why It Works: Brown lenses like Bronze Mirror help brighten dim environments while improving contrast in low-light conditions. They are particularly effective for enhancing depth perception, allowing you to navigate through shaded forests and uneven terrain more easily. Rose lenses like Nebula Green Mirror not only brighten the environment but also enhance color contrast, making objects stand out more vividly in flat or gray lighting. Both tints are perfect for overcast conditions where a little extra brightness and contrast is needed to navigate safely.

Best For: Cloudy days, shaded forest trails, and overcast weather conditions.

Hiking in low-light conditions, such as at dawn or dusk, requires lenses that maximize light transmission to keep your surroundings bright and clear. In such environments, it’s crucial to use lenses that enhance visibility without blocking out too much light.

Recommended View Tint: Yellow, Rose
Seek Optics Match: Rose View Tint: Arctic Blue Mirror or Nebula Green Mirror Yellow View Tint: Blast Yellow
Why It Works: Yellow lenses like Blast Yellow are excellent for low-light conditions because they increase brightness and improve contrast, helping you see more clearly in the dim light of early morning or late evening. Rose lenses like Arctic Blue Mirror also work well in low-light settings by enhancing contrast and making details more visible, which is especially useful when the sun is just rising or setting. These lenses ensure you can navigate safely, even when natural light is scarce.

Best For: Dawn, dusk, twilight, overcast conditions, and heavily shaded trails.

In foggy or misty conditions, visibility is often compromised, making it harder to spot trail markers, rocks, or roots. Lenses that enhance brightness and contrast are essential to improve your vision and keep you safe on the trail.

• Recommended View Tint: Yellow, Clear
• Seek Optics Match: Clear, Blast Yellow
• Why It Works: Yellow lenses like Blast Yellow significantly improve contrast and clarity in foggy conditions by brightening the environment, allowing you to better distinguish objects through the mist. Clear lenses provide maximum light transmission while still offering protection from UV rays and debris, making them ideal for low-visibility hikes. Both options enhance safety by improving visibility in fog or mist, reducing the risk of tripping or missing important markers.

Best For: Foggy or misty hikes, low-visibility conditions, and hikes in heavy overcast weather.

Snow reflects sunlight, creating intense glare that can make it difficult to see clearly and lead to eye strain. Lenses that effectively reduce glare while enhancing contrast are essential for hiking through snowy or icy environments.

Recommended View Tint: Gray, Rose
Seek Optics Match: Grey View Tint: Deep Red Mirror,  Volcanic Black, Chromium Mirror or Flash Black Iridium Mirror Rose View Tint: Arctic Blue Mirror or Nebula Green Mirror
Why It Works: Gray lenses like Chromium Mirror are highly effective at cutting glare from reflective snow, while maintaining neutral color balance so you can accurately assess your surroundings. Rose lenses like Arctic Blue Mirror improve contrast in low-light or overcast winter conditions, making it easier to spot hazards like ice patches or uneven terrain. These lenses are designed to provide full UV protection, ensuring that your eyes are shielded from harmful rays, even in high-glare, snowy environments.

Best For: Snowy or icy hikes, winter hiking, snowshoeing, and alpine environments with bright, reflective snow.

Rainy conditions often result in reduced visibility and glare from wet surfaces like rocks, leaves, and trails. Lenses that can reduce glare and enhance contrast in these low-light conditions are essential for hiking safely in the rain.

Recommended View Tint: Brown, Green
Seek Optics Match: Brown View Tint: Dark Brown or Fire Red Mirror Green View Tint: Gray Green, Rose Gold Mirror, Pure Gold Mirror or Epic Purple Mirror
Why It Works: Brown lenses like Dark Brown are perfect for low-light, rainy conditions, as they enhance contrast and bring warmth to your view, making it easier to spot trail markers and obstacles. Green lenses like Pure Gold Mirror help reduce glare from wet surfaces, ensuring you can see clearly even when the ground is wet and reflective. Both tints are designed to maintain visual clarity, helping you stay safe on slippery, rain-soaked trails.

Best For: Rainy hikes, wet and slippery trails, and forest hikes during rain showers.

When hiking all day, you may encounter a wide range of lighting conditions, from early morning shadows to bright midday sun. Lenses that can adjust to these changing light conditions are ideal for keeping your vision comfortable and clear throughout the day.

• Recommended View Tint: Photochromic/Transitions
• Seek Optics Match: Photochromic
• Why It Works: Photochromic lenses automatically adjust their tint based on the amount of sunlight, transitioning from clear in low light to dark in bright conditions. This makes them ideal for hikes that span different parts of the day or involve varying light conditions, such as moving from shaded forests to exposed, sunlit ridges. These lenses provide the versatility needed to keep your eyes comfortable and protected from UV rays, regardless of how much the light changes throughout your hike.

Best For: All-day hikes, multi-light conditions, trails with mixed sun and shade, and hikes that start at dawn or end at dusk.