Best sunglasses for sports
Most sunglasses fall off when subjected to aggressive head movement like when doing many types of sports. Ombraz on the other hand don't fall off even when the user is upside down. It's perfect for those who have a tendency of losing their sunglasses from it falling off their faces.
Unlike other sunglasses, Ombraz sunglasses do not have arms that rest on the ear for support. Instead, they use a Japanese nylon cord that wraps loosely around your head.
They're like goggles, in that they wrap around your head and don't fall off, but they're not required to be tight and are a lot more comfortable to wear. They're so comfortable that some people sometimes forget that they're wearing sunglasses. Perhaps the fact that it's so light (20g) adds to the overall comfort.
These sunglasses are also virtually indestructible so you don't have to worry about them breaking in action.
As a bonus, the cord functions as a Croakie so you can just let the sunglasses hang around your neck when you're not using them. They also fit easily in your pocket because they don't have arms.
Ombraz won Backpacker Magazine's Editor's Choice award back in 2019 and won Gear to the Year Award from Outside Magazine in 2021. Not bad for a company that's only been around for 3 years.
The Lenses
Lenses on the Ombraz are very good quality as far as I can tell. These are world class Zeiss optics and to me the clarity is comparable to the likes of Maui Jim sunglasses and Randolph Engineering.
There are 3 color options for polarized (grey, brown, yellow) and 2 options for non-polarized (grey and brown). All lenses offer 100% UVA/UVB protection and hard-coated for impact and scratch-resistance.
According to Ombraz, the lens are hydrophobic and oleophobic, making them smudge-resistant and easy to clean. However, by dropping a drop of water on the lens, we find that it's not as hydrophobic as we thought it would be. So we sprayed some water and came to the conclusion that it might not be hydrophobic at all. Don't expect is to give you clear vision every time when doing water sports.
Ombraz lenses currently don't have anti-reflective coating.
Made to last a lifetime
There are no hinges to worry about and no screws to lose. The frame is made of hand-carved cellulose acetate and can take quite a beating. It can even survive being stepped on with boots or ran over by a steamroller.
However, the lenses will likely get a few scratches if you subject to abuse as extreme as running it over with a steamroller. It's not scratch-proof, only scratch-resistant.
The cord is made of Japanese nylon, which is tear-resistant seems quite durable. Since you're not going to be wearing it tight anyway, there's little reason it will break.
In any case, if you do end up breaking them, there's a lifetime warranty you can claim.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Doesn't fall off
- Built-in Croakie
- Durable
- Can be hanged
- Safe for pocket storage
- They plant 20 trees for every purchase
Cons
- No AR coating
- Requires 2-hand operation
Conclusion:
The Ombraz is one of the best sunglasses if not the best sunglasses you can get for sports or hiking or running mainly because they don't fall off. They have a virtually indestructible frame and no arms to break. The lens is high quality and impact-resistant. The cord doubles as a croakie so you can hang the glasses around your neck when not using them.
Currently there are only 3 frames to choose from since Ombraz is still quite a young company. Still their sunglasses have already won a few awards. Ombraz is truly quite special.
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