ProView – Native Eyewear Acadia Sunglasses

What’s at the top of your mind when you’re ten hours and 30-something miles into an attempt to run the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier? Mostly food. Maybe the weather if, as in our case, we heard rolling thunder not-far-enough away while ascending toward exposed alpine terrain. And perhaps obstacles: Can we make it across that sketchy river crossing or through that confusing trail junction before dark? As with most mountain endeavors, I suppose it all comes down to comfort — you’re often thinking about discomforts and threats to your comfort. If you’re comfortable enough, this thing feels possible, maybe even enjoyable. If not, it’s pretty easy to start falling apart.

The Native Eyewear Acadia sunglasses were not something I was thinking about while running around Mount Rainier. That’s a good thing because when gear is doing its job, you really shouldn’t have to think about it. This year, the Acadia sunglasses became part of my trusted gear kit. I wore them rock climbing, alpine climbing, backpacking, and running, as I trained for a 100 miler I will be running in September. And, of course, I wore them to the pub for a celebratory pint and burger after I finished the Squamish 50/50 Race.

There are a few reasons I wasn’t thinking about the Acadia sunglasses in the mountains this year. One, they are comfortable. I think I have a fairly average-sized head and face, and the Acadias fit great. They didn’t slide down my nose when I sweat. They didn’t squeeze behind my ears and eventually give me a headache. They didn’t pinch, wobble, or move around — they fit just right. I like the lenses. The Acadia lenses are polarized, so my eyes didn’t get fatigued by the glare coming off water or snow, and they’re crisp and clear. They’re dark enough to relax my eyes without being so dark that I trip over rocks and roots in the dappled light of the forest. They don’t fog easily, though fogging is always possible, especially in the damp, cool mornings in the Pacific Northwest.

They’re also durable. I’d love to say that I always kept my Acadia sunglasses safely stored in their burly zippered case when I wasn’t using them, but that would not be true. More often than not, they got stuffed into the front pocket of my running vest, along with uncounted packets of gel, blocks, and bars. Sometimes, I tucked them into a sweaty, salty buff. Sometimes they made it into their cloth pouch before I put them into my climbing pack. That said, they’re scratch-free as far as I can tell and the frames are good as new. It’s for these simple reasons that I reach for my Native Acadia sunglasses when I’m heading for the mountains. Oh, and I do like how they look. That’s important.

The Acadias are, of course, limited in their application. There are a few circumstances in which I would opt for specialized sunglasses. I use glacier glasses while ski mountaineering, however, since glacier lenses tend to be super dark, I wear the Acadia sunglasses during the early morning hours before the sun gets too intense, and in the afternoon once I drop below treeline. Also, when I mountain bike, I often wear clear or very light-colored lenses with a shape designed to block wind and dust from the front and sides. I probably wouldn’t wear the Acadia sunglasses while mountain biking.

Aside from those special circumstances, the Native Eyewear Acadia sunglasses are great all-around, everyday sunglasses. They’re comfortable, durable, and the lenses are great in just about any light or conditions. I would give them five stars and would highly recommend them for outdoor adventures, whether trail running, hiking, or climbing.

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