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Julbo Cham 2022-2023 Snowboard Sunglasses Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the Julbo Cham

  • Price: £105 / €150 / $230
  • Sizes: N/A

Why We Chose The Julbo Cham Sunglasses: The coolest sunnies you’ve probably never heard of.

Hot diggity dog, we do love a comeback. Whether it’s Sylvester Stallone smashing Dolph Lundgren in the 12th round in Rocky IV or Liverpool fighting tooth and nail to claw back 3 goals in the 2005 Champions League Final against AC Milan, there’s just something special about seeing it.

“Everything about these screams premium, from the tough leather side shields to the Category 4 Lenses”

Our favourite comeback in recent years though, has been The Cham. Julbo’s iconic alpine sunglasses are back on shelves and in the mountains where they belong. And it’s not just misplaced nostalgia that’s led us to this conclusion, these are a pair of genuinely awesome and well thought out sunnies.

Founded in 1888, Julbo made their first pair of sunglasses for crystal hunters in Chamonix who needed to protect their eyes from the harsh environment. They went on to make Glacier Glasses in the 1950’s, used by expert mountaineers to climb the world’s deadliest summits. Since then, they’ve expanded their range to include goggles, helmets and glasses for pretty much every outdoor activity. But for us, the stand out is the Cham.

Who Are The Julbo Cham For?

While any rider could rock a pair of these bad boys, the premium lens quality could lean towards those who spend their time in particularly high altitude (or in sunnier conditions), but also with the side shields they appeal to photographers and videographers.

MORE INFO:
JULBOEYEWEAR.COM

 

Lens

Everything about these screams premium, from the tough leather side shields to the Category 4 Lenses, and while you might be more used to seeing them up Everest or Annapurna, we love them for sliding sideways.

If you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to have experienced snow blindness, you’ll know exactly what we mean when we say it’s so, so important to make sure your eyewear is up to scratch in the mountains. Snow blindness occurs when your eyes get exposed to too much UV light, and can happen more frequently in the mountains where the light reflects back off the snow for a double whammy.

The Cham comes with a Category 4 Lens, which has a VLT of 7%, meaning they only let in a very small amount of UV light, making them ideal for conditions with high intensity sunlight where there’s a lot of glare (the Cham are also available with a slightly softer Category 3 Lens, with 12% VLT).

“They’re iconic, and for good reason- they do a bloody good job of protecting your peepers, and let’s be real, they look dope as hell too”

Frame and Features

Aside from the lenses, The Cham has a slew of other technical features that make them our top choice for days on the hill, including the iconic leather side shields. These aren’t only for aesthetics (although they do deliver that unmistakably vintage look), they protect the eyes from the peripheral angles. They’re one of the features that our photographer friends and colleagues rave about, and if you’re into that kinda thing, they’ll help you to see your screen more clearly when the days are bright and sunny. Not to worry if you’re not into them, or the weather doesn’t require the extra layer of protection, they’re easily removable.

For comfort, they also have special grippy nose pads to stop them slipping, which even cling on when you’re suncreamed up or pouring with sweat making your way up the skin track. Plus, the arms are 360° rotatable to fit under any hat, helmet or cap of your choosing.

“Julbo’s iconic alpine sunglasses are back on shelves, and in the mountains where they belong”

Roundup

The Cham are available in a range of different colours, lens tints and polarisation options, so you can really dial in the perfect pair for you. They’re iconic, and for good reason- they do a bloody good job of protecting your peepers, and let’s be real, they look dope as hell too.

Pros:

  • Great protection for the eyes in extreme conditions
  • Bringing the nostalgia fuelled aesthetic

Cons:

  • Only one size available
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Tester’s Verdict 2022/23

Coming soon…

Trade Secrets

“Julbo started in 1888, created by Jules Baud (hence the name). Celebrating the classic 1950s Julbo glacier glasses – the first eye protection created exclusively for mountaineers – the Cham is that rare combination, functional yet totally stylish. Shiny metal, soft leather and rivets, backed up by high-performance lenses. Adopted by rock stars and climbers alike, they are a true collector’s item.”

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