Review: Cimalp sunglasses

Written by Seth Grotzke

First Published at FionaOutdoors

Here is a breakdown and the sunglasses that might be the best choice for you.

Go 2 Polarized Sunglasses

Features include:

  • TR90 Grilamid Frame
  • Polarized, scratch resistant Cat. 3 Polarized lenses
  • 100-percent UVA/B/C protection
  • Go2 frame meets CE 2016/425 standard
  • GO2 lenses meet CE 2016/425, EN iso 12312-1 (A1 :2015) & ANSI Z80.3-2018 standards
  • Ultra-lightweight
  • Price: £39.90
  • Buy the Go 2 Chartreuse sunglasses. 

What’s good about the Go 2 Polarized Sunglasses?

I really like the look. They come in a variety of colours and styles, so you have lots of options to choose from. 

They stay on my head really well. I have a narrower face, so these felt much more secure than other larger pairs, specifically the Vision One Sport. When hiking or running the tight fit is really nice because of sweat and movement.

The polarized lenses are great to have in order to reduce glare and reflection. This makes a big difference especially while around water. Down at the river, the lake, or the beach, these were really nice to keep my eyes from straining because of squinting.

Lightweight. I tossed these in my running pack while travelling and they were great to have once the clouds parted and the sun came out.

CimAlp likes to categorise these as “a casual look with a spirit of adventure”. I think that is a pretty fair representation. I used these for walking, hiking, running, travelling, etc. They were the ones I chose most frequently because they stuck tight to my head and I liked how they looked. 

What’s not so good about the Go 2 Polarized Sunglasses?

If you have a wider face, they might seem too tight on you. 

The lightweight nature of them also means that they don’t feel nearly as resilient as others. I dropped them a few times and they didn’t crack or break, but being so light I was always a bit nervous.

Vision One Sunglasses 

  • Spectre® Technology
  • Category 3 lenses with UV 400 (100% anti-UV)
  • Optical Insert available as an option  
  • GRILAMID TR90 branches; 48mm unbreakable polycarbonate screen; EN ISO 12312-1-A-2015 standard
  • Convertible Frame (also comes with an independent nose bridge)
  • Non-slip material for the nose-pads
  • Adjustable branches
  • Retail price: £83.99
  • Buy Vision One sunglasses.

What’s good about the Vision One sunglasses?

I liked the wide coverage. I was testing these out in the summer, but if I were in snow, they would be really nice for the reflection and glare.

I liked the ability to switch out the lower part of the frame for more airflow. But when you have the lower frame on, the lenses are better protected, and it provides some extra face protection from dirt, etc. I like the lower frame on when there was higher intensity activity.

I like the ability to pick and choose the colors. These are highly customisable. 

The flexibility with the nose piece and temple ends is really helpful in high activity situations where you need to make sure they stay on your head.

What’s not so good about the Vision One sunglasses?

They stuck out from my face quite a bit. I would like to have them tighter on my face. The positive was that there was good airflow, but the distance seemed excessive. 

They are large. That made it feel strange when I was just walking around with them. This wasn’t an issue when I was running or biking, but I sort of felt like they were too big for my face when I wasn’t gearing up for something active.

Conclusion: I have been trying out the CimAlp sunglasses line for a couple years and I like these aspects about them. They are highly customisable, which means you can order the exact pair you want. 

They are reasonably priced, which means if you lose a pair you don’t have to cry. 

They are built with activity in mind, so you know they can handle some falls and bounces.

If you are looking for casual to active glasses, consider the Go 2 sunglasses. If you want something for biking, climbing, etc. take a look at the Vision One sunglasses. If you want some really light ones, take a look at the Vision One Sport.

  • I received these sunglasses free of charge in exchange for an honest review.