1 and 2 bedroom cabins, studio cabins and garden suites are steps from the fine sand of Mackenzie Beach.

Each of the cabins has a full kitchen, propane fireplace, full size bathtub, chairs on a small patio, and a picnic table. Relax inside with a coffee with views of the water or take a stroll in the beach.

The cabins are open all year round and are perfect for warming up and storm watching in the winter or a base for surfing and playing in the water in the summer.

I recently spent 3 nights there in February. We were treated with 100 km/h winds the first night, snow the second day, and warm sun the last 2 days.

What do the cabins have in them?

The cabins have a full kitchen with dishes and cookware.

The bathroom has a full tub and local organiic toiletries. Towels and bed linens are provided.

The cabins were build in 1976 and updated in 2009. The staff keep them very clean and well-maintained.

I was worried our first night when the wind gusts off the water were reaching 100 km/h and shaking the cabins. We had no issues with anything and the power didn’t even go out.

Sleeping that night was tough! I was worried something would break but absolutely nothing did. Though they get storms regularly (great for storm watching!) wind that strong is rare.

The resort also has wifi and laundry.

What can you do at the resort?

Just at the resort there’s lots to do. We spent most of our time roaming the beach and then warming up in the cabin, enjoying the view.

An indoor heated pool and hut tub were great for warming up. The ocean isn’t ever very warm!

Adirondack chairs are on the patios and around the property by the firepits. A picnic shelter with a BBQ is a great place for lunch.

A small hedge maze for the kids is right beside the cabins.

A few steps down the grass and you’re on Mackenzie Beach, 1 km long beach with fine sand and great islands to explore at the south end. At low tide you can walk right to the rocks and trees that make up the islands.

One thing to note is there is no restaurant at the restaurant. There are a ton of great place to eat or buy food a few minutes away in Tofino. We brought our own food to cook in the kitchen. Some of it was premade to save even more time for playing on the beach.

What’s nearby to do?

Outside the resort the options are too many to list.

A short 6 min (4km) drive and you’re in Tofino with all it’s surf shops, local art galleries, and restaurants. You could spend a week just exploring the nooks and crannies in Tofino alone. The bike path along the highway is a great way to get there too.

A 10 minute drive away is the world famous Long Beach. Long Beach is 16km long and gorgeous the entire way. You can ride your bike on it, surf, beachcomb or just lay in the sand.

At the other end of the peninsula is Ucluelet, a quieter, but no less interesting town. It’s not known for it’s beaches but the Wild Pacific Trail winds it’s way along the rocky cliffs. A short walk from the parking lot is the Amphritrite Point lighthouse. During the storms, the waves explode dozens of feet into the area on the rocks around the lighthouse. The Ucluelet Aquarium has local wildlife found and released every year from the nearby ocean.

Hike the Canso Bomber Crash. Such a cool piece of history to be found through a beautiful west cost biome. Radar Hill is another local piece of history with amazing views.

A short hike along the Rainforest Trail takes you along boardwalk through lush west coast rainforest.

Many of the shops in Tofino rent bikes. The town itself is very ridable and then there is the bike path in the forest along the highway. You can ride the 17km to Long Beach, the 40km to Ucluelet, or just around town.

Beachcoming along Mackenzie Beach right in front of the resort is great. There is also Chesterman Beach, Cox Bay, Florencia Bay, Long Beach, Combers Beach, Wickaninnish Beach and smaller ones like Tonquin, Middle, Third and Tinwis.

And of course there is there surfing. The conditions change daily and different seasons will be better for beginners or experienced pros. You can check the weather and webcams ahead of time. I suck at surfing so best to talk to one of the shops for more info!

How close are the cabins to the beach?

Literally a few steps. There a grassy field out the front door of most of the cabins and then onto the beach.

Is it close to Tofino?

Yes, is it a 6 minute drive to Tofino from Ocean Village. There is a paved path that leads along the main road into Tofino as well so it’s about a 4km walk or ride. Bikes are a popular way to get around here.

Ucluelet is much farther, about 40km or a 30 minute drive.

Is it dog friendly?

Yes, you can have dogs at Ocean Village and on Mackenzie Beach. They even get a pet care package. They must be on a leash. There is a limit of 2 per unit and a fee of $30/night.

Since they may be wet and sandy from the beach, there is a dog washing station near the cabins. Bad Dog Tofino has gear, treats, and pup cups.

Can you surf at Ocean Village?

Mackenzie Beach is a fairly small bay that doesn’t usually produce good surfing waves. It can be good for beginners or during storms. Cox Bay, Chesterman Beach, and Long Beach are usually better for surfing.

There are many places to rent surf and paddle boards in Tofino. Many of them offer lessons as well like Tofino Surf School, Pacific Surf School, and Surf Sister.

How to get to Tofino

Tofino is on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. It is a 3 hour drive from Nanaimo or 4 hours from Victoria. There are many beautiful views a long the way, so allow time for that if you want to stop or have a break.

Tofino does have it’s own airport and there are daily flights from Vancouver as well.

Booking a stay at Ocean Village

The easiest way to book at Ocean Village is right on their website.

You can also book with Expedia, Kayak, or Booking.com. TripAdvisor links to some other sites as well.

Final Thoughts

Have you stayed at Ocean Village? What did you think? It’s one of my favourite places to stay around Tofino and I’ve been many times.

Are there any other cabins on Vancouver Island I should try? Let me know in the comments!

More Photos

The post Cozy Cabins near Tofino: Ocean Village Resort first appeared on Pack & Trail.

This list is in no particular order, mostly the date it was reviewed.

Smith Guide’s Choice Photochromic Sunglasses

The Smith’s Guide Choice sunglasses are photochromic category 2 to 3 and polarized, making for an ideal fishing lens. ChromaPop filters crossover colours making red, green, and blue pop.

The glasses lenses are on the heavy side but they are the clearest and brightest lens I’ve ever used.

Full Review

Check price of the Smith Guide’s Choice

OnX Backcountry GPS App

GPS apps have overtaken dedicated GPS as the go-to for navigation. OnX is one of the best.

It’s easy to use on any kind of phone. Your saved info goes back and forth to a full-screen map on the computer. It’s light on the user-generated tracks in BC, but has a lot already baked into the included maps.

Full Review

Check prices and plans for OnX Backcountry

REI Wonderland Camp Chair

Not all chairs are built equal. Some aren’t comfortable. Some fall apart. Some are hard to carry.

The REI Wonderland Camp Chair is pretty much my dream camp chair. The wide seat is comfortable without being hard. The back is tall and slightly reclined. The cupholder is somehow still attached. And the carry strap is permanently attached and holds it closed while carrying.

Full Review

Check price on REI

Yeti Rambler 532 Mug

I went on a cleaning spree after getting this mug. Some of the complicated lids had never been cleaned and were black inside.

The Yeti Rambler has just 2 pieces to the lid that twist apart. And it’s totally water-tight. And it’s bombproof.

Full Review

Check price on Amazon

EXPED MegaMat Max Sleeping Mat

Poor sleep ruins camping or any adventure. It’s hard to enjoy the trip when you’re dead tired. What you’re sleeping on impacts sleep greatly.

The EXPED MegaMat Max is 15cm thick and filled with foam core. The foam expands and almost inflates itself. It also holds the sides vertical instead of sloped down so you get more surface area to lay on. And instead of just laying on a bouncy balloon it structures it more like a bed.

Full Review

Check prices on the MegaMat Max

LowePro Tactic 45 Camera Backpack

Right off the bat, I loved the look of this camera pack. I did assume it would not be comfortable with out square it is. Turns out it’s more comfortable than most backpacks I’ve ever worn.

The top opens for quick access or the whole back for all your camera gear. Tripods fit easily on either side. Velcro organizers can be moved around anywhere inside.

Full review

Check price on Amazon

Helly Hansen Verglas Down Insulated Jacket

I don’t really think of down jackets when I think of Helly Hansen but their Verglas down jacket is easily my favourite from the last couple years.

The Verglas isn’t bulky so it works well on any cool day (of which there are many in the Pacific Northwest). If it is raining AND cool, then it can fit under a shell. The pockets are big and the lining soft.

Full review

Check the price on HellyHansen.com (2.0 version)

Julbo Arise Photochromic sunglasses

My test for sunglasses is how often I forget I’m wearing them. For the Julbo Arise, it was a lot. They are ridiculously light. The photochromic lenses tint so light you can wear them at night. The gentle curve and soft surface on the arms keeps them in exactly the place you put them.

I beat the daylights out of the first pair I had and I’m on to my second pair.

Full Review

Check out Julbo’s other photochromic sunglasses

Check out Julbo sunglasses on REI

Osprey Talon 33 Backpack

The Osprey Talon 33 may be the best backpack I’ve ever used. I have a few other Osprey Backpacks and can’t say enough good things about them.

It’s travelled around the world and on too many adventures to count. It’s light, it’s packable, it’s comfortable, it’s bombproof.

The 33 is such a flexible size. I’ve used it for overnight nights or just a daypack travelling. Mine is 17 years old at this point and still going.

Full Review

The post Editor’s Choice Gear first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Julbo was founded in 1888 in Morez, France providing crystal hunters sunglasses to use in the Jura mountain range. Since then they’ve expanded to every sport possible, making glasses for sailing, skiing, riding, running, and climbing.

Their photochromic lenses may be the best in the world, changing tint quickly with the light in any temperature, often with hydrophobic and anti-fog coatings.

This review is on a base model of the Shield frames with the Spectron 3 Polarized lens. Built for high-altitude use, they work just about anywhere. Polarization cuts glare on snow or water. spandex shields cuts light from the sides.

I much prefer photochromic lenses for most situations but there are some like driving where they don’t work as well. I’ve added a list of the other lenses available for the Shield below.

Specs

Lens

With a large, polycarbonate lens, the Shields cut the light well. Polycarbonate are lighter than glass but still very clear. The red mirror finish helps improve the filtration of light and looks great, in my opinion.

The version I tested has the Spectron 3 lens. It’s a straight category 3 lens with 12% VLT (visible light transmission). They’re good all-around sunny day lens.

The polarization cuts the light from snow, water, or road after the rain. They worked well for seeing fish through the water or just seeing at all when bright sun comes out after the rain

I prefer a cat 2 or 3 lens for driving since car windshields usually filter UV. The UV light is required to trigger the tint in the photochromic versions.

Many other lenses are available for the Shield, each with their own pricing. I have used the Reactiv (photochromic) lenses with other models and they are absolutely game-changing. They tint with the light so you never have to take them off.

• Alti Arc 4 – Cat 4 mineral lens. VLT 7%. Clearer than plastic lenses. Anti-reflective coating.
• Spectron 4 – Cat 4 polycarbonate lens. VLT 5%. Anti-reflective coating.
• Reactiv 2-4 Polarized – (old name Cameleon) – Photochromic cat 2-4 VLT 5-20%. Polarized. internal anti-fog coating. Fast tint change in any temperature. External oil repellent coating. Brown tint for relief and contrast.
• Spectron 3 – Cat 3 polycarbonate lens (VLT 13%) – multipurpose
• Reactiv 2-4 (old name Zebra) – 7-35% VLT – internal anti-fog coating, external oil-repellent coating. Cat 2 to 4 in 22 seconds.
• Reactiv 0-4 High Contrast – 4-86% VLT. Largest photochromic range on market. Clear base. Cat 4 high end. High contrast for reading relief.

Comfort and Fit

The Shield are quite large. I have medium to large head and they’re still a touch big for me. The Shield M are basically the same glasses but slightly smaller.

The nose and temples have non-slip grip on them which grips but doesn’t pull on hair. I don’t have much hair to pull on so that wasn’t an issue! It would be nice if the arms wrapped around my head a bit more to keep them in place. The arms are non-adjustable.

The Shield M has slightly shorter temples and slightly smaller lenses, making them narrower overall.

Silicone Cord

The Shields come with a short silicone cord that fits snug around the back of your head. It was very easy to put on and off. It’s not very long but gives enough space to put them on and off, or hang around your neck.

They can be slid on further to keep them tight against your head if you want.

The ends of the temples have openings for standard leashes as well.

Shield

The Shields come with spandex, clip-on shields for the side of the lenses. They clip on easy put stay put very well. I never had an issue with them moving. They do reduce ventilation a little so if you’re sweating buckets you might want to remove them. They do have small vent holes in them with help a little.

A small tab holds them to the inside of the arm and they are quick to clip on and off. I found they touched my face a bit if the glasses were pushed in tight.

The spandex is heat, cold and water resistant. They don’t absorb anything so you can use them in any conditions.

Case

Julbo includes their standard hard and soft-sided case with the Shields. The top and bottom are hard, while the sides are soft. They pack down in your gear without taking up a lot of room.

Final thoughts

Julbo sunglasses are easily the best I’ve ever used. The prices are up there with the best brands in the world but absolutely worth it, especially for the photochromic lenses.

The Shields are ideal for high-altitude use but I’ve often got them on fishing, driving, hiking and biking. The cat 3, non-photochromic lens are perfect for driving or most sunny days. The Spectron lenses are also $150 less.

My favourite lenses are either the Reactiv 2-4 Polarized for sun and water or the Reactiv 0-4 for low light general use. Being able to wear them all day and still being able to see in any light conditions was game-changing for me. Most of my sunglasses I’ve broken or lost, I took them off because they were too dark or light.

Prices:

SPECTRON 3: $157.49 CAD

REACTIV 2-4 Polarized: $305 CAD

More Photos

I received a free product sample from Julbo to test for this review. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I believe in. All opinions are my own.

The post Julbo Shield with SPECTRON 3 Lens Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

In this review, we bashed around the Moab, a class riding-focused frame with the Light Night Fototec photochromic lenses.

Specs

Photochromic

The Light Night Fototec lenses on our tested Moab’s have 82% to 14% VLT.

82% is almost completely clear and 14% is great for a sunny day. 82 is category 0 and 14 is category 3. Category 4 starts at 8%

At 82% these were great at the beginning or end of the day with little light in the trees. They were basically just wearing a clear lens at that point. When the sun comes out from behind the clouds or the trees, they darken down automatically.

Comfort

The Moab lenses are huge. They easily cover my eyes and more. Any way I looked, was covered by lens. The frame is visible but it’s thin and barely blocks anything.

At only 31 grams, they are nice and light. It’s easy to forget that I’m wearing them. My perfect sunglasses stay in place all day and are light enough to not notice they’re there. The Moab’s fall into that category.

The arms come a bit curved and stay on well right out of the box. They can be adjusted to be tighter or looser which helps get a good fit.

The nose piece and arms have hydrophilic rubber on them, getting grippier as they get wet. I didn’t find them very grippy but they stayed in place no problem.

I didn’t have any issues with fogging riding and running in wet conditions. They sat off my face a bit which helps with the ventilation.

They’re a medium-large fit, which fit my head fine. They will be big on small faces.

Sizing

• 149mm wide total
• 138mm lens width
• 56mm lens height
• 15mm bridge width
• 126.5 temple length

Other Lenses

Tifosi has a bunch of different lenses for the Moab, some interchangeable, some Fototec (photochromic). We tested the Light Night Fototec.

Fototec (photochromic) – $89.95 USD

• Clarion Red Fototec- 65%-14%
• Clarion Blue Fototec – 46% – 13%
• Clarion Gold Fototec – 50% – 12%
• Light Night Fototec – 82%-14%

Interchangeable lenses – $79.95 USD

• Clear
• AC Red – 41.4%
• Smoke/Clarion – 15%

The Clarion coating on some lenses repels water and sweat. Definitely useful for wet or sweaty days.

Final Thoughts

Tifosi are hard to beat for value. The lens quality isn’t quite the same as $200+ frames but you don’t have to pay that either. At the rate I lose sunglasses it’s hard to keep buying $200+ frames.

Getting reliable photochrimic glasses at this price is hard to find. When they’re comfortable, barely fog and have a lifetime warranty, that’s even more rare.

I love the 82% to 14% VLT on the Moab Light Night Fototec. I can wear them all day without having to take them off (and likely losing or breaking them when I lose track of them). The clear in the trees or at night during the winter is still clear and easy to see.

Another great option for these frames is the Clarion Red Fototec with 65%-14% VLT. Still photochromic with a good range but not quite as clear. But then you get the Clarion coating to repel water and sweat.

For another option similar to the Moab, the Moab Lite came out in 2025. It’s just frameless with a similar lens setup.

Price: $89.95 USD

I received a free product sample from Tifosi to test for this review. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I believe in. All opinions are my own.

The post Tifosi Moab Sunglasses Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Litheli have an entire ecosystem of power gear and tools used with their U20 20,000 mAh batteries. Along with those tools is a powered wagon capable of moving 130 or 300 pounds, depending on the model.

We tested the W1 Pro wagon with 2 U20 batteries. We dragged 100 pounds around the yard on the grass, concrete paths and rough rocky road to see if a battery and motor on a wagon was worth it.

Specs

Setup

The setup with the wagon was very straightforward. It comes mostly assembled.

It’s packed very well in a fitted box with lots of cardboard to prevent it from bouncing around. I took it out of the box and added the wheels. I charged the batteries to 100% and was ready to roll.

Pulling

Pulling the W1 Pro is easy. Just pull it. It operates just like a normal wagon.

If you hold the unlock button on the end of the handle and then pull the main lever inside the handle, it will start moving by itself. Let go of the main lever inside the handle and it stops. You can pull without turning it on (non-powered mode) by not holding the unlock button.

My hand was getting tired holding the lock button the whole time until I realized that’s just needed to engage the main lever inside and then you can let go of it.

A small dial at the top of the handle sets the speed. It starts at 0.6 m/s or a slow walking speed. The dial stays where you set it well so you don’t have to hold it. 1.3 m/s is the fastest speed or a regular walking speed. I found this a comfortable walking speed. I normally walk a bit faster than this so I wish it could go a little higher on the dial but it didn’t take long to get around.

It is possible to spin the dial for a different speed with the hand that’s already on the wagon but it’s tough. It’s easier to use your other hand or stop and change it.

I did notice with heavy weight, on rough rocky road, the lever inside the handle was engaging without holding the unlock button. It would make a difference if the battery wasn’t in or dead. I was trying to pull it without turn it on to see how it would feel. (Awfully heavy with 100 pounds of gear and the 30 pound wagon!)

There isn’t a reverse mode so keep that in mind if you’ve got a heavy load. I tested it with 100 pounds and pushing it around with that load was still possible but tough so keep an exit plan in mind when stopping anywhere.

The W1 doesn’t technically have brakes but if the motor is engaged slowly, it will slow it down well. I turned the speed down to it’s slowest going down the hills and it would slow the wagon down. With larger hills and heavier weight it could still get going too fast. For bigger hills I let the wagon go first backwards so I can keep it going slow.

Whenever I stopped the motor would disengage. It was easier on hills to keep it moving slowly with the motor engaged, just like gearing down in a car.

The handle is attached straight to the front of the wagon and doesn’t turn side to side like the old Radio Flyer wagons. This is pretty standard across most utility wagons. The bars feel quite strong but it took a bit of coaxing to get the wheels to turn tightly with lots of weight in the wagon. I’m not sure if a handle that can pivot would work better for tight turns.

The wheels are strong and have a bit of grip on them. Being hard plastic, they get slippery when they get wet compared to a rubber tire. On wet rocky hills, they slipped but still provided assistance up the hill. I was grateful for this when trying to get back up a big hill when testing to get back to the car!

U20 Battery

The wagon comes with a U20 battery from Litheli. The U20 is a generic battery that powers many of their power tools. We tested the kit that came with two 4.0 Ah batteries. Different version of the kit come with 1 or 2 batteries. If you already have a bunch of the batteries you can get the wagon alone.

The kits that have batteries come with a power cord but no adapter. I have a bunch of adapters so this was fine. To get the full speed of the charge the adapter has to be 45 watts. Most phone chargers are 5 watts, although 20 watt fast chargers are getting more common. It charges with a 5 watt adapter no problem, just slower.

Along with powering the wagon, it can be used as a power bank with the one 45 watt USB-C port. The USB-C port is on the bottom when it’s plugged into the wagon so you can’t use both at the same time.

The 74 watt-hour rating falls under the limit to fly so you can fly with them. I doubt you’ll be flying with the wagon but the batteries are useful for charging all devices. More USB-C outputs would make it more useful as a general charger though.

The batteries come in 2 sizes: 4.0 Ah and 2.0 Ah. They end up being 20,000 mAh and 10,000 mAh respectively.

Folding

The W1 is easy to fold. There’s a small tab on the bottom in the middle. Just pull up on this and the bottom lifts, the ends slide together and it folds up.

The folding tab isn’t strong enough to carry it with. I tried to lift it there and it starts to tear. It would be nice to have some sort of handle strong enough to carry.

Once it’s folded together, there’s a strap on the bottom to clip the ends together, keeping it folded. It would be easy to use if this clip was on the side or top. It’s easiest to lay it down and clip it together. It does stand up while folded.

The front wheels need to be turned sideways for it to fold to it’s smallest size and the clip to reach. It’s easy to nudge them to the side.

Tailgate

The official capacity of the W1 is 200 liters and that is with the tailgate down. It’s about 140 liters inside with the tailgate up.

The tailgate is great for accessing items in the back without unpacking or just carrying longer items. If there is weight in the front, things like 8 foot 2x4s will fit. If you have the table attachment on top you can still get in the back.

There is a zipper and plastic clips holding it up. Once it’s down, strong webbing holds it flat.

Durability

The 600D Oxford fabric is pretty tough. It’s removable to be able to clean which should extend if it’s life.

Be careful with hard plastic items on rough terrain. I walked a couple kilometers on rough rock. The wagon and everything in it was shaking the whole way. The hard plastic on the bottom of my camp chair was start to wear through. I put a blanket around spots that may rub. Smooth grass and concrete don’t cause much of a problem.

Accessories

Litheli has a few accessories to go with the wagon.

The main accessory that would be useful, as well as with all the other Litheli tools, is more batteries. You can have a few with you if you are carrying a big load or are going a long way.

A rolling table is also available. It clips on to the top. This does make it a bit harder to get things inside the wagon but the tailgate can still open for access.

W2 Pro Electric Wagon

Litheli already have the successor to the W1 Pro out, the W2 Pro and there are some pros and cons.

Final Thoughts

Wagons are great for carrying loads around the yard, camping or the beach. It’s easy to load them up to be so heavy, they’re almost unusable.

Electric wagons solve this problem with their batteries and electric motors so you easily pull around hundreds of pounds by just holding the button on the handle.

The Lithei W1 Pro (tested here) and W2 Pro are almost 2 different wagons, with different features. Both are strong, durable and very easy to put together and use.

The W1 we tested powered through dirt, sand, gravel and rocky road with over 100 pounds in it. The bouncing started to wear a hole in the fabric when something sharp is against it but it slogged up hills and over rocks no problem.

The biggest difference between the W1 and W2 are the motors and weight capacity. A single 450 watt motor on the W1 while the W2 has 2. The power and frame increases the weight capacity from 132 pounds on the W1 to 300 pounds on the W2. This all comes at a cost of battery life: 20 min on the W2 vs 30 on the W2. Either way 2 batteries and a station to charge is very helpful to swap out as needed.

For me, the extra range and tailgate gives the W1 the edge and my preference, though I’d love a combination of the 2, taking the best of both.

On top of the W1 Pro being a solid wagon for dragging around very heavy loads, the U20 batteries fit all Litheli’s other power tools like snowblowers, lawnmowers, and chainsaws.

Highly recommended.

Price: $596 CAD but can be on sale down to $326 or less.

More photos

The post Litheli W1 Pro Wagon Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Because I took them off.

When the light gets too dim, then they go on the deck of my boat or on my hat or helmet.

And then get lost and broken.

Someone somewhere decided I didn’t have to suffer any more 15 years ago and introduced me to photochromic sunglasses. They change tint with the light, adjust to just the right amount when the some comes out, or it hides behind a cloud. Head into the trees? They lighten. Come back out into the sun? They darken.

Why these aren’t in every gas station and on every corner, I don’t know. They are one of the best pieces of gear I’ve invested in the last couple decades being outside.

Are there different options out there? There are. Not a lot, but some companies are starting to realize the miracle of photochromic. They are harder to make, which makes them more expensive. And to do it well, I’m sure takes time and money.

Some photochromic sunglasses are polarized as well. Some are impact-tested safety glasses too. Some take batteries.

Here are our favourites we’ve tested recently (with a buying guide below).

Smith Guide’s Choice

Just look at the green mirror on those. Looks aside, the Smith’s Choice are built from the ground up for fishing. Polarization cuts glare off the water. Photochromic Category 2-3 adjust light for cloud and sunny days. ChromaPop brightens colors and increases definition, especially for fish.

Spy Rebar and Logan

Most sunglasses can take a hit but few are impact certified. How many are tested by firing a quarter-inch steel ball at 150 feet per second at them?

The Spy ANSI line are. The Rebar and Logan (and a few others) are ANSI Z87-2+ certified, suitable for work requiring eye protection.

Best part is they’re killer sunglasses too. As soon as work is done, head outside and you don’t have to swap shades. They go from a completely clear category 0 to category 3 for a sunny day.

Both are ANSI certified. The Rebar is lightly bigger with a larger lens.

Chamelo Music Shield

Ok, these ones aren’t photochromic, we snuck them in here.

They are electrochromic.

Power them on and slide your finger across the temple and they tint in 0.1 second and stay there.

Oh, and they play music too.

Lol, wut?

Not to mention they are super comfortable, stay on your face even with a lot of sweat and provide great coverage. Not bad for a brand new type of product.

ActiveDim Pioneer

Coming from a golfing background, ActiveDim brings the Pioneer to the game. They’re insanely light, photochromic category 1 to 3 AND polarized. One of the few we could find with polarization.

I wasn’t sure if the price was correct on these ones and it is. Too good to be true.

Tifosi Moab

Quality photochromic sunglasses are always expensive right? Not Tifosi. They’ve managed to make lightweight, comfortable riding and running glasses with photochromic lenses under $100. With a lifetime warranty to boot. The Light Night lenses go all the way from 82% to 14% VLT. Same shades for low light and bright sun.

Buying Guide for Photochromic Sunglasses

Photochromic

Photochromic lenses change with the light. Like a transition lens on a prescription glasses. They are still somewhat rare with sport sunglasses but some industries, like biking, are really picking them up because of their versatility.

A film of liquid crystals are built in between multiple layers of the lens. UV light triggers them to change orientation. This darkens the lens, blocking some of the light, keeping your eyes happier.

Electrochromic

Another way to orient the liquid crystals and darken the tint is electricity. This requires a battery but is very fast. It doesn’t require UV light on the lens.

The Chamelo Music Shield are electrochromic.

Polarized

Polarization is like a venetian blind for reflected light. It let’s most light in, blocking light reflected from other surfaces like the road, water or snow. This reduces eye strain and increases the clarity of the fish or trail in front of you.

While still rare combined with photochromic lenses, some companies are seeing the light. Lenses for fishing or sailing are often polarized.

The Smith Guide’s Choice and ActiveDim Pioneer are photochromic and polarized.

VLT (Visible Light Transmission)

The amount of light allowed through a lens is measured as Visible Light Transmission or VLT.

0% is totally blocked, 100% completely clear.

Photochromic lenses use a range to show the transition from light to dark. For example the Chamelo Music Shield starts at 63%, and darkens to 17%. The Spy Rebar is almost clear at 85% and darkens to 13%. 

Regular sunglasses have a set VLT. Photochromic lenses will have a range.

Category

The Category on a lens represents the VLT in a simpler number. 0 is clear, 4 is so dark it’s not safe for driving.

The Spy Rebar starts at category 0 to 3.

Color filters

Some lenses have additional filters on them to boost the colors or filter certain wavelengths of light.

Smith ChromaPop filters crossovers between distinct colors of light. This makes each color brighter and increases the definition between them. The Guide’s Choice has ChromaPop.

Spy Happy Boost filters out wavelengths of light that cause eye strain, leaving wavelengths that boost alertness and mood. They also increase contrast and color slightly leaving you with a clearer picture. The Spy Rebar has an option for the Happy Boost lens.

The post Best Photochromic Sunglasses: Automagic Tinting first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Big, photochromic lenses.

Big lenses than protect your eyes from the sun and sharp things. AND they tint with the light so you can wear them longer, during cloudy days or into dusk.

And, wait for it. there’s something better than big photochromic lenses.

Big, photochromic, impact-tested lenses.

The Rebar from Spy check all those boxes. We tested them in the Pacific Northwest riding, fishing, hiking, driving, and working in the workshop.

Specs

Photochromic

I can’t say it enough. Photochromic lenses are amazing. Some are darker going Category 2 to 4. These are great for open water or glacier travel. Really bright days.

Others go from Category 1 to 3, starting with a little bit of tint and getting darker for a bright day.

The Rebar’s are Category 0 to 3. They go perfectly clear for working inside, in the workshop or dark, shady areas. As soon as the UV hits, they darken to Category 3, enough for bright sun. They are the perfect do-everything tint.

The lenses tint automatically. No need to do anything on your part. It starts to darken instantly in the sun and takes less than a minute to darken all the way. It’s a smooth change and I don’t even notice them tinting.

One spot every photochromic lens I’ve tested falls down, including this, is riding through trees with harsh, flickering side-light. They don’t change fast enough. It’s a big ask though. I haven’t found any that do in the dozens that I’ve tested.

ANSI Z87-2+ Certified

I do a lot of work around the house, the cabin and my favourite trails. The safety glasses I have are garbage, scratching easily, and fogging quickly.

The Rebar frames and lenses have are impact tested and certified under the ANSI Z87-2+ rating. This means they get are built and tested to withstand a 1/4 inch steel ball fired at 150 feet per second and a 1.1 pound weight dropped from 50 inches.

I hope I never I have steel ball flying at my face at 150 feet per second. Hitting rock with a pick, shards of wood from the saw, and big metal fishing lures probably don’t reach that speed but I feel better that they’re not going straight into my eyeballs.

The bigger lenses and tall temples give even more protection from crap flying around and light coming in.

Happy Lens

The photochromic lenses on the Rebar are ‘Happy’ too.

Happy lenses filter the wavelengths of light that cause eye strain. They let through the light that that boosts your mood and increases the definition of things you see. It’s hard to tell a difference looking through them that they mood-boosting wavelengths are coming through but I’m good with it. They are very clear and pleasant to look through.

The Happy Boost on some of the other lenses actually filters colors and makes things brighter. There is a bit of color different with these ones.

Comfort

The Rebar’s are on the large size. Sizing is large to extra large which seems accurate.

Spy says they’re for those with ‘big dome energy.’ I’ll take it.

I have got a big, but not huge, head and they fit well. Staying in place. They’re snug but not tight. I can easily wear them for hours on end.

The frames are thick. The end of the arms don’t fit under hats as well as thinner arms do but I didn’t find it a problem. If you wear your hats tight, they might not fit.

Spy’s ‘Scoop’ ventilation keeps air moving through to prevent fogging. I never had an issue with fogging unless I was sweating hard and breathing hard, and not moving. A bit of air coming through and it was gone.

Other Lenses

Include prices of other lenses.

• Clear – $180 CAD
• Happy – $180 CAD
• Happy Polarized – $240 CAD
• Happy Boost – $260 CAD
• Happy Photochromic – $260 CAD

The prices are from SpyOptic.com in CAD. There are often sales around. Be careful to get the right lens. The base versions are less expensive but are different lenses.

The Rebar SE is very similar to the Rebar but slightly different measurements. The Rebar is 62-18-130 compared to 60-18-125 on the SE. Slightly narrower lens and slightly shorter temples.

The Spy Logan is similar as well, just with a bit shorter lens. Same ANSI certification.

Final Thoughts

The Rebar is now my go-to for any work outside. Digging, building, or otherwise questionable work is much nicer when you can see what you’re doing and keep your eyeballs intact while you do.

The photochromic lenses tint with the light so you can wear them all day long. They tint just the right amount, all the way from clear to dark for bright days. Big lenses protect more from the sun and impact.

They cost a bit more than the cheapo safety glasses but you don’t ever have to take off (and lose) the Rebar’s. When you’re done work, you’re read to fish, ride, and hike.

Price: $260 CAD

More Photos from Testing

The post Spy Rebar Sunglasses Review: Photochromic, Impact Tested first appeared on Pack & Trail.

I don’t work trades but I’ve certainly been hit by rocks and lures (sometimes my own doing). I’d like to keep my eyeballs intact thanks. Regular sunglasses can take small hits but aren’t impact tested or have any sort of rating on them.

The Logan Sunglasses from Spy change tint with the light of the sun, perfect for going in and out of the trees. They are also ANSI rated for high impact, perfect for going in and out of the workshop.

I wanted to find out if these are the perfect blend of safety glasses and photochromic sports glasses or a poor mix of both.

Let’s find out.

Specs on the Spy Logan

The Logan sunglasses from Spy are high impact tested with photochromic, Base 8 polycarbonate lenses that are “Happy”.

Photochromic

Switching sunglasses or lenses can be a pain. With photochromic lenses you can be working in the shop inside or fishing at sunrise and walk right out into bright sun.

The category 0 to 3 lenses on the Logan’s darken with UV light, blocking just enough light to keep things comfortable. Inside or where there’s low UV light, they lighten to category 0, or almost clear.

At their lightest they have 85% VLT (visible light transmission). The darkest is category 3 or 13% VLT. As a comparison, Category 4, the darkest lenses for glacier travel or open water, start at 8%.

Category 0 to 3 is an extremely useful range and my absolute favourite for all-day, do anything use.

ANSI Z87-2+ Certified

Most sunglasses aren’t certified for impact in any way. If you are working or just want a certified lens to smash around with lures and rocks, you have to swap sunglasses and safety glasses.

The Logan’s are ANSI Z87-2+ certified. This means they are rated for high impact. What do all those letters mean?

The Z87 portion of the rating means they are impact and shatter tested firing a steel ball at them and dropping weight on them.

“-2” means they can hold prescription lenses.

“+” means they have been tested with higher mass and velocity than just the standard Z87 level. To meet the standard they have to survive a quarter-inch steel ball fired at 150 feet per second and 1.1 pound weight dropped from 50 inches.

I don’t use them for work but I can throw high quality sunglasses on when cutting wood or break rock around the house is very useful. The safety glasses I have fog up instantly and seem to scratch any time I put them down.

I have been hit in the face with rocks mountain-biking and dirt-biking, so useful there. And while I haven’t been hit in the face with a large fishing lure, I’ve come close, so helpful there too. Eyeballs are important.

The ANSI rating applies to the lenses as well as the frames. The wider temples on them increase protection.

For even more protection the lenses on the slightly larger Rebar frames are ANSI certified as well.

Happy Lens

SPY adds their Happy tech to most of their lenses, these included.

Happy means the lenses block wavelengths of light that cause eye strain leaving wavelengths that boost mood and make things clearer.

It’s hard to tell the difference it’s making as there’s no color change. That said, I do appreciate that they don’t change the color. Some lenses take that too far and make things look like clown land.

Comfort

The Logon’s are very comfortable to wear. Even with the impact-tested frame and lenses, they’re only 35 grams, right around most other sunglasses.

Measurements:

• 61-14-127
• 61mm lens width
• 14mm bridge width
• 139 total width
• 42mm lens height
• 127mm temple length

SPY says they’re a small-medium fit. I agree. they’re on the small side of a medium. I’ve got a good-sized noggin and they fit slightly on the small side. I can wear them all do no problem. They sit on my head and hats snug.

One thing I ran into with the fit was that the arms aren’t as curved at the back and push on my hat a bit. I prefer sunglass arms that curve down a bit more to avoid this.

Other lenses for the Logan

The Happy Photochromic isn’t the only lens the Logan comes in. There is a standard Happy and Happy Polarized versions as well. Happy Boost has the mood and clarity enhancements with an additional 30% increase in color contrast.

• Happy
• Happy Polarized
• Happy Boost
• Happy Photochromic
• Clear

This review focused on the photochromic version going from category 0 to 3. Keep in mind the lenses aren’t interchangeable. They just come with the ones you buy.

Final Thoughts

The Spy Logan’s are amazing sunglasses. ANSI rated with photochromic Happy lenses is a great combo. The category 0 to 3 lenses are so useful going in and out of the shade, trails or workshop, working inside and outside without changing glasses.

Riding and fishing always carries some risk of projectiles flying at your face. Fishing lures don’t usually carry the same weight as a steel ball at 150 feet per second so I feel pretty good with that ANSI rating on there.

Though I do miss polarization on the water or driving after the rain but at the end of the day, I’d take photochromic over polarization. Having both would be dream glasses but they are extremely rare.

Highly recommended for all-day and work use.

Price: $220 CAD

More Photos from Testing

The post Spy Logan Sunglasses Review: High Impact Certified first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Chamelo Sunglasses is pushing the boundaries of sunglasses that can change tint at the push of a button, well….slide of a finger.

Chief Brand Officer NBA all-star Stephon Marbury says their new shades are high performance….. and a bit different.

We’re looking at the Music Shield model of their new line of sunglasses to see if they can hack it out on the trails….and what electrochromic really means.

Specs

Electrochromic

The Music Shield lenses aren’t photochromic but electrochromic.

Photochromic sunglasses tint when exposed to UV light. Electrochromic sunglasses change with a button or touch control. A liquid crystal film on the lenses change as you slide the controls. The crystals align in a certain way when voltage is applied, blocking some of the light.

A slide touch control on the right arm adjusts the tint from 63% visible light going through to only 17% visible light going through.

Some brands of photochromic sunglasses can take minutes to adjust to different light. Chamelo’s Eclipse HVL lenses do it in 0.1 seconds.

The tint control takes a little bit of practice to get your finger on it every time but it’s pretty quick once you know where to touch. A little bit more of a guide on the arms would be nice.

Chamelo has 3 different versions of the Eclipse lens. The HVL on the Music Shield adjust from 63% to 17%. 63% is a light Category 1 tint. 17% just catches the light end of Category 3.

Their Alpha lens (like on their Falcon frames) adjust from 38 to 4%. A new version that hasn’t been released yet, dubbed Xpanse, will range from 63 to 6%. If they can make these work, they’ll be the ultimate all-condition lenses.

63% VLT is good for low light conditions. It’s a bit dark at late dusk or a dark, rainy day but nice for everything else. 17% is a good mid-range tint but isn’t quite enough for bright sun on the water when you really need a dark tint.

Because photochromic sunglasses usually react to UV light, they don’t usually tint in the car as most windshields filter UV light. With the Music Shield you can set the tint to your liking.

One downside to the electrochromic lenses is they require power to tint darker. You can wear them any time at the lighter end (63%). To darken the lenses, they need to be powered on. I don’t know how they fit a battery in these things but it’s amazing it can still power the lenses for 100 hours.

Music

The Shield has 2 versions, regular and Music. The Music comes with, you guessed it, music. They have built-in speakers and microphones.

The speakers are small and don’t have much bass but you can hear things around you. They’re standard speakers and not bone-conducting. They sound good. Riding through traffic, you can still hear vehicles beside you or animals on the trails.

They automatically connect to your phone when powered on. Most of the time this is good but sometimes I want to be connected to my truck instead. The bluetooth tends to stay paired if it’s already connected with something first.

There is one multi-function button under the right arm. It’s easy to find and a convenient placement. Holding it turns it on or off, but has a couple other functions. There are no volume controls so that’s all handled on your phone.

Music Controls on multi-function button:

• Long Press: Power on/off
• Single press: Play/Pause
• Double press: Next song
• Triple press: Previous song

With most headphones, the speaker is buried in your ear, but with the Music Shield, they’re on the arms. Other people can hear the music a little bit if you have it on loud but it’s very quiet. They are pointed straight down into your ears and keep it focused.

Phone Calls

The Shield’s can actually take calls fairly well. The mic is good for picking up your voice. It sounds a bit like being on speakerphone but it’s clear. The speakers are very quiet to hear the other person. It would be good if the volume could be higher.

Call controls

• Answer/end call: single press
• Reject call: double press

Comfort

I was surprised with how comfortable the Music Shields are. I assumed anything electronic hanging off your face was going to be heavy and annoying.

At 50 grams, they’re slightly heavier than regular sunglasses but only by a few grams. But they don’t feel heavier than regular sunglasses. the weight is further back and balanced. I’ve worn shades with glasses lenses that were more difficult to keep on.

Wearing them driving, paddling, hiking, and at the beach was no issue for the grip. They stayed in place very well. Even mountain biking in the rain, I was dripping with sweat and rain, they easily stayed exactly where I wanted them.

Battery and Charging

Having a battery is a double-edged sword. It means they can change tint in 0.1 seconds for 100 hours and play music. It also means you have to charge them.

The charger is a proprietary magnetic attachment. The other end is just plain, rectangular USB-A. The pins are easy to line up with the magnets on the outside. It’s strong enough to hold the charger to the pins but not too much that it makes unplugging a hassle. I would have preferred a USB-C since I have many but the magnets are easier to use.

A small LED on the inside of the right arm blinks red with low battery and the glasses beep softly every few minutes about 20 minutes before the battery dies.

That LED shows red when it’s plugged in and charging as well. It goes blue when fully charged.

Changing tint barely takes any power so you get 100 hours of only doing that. If you’re playing music, then it’s less, only 6.5 hours. A combination of both will be somewhere in between the two.

Charging gets to 80% in only 30 min so a few minutes of charging can easily last the day if it’s low.

When the battery dies they go back to their slightly tinted 63% VLT. I’d prefer it to be darker when the battery dies but I’m not sure that’s possible with the liquid crystals.

Final Thoughts

Version 1 of a totally new type of product is often clunky, hard to use, and uncomfortable. Chamelo have done an amazing job making something brand new for the industry but also comfortable, lightweight, and easy to use.

The small speakers are perfect for listening to music while being aware of your surroundings. If you need to chat with anyone or listen for cars or animals, you still can. I listen to music constantly but don’t always have my earbuds with me. It was nice to start some tunes anywhere.

Driving with them was great. I could set the tint to what I wanted quickly. Working out, riding, and hiking in them was also great. They provide a wide field of view and stayed exactly where I wanted them even with sweat and rain.

If you want darker lenses, the Xpanse lenses are coming soon. The 63% to 6% VLT will make for an absolutely do-everything lens. I have my fingers crossed for a polarized style for these. They will be the perfect sunglasses.

Just don’t forget to charge your sunglasses.

Price: $349 CAD ($249 USD)

Highly recommended for working out, hiking, biking, and running.

More Photos

The post Chamelo Music Shield Sunglasses Review: Instant Tint Change first appeared on Pack & Trail.

ActiveDim, however, has managed to include both features in all of their models, and at a surprisingly accessible price point. This raises the key questions: How do they compare to more established brands? And does the budget price signal lower quality?

ActiveDim Pioneer Sunglasses

ActiveDim may not be a household name, but they got my attention during my extensive search for photochromic polarized lenses, a quest that led me through dozens of manufacturers’ websites.

The Pioneers by ActiveDim are wayfarer style, with medium-sized lenses, metal frame, and slightly wrapped arms. The lenses are photochromic, changing tint with the light, as well as polarized.

First some quick pros and cons, specs and then into the review.

Specs

Photochromic

The Pioneer’s are photochromic, so UV light will trigger the crystals to align, darkening the tint. With no UV they start quite light, good for cloudy days or around sunset. While the exact VLT numbers aren’t published, the range likely spans Category 1 (light tint) to Category 3 (dark tint).

When exposed to UV light they darken, reducing the light coming in. They don’t darken drastically but enough to cut the light from a sunny day. For extreme brightness on snow or water, I’d pick a darker lens but for all-around use driving, hiking, fishing and camping the VLT range on these work well.

The change is fairly quick, under a minute. They seem to change faster in higher UV. The chemicals in photochromic lenses are usually sensitive to UV light.

During testing in over 35° C weather, the heat noticeably limited the maximum darkness—a known effect for most photochromic lenses. They darkened about half as much as they did in cooler conditions. Below that threshold, however, they performed as expected.

Polarized

Photochromic sunglasses with polarization are my dream sunglasses. They cut the glare on the water and snow, or driving after it rains. It makes it easier to see through the water and around high glare in general. Without things glowing with reflected light, you’ll see better color and definition.

The polarization performs well, effectively cutting glare off water and wet pavement. A minor critique is that they seem to give a slight blue tinge to wet objects, which slightly alters color perception.

Comfort

Comfort is a major strength. At just 27 grams, these are extremely light, making them easy to forget you’re wearing them. The silicone touchpoints are grippy but not grabby. The spring hinges open when you put them on but don’t grab your head too tight. They stay in place well moving around.

The frames are constructed from an aluminum and magnesium alloy, balanced by soft silicone touchpoints on the nose-pieces and the backs of the arms.

The downside to the metal is the frames can get very warm when left out in hot sun. The metal doesn’t touch your skin when wearing them though, only silicone.

Final Thoughts

For a surprisingly lightweight pair of sunglasses offering both polarized AND photochromic lenses, the ActiveDim Pioneers are an exceptional value. The metal frames with silicone are very light and comfortable.

They’re less for going hard running or riding but they work well for everything else. They stayed on no problem but the smaller lenses and wayfarer style were less suited to those activities.

The lenses start at category 1 so you can wear them sunrise to sunset outside. For long days on the snow or water, you might want a darker lens but the more tinted end of the lens is still plenty for bright days.

It’s rare to find polarized and photochromic lenses together. The ActiveDim Pioneer is the first I’ve ever seen at this price.

Price: $86 (normally $143)

The post ActiveDim Pioneer Sunglasses Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.