Gear Review: Julbo Around Excel Goggles
These goggles have all-conditions lens that really perform in all conditions.
“The first all-conditions lens I’ve used that actually deserves the moniker,” declares one Colorado tester, who favored interchangeables until the Around Excel changed her mind. From vertigo-inspiring whiteouts in Iceland to full sun on 10,000-foot Colorado peaks, the lens delivered outstanding definition and the perfect tint—eliminating the need for multiple lens options.
The trick? The lens blocks 87 percent of visible light, which makes it comfortable in bright sun, while Julbo’s orange tint provides excellent definition in low-light situations. The lens is so versatile, it’s hard to believe it’s not photochromic. And the mirrored finish reduces glare (though it doesn’t eliminate it, like a polarized lens); our tester’s eyes felt fine after nine hours of skiing under bluebird skies.
Double lenses make fogging a rarity by putting an insulating barrier between the cold air outside and the warm air next to your face. Gripe: The strap isn’t sticky on the inside, so it slides around when worn over a helmet (apply a few dabs of Seam Grip).
$90
5 oz.
julbousa.com