Ever since we learned Zeal Optics was located in Moab, Utah we’ve had a place in our hearts for those guys. I mean, that’s like running your business out of Jackson, Wyoming — only in Moab you can find a place to live and not faint when you buy groceries!
My wife and I have been long-term testing several pairs of Zeal sunglasses. Lisa is using the Zektor; I’m using the Maestro. Both have the truly effective Zeal “All Conditions…” lenses that perform well in scorching sunlight but are also somewhat effective in flat light. They do this by favoring certain color filtrations, as well as being polarized. I can testify that these actually work and are way more useful for backcountry recreation than our other eyewear.
 |
| Lou points the way during the 2006 Trooper Traverse (and can see where he’s going) wearing his Zeal glasses. |
Downside: I’ve always liked lower priced eyewear that still had the UV IR filtration for backcountry use. That way I could dangle them around my neck by a Croakie and catch them in my Jeep’s engine fan, and I didn’t cry over my loss as chunks of sunglasses flew threw the air (though missing my nose hurt like the dickens.) I’ve had to change my habits with the Zeal gear — but doing so is worth it.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
