I used to swear by Smith Challis and Hookset wraparound sunglasses. They were durable, optically sharp with photochromic glass, and offered a reliable fit for fly fishing and long backcountry days. But they came with compromises—most notably, pressure from the temples when worn with hats or helmets, and a bulky hard case I hated carrying.
Back in 1989, during a summit of Mount Olympus in Washington's Olympic National Park, I took off my glacier glasses at the top and accidentally sat on them, snapping both hinges. In a moment of desperation, I punched holes in the leather side shields and rigged up some paracord to wear them down the mountain. At the trailhead, I tossed them in a trash bin. The idea of armless sunglasses was a half-baked hack at the time—hardly worth reconsidering.
Fast-forward several decades. Two years ago, I discovered Ombraz—sunglasses designed from the ground up without arms or hinges. What started as curiosity turned into a complete conversion. After two years of use in alpine, desert, and winter conditions—hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, and mountaineering—these have become the only sunglasses I reach for.
For ultralight purists, disposable options like Rollens offer unbeatable weight and cost. But I spend over 1,000 hours a year in sunglasses. My priorities lean toward comfort, optical quality, and long-term durability. Ombraz nails those metrics while bringing something fresh to the table—simplified, hinge-free eyewear that thrives in the backcountry.
Ombraz frames are made from TR-90 nylon, a lightweight and highly durable thermoplastic often used in performance eyewear. With no arms and no hinges, the frame is a single, unified piece. This dramatically reduces failure points and bulk, while eliminating painful pressure from sidearms—a real game-changer when wearing headgear.
I chose the “Classics” in an aviator-inspired shape for maximum lens coverage. It also comes in narrow widths, which fit my face better than most. The molded bridge distributes weight evenly, and the frame sits flush without feeling tight or loose—even during dynamic movement or multi-hour wear. Whether I’m wearing a climbing helmet, wool beanie, or sun hood, I never have to think about interference.
For added versatility, Ombraz offers optional side shields with ventilation holes. I found these incredibly useful in snow and wind-prone environments. They snap into place on the frame, adding functional side protection without clutter or weight. On a glacier trek in Iceland’s Hornstrandir Reserve, the shields were a welcome addition in intense crosswinds and high-reflection terrain.
What truly surprised me, though, was the optical quality. All Ombraz lenses are made by Zeiss and constructed from polyamide—a material known for exceptional clarity, impact resistance, and lightness. These lenses block 100% UVA/UVB radiation and are available in both polarized and non-polarized versions.
Polarized lenses cut surface glare from snow, water, and metal, making them ideal for activities like fishing, paddling, and skiing. Non-polarized lenses work better in applications involving digital screens or instrumentation, where polarization might interfere with readability.
Color-wise, gray lenses offer the most accurate color reproduction, excellent for bright, stable lighting conditions—such as alpine travel. Brown enhances contrast and adapts better to varied lighting, making it a go-to for trail hiking through mixed forest and meadows. Yellow lenses provide the highest contrast for flat light, cloudy weather, and snowstorms—an essential feature for alpine skiing. During a winter backcountry tour in the Swiss Alps, I used yellow-tinted lenses to spot snow surface contours, ice bulges, and wind slab textures that would’ve been invisible otherwise.
Zeiss lenses in Ombraz frames are treated with durable coatings: anti-scratch hard coats, hydrophobic and anti-fog nanocoatings, and oleophobic layers that repel fingerprints and sunscreen residue. After over 100 days of often careless use—stuffed in packs, dropped in the dirt—the coatings held up admirably. The lenses are still clear and almost entirely scratch-free.
Without arms, Ombraz relies on a minimalist cord system for retention. It uses Japanese-made, antimicrobial recycled nylon cords made from salvaged fishing nets. With dual adjustable sliders, the tension can be fine-tuned in seconds. The flat cord sits unobtrusively along the back of your head and neck. Surprisingly, very little tension is needed to keep the sunglasses secure—you don’t feel the cord, and if you do, it’s probably too tight.
This retention system also solves another classic problem: where to put your sunglasses when you take them off. With Ombraz, I just let them hang around my neck like a necklace. There’s no need for a bulky case or protective pouch. The included microbag is soft, compressible, and light enough to forget you’re carrying it. You can roll it up in a puffy jacket or stash it in a side pocket—no hard-shell bulk required.
Field tests in different regions confirmed my impressions. In Iceland’s glacier fields, 10+ hour days under harsh sunlight and snow reflection were no problem with polarized gray lenses. On fall backpacking routes through the Sierra and Rockies, fellow hikers (many long-time Smith and Oakley users) praised the comfort and reduced fatigue after full-day use. And during a sea kayaking trip in Norway’s fjords, I wore the brown polarized lenses for an entire week of paddling under bright skies and shimmering water. There was zero slippage, no temple pinch, and crystal-clear vision—even while drenched in salt spray.
Of course, nothing is perfect. Ombraz does have a few trade-offs. Without a rigid case, these aren’t ideal for bottom-of-pack storage under weight. I recommend hanging them externally or tucking them into soft clothing. New users might take a day or two to dial in the strap tension. And if you need prescription lenses, Ombraz does offer an RX program, but expect longer lead times and a higher price tag.
Despite that, Ombraz isn’t just a design curiosity—it’s a full-fledged solution for serious outdoor use. They’ve reimagined what sunglasses can be, not by adding features, but by removing failure points and rethinking fit. No arms. No pressure points. No fiddly hinges to snap. And still—they stay put, feel weightless, and deliver top-tier optical performance.
For mountaineers, thru-hikers, backcountry skiers, ultrarunners, and anyone who spends long hours outdoors, these aren’t “just sunglasses.” They’re a wearable tool. If you’ve ever been annoyed by sunglasses interfering with your headwear, sliding off your nose mid-climb, or poking into your skull after 8 hours on the trail—Ombraz might just change your mind like they did mine.
To put it simply: Ombraz didn’t just fix what was broken about sunglasses—they deleted it entirely.