Contacts or glasses

[new2hiking]

I've been going back and forth about this myself. I've used both exclusively in the past and each time been annoyed with one thing or another. Glasses - rain (a light mist is almost worse), getting them dirty, I even broke a pair once on trail. Thank goodness I had a tiny tiny tube of gorilla glue with me. Fixed them right up. Contacts - same problems everyone else have already stated.
Thinking about trying the monthlies this time. I really want to wear sunglasses this go around and not worry about them being an expensive Rx pair.

[TwoSpirits]

I've always been a poor risk for contacts. I second the suggestion of a Croakies lanyard and a tin of Cat Crap.

Also, if you hike in winter Up North, ESS Striker goggles are the only ones I've found so far that work over my glasses. You need to use a good facemask or they will frost over, but that's true of any goggles.

Curious: what brand facemask do you use/recommend?

Sent from...wait, where am I again?

[starbuck1]

This is a great thread and a question I have been meaning to ask myself. I'm so blind that without my contacts or glasses I would think a bear is a tree and try to stealth camp under it. Both options suck, but I plan on not changing anything I already do during my hike(s) - disposable contacts during the day and glasses at night, with an updated prescription in hand in case something goes awry. I'm glad someone asked this question! Thank you!

[Another Kevin]

Curious: what brand facemask do you use/recommend?

That's a really good question. I haven't yet tried one that I really like, so mostly I use a cheap Neoprene mask from the job lot store. Some friends who are much better mountaineers than I am have recommended the Talus ColdAvenger to me. I might pick one up before the snow comes so that I can give it a try. Their chief complaint about it is that it constantly drips water out the front.

[handlebar]

What Dugout said above is what I have done for over 10,000 trail miles: tha night and day brand, with rewetting drops when I awaken and before sleeping. Plus I do carry backup glasses.

[Cobble]

I did glasses for the AT and a lot of times it is a huge pain. Normally I wear contacts but I don't stay clean on the trail so never did contacts. With PCT coming up I really need good sunglasses which either means contacts or I get LASIK. Scraping together money for a thru hike is hard enough without LASIK too.

My very invaluable opinion is if you stay clean enough to do contacts that's a great option, but I'd sock a pair of glasses for around camp, as a backup, and for when your eyes don't want contacts. (Mine get irritated after prolonged contact wearing)

[Moosling]

I bring glasses if I'm doing a multiple day hike, its just kinda annoying to fiddle around with putting my contacts in in a dimly lit tent, plus I've had an eye infection before and I'd like to never get another one.

I've had no problem with my glasses fogging up even in high humidity.

I'm not opposed to contacts I wear them everyday at work because I'm constantly in and out of walkin coolers kept at 20 degrees (wanna talk more about glasses fogging up?)

[Latitude918]

Bring both. What happens if you lose or tear a contact, get an eye infection where you can't wear your contacts, or one of your contacts gets super gunky and you just can't wear them anymore? Also what are you going to do at night? If you wake up in the middle of the night needing to use the privy, you're going to need your glasses, if your vision is as bad as you say it is.

I'm a lightweight backpacker, and I always bring both, and some spare contacts, when I go out on a trip.

[time4change]

I'm having the same issue as you. I'm about a -7.0 in my contacts (which is horrible eyesight). I'm bringing my glasses as back up, but I'm going to talk to my eye dr. about switching me from daily disposables to the Air Optix Day & Night contacts that you can sleep in. I'll plan to take them out a couple times a week, especially if I'm in town at a hostel.

[frontovik193]

Glasses for sure. You trade having foggy lenses in some situations for the simplicity of not having to deal with contacts. I have mediocre vision though. During the day, I can go without them unless I'm driving or just want to get the most out of a nice view. At night I really need them. I have a pair of normal plastic frame glasses but am about to upgrade to some heavy duty prescription sports goggles. Make sure you have a backup either in your bag or at home that someone can send to you (on a longer hike). I would also recommend a hard glasses case for when you are not wearing them. I crushed a pair of glasses by falling on while they were in my pocket.

[gsingjane]

I tried many different vision options too. What works best for me are daily disposables with glasses for backup. I have been on the trail with someone who had an eye infection and it was brutal. This way if I did feel something coming on, I could get the contacts out of my eyes before bad led to worse (hopefully) but I also don't have to deal with the hassle of my glasses falling off my face. Plus I feel like I do have better, sharper vision with my contacts.

Jane in CT

[JustaTouron]

As with any gear ask yourself what would be the worse that would happen if you didn't bring it.

If my reading glasses broke I would have a hard time reading some of the writing on the map. But being I don't hike alone if my glasses broke someone else could handle navigating. I don't bring a spare set of glasses.

However, if my vision was such that I would have a hard time walking because everything was blurry. I would have a backup plan. And if I was hiking solo, I would probably bring spare set of reading glasses.

[perrypt2]

I used to be very near sighted and used contacts and glasses. Had Lasix over 15 years ago and have never looked back. No need for contact or glasses. One concern is your vision in twilight isn't as sharp. You may also need sunglasses. Prices have come WAY down since. So if you can afford it and you are a good candidate, check it out.

[Lnj]

I used to be very near sighted and used contacts and glasses. Had Lasix over 15 years ago and have never looked back. No need for contact or glasses. One concern is your vision in twilight isn't as sharp. You may also need sunglasses. Prices have come WAY down since. So if you can afford it and you are a good candidate, check it out.

+1 I got my first pair of glasses in 10th grade. Nearsighted at -2.8 & -3.5. Pretty bad. I had Lasik surgery about 11 or so years ago and if anything I could use computer glasses now at the end of the day from staring at this box all day long, but my sight is fine and I need nothing, ever. Its really worth the investment and the recovery time is zilch. Had surgery on Friday morning and could see clearly when I woke up Friday afternoon. By Monday I was back to work like nothing ever happened.