Contacts Vs. glasses

[AtlantaDave]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to get some feedback from the fellow "poor sighted" people out there who have thru hiked or section hiked. Glasses or contacts? I switched to contacts a few years ago and love the freedom. Would appreciate any knowledge/experience you guys/gals have on the subject. Appreciate it.

Dave

[Hikes in Rain]

Contacts, for sure. I'd rather lose my pants than my contacts. No worries about using them out in the woods, either. Just be sure to wash your hands before handling them. I use a little wash basin I made from the bottom half of a gallon milk jug. My cooking kit fits inside it, so it doesn't take up any additional space, and it's practically weightless. I also keep a small pack towel dedicated just for my eyes. Small travel bottles of solutions, and my glasses in a crushproof case from the Dollar Store, for a dollar.

[Different Socks]

I wore only glasses on the AT, then switched to contacts on the PCT and all other trails later. No problems taking out contacts each night, just don't try it when it is windy!
I'd rather have contacts to be able to protect eyes against sun, esp on the more treeless trails.

[AtlantaDave]

Contacts, for sure. I'd rather lose my pants than my contacts. No worries about using them out in the woods, either. Just be sure to wash your hands before handling them. I use a little wash basin I made from the bottom half of a gallon milk jug. My cooking kit fits inside it, so it doesn't take up any additional space, and it's practically weightless. I also keep a small pack towel dedicated just for my eyes. Small travel bottles of solutions, and my glasses in a crushproof case from the Dollar Store, for a dollar.

Thanks for the response and advice!

[AtlantaDave]

I wore only glasses on the AT, then switched to contacts on the PCT and all other trails later. No problems taking out contacts each night, just don't try it when it is windy!
I'd rather have contacts to be able to protect eyes against sun, esp on the more treeless trails.

Thank you. I was thinking that switching back to glasses would be more practical, but dreaded it. I figured I would throw it out there for those who have the experience. Glad I did.

[Hikes in Rain]

Thanks for the response and advice!

You're most welcome. Here's a couple of links to other posts, that have a lot of good info, too.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...light=contacts

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...light=contacts

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...light=contacts

[Colter]

Definitely a personal choice on and off the trail. I prefer glasses but that's just me.

[AtlantaDave]

Definitely a personal choice on and off the trail. I prefer glasses but that's just me.

Thanks Colter. Any suggestions for defogging etc?

[takethisbread]

I do contacts only . I only change them every few weeks or so. glasses fog up in rain. it rains a lot on this trail


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[ChinMusic]

I never could wear contacts. I got Lasik in 2005 and couldn't be happier.

[Colter]

Thanks Colter. Any suggestions for defogging etc?

I wear a brimmed cap or hat, sometimes with a rain jacket hood to keep the rain off.

Usually when people are getting their lenses fogged up they are either getting sweated up or breathing on them, so I try to avoid both.

My spare glasses, with two pair of clip-on sun-glass lens, cleaning cloth and case weighs 2.4 oz total.

[ocourse]

I don't like glasses at all because of glare, constant adjusting of my head for best view, pressure on my nose, and rain/fogging. I can see fairly well without correction but I wear contacts into the sleeping bag in case I need to react to some situation. But I am unusual in that I clean my contacts daily - at home I do this at night and take them out, but on the trail I clean them in the morning. It only takes clean hands and a few minutes. I carry several spares. Much better for me than glasses.

[Papa D]

i only wear glasses - - sometimes this has been a problem - as a whitewater kayaker, it's been really interesting - tight croakies - lots of anti-fog.
as a skiier, I have custom ground inserts for my goggles.
as a backpacker, I'm constantly going to the pack towel or adjusting my visor
I've just never wanted to put anything in my eyes.
of course, I'm only 46. maybe when I grow up ......

[handlebar]

I've had success, both on and off trail with AirOptix extended wear contacts. They are very comfortable even after wearing overnight for a week. I use re-wetting drops morning and night and take the lenses out only when zeroing in a town where I can practice good hygiene. My lenses are even bifocal.

it's great to see the night sky clearly when cowboy camping. Also, contacts don't fog. Just in case I do carry a pair of glasses.

[drifter]

Blind as a bat, always wear contacts - never any issues while hiking, just use common sense with hygiene

[redseal]

For short section hikes (2 to 3 days) I will wear glasses. For longer trips, I will wear the 30 day/night contacts. For me, they are comfortable even when subject to campfire smoke.

[Blissful]

I never wore contacts, just went with glasses, and they broke on night one. That being said, with long distance hiking, be sure to carry your vision prescription just in case.

[Hill Ape]

would like to add, carry a current prescription. i always have a xerox copy in my emergency contact ziplock, and was caught once out of date. thought i could simply sweet talk them, all i got back was law blah blah blah, we could lose our license blah blah. to me it felt like extortion to pay for the screening

[minda]

I wear contacts and bring a spare pair as well as my glasses. I truly despise wearing my glasses on the trail.

[Astro]

Glasses. Just a lot less hassle. When I am on the AT I like to keep things simple.