Utah’s sun was high in the cloudless blue sky as we hiked out of Devil’s Kitchen in Canyonlands National Park and around Elephant Canyon. The November temperature was perfect as cool air descended from the snow-capped La Sal Mountains. As we marched, saddled with our overnight packs, I absorbed the gorgeous, otherworldly scenery in crisp detail despite the sun and sandstone glare.
I wouldn’t normally have chosen glacier sunglasses for a backpacking trip. But I was eager to test Zeal’s new Selkirk shades, and there wasn’t quite enough snow in Colorado yet for skiing. I figured the desert landscape of Canyonlands would make for an ideal pre-ski-season testing ground. So, I brought the Selkirks, and I was grateful I had. These modular glasses proved far more versatile than I had expected.
That was just my first outing with the Selkirks. Since then, I’ve worn them on snow numerous times and even as day-to-day shades around town. Yes, I wore glacier sunglasses around casually, going to the gym and out for beers with friends.
And, thanks to Zeal’s clever design, I didn’t look like a total gaper. In fact, I got compliments from people who had no idea these glasses were even geared for glaciers at all.
In short: The Zeal Selkirks are glacier sunglasses made from plant-based resin with a modular design. The side panels block out peripheral glare extremely well and fold down under the arms for storage. They’re also very easily removable, so you can wear these glacier sunglasses in regular sunglasses mode as well. For ski tourers, backcountry skiers, or anyone who likes to exercise in snowy conditions, this is a versatile eyewear option that isn’t restricted to active use.
Compare the Selkirks to other sunglasses on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Sunglasses for the Outdoors.
- Frame material: Z-Resin Bio-Plastic Frame
- Lens material: Ellume Polarized w/ scratch-resistant hardcoat
- Rx Power Range: +3.00 to -5.50
- Bridge width: 15 mm
- Eye width: 59 mm
- Eye height: 51 mm
- Temple length: 140 mm
Pros
- Modular design with removable side panels, brow piece
- Polarized
- Plant-based construction
- Look cool
Cons
- Awkward folding when side shields are on
- Wide frame might not fit all faces
Zeal Selkirk Glacier Sunglasses Review
Based in Boulder, Colo., Zeal Optics has carved a name for itself in the eyewear space by making stylish, active sunglasses and snow goggles using plant-based materials in many of its frames and lenses.
The Selkirks are right in line with the brand’s approach, made from its proprietary Z-Resin, which, according to the brand, is at least 45% bio-resin. Its Ellume Polarized lenses also leverage a plant-based polymer.
The resin plastic is impact-resistant and has a nice matte feel between your fingers. Between the frame and the polymer lenses, these shades are light on your face. They also don’t get cold when you’re out in the snow, like some metal-framed glacier sunglasses I’ve worn.
The Selkirk side panels are unperforated and effectively block out peripheral glare when they’re on. They fold down under the arms for storage (slightly awkwardly, but you figure it out). Or, you can take them off by gently pinching the ends toward each other. The hinge points pop out of its sockets, and you can store the panels in the included sunglasses pouch or case.
Lens Clarity
The Ellume Polarized lens is another proprietary Zeal feature. They filter certain wavelengths of color, heightening reds, greens, and blues. According to Zeal, that provides crisper, clearer vision.
The lens on the Botega Burgendy Selkirk (which I have) is dark gray. Normally, I prefer amber lenses, but the darker tint of the Selkirks is particularly nice on bright days and/or in environments with a lot of glare.
In the past, I errantly used eyewear that was undergunned for bluebird ski tours, and my eyes got strained. These provide enough protection and polarization that my eyeballs don’t get overexerted.
The dark gray tint might be too dark for low-light, low-glare days outside. But that’s not what these glacier sunglasses are meant for.
Clarity-wise, I think Zeal’s Ellume Polarized lenses can hang with the best. On multiple occasions, I have stopped to actively squint and try to discern visual distortions through them. While I can’t honestly attest to which colors they filter out and by how much, I’d agree that they look pretty darn crisp and clear to me.
Removable Side Panels & Brow Piece
I thought I broke the Selkirks the first time I knocked a side panel out. We’d gotten to our Canyonlands campsite late, my fingers were cold while I was trying to put them away, and I fumbled, popping the small plastic piece off.
When I realized they were supposed to do that, I got excited. I could wear them on the trail just like normal sunglasses. I didn’t discover the nose bridge also pops out until later on.
When you remove all three pieces, the Selkirks become a regular pair of aviator-style sunglasses. I kept wearing them after we had emerged from the desert and stumbled into a brewery. Had I been wearing a pair of more traditional-looking glacier sunglasses, I surely would have drawn looks and comments. However, the only comment I got was a compliment from another patron.
My only concern with this design is user error. I fear that I’ll eventually lose the side panels because I’m pretty good at misplacing small, loose parts of things. If I was wearing them while skiing and really crashed, the panels might pop out and be lost. Or, I could just drop one or leave them somewhere and forget. That’s more of a “me” problem, though, and not a real dig against these sunglasses.
Note: Between the time I wrote the above paragraph and when this review was completed, I actually did lose one of the side panels. Hopefully, Zeal will sell replacements.)
A Note on Size
The Selkirks have an oversized frame fit. That means they’re large on the face (check out the dimensions we listed in the product block at the top). I like bigger sunglasses because they fit my face well. However, if you have a small face, you might consider different glasses. These only come in one size.
Zeal Optics Selkirk Glacier Sunglasses: Who Are They For?
For a pair of sunglasses to stand out in the hypersaturated eyewear market, it takes some thoughtful design work. Zeal already differentiates its products by making them out of plant-based resin.
But the Selkirks are unique on their own, too, because of the modular glacier elements. You can wear them in glacier mode or regular sunglasses mode, depending on what you’re doing or where you are.
Ski tourers, backcountry skiers, snowshoers, winter hikers, and anyone else who likes playing around in bright, snowy conditions will love these sunglasses. If you’re the kind of person who likes “quivers of one,” you could conceivably make the Selkirks your only pair. They’re versatile enough for multiple sports and even lifestyle activties.
I really dig these shades. I think they look cool and do a damn good job of protecting my peepers from glare and UV. They have earned a permanent spot in my backcountry ski pack. (Or, at least, they will earn a permanent spot if I can get a replacement side panel for the one I lost.)
