Switch makes it easy to have one pair of sunglasses that work in a variety of different outdoor activities.
By Dan Sanchez
Switch’s unique method of swapping out lenses from a single set of frames, makes it easy to use the same pair of sunglasses for sports like snowboarding, mountain biking, hunting, etc. The Switch lenses feature small magnets that allow them to be quickly removed and replaced into the frames in seconds.
We tried the company’s AXO matte black frames with a set of Polarized grey, reflective silver lenses, and a set of Rose Amber lenses. The frames are extremely lightweight and worked well when we took them out hiking, mountain biking and trail running. The AXO is a full wrap around style that offers a wide field of view. The frames feel very light to the touch but we found them to be durable, yet very flexible.
We liked the slight over-molding over the temple that kept out wind and light debris that was kicked up during our mountain bike ride. But perhaps one of the best things we liked about the Switch AXO, is that they didn’t leave any pressure points, and felt very comfortable, even after a full day on the trail. Some of this is due to the details they added to the frames, such as a soft rubber nose piece that’s very comfortable, and didn’t slip off. Even after pouring sweat from a long trail run the AXO didn’t slip off, and the rubber coating over the ear-pieces also help to keep these sunglasses in place and feeling comfortable.
The Polarized lenses worked great on a bright day, and will work well to provide lots of contrast when we use them for skiing, fishing and most every-day use. The AXO came with a nice, matte, semi-hard carrying case that is large enough to house a separate plastic lens case. As our test day turned to dusk, we easily popped out the polarized lenses, and inserted the Rose Amber lenses into the AXO frames. The cleaning cloth included in the case, came in handy to wipe off fingerprints off the lenses and provide a clear view the rest of the evening. The Rose Amber lenses provided excellent low-light vision, especially when mountain biking and especially while doing some bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park.
Both the Polarized and Rose Amber lenses never came loose or felt loose in any way. Because the lenses are inserted into the eye pieces of the frames, there’s no chance of them falling out, even if you dropped the sunglasses. Aside from the two lenses we tried, Switch offers lenses in green for golf and tennis, yellow for skiing, grey with silver mirrored brown with bronze mirror. Each lens provides a different quality that can improve vision in certain conditions. Switch has a complete lens chart available on their website that shows what the various shades and lenses can be used for. In addition, the lenses are also available with a prescription and are all made from shatterproof polycarbonate.
The Switch AXO retails from $139-$149 and come in a black matte colored frame, crystal cool gray, polar white, and shinny black finishes. For more information, visit www.switchvision.com.
