Whether it is the humid tropical rainforest of Malaysia or the snow covered mountains of Nepal, spectacle users need to manage the risk and inconvenience of having the spectacle on while on the trek. Although it is possible to use contact lens, this is not advisable for trips lasting more than a day or two due to obvious hygiene issues. For spectacle users, the greatest risk is losing or breaking the spectacle by accident. Bringing a backup spectacle is always a sound advice but it is not the most convenient. There are alternative ways to manage this risk which will be covered in this article. Apart from the risk of losing the spectacle, spectacle users will also need to manage slipping spectacle especially when one perspires on treks under humid conditions.
For all spectacle users, it is highly advisable to use either a spectacle band or spectacle hook for the trek. The former is generally more secure as the band runs along the back of the head and if the spectacle gets knocked off accidentally, it will still be held on by the strap. Another advantage of the spectacle strap is that the spectacle can be taken off and dangle by the strap around the neck while taking a nap on long bus journeys.
 Contoured spectacle hook from Beta-simplicity. |
A spectacle hook is also a good option for securing the spectacle and it is generally more comfortable and better at preventing spectacle slipping compared to spectacle strap. There are different designs available in the market and it is advisable to get those with a long hook. The long hook runs along the back of your ear for anchorage. Wedge Classic from Beta-simplicity features a hook that curves round the back of the ear which provides better security. Design made of material does not soak water or perspiration such as rubber or plastic are recommended for tropical climate treks.
A comprehensive and versatile repair kit is a must especially for longer trek. For the purpose of repairing spectacle, the repair kit should contain wires and duct tape. The diameter of the wires should be sufficiently small to fit through the screw holes of the spectacles. Duct tape is also useful to repair broken spectacle arm/temple. This is also where spectacle hook is useful as it can keep the spectacle from slipping if the arm/temple is temporarily secured to the frame.
For treks to the high mountains or snow-covered land, a pair of sunglasses is necessary to protect the eyes from the strong UV rays. While most sunglasses do not come with prescriptions, there are some sunglasses designs which may be fitted with prescribed and tainted lens. There are also sunglasses designs that may be fitted with adaptor lens or lens insert. The lens insert typically sits behind the tainted sunglasses lens and from the outside, looks like any regular sunglasses. Since the sunglasses come with prescription, this can function as the backup pair should anything happens to the regular spectacle you are using.
