Two of the products I’m reviewing today are in this photo: Xperio UV sun lenses and the Ski Dana Bandana.

Xperio Polarized Lenses

I have a love/hate relationship with sunglasses. I can’t live without ‘em, but I’m prone to lose ‘em. So I’ve taken to purchasing super-cheap models and not caring about scratches, smashes or losses.

Then I tried Xperio UV polarized sun lenses. There is a difference.

What Is Polarization?

Light polarizes when it bounces off smooth surfaces like snow and water, or a paved road. Instead of being scattered in all directions, the light reflects in a mostly horizontal pattern, causing glare when it reaches our eyes.

Polarized lenses filter and block intense reflected light, reducing glare and eye strain. This means you can see a lot better, in certain conditions, when your glasses filter the light.

I noticed the difference big time on a late afternoon run in the fall. The sun was low on the horizon and I was running straight into it — and with Xperio UV sun lenses I could see without squinting.

Wearing the lenses cross-country skiing, I had a similar experience in the middle of the day. Although the sun was super bright and the snow was super white, I noticed less glare, clear vision and more comfort.

The Xperio UV Difference?

Moving from shade to bright sun, you want lenses that can handle the transition.

According to Xperio UV, there are several lens  tints and treatments that can provide some polarization and UV protection.  Xperio UV claims that their lenses are superior because they eliminate 100% of blinding glare, offer an Eye-Sun Protection Factor of 50+ and are three times more scratch resistant than most lenses.

I’m no expert, and I can’t confirm or deny these claims, but I will tell you that I like these lenses a lot and so far, they’ve been super easy to care for and clean.

And the improvement in my vision in sunny and variable conditions is noticeable.

Xperio UV offers custom lenses to fit any frames. I’ve got brown lenses, which are a good for snow sports because brown blocks high amounts of blue light, increasing contrast for sharper vision. (For more on lens colors for skiers, click here.)

As someone with sensitive eyes, who spends a lot of times outdoors year round, I’m thrilled with my new lenses.

And I’m gonna try really, really hard not to lose them.

Munk Pack

Years of outdoor activity have led our family to try pretty much every bar, gel and shot on the market, usually with less than complete satisfaction.

So I was pretty skeptical when we were asked to try Munk Pack, a squeezable nutrition and energy product made from whole grains and fruit.

Sure, the logo is adorable, I mean who doesn’t like chipmunks? But how would it taste?

The answer? Freakin’ awesome. And yes, I was surprised as you might be. I mean, really, squeezable oatmeal?

Yummy Munk Pack squeezable oatmeal and fruit.

Visions of cold, gelatinous chunks aside, Munk Pack oatmeal fruit squeezes are remarkably tasty. Not too sweet, with a tart fresh fruit taste, the raspberry version totally reminded me of muffin batter. Seriously. And while I had agreed to share the pack with my husband, I wanted it all. There was nothing chunky or gelatinous about it.

My experience with the other flavors is equally positive and my family agrees.

Minimally processed, locally sourced, GMO free and proud to be part of 1% for the Planet, I like the corporate philosophy behind Munk Pack. I also like the low calories (from 80 to 100 per pack) and the fiber, fruit and yum factors.

So much so, that I recently ordered enough for the rest of the ski season.

Boxes of 6 Munk Packs each, ordered from Amazon.com.

Definitely check these out. 

Even when it’s just 5 degrees F out (check out my frozen hair) Munk Pack stayed soft and easy to eat.

Ski Dana Bandana for Skiers and Snowboarders (and Fly Fishers, too)

Side one of a Ski Dana Bandana. Lots of information!

A 22″x22″ square of microfiber cloth, I was surprised by the generous size and substantial feel of this ski bandana.

I expected the square of cloth to be lightweight — kind of like a goggle cloth. And while you can use the Ski Dana to wipe your goggles, or clean your computer, it’s really designed to protect your face and neck from the elements.

I tried the Ski Dana bandana cross-country skiing. Since it was a super frigid day, I wore it around my face and sure enough, it kept me warmer.

Like any cloth around the face and mouth, it also got damp from my breath, and when I stopped skiing, the damp areas froze. Luckily, by then, I was really warm.

All-in-all, the Ski Dana served me well, and it has taken up residence in my cross-country ski bag.

The other side of the same bandana.

Brightly colored and printed on both sides, the Ski Dana comes in a rainbow of colors.

And while I still recommend neoprene face masks for alpine skiing on the coldest days, it’s hard to argue with the versatility of a cloth that will protect your skin and wipe your goggles.

Daniel Bryant, the Colorado creator of the Ski Dana, also sells a version for fishing, which I think is really cool. Printed with an Eagle River, Colorado fishing map, these bandanas will protect your neck and face from the sun — with no chance of freezing.

To facilitate this post, I received product samples from Munk Pack and Ski Dana. I also received Xperio UV sun lenses and sunglass frames. As always, all opinions are my own and exactly what I would tell my family and friends.

More Gear Notes: 

• Get Some Soul, Save Your Knees, Read up on the Luxe Life, October 22, 2014.
• Summer Trail Essentials from Osprey, Adventuress, Honey Stinger and Advocare, August 13, 2014.
• Hydrate, Look Great, Keep Bruises at Bay, March 17, 2014.
• Adea, 81 Head Threads, Capsul, Primaloft, Columbia and Coppertone, January 29, 2014.

Additional Information on Caring For Your Eyes in Winter: 

This just came in my email. It’s too good not to share. Credit:  Vision By Design Optometry

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