The Edge sports sunglasses from Cab9 are a great buy if you’re looking for a set of well-priced shades with good coverage and polarised lenses.
Sunglasses are a vital bit of my personal gear – especially for the changeable weather we experience when canoeing in Scotland. As such, I’ve become quite particular about the lenses in my sunglasses. Firstly, I choose polarised lenses because of their superior performance over water. As a guide, I spend a fair bit of time near lochs and the sea and reducing glare is a big priority. Secondly, I’m looking for solid category 3 lenses because I also need good UV protection for very bright, snowy environments. Cat 4 lenses are a no-no because they are too dark for driving. Thirdly, my shades must endure frequent stuffing into pockets, through helmet vents and onto hats – sometimes in hideous weather! So they need to be durable, but not too expensive. After looking around online, I decided to try the Edge sunglasses from Cab9. This small Meribel-based company is made up of snowsports instructors and I figured they would get the need for high-performing, good-looking eyewear that doesn’t cost the earth.
Review ✓
- NAME: CAB9 Edge sunglasses
- WHAT IS IT? Semi-wraparound polarised sunglasses
- WHO’S IT FOR? road/MTB riders, paddlers, skiers, hikers, wildlife enthusiasts, climbers and mountaineers
- PRICE: £72
- PROS: hard-wearing, good fit, well made, light weight, well priced, good features
- CONS: None
- BOTTOM LINE: Well-designed polarised sunnies at a great price and with great customer service
- MY RATING:
Cab9 Edge – sunglasses for outdoor missions
I’ve been using my green-mirror Edges for over two years now and I’m really happy with them. Previously, I had gone for narrower wraparound frames, to ensure I didn’t get much ‘spill light’ or wind in at the sides. The Cab9 Edges are a squarer shape, so I was a little unsure about how much light and wind they would let in compared to other sunglasses I’ve worn in the past. However, they have worked out fine. As the company says, they have opted for a ‘semi wraparound‘ style – so there’s just enough curvature to give good side protection. But enough of a gap to allow decent ventilation. This is actually a very welcome change, as I’ve had problems with fogging and even crash injuries from tightly-wrapped designs in the past.
Frame design
Which brings me onto the frames. Cab9 employ a very lightweight build for the Edge sunglasses, but with just enough flexibility to keep them secure. This is true whether I’m biking, skiing or just talking to clients with the shades on top of my head. This flexibility also reduces chance of damage in a crash, unlike other plastics which stiffen up in the cold. The hydrophillic rubber contact points grip really well. The subtle nose pads have always kept them in place when I’m working up a sweat on the bike. And the well-shaped arms hold well but easily slip over a hat or through the gaps in a helmet.
📢 “Shoutout to Cab9, who sent me replacement arms for my worn Edge sunglasses, which arrived within the week from Spain!”
Cab9 Edge lenses
The Edges have a category 3 lens (see below) with an excellent protective coating which has shrugged off damage exceptionally well. In addition, the polarised lenses on these sunglasses make all the difference when leading and instructing water sports and snowsports (no more glare-induced headaches and tired eyes). The only quirk is that some smartwatch displays seem to disappear if rotated past 90 degrees. Smartphones generally seem not to be affected as much and this happens with any polarised sunglasses, not just Cab9’s Edges.
When sunlight bounces off horizontal surfaces like the sea or snow-covered land, a larger-than-normal proportion of it is angled hozontally (we experience this as glare). Polarised sports sunglasses lenses (eg: Cab9 Edge) specifically filter out that angle of light, without affecting the overall shade. This makes viewing much more comfortable in snowy or watery environments.
Sunglasses categories
| Category | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visible light absorption % | 0-10 | 10-20 | 20-43 | 43-85 | 85-92 |
| Tint | Very light | Light | Marginal | Dark | Very dark |
| Sunlight | Overcast | Low | Moderate | Strong | Very strong |
| Driving suitability | Daytime and night-time | Daytime only | Daytime only | Daytime only | Never (illegal) |
| Application | Prescription spectacles | Coloured spectacles | Recreational sports | Recreational sports | High-altitude mountaineering |
Cab9 also uses tech called ‘Infrashield‘ in their Edge sunglasses lenses. By all accounts, this filters out some infra red light, thereby improving definition and further reducing eye strain. Although the effect might be subtle, I’ve always appreciated really clear image through them, even when using binoculars! Finally, when it comes to tint, you get a range of great colours to suit your own style.
So, Cab9’s Edge sunglasses are highly recommended. They have a range of well-thought-out and nicely executed features. This, together with their pricing, makes them ideal daily driver shades for outdoor professionals and punters alike.
Connect and enjoy nature on the water
