Brazeau
edge-eyewear.com
Working a desk job, I’ve never really felt the need to own a pair of “safety glasses,” even when I’ve done outside yard work or anything similar in which they may have come in handy. The Brazeau, from Utah-based Edge Eyewear, spurred me to have second thoughts. Initially, I wore them simply as another pair of sunglasses—they block UV light, and are, simply put, the best sunglasses I’ve ever worn. They are comfortable and extremely durable—you can, quite literally, bend these into a pretzel and they won’t lose their shape when you put them back on. I wore them doing some minor yard work one afternoon and somehow flipped a good-sized rock up into my face. I thought it would have surely done some damage, but it didn’t so much as scratch the lens on the Brazeau. Check them out, and watch their demonstration videos on YouTube—excellent product from this local company. –Gavin Hoffman

GoPole
GoPro Mounts and Accessories
gopole.com
I still can’t believe it took the human race eight years to invent a better system for sticking a GoPro to a stick. The fine folks at GoPole didn’t just fill that void, they capitalized on it. Say goodbye to your jimmy-rigged ski pole or the broomstick you stole from your mamma, because someone finally stepped it up! The GoPole itself not only provides the same stick-like functions that we’ve all come to love, but it’s also crystal clear for minimal shot interference, it has a wrist leash, and you can choose from two sizes (36” for $39.99, 24” for $34.99). My favorite, though, in this line of products, is the handheld mount. Roughly the length of a hand, the Grenade Grip ($22.99) and The Bobber ($29.99) deliver better movability and more accessibility, all without having to look like you’re carrying around a nightstick—plus the Bobber is made for water, so it floats! If you’re looking to GoPro, the GoPole will stick with you through all of it. –Tim Kronenberg

Kenu
Highline
kenu.com
Kenu’s Highline is a Kevlar safety leash that attaches securely to your iPhone (4s, 4, 3GS, 3) or iPod (touch, classic, nano) the same way your charger would. If you’re as vain as I am (and you are—I follow you on Instagram), this product is near genius. It’s one of those things you wish you’d thought of first. There are so many times that I’ve held my iPhone out in front of me to take a selfie, gripping the sides with all the muscles in my fingers, hoping it’s not going to drop to an expensive death. The Highline is also ideal for cycling. I know, I know, “What are you doing on your phone while riding a bike?!” At least I’m not driving a two-ton death machine while I pull out my phone (yeah, I’m looking at YOU). I actually lost my last phone when I stuck it in my back pocket and the to-and-fro motion of my ass wiggled it out while pedaling. With the Highline, I can attach it to my belt loop or even the strap on my Velo City Bag, and know my iPhone’s gonna make it home so I can #latergram all of my adventures. That’s really the only downside to the Highline—you have to have some kind of “loop” to tie it to, or there’s no way to use it, but unless you often find yourself in Velcro onesies, that shouldn’t be a major problem. –Esther Meroño

Smith Optics
I/OX Goggle
smithoptics.com
Managing your equipment in the snowy environs of the Wasatch is extremely important in my line of work. Over the past eight winters working for Snowbird Ski Resort, I have gone through the gamut of goggles on the market. From improper fits to leaky vents and fogged lenses, these problems are not what you want when you are about to place a two-pound explosive on an avalanche-prone slope. Thanks to Smith Optics and their latest release, the I/OX, my vision has never been clearer. The configuration of the goggle allows the wearer to quickly switch the lens to accommodate changing lights. Weather changes rapidly in the mountains, and being able to adapt with the literal flick of a switch is paramount. On those blindingly bright, sunny days, the Impossibly Black Lens cuts out the harsh UV light and allows my corneas to relax. For the cloudy, low-light days, the Red Sensor Mirror Lens provides unbeatable clarity and definition. The improved Vaporator 5X anti-fog interior lens also means consistently clear lenses when you are hiking or riding hard. The super-wide design provides incredible peripheral vision and keeps me hyper aware of my surroundings. They fit like a dream on medium to larger faces and snug up to a helmet brim to provide optimal ventilation and comfort. They make you look like some sort of X-wing fighter pilot as well, so don’t be surprised if you catch a few admiring glances from the gals in the lift line. –Sean Zimmerman-Wall

Spy
Helm Happy Lens Sunglasses
spyoptic.com
The Happy Lenses are available in stores starting in March and are loaded with new technology from Spy. Basically, the Happy Lens is a new, high-end lens that matches natural human color preference. The lenses are polarized, offer 100-percent UV protection and block out 99 percent of glare. That means you can basically stare at the sun all day and not go blind, although I don’t recommend that. To give them the ultimate style and research test, I let each one of my mannequins take turns wearing them on my balcony, which is in direct sunlight most of the day. I tried to make my cat, Jet Pack, wear them for a while­­­­—because his eyesight is excellent—but he wasn’t having any of that. The mannequins, however, reported getting numerous compliments, thus enhancing their happiness. And when my ladies are happy, I’m happy. Thank you, Spy, for the awesome shades—I’ll do my best to not lose them or sit on them. –Mike Brown