Vuarnet PEAK Brings Glacier Sunglasses Into a New Design

I’ve spent a fair amount of time wearing Vuarnet sunglasses over the past year, particularly the Glacier 02, and one of the things I’ve come to appreciate about the brand is how much attention it gives to the parts of eyewear that actually affect the experience of being outside. Lens clarity, side protection, weight, and how securely a frame sits on your face all become considerably more important when you’re spending long days traveling, hiking, or attending outdoor events.

Vuarnet is continuing that approach with PEAK, a new collection of sunglasses inspired by the original Glacier silhouette introduced in 1974. The design combines a lightweight nylon-and-metal frame with removable, fabric-covered side shields, bringing the protection of traditional mountaineering eyewear into a slimmer profile. The collection also includes five mineral-glass lens options, giving customers different levels of glare reduction and contrast depending on where they plan to use them.

What interests me about PEAK is how Vuarnet has balanced outdoor protection with daily wear.

The Glacier collection has a recognizable look, especially with its side shields and substantial frames, but those elements can be unnecessary when you’re walking around a city or spending time in less demanding conditions. PEAK keeps the removable protection while reducing the frame’s visual and physical presence, making it easier to wear as everyday sunglasses.

Vuarnet Revisits Its Glacier Design With Removable Side Shields

The original Glacier design has been associated with alpine eyewear since 1974, and the defining feature has always been the additional coverage surrounding the lenses. When you’re spending time around snow, water, or exposed mountain terrain, sunlight can reach your eyes from multiple directions, particularly when reflected off bright surfaces. Traditional sunglasses primarily cover the area directly in front of your eyes, while side shields help reduce additional light entering around the frame.

PEAK incorporates fabric-covered shields that attach to the sides of its nylon and metal construction.

The shields are fully removable, so you can wear the frame without them when you don’t need extra protection. Vuarnet has also used acetate temple tips and a pilot-style lens shape, with the glasses manufactured in Italy. The result is a more streamlined interpretation of the Glacier design while retaining one of its most recognizable functional elements.

I discussed this exact feature in my Vuarnet Glacier 02 review, where I spent several weeks wearing the glasses in outdoor environments and during daily activities. The removable side shields were one of my favorite parts of that design because they made the glasses adaptable without requiring another pair. PEAK follows a similar approach, although I haven’t tested the new frame yet, so I’ll reserve judgment on how its lighter construction compares with the Glacier 02 in terms of fit and comfort.

Five Mineral Lens Options for Different Conditions

Vuarnet is offering PEAK with five mineral-glass lens configurations: Skilynx, Blue Lynx, Eclipse, Pure Grey, and Blue Polar. Each serves a different purpose, with options intended for mountain conditions, everyday wear, and environments where reflected glare is a recurring concern. All five provide 100% UV protection, while their visible-light absorption and filtering characteristics vary according to the selected lens.

For less extreme conditions, the Skilynx lens is intended for mountain and snow sports, while Blue Lynx is designed with coastal and marine environments in mind. Pure Grey offers a more conventional neutral-tint option, and Blue Polar adds polarization for reducing reflected glare. We’ve also covered Vuarnet’s broader approach to performance eyewear in my article on the Racing 05 and Racing 07, which examined how the company develops different frame and lens combinations for particular outdoor activities.

I’ve also covered other approaches to adaptable outdoor eyewear, including Vuarnet’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, and the recurring consideration is whether the added protection serves a purpose beyond its appearance. With PEAK, Vuarnet has kept the protective side shields while making them removable, giving customers an option for changing the frame’s coverage according to their surroundings.

For anyone already familiar with the Glacier collection, PEAK offers a different interpretation of the same underlying concept, concentrating on a lighter hybrid frame and interchangeable levels of side protection. The mineral lens options also give buyers the ability to choose the optical characteristics appropriate for their activities rather than relying on one configuration for every environment.

The new collection is available through the official Vuarnet PEAK product page.