Do I really need sunglasses for hill walking in the UK?

Yes, absolutely. UV radiation increases by about 10% for every thousand metres of elevation, so even on somewhere like Ben Nevis (1,345m) you're getting significantly more exposure than at sea level. Your eyes don't warn you like skin does, and the damage is cumulative and often irreversible.

Can you get snow blindness on a cloudy day?

Yes, you can. Clouds block some UV radiation but not all of it, and snow reflects up to 80% of UV back at your eyes. If there's snow on the ground and any brightness at all, you're at risk.

What should I look for when buying sunglasses for hiking?

Look for UV400 or 100% UVA/UVB protection marked on the label. Category 3 lenses are fine for most bright conditions, while category 4 is for glaciers and high altitude. Avoid cheap sunglasses without proper UV filtering — they're actually worse than nothing because your pupils dilate in the darkness, letting in more radiation.

Do You Actually Need That?

Why sunglasses matter more than you think when you're walking in the hills

Most people remember sunscreen but forget their eyes. UV damage doesn't only happen on tropical beaches — it gets worse at altitude and snow reflects enough radiation to cause actual snow blindness, not just squinting. Here's when eye protection stops being vanity and starts being safety kit.

11 October 20268 min read