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November 24, 2008
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The Calais (Courtesy of Kaenon)
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I'm going sea kayaking in the Bahamas. What sunglasses would you recommend?
— The Editors
Santa Fe, New Mexico
I’m jealous. The best shades for your Bahamian rhapsody are inspired by race-car-driving phenom Danica Patrick. The sunglasses I’m referring to are Kaenon's new Calais ($279). The oversized, lightweight Calais has a sophisticated polarized lens that allows for optical clarity, color contrast, and depth perception. Translated, when you look down at the waves, you’ll feel like you’re hallucinating because you’ll see the water in such vivid, particulate detail. Though the Calais comes in many lens colors, go with Kaenon's darkest grey, which blocks 88 percent of visible light and performs best in bright, full sun conditions while sailing, fishing, and, of course, sea kayaking.
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Do you have a question of your
own?
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The oversize frame has a retro double-nose bridge and a boxy look combined with sleek, flexible temples that have sculpted metal embellishments. Bottom line: The Calais looks street enough to make you feel like a rock star while walking through the airport, but will be kind on your eyes in the full-reflective glare at high noon while you’re furiously paddling in search of your next icy Kalik. Just don’t forget your Croakies—the Calais don’t have any bits of hydrophobic rubber on the nose bridge or at the temples to help them stay in place. And, trust me, you'd be extremely bummed if they accidentally slid off your face and into the water.
Stephanie Pearson: The Gear Girl
When it comes to gear, contributing editor Stephanie Pearson lives by one rule: What you own, owns you. That's why the skier, hiker, biker, runner, canoe paddler, and sometimes yogini is on an eternal quest to find gear and clothing that will enhance her life rather than make her a slave to dysfunctional stuff. During her seven-year stint as a travel editor at Outside, Pearson received three honorable mentions in The Best American Travel Writing series for stories on Guatemala, New Zealand, and Bhutan. Now that she's no longer in the office at Outside HQ in Santa Fe, Pearson hopes to be on the road more and is always in search of functional and aesthetically pleasing gear that's easy to use or clothing that's elegant to wear. Pearson is based in northern Minnesota and Santa Fe. Her latest adventure was on the fringe of the Amazon Basin in Brazil.
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