ProView – Julbo Montebianco 2 Review
The Montebianco 2 with REACTIV lenses is a high-performance sunglass built for mountain athletes who want a single pair to handle everything from a casual urban bike ride to a spring ski mountaineering mission. While photochromatic lenses aren’t exactly new, the technology behind them keeps improving, and the Montebianco 2 proves it.
Julbo Montebianco 2
Product Name: Julbo Montebianco 2
Product Description: Montebianco 2 is the perfect companion for venturing into stunning landscapes. The lines of this now-iconic style have been completely redesigned for a more contemporary look to showcase its dynamic utility better. Montebianco 2 has new Grip Tech temples and a non-slip bridge, making it a benchmark model for mountain comfort.
Offer price: MSRP: $234.95
Currency: USD
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Quality
(5)
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Features
(5)
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Fit
(3)
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Durability
(5)
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Eco-Friendly
(5)
Summary
A well-rounded and highly adaptable pair of sunglasses for folks that don’t want to own a quiver of sunglasses. Fits larger faces well but lacks some of the adjustable fit of other glacier glasses. They can be used just about anywhere but truly shine on glaciers on sunny days.
Overall
4.6Pros
- Fast transitioning lenses
- Great eye coverage with side shields on
- Durable
- Great for sunnier conditions
Cons
- Rubberized grips on the arms tend to pull hair when putting them on
- Non-adjustable arms
- Do not float
As someone who skis and snowboards as long as there’s snow on the ground, bikes on road, mountain, and gravel, and dabbles in climbing, I’m always drawn to gear that can cover multiple sports. I’ve been using photochromatic lenses for years. My 10-year-old Julbo Explorers with the Camel lens are still going, and I reviewed the Julbo Intensity a few years back. So when I got the chance to test the Montebianco 2 with the REACTIV cat 2-4 lenses, I was curious how they would compare.
Between decades of skiing and snowboarding year-round, biking on road, mountain, and gravel, and a growing climbing habit, I’ve logged enough hours in variable mountain light to know when a lens is actually working and when it’s just marketing. To fully test the range, I got out on a good amount of adventures at my home in the South Cascades of Washington and some of Seattle’s finest urban bike routes. I personally love to take gear out of its comfort zone to see how it performs outside its intended purpose. I paired them with bike helmets, climbing helmets, bone conduction headphones, neck tubes, and headbands without issue. Only when in a “tuck” position on my road bike did I notice them slip slightly down my nose.
While on a scramble in the Tatoosh Range, I was super impressed with how well the Montebianco changed to meet varying light, so well that I didn’t need to remove them once throughout the day.
Fit/Comfort
I have a fairly wide face with 135mm temples and a wide nose bridge. The Montebianco fits well over my face and stays in place once on. That said, sliding them on, I notice they grab my hair and pull it out if I’m not careful putting them on one-handed. This is especially noticeable while sweaty. They do not offer adjustability, so it’s important to try some on. They fit great under cycling helmets (Smith Network, Leatt Enduro) as well as climbing helmets (Petzl Sirocco).
Look/Style
The Montebianco has the look of sunglasses that fit in just as naturally on a mountainside as they would slopeside. Once the side shields are removed, they blend into any situation without looking Gorpcore. They don’t whisper “casual.” They just look like they belong outside.
Features
The removable side shields really open up the versatility of the Montebianco. The most outstanding quality is how quickly the lens transitions. It’s hardly noticeable and easy to just keep them on. Personally, I love the adaptable nature of the removable sides so I can use them for other activities. It’s worth noting, these do not float.
Weight/Packability
When compared directly with the Julbo Intensity, there is a noticeable weight difference, yet that’s like comparing a single feather to four feathers. In practice, the weight is barely noticeable once they’re on your face, even over long days. The case Julbo includes is the best in the business. It’s very protective and packable, and I’m not concerned about them getting beat up when packed within the case.
Function/Performance
Absolutely amazing. Once on, they can stay on until the light fades. The lenses begin to darken within seconds, while taking a bit more time to lighten up.
I timed this with a UV flashlight: 30 seconds of direct UV to go full dark and 3 minutes with no UV to lighten back up. This is faster to lighten than my old Explorers by 2 minutes. The lenses do enhance colors a bit, making it easy to see definition on snow as well as shapes through glare. Think of it as an Instagram filter for your eyes.
They performed best in exposed alpine terrain where light changes fast and side glare is constant. In dense tree cover, the lens lightened quickly enough to stay useful, though the lack of adjustability meant I noticed the fit more on long descents. They exceeded my expectations on lens performance and matched them on fit. The transition speed alone justified the upgrade from my old Explorers.
Durability/Construction
The high quality of Julbo glasses can be felt. Everything feels strong where it should be, soft where it should be, and seamless in construction.
I can’t speak much to long-term durability despite dropping them a few times. That said, years ago I had an issue with an arm of a pair of Explorer glasses and Julbo sent me the replacement parts and instructions. They really stand behind their products.
What Sets the Product Apart
Julbo glasses are built different and you can feel the quality right away. The versatility of the Montebianco is what really sets it apart from other glasses out there. While very much a premium product, the Montebianco has great value.
Who Is the Product For
Mountain users who value a high-quality product that can be used for a wide variety of pursuits: mountain guides, backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers. Just maybe not for watersport use. Folks who don’t want to bring along extra lenses in case conditions change. If having a quiver of sunglasses is not your thing, look no further.
Friendliness to the Earth
Julbo is actually doing some legit stuff here. The biggest one for me: most of their sunglasses use Rilsan, a bio-sourced material made from castor beans. It’s not some greenwashing gimmick either. The stuff is lightweight, flexible, and durable, so you’re not sacrificing performance for sustainability. The castor beans grow on low-quality soil without competing with food crops, and the material reduces biogenic carbon impact compared to petroleum-based plastics.
Production-wise, most of Julbo’s manufacturing happens in Europe, which cuts down on shipping emissions significantly. Their factory recycles water and runs on recyclable energy.
They also walk the walk on repairability. When I had an issue with an Explorer arm years ago, Julbo sent replacement parts and instructions without hassle. That’s the kind of thing that keeps gear out of landfills.
The Final Word
The Montebianco 2 are the “one pair to rule them all” sunglasses I’ve been looking for. I’m just okay at everything, but these glasses are genuinely great at almost everything.
The REACTIV lens handles varying conditions effortlessly, so you can just set it and forget it. Removable side shields mean I can go from food truck pod to alpine scramble without looking like I’m cosplaying at Burning Man. And Julbo’s lifetime lens/frame warranty and spare parts mean I’m not contributing to the landfill just because of a defect.
If you want a quiver of sunglasses for every condition, fine. But if you want a single pair that does it all and doesn’t make you look like a Gorpcore influencer, these are it.
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About the Gear Tester
Reid Pitman
- Reid Pitman
- Reid Pitman
- Reid Pitman
- Reid Pitman
