10
Tips for Buying Ski Goggles
Ski goggles are an
essential! No one wants to come home from a day in the mountains with sun
spots, wind burn or frostbite and whether sitting on a chairlift or cruising in
powder, the surrounding snow reflects and amplifies the sun’s rays meaning your
eyes and face need protection. Sunglasses just do not provide the same levels
of protection from the sun, wind and snow as goggles which will also defend
your eyes in the event of a fall.
Aside from
protecting you from the elements, goggles are also your face, or image, while
you are skiing so choose a good looking pair and you’ll add style along with
protection.
Here’s our 10
point guide to buying ski goggles:
1.Choose the right lens tint.
Who wants cloudy
vision on a powder day or being blinded when the sky is clear? There are dozens
of lens colours to choose from that vary from brand to brand, and although one
colour might match your jacket better, each shade will filter light differently
and offer unique advantages in certain weather and light conditions. The amount
of light a goggle lens allows to pass through is called Visible Light
Transmission (VLT). VLT is expressed as percentage of light allowed through the
lens falling somewhere between 0% and 100%.
In low light and
fog, yellow, gold and amber lenses filter out blue light, emphasizing shadows in the snow so you can see
bumps better. They also work well in moderate and variable light conditions. Light
rose and rose copper lenses are also excellent on low-light days.
In bright
light, dark tints such as copper, dark brown, dark gray and
dark green will keep your eyes more comfortable while they increase contrast.
Gray lenses are
also good for letting you see true colours. A mirror (or "flash")
coating enhances the effectiveness of tinted lenses by reflecting sunlight so
it doesn't penetrate the lens. This lowers the VLT of the lens and makes it a
great choice for bright, sunny days.
So, wearing the
right lens for the weather conditions is important and has lead to the
development of both photochromic lenses, which become lighter or darker automatically, as
the light changes and interchangeable lens technology. These are so easy to change, it can be done in a minute while sitting
on a chairlift.
Investing in one
goggle that suits all conditions makes really good sense.
2.Lens Shape
The lens shape that you select may have an
impact on your field of vision and the clarity of your peripheral vision.
Spherical Lens goggles have a lens shape
that matches the curvature of your eyes to give you a less distorted field of
vision, more peripheral vision and a clearer sharper view. Spherical Lenses are
more expensive but give you the best optics.
Flat Lens goggles can also be called
cylindrical lenses. They allow a more limited field of vision and your
peripheral view may have minimal distortion. They are subject to more glare.
3.Ventilation
Ventilation on goggles helps control the
climate inside the goggle. Every brand has different features to allow air to
flow through the goggle to prevent moisture from building up inside which can
minimize fogging. The greater the ventilation, the less likely your goggles
will fog up.
Fog prevention
Fogged up goggles plague even the best skiers
and snowboarders. If you can’t see you can’t ski! Here are a few simple tips to
help you stay fog free.
• Do not wipe the inside of your goggles
if moisture gets on the inside lens. The inside lens is treated with an
anti-fog coating so if you wipe that coating off, your goggles are almost
certain to fog up. If snow or water gets into your goggles, shake them out
first, then dab them with a goggle cloth… do not wipe them.
• Check your vents. Many goggles have
vents which can often become clogged with snow. When clogged, fresh air cannot
filter through; this will result in foggy lenses.
• Never use glass cleaner on your
goggles. Glass cleaner will take off your anti-fog coating.
• When you take your goggles off, keep
them off of your forehead. When you put goggles on your hot and sweaty forehead
they will fill up with hot, moist air making it more difficult to remain
fog-free when you place them back over your eyes. Your best bet is to leave
them on your face or on the brim of your helmet.
4.Safety
Most goggles and sunglasses made for
fast-moving winter sports have polycarbonate lenses; this material is much more impact-resistant than
regular plastic. If you have prescription inserts, you'll want them to be made
of polycarbonate or Trivex (another impact-resistant lens material).
Also, the more flexible the frame and lens,
the less likely the lens will break or pop out in a bad fall. Foam inserts at
all impact points are important. Some manufacturers now use polar fleece as
padding; it's cushiony and warm, and it does a good job of wicking sweat from
your skin if you become overheated.
For sunglasses, look for polycarbonate or
other impact-resistant frame materials rather than metals. Adjustable rubber earpieces and
nosepieces will keep them on better when you're tackling bumps and might be
more comfortable than hard plastic ones that don't adjust.
5.Frame
size
Most adults can comfortably fit into multiple sizes of goggles, but here are some general guidelines. A simple way to think about frame size is that it often times correlates with the size of your head so if you wear a small helmet consider a small frame and if you wear a large or extra-large helmet consider a larger frame. Pretty straight forward!
Most adults can comfortably fit into multiple sizes of goggles, but here are some general guidelines. A simple way to think about frame size is that it often times correlates with the size of your head so if you wear a small helmet consider a small frame and if you wear a large or extra-large helmet consider a larger frame. Pretty straight forward!
OTG (Over the
Glasses) – OTG goggles are designed to allow you to wear your prescription
eyeglasses under the goggles. This is a much less expensive option than a
goggle with a custom prescription lens. OTG goggles are deeper than regular
goggles and have channels to allow for the arms of your glasses. Your glasses
shouldn’t move inside the goggles and there should be no discomfort or pressure
from your glasses on your nose or temples.
Oversized –
Size does matter, and not just because of the fit of the goggles. Many
manufacturers are producing large, oversized goggles with the intent of
providing more peripheral vision. Not everyone’s face fits a large, oversized
goggle, nor are all helmets compatible with them. Wearing a larger goggle will
provide you with more lens for the amount of frame, helping you get the
widescreen, full director’s cut of your winter adventures. These styles give
you a bigger field of vision both horizontally and vertically, which translates
into better peripheral vision (great for snowboarding) and a better view of
what is above and below you. If you’re a park snowboarder thinner frames are
also advantageous because they allow you to track the ground better when
spinning and twisting. But even if you are just sticking to the nursery slopes,
that lack of a thick frame in your field of vision means increased peripheral
vision, allowing you to see hazards off to the side before they become an issue.
6.Padding
This keeps the goggle from
pinching your face. The foam should be thick enough to cushion your face but
not be so thick that they prevent air flow and lead to fogging. High-end
goggles may use 2 or 3 layers of thin padding to enhance venting.
7.Helmet compatibility
We highly recommend the
use of a helmet when skiing or snowboarding and a number of tragic high profile
accidents have led to a huge increase in the number of helmets worn on the
slopes. When considering what goggle to purchase it makes sense to ensure it
fits and looks great with your ‘lid’ and a number of manufacturers are now
designing integrated helmet/ goggle designs
8.Budget
Believe it or not you can
spend more than £500 on a pair of goggles which in our view is an eye watering
figure without an icy blast to the face! If you are a hardened powder hound
planning on spending all season in the mountains you’ re likely to encounter a
range of weather conditions so consider the higher end models with
interchangeable or photochromic lenses but if it’s your first time on a week’s
holiday and your reluctant to invest so heavily a budget pair will more than suffice.
9.Buy before you get to the mountain.
Don't shop at a snow
resort unless you have to. Take your time and research the type you like to
make a heads up decision. There are exceptions, but many resorts have a limited
selection at inflated prices.
10. Discounts & Advice
Lastly, but by no meant
least, if you have any questions about any of the advice above or about a
particular goggle, give us a call at Sports-Outlet on 0333 666 3022. We’ll be
happy to help!
