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Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures and travel with a focus on getting into the mountains. If there is snow I am going to go.
Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures and travel with a focus on getting into the mountains. If there is snow I am going to go.
If this guide helps you decide which goggle is for you, consider using the affiliate links at the bottom to support the website. These links provide a small commission to support the site at no extra cost to you.
Anyone who has spent time in the mountains will know that the weather can be unpredictable and subject to change throughout the day. Waking up to blue skies and sunshine doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way and it is best to be prepared. A good pair of goggles can protect your eyes from both intense sunshine and harsh winds. Although a good pair of sunglasses may be fine to protect your eyes from the UV light, they wont always be a suitable barrier in harsher conditions.
Ski goggles will protect your eyes against the elements, whether this is intense sunshine or a snowstorm. Whilst the frame will protect your eyes from the harsh weather, the lens will protect against the UV light. Often people make the mistake of thinking that on bluebird days they do not need to wear ski goggles. The snow is a reflective surface and the higher you go the more intense the light can be. Skiing or snowboarding without the correct eye protection can lead to snow blindness (essentially sunburn of the eyes).
Goggles will not only protect your eyes but will assist them to help you see in the most challenging of conditions. Ski goggles come in a range of lens colours and tints, which are designed to support your eyesight in specific conditions (more detail to follow). Wearing the correct goggle and lens can increase clarity allowing you to see better, even in whiteout conditions.
When choosing a goggle in store it is likely that you will have the assistance of an assistant who has undertaken specific training on each goggle brand. It is important not to be shy and ask the following questions to get the right goggles for you.
If you have a budget in mind make sure the sales assistant is aware of this straight away. That way they will be able to recommend goggles in your price range. As with most things you get what you pay for and the lower priced goggles may lack certain features or extras like a spare lens. Most mid-range ski goggles are great quality nowadays so there is also no need to spend a fortune.
Think about the time of year that you tend to ski or snowboard. If you take multiple trips throughout the season you will probably experience a range of conditions so having a spare lens will be important. Ask about goggles that come with a spare lens as standard as purchasing extra lenses can be expensive.
Most of all, ask for the sales advisor advice. They work with the goggles and the brands so they will know which ones are durable and which ones get returned with problems.
Goggle Strap - The strap can be loosened or tightened to create a better fit. Straps normally come with a silicone beading on the inside to prevent the fabric from moving when placed around the outside of a helmet.
Frame - Goggle frames come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. The larger the frame the greater the field of view. The frame supports the lens ensuring it doesn’t fall out if you bail.
Face Foam - Goggles will have foam on the back of the frame which is there to create a seal and provide comfort against the face. The more expensive goggles will have multiple layers of foam of different densities. The firmer foam will be closer to the frame and the softer foam closer to your skin for comfort.
Ventilation - A well ventilated goggle is essential for a good day on the hill. Blocking the vents will cause the goggle to fog up and obscure your vision. Most brands use foam around the vents however Dragon use plastic to increase durability against helmets.
Lenses - Lenses are the barrier between the outside conditions and your eyes. There for protection and to assist your vision, lenses will restrict and allow light into the goggle. In recent years, brands have developed high contrast lenses that will filter blue light to give the clearest details on snow.
Everyones face is different and this means goggles are not a one size fits all. The best thing to do when choosing a goggle is to try a range of frames on and see what feels good. You should be looking for the frame to fit closely to your face with no large gaps around the bridge of your nose. Any gaps are going to be subject to wind getting in and this will affect your experience. Goggles now come in a range of specific sizes and shapes. Some of the most popular are listed below.
XL Frames - These larger than usual goggles are unrivalled in terms of peripheral vision allowing you to have a full picture of what is around you on the slopes. The larger size prevents obstructions from the frames that can feel restrictive in smaller goggles. Popular goggles in this range are; Anon M4, Oakley Flight Deck and Smith IO Mag XL
Asian Fit - Specifically designed to cater to skiers and snowboarders who have a flatter nose bridge, Asian fit goggles have increased in popularity. Ensuring there is a close seal around the nose bridge is important to prevent air and snow from getting into the goggle whilst riding. Asian fit goggles have extra foam around the nose bridge to compensate for the flatter shape of some peoples noses.
Over The Glasses - Important for skiers and snowboarders who wear glasses whilst they ride, OTG goggles have features to make this more comfortable. The main difference will be a cut out in the foam of the frame that allows room for the arms of your glasses to fit under the frame. OTG goggles will need to have good ventilation to prevent fogging.
Women’s Goggles - Although most goggles tend to be Unisex brands are producing women’s specific ski goggles. Women’s goggles share some similarity with Asian fit goggles and have a smaller frame with more foam around the nose bridge. These work better with smaller face shapes.
Over the years there have been two major lens shapes found in ski-goggles; cylindrical lenses and spherical lenses. In recent years toric lenses have also been introduced as a progression on spherical lenses. . The following section will dissect the differences between these lens shapes and how they affect your vision on the mountain.
Back in fashion, cylindrical lenses are curved horizontally but not vertically. You will normally find cylindrical lenses on cheaper entry level goggles although they have also become popular options in high end goggles.
Finding a ski goggle that fits your face well is really important and can be the difference between a good and bad day on the hill. Trying on goggles is the best way to understand which frames will best suit your face. Whilst there may be a range of goggle frame sizes that fit it is best to try a variety to see which you prefer.
Ideally, you are looking for no gaps in the seal created between the foam and your face. Gaps allow wind and snow to get inside the goggle causing you discomfort whilst you are riding. Pay particular attention to the nose bridge as this is where people have the most issues.
It is important to try your goggles as if you were going out riding. If you wear a helmet when you snowboard then take it with you to the shop. Too small a frame may leave a gap between the top of the goggle and your helmet. Not only does this look pretty lame, but it’s likely that in colder conditions you will get uncomfortable. Having this gap when it is sunny may leave an interesting tan line.
It is important to bend your knee down over your toe to check the following two things happen;
Your foot slides back in the boot meaning your toes are no longer brushing the end.
Your ankle doesn’t lift and your heel doesn’t slide up the back of the boot.
If both of these things happen with your knee bent over your toes then you have a good fitting boot. If your toes stay at the end of the boot or there is movement in your heel KEEP LOOKING!
There are some pretty major eyewear brands in the ski goggle market. Although there are many similarities between their designs now some major differences do stand out.
Oakley - Oakley have been one of the major players in the eyewear market for a number of seasons. Consistently delivering exceptional quality, Oakley also charge for the privilege of wearing their frames. Oakley remain one of the few brands that doesn’t provide spare lenses as standard with their goggles. This is something we feel they should address given their competitors are doing so!
Anon - Anon have brought some big changes to the market in recent years. Their revolutionary MFI technology allows riders to connect face-masks and hoods to their goggles seamlessly. Although other brands also offer magnetic lens changes, Anon are at the forefront.
Smith - Smith’s Chromapop lenses are pretty impressive. Contrast lenses are becoming common place through all brands with Dragon’s Lumalens, Anon’s Perceive, Spy’s Happy Lens and Oakley’s Prism amongst the most popular. Smith include two Chromapop lenses with most of their goggles and have introduced quality lenses at a great price in the Squad goggle.
Are there any glasses wearers out there who hate wearing contacts? Well we feel your pain. For a number of years we tried wearing glasses under our ski goggles and in all honesty… it sucks! Even with OTG goggles the experience and comfort was always lacking for us. One solution we have used is inserts under the goggle. For more information check out Sport RX for inserts here.
A good pair of ski goggles can last a number of seasons if they are cared for. Following these simple steps will ensure that you can ride your goggles year after year.
All goggles now come with a microfibre cloth bag to keep them in. This is ideal for transporting them to prevent them getting dirty or scratched however the bag has a double purpose. The bag is specifically designed from a fabric that will clean the lens without causing scratches. Avoid using other items to clean the lenses such as; tissues, t-shirts and jackets as these are too coarse and will cause damage.
When taking your goggles off at lunch time or the end of the day do not rest them on the lenses. Put them in the microfibre bag provided or stand them up. Goggles are made out of strong anti shatter materials however they will be prone to scratching.
Using a goggle soc can protect the lenses whilst you are wearing them but they are not in use, for example when wearing them on your head. Although ideally this should be avoided as this will cause fogging in the goggles.
When placing your goggles in a backpack try to put them into a separate pocket, ideally a specific goggle pocket. Goggle pockets will be lined with a protective material to prevent the lenses from scratching. If your backpack does not have a dedicated goggle pocket consider purchasing a protective case.
Avoid touching the inside of the lens. The inside of the lens is coated with an anti-fog coating that when wiped will need to be replaced. If you take a bail and manage to get snow inside your lens, shake it out and then head indoors to dry it out. This process wont take long but will ensure your goggles stay in a good condition for years.
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