If you love skiing or snowboarding, ski goggles are a must-have piece of equipment. They protect your eyes from harmful elements on the slopes, such as harsh sunlight, wind, snow, and flying debris. Choosing the right ski goggles is crucial for your safety and enjoyment. The perfect pair should not only safeguard your eyes but also provide clear vision in various weather conditions. Moreover, they should be comfortable to wear, even during long days on the mountain.
As much as numerous options are available in the market, it can be stressful to select the most appropriate one. In this post, I will help you make a correct selection of the best ski and snowboard goggles for you. I'll also share some tips on how to care for them so they stay in great shape for many ski seasons to come. Let's get started!
Why Should You Wear Ski Goggles?
Wearing ski goggles is a must when you're hitting the slopes. Here's why you shouldn't skip them:
Blocking Ultraviolet Radiation
Ski goggles protect your eyes by filtering ultraviolet radiation completely. These radiations are damaging to our eyes, leading to several issues. They increase at high altitudes. The London Mole Removal Centre says UV radiation rises by 4% to 5% for every 1,000-foot increase in sea level. It happens due to the limited atmosphere for the absorption of these radiations.
Shielding from Cold, Wind, and Foreign Particles
The weather on the mountain is harsh, with fluctuating conditions. Climate changes can often be intensified in mountain ranges.
Ski goggles protect your eyes and face in icy wind, snow, or chilling cold. Goggles for snowboarding and skiing are shields that block foreign particles. Particles, like bits of dirt or snow, obstruct your vision and lead to accidents or injuries. This protection is necessary to maintain focus during skiing and snowboarding.
Filtering Light Transmission
The brightness of light changes in sloped areas with weather and daytime shifts. On a sunny day, the light might get blindingly bright. During a cloudy afternoon, the light could be so weak that it can barely illuminate anything. Ski goggle lenses are designed to block light to make better contrast. This feature offers you better visibility in varying conditions. By reducing the glare, they reduce eye strain, enabling you to focus on your ride.
How to Choose Ski Goggles?
Choosing ski goggles is not about picking a pair that catches your eye. You need to check several functionalities to ensure you get the right pair. Here are some factors that make it easy for you to select the best ski goggles:
Shape and Size
Ski goggles are available in various shapes and sizes to fit different faces. The right size of snowboard goggles fits your face. They give you a better and more extensive field of vision.
- Small-frame goggles are narrow and shallow. They fit children well because their faces have less volume. These snow ski sunglasses are lightweight and have soft padding.
- Some ski goggles are specifically designed for women. They have less volume over the bridge of the nose to ensure a snug fit and a narrower frame to fit women's slim faces.
- Men's faces are broader and need large frames. Ski goggles with wider frames have robust construction.
Goggles should fit the shape of your face. You also need to ensure that they fit your helmet. It will prevent pinching and slipping when you are riding on slop.
Ventilation
Ventilation is a crucial feature in ski goggles to prevent fogging. Fogging happens when your body's heat meets cold air. It causes condensation. Fog reduces visibility, obscuring the path and hindering safe navigation. Ski goggles must have good ventilation. It regulates their inner temperature. Proper airflow minimizes the condensation on the lens. You can opt for ski goggles with varying levels of ventilation:
- Snowboarding goggles with limited airflow suit freezing temperatures. These goggles prevent the cold air from irritating your face. Lack of airflow causes fogging in them. This type of ski goggle is suitable when you are not engaged in any activity.
- Ski goggles with medium ventilation balance airflow and protection. They prevent fogging while keeping out wind and snow. You can use them in several conditions. They are best for moderate activities.
- Highly ventilated snowboarding goggles are best for intense activities. They are ideal if you are snowboarding or skiing in warm weather or tend to overheat. They allow enough air to flow, preventing you from fogging while letting in cold air.
Lens Color
Lens color is another notable aspect. It affects both the look of your cool ski goggles and visibility on the slopes. The tint of the lens filters and transmits light of particular colors. The quantity of light that passes through the lens and approaches your eyes is referred to as visible light transmission (VLT). Various lens colors influence the VLT differently.
Lighter lens tints allow more light to pass through, so snow goggles with light tints have higher VLT. In contrast, darker lens tints hinder light, allowing only a small amount of light to pass through. They have reduced VLT.
Here's a ski goggle lens color guide:
- White-colored lenses allow almost all the light to pass. They boost contrast and brighten your view. Perfect for night skiing, these night ski goggles are designed for comfortable night skiing.
- Transparencies of Amber and gold-colored lenses make about 43% to 80% of light pass through. They are preferable where visibility is an issue, for instance, on a cloudy day. You can also use them during dusk.
- Yellow or orange-colored lenses let 18% to 43% of light pass. They help you focus on the terrain. These are your go-to for foggy or overcast conditions.
- Brown, grey, red, or blue-colored lenses allow 8% to 18% of light to cross and reach your eyes. They reduce light glare while maintaining contrast. These lens colors are suitable for sunny days.
- Black-colored lenses hamper only 3% to 8% of light. These lenses filter the intense light, allowing only a small amount to reach your eyes. Snowboarding goggles with such lenses are most appropriate to be used for outdoor support during a sunny day.
Lens Shape
The shape of your goggle lens also influences the quality of vision. There are two regular types of lens shapes available on the market.
Cylindrical Lenses
This type of lens curves from left to right but stays flat vertically. If you're on a budget, cylindrical lenses are a solid choice for ski goggles. It isn't bad, but they do bring in some mild distortion of your peripheral vision.
Spherical Lenses
These goggle lenses have horizontal as well as vertical curvature. Snowboarding goggles with these lenses offer great peripheral vision with little distortion. They also tend to give you a more natural view and are more comfortable than cylindrical lenses.
Additional Lens Features
Beyond the shape, good ski goggle lenses should also have several additional features to enhance the visibility and your skiing experience.
- Polarized lenses cut glare by filtering the light. These lenses can facilitate your vision, allows you to conveniently ski on sunny days.
- A REVO coat acts as a reflective layer. This coating protects you from reflective sun rays.
- A UV 400 filter prevents your eyes from ultraviolet radiation. This filter shields UVA, UVB, and UVC. By using goggles with a UV 400 filter, you can protect your eyes from the damaging effects of UV rays.
- Some snowboarding goggles come with an anti-fog coating on the lens. This coating prevents fogging in extreme temperatures.
- A digital display is smart tech. This feature lets you pair your goggles with your smartphone's GPS or Bluetooth. It enables you to navigate your track. In addition, it shows your performance.
- Magnetic ski goggles have two interchangeable lenses for the weather. It enables you to ride in different light conditions.
Goggles Frame
The frame is an essential component of snow goggles that impacts your comfort.
- It should be compatible with your helmet. Prevent any gaps or pressure points to make your ride fun.
- The padding should be thick to prevent pinching. Soft, comfy padding gives a snug fit. It will not press against your face.
- If you wear glasses, go with goggles having an OTG (over the goggles) frame. They fit over your eyewear. They won't compromise the fit or fog up.
Foam
The foam lines the inner side of the snowboarding goggles. There are two types of foam that are widely used in goggles:
- Ventilation foam lines the rim of your snowboarding goggles. It provides sufficient air circulation to minimize fogging. This type of foam also acts as a barrier for snow and rain.
- Padding foam lies against your face. It ensures the comfort while wearing the goggles. Various densities of padding foam are available. Padding foam is manufactured from soft materials and minimizes sweating.
Straps
The straps are another notable feature for selecting the right snowboarding goggles. They offer a robust grip to your helmet. Look for adjustable straps with sliding clips. The two pieces of adjustable straps allow you to increase or decrease the length to fit according to your face size.
Maintenance of Ski Goggles
Maintenance is necessary to keep your goggles in good condition. Here are some tips to maintain your ski goggles:
- It's important to keep your goggles clean, as dirt can build up on the lenses. Use a soft microfiber cloth to wash them without scrubbing them too hard. It will prevent scratches.
- Avoid cleaning wet snowboarding goggles. It will prevent damage to additional coatings.
- Avoid wiping the inner side of your ski goggles' lenses. It can damage the anti-fog coating.
- Don't throw the goggles into your bag when you are not using them. Store it in a casing so that they do not get scratched or covered with dirt.
Wrap Up
Choosing the right ski goggles is crucial for your safety, comfort, and visibility on the slopes. Consider factors like fit, lens technology, ventilation, and frame design when making your selection.
At Raytice, we've designed our goggles to meet all these essential criteria. Our goggles offer 100% UV protection, shatterproof lenses, and anti-fog coating β key features we've discussed in this guide. What sets our goggles apart is their versatility, perfect for skiing and various other outdoor activities.
Investing in quality goggles means investing in your safety and enjoyment. We invite you to check out Raytice goggles before your next ski trip. Experience the difference our well-designed eyewear can make in your mountain adventures.
