The best skiing season is coming! You must be busy preparing all your skiing accessories, right? Actually of all skiing accessories, goggles are one of the most important, since they can seriously impact your visibility on the slopes!
When choosing a pair of ski goggles, we mainly look at three parts: lens, frame and the ventilation.
Lens
- Lens Type
There are two basic shapes of lens available on the market: flat ( cylindrical) lens and spherical lens.
(1) Flat Lens
Flat lens curve horizontally while remaining flat vertically. Flat lens offer good performance at a lower price.(2) Spherical Lens
Both flat and spherical lens curve horizontally, but spherical lens also curve vertically. The two dimensional curving of spherical lens decreases the amount of glare and visual alteration while also increasing peripheral vision. They have better performance in anti-fogging.
Flat lens & Spherical lens
- Lens Color/ Tint
When choosing goggles, we, especially young lady, will properly prefer the one with eye-catching colored lens. There are dozens of lens differ from colors and brands. Most people may easily buy the most eye-catching lens in their favorite color in minutes.
In fact, each color will filter light differently and offers unique advantages in certain weather and light conditions. We should not choose the goggle lens merely because of our personal preference.
Typical colors for low light lens are yellow, rose, and blue with Visible Light Transmission ( VLT ) ranging from 60-90%. Other lens will function better on sunny days with high visibility where it is more about keeping the light out. These lens will have a lower VLT percentage and typically come in dark colors of black, grey, and gold, often mirrored and have VLT ranges from 5-20%. Of course there are lens in the middle of the spectrum that perform also very well in all conditions and are great even you change light conditions during the day.
When you are about to buy new ski goggles, remember to choose the lens color depend on weathers and the light conditions for safety concern!
- UV Protection
This is extremely important to ski goggles. But you don’t need to worry too much about it. At present almost all new goggles, even at the lower end of the price spectrum, have 100% UV protection. UV intensity increases with altitude, and protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays. It will prevent eye fatigue as well as damage to your retinas.
- Anti- Fog
Anti-fogging is the must-have feature to all ski goggles. We all know that lens of all glasses and goggles easily fog when the lens come to temperature that is higher than the lens, especially in winter. And if lens are fogged, your sight become vague and will easily cause safety problem.
Actually most goggles you buy in the market have anti-fog coatings. A chemical anti-fog treatment to the inside of the lens can effectively reduce the goggle’s tendency to fog. Some coating are more anti-fog and more durable than others. And remember to make sure you read the manufacturers’ directions in detail, as goggle of poor care may cause anti-fog coating wiping off from lens.
Frame
- Frame Size
Goggle frames basically have three jobs: hold your lens in place, keep snow out, and make your face as comfortable as possible.
If you buy a goggle with a frame that is much larger than your face, it may easily skid from your face while skiing and easily cause inconvenience or danger. If you choose one that is a little small to you, your eyes or ears will be sore after long-time wearing. So, choose the frame that fits your face the most for safety and comfort concern!Also see whether it has room for your glasses if you wear one.
- Padding
Goggles manufactured today come with one to three layers of padding. Generally speaking, more layers of foam equate to more comfort and also more protection. Three layers of foam usually include: forming base layer, porous breathable middle layer and thin wicking layer. The three layers of foam also have much better ventilation.
- Easy Adjustment
As people’s head size are different, no one pair of goggles perfectly fit anyone. So goggle companies designed ski goggles to be easily adjustable. When choosing your ski goggles, see whether the goggles you want to buy are easy or difficult to adjust.
- Ventilation
We all know that all quality goggles have ventilation, but some are better than others. In general, goggles with more venting has better performance in preventing fog. It is important to make sure the venting system of your goggles is compatible with the shape of your helmet. Remember do not block the vents, or your goggles will be easier to fog.
By the way, goggles with more layers have better ventilation.
You Should Also Notice…
- Included Accessories
A pair of goggles usually comes with a cleaning cloth and a small bag (some are small boxes) for easy carrying. Remember to check whether you get all accessories that come with.
- Returning-back Rules
If you buy your goggles at a local sports store, just follow the above guidance and also see if you can return or change for another one.
If you buy your goggles on line, it is very import to see whether you can return it back in case the goggles not fit your face well. Usually you need to return the products(together with all accessories, warranty and user manual that comes with ) back in 7 days since you receive. - Warranty
Most products in the market have after-sales services. And if the goggles you buy need to be repaired, it may takes you money. A warranty will usually help you on saving some money as it is a part of after-sales services.
Above are what we usually look at when choosing a pair of goggles for skiing or skating. Hope you will find the goggles that perfectly fit you! Then, what you need to do is enjoying your skiing time!