Ski goggles are designed to shield your eyes from the sun’s glare while you’re out there tearing it up on a bluebird day. They also prevent potentially dangerous icy particles from making contact with your eyes during a pow day, or a blizzard.
Blue color lenses filter out most of the yellow light, reducing glare while still adequate protection and visibility.
Polarized lenses protect your eyes from the sun and from the glare it makes when it reflects off the snow when skiing.
Anti-fog lenses are great for low visibility days as they prevent moisture and fog from clouding your vision thus allowing you to ski with confidence in poor conditions.
There are a few key differences between cheap and expensive ski goggles. A very thin coating on the lens prevents UV rays from penetrating and tinted lenses reduce glare from reflected light of snow. More expensive pairs have interchangeable lenses, which can be quickly swapped to suit changing conditions.
When you're skiing, snow goggles protect more of your face, protecting it against cold air, snow, and ice particles from pelting off your skis to your eyes. Goggles fit snugly over the ears and have an adjustable strap to hold them tight against your face.
Yes, ski and snowboard goggles are the same since they are designed to be used in similar conditions. Ski goggles sometimes have a larger lens area than snowboarding goggles, therefore offering more protection against the wind-chill effect when skiing compared to snowboarding but otherwise, they can be used interchangeably.
Yes, polarized lenses are great for snow as polarized lenses are specifically aimed at blocking the light that creates glare. Glare occurs when you look into a surface, or at an angle, where there's light reflecting from the front of your eyes, creating a confusing visual effect. Polarized lenses work by blocking these rays of light so you can see clearly and minimize distractions for better performance.
If you ski in a wide variety of different conditions whether it be sun, rain, snow, or fog, we recommend buying a pair of interchangeable lenses. That way you can swap out your polarized lenses and low-light lenses depending on what the weather is doing.
Smith I/O ChromaPop goggles are definitely a solid choice. These offer skiers superb optics, a snug fit, comfortable ventilation and a frame that supports interchangeable lenses. Anon's M3 MFI goggles are also a great choice, boasting the most efficient lens-changing system currently available on the market. Other quality brands to check out include Oakley, Shred, Spy and Giro.
There are two different types of ski goggle lenses: cylindrical or spherical. Beyond this, there are a number of different features available, depending on your requirements. Polarized lenses are better at cutting out glare than a standard mirrored lens, for example. While ski goggles are designed to prevent fogging, some goggles will have a more resilient anti-fog coating than others. If you’re someone who skis in snow or shine, you might consider buying a frame that allows you to interchange your lenses. That way, you can wear lowlights on foggy days when visibility is low, and polarized lenses during a clear sky day to keep the sun out of your eyes.
The first ski goggles were relatively primitive, and remained so until Bob Smith invented the double lens powder goggle in 1965. Smith ski goggles made it possible for skiers to navigate without needing to constantly clear their lenses. These days, ski goggles come in a range of tints, interchangeable frames and colors to provide winter sports enthusiasts with optimal choices in technology and comfort.
