A day on the slopes without good ski goggles? Unthinkable! After all, weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. Thanks to UV protection, tint, adjustable straps and other features, ski goggles keep your eyes safe from snowfall, wind and sunshine. With perfectly fitting goggles, you’re ready to brave the elements.
Read on to find out what you should keep in mind when choosing ski goggles – from lenses to frames and straps.
The lenses are one of the most important aspects when buying new snow goggles. Their size, shape, tint, translucency, UV protection and ventilation determine how well you see in different weather conditions.
Ski goggles either come with spherical or cylindrical lenses. They differ in the following aspects:
General rule of thumb: The bigger the goggles, the larger your field of vision.
Fogged-up goggles are a real nuisance during any snow adventure. That’s why many ski goggles come with sophisticated ventilation systems. Foam padding and vents at the upper edge of the frame ensure good air circulation. Some goggles also come with a special anti-fog coating. In addition, double glazing helps to reduce steaming up.
Our tip: Your goggles are also more prone to fogging if they are not compatible with your helmet. That’s why it’s a good idea to bring your helmet when buying new goggles. Keep in mind that the gap between the upper edge of your goggles and your helmet (also called goggle gap) should not be greater than five millimetres. That’s why it often makes sense to choose a helmet and goggles from the same manufacturer.
Good ski goggles should provide 100 per cent UV protection. This is vital to keep your eyes protected in the mountains. Mirrored goggles reflect the sunlight and protect your eyes even better against light reflected off bright snow. Good-quality ski goggles usually reflect UVA, UVB and UVC rays as well as blue light.
Tinted lenses can increase contrast and improve vision. Which tints are suitable for which weather conditions? Find out below …
Clever technology: Self-tinting lenses or transition lenses automatically adapt to changing light conditions.
Another important aspect when choosing ski goggles is their translucency. Based on their VLT rating (VLT = visible light transmission), you can see what kind of weather they are most suitable for:
Changing the lens of your ski goggles? Yes, please! Interchangeable magnetic or click lenses allow you to adapt your goggles to the current weather conditions. What kind of weather do you primarily ride in? Think about it in advance and choose your lens accordingly!
The perfect fit of your ski googles mainly comes down to the strap. Adjust the elastic strap so that the googles fit your head properly.
Another important aspect of your goggles’ wearing comfort is the frame. It is usually made from flexible, breakage-proof plastic to provide maximum freedom of movement. Foam padding makes sure that the frame sits comfortably on your face and relieves pressure.
The most common fits:
Be careful when cleaning your ski googles! Remove dirt from the lens with a bit of water. If the googles steam up, simply let them dry for a few seconds. If you’re in a hurry, you can also use a special optics wipe to dry the lens.
Please note: Detergents or rough tissues can scratch the lens!