Ski Goggles Buyers Guide

When looking for your next pair of goggles, there are several factors that you must consider. Be vigilant and insist on focusing on the performance of your goggles instead of the looks or style of a particular pair. While it's always nice to look good, feeling good is certainly more important. I plan to address each of these topics in more detail with later articles, but will lay the foundation for some things to consider when buying your next set of ski goggles.

Many people will tell you that you should go to a store and try on different goggles until you find the right ones for you. While this isn't necessarily a bad strategy, today it is frequently much more cost effective to purchase goggles from an online retailer, such as HaberVision goggles. Prices are usually lower and most online stores offer refund/exchange policies that ease the mind of the online consumer who is asking themselves, "What if I don't like them when they get here?" In shopping at a store, you also run the risk of being "helped" by a sales representative that knows little to nothing about goggles and may send you home with the wrong set. The goal of this page is to equip online consumers with all the knowledge they need to pick out the right pair of goggles. By following these guidelines, you will be able to pick out the right set of goggles and save yourself the time and money required to shop around at your local ski shops.

Goggles are designed to protect the wearer from a variety of things. UVA and UVB are the two rays that you want to ensure your goggles guard against. You also want to look at the material that your lens is made from. Polycarbonate is a much stronger material than glass or plastic that will protect your eyes better in the case of a fall or if you happen to brush some branches in the backcountry. Frame flexibility also plays a role in protection. The more flexible a frame is, the less likely the lens will be to pop out during a fall. The inside of the goggle should be padded with quality foam that will offer sufficient protection during a fall. The goggle should not press against your face or cut into your skin when you crash on top of them.

Obviously, you want your goggles to fit well and feel comfortable. There are several things to be aware of when considering fit. Before you buy, ask yourself if you will be wearing glasses under the goggles. Will you have a helmet on? Some goggles are better designed to fit over goggles and/or with a helmet than others. The strap should also be comfortable, easy to adjust, and not get stuck in your hair or irritate your skin. When your new goggles arrive and you try them on for the first time, look for gaps between your face and the goggle's foam and areas where there is unnecessary pressure on your face. If you find either of the two, experiment with adjusting the goggles a bit, but also realize that the particular model may not fit your face as well as another would. This is the point where you take advantage of the excellent return policy that your online retailer offered.

Lens color is a topic where there is a lot to be said. For the sake of this article, I will be brief. A mirrored coating on the outside of the lens will not affect the way that you see the world through the goggles. A mirrored coating will block some glare, but is mostly a cosmetic feature. To effectively block glare, you need to look for polarized ski goggles. Lenses are offered in an array of colors. Essentially, the brighter the light you plan to be riding in, the darker the lens you will want in your goggles.

Fogging is created when the temperature outside of the lens is much colder than the temperature inside the lens. Moisture builds up inside the goggles and the heat from your face causes this moisture to fog the lens. Make sure that you buy goggles with an anti-fogging treatment applied to the inside of the lens. Other features, such as double lenses and vents, also help to reduce fogging. Finally, look for goggles with a scratch resistant coating on the outside and always store them in a soft, protected case or pouch.

Although incredibly obvious, it is worth pointing out that you should ensure that you wear goggles that give you the best vision. You should be able to see 180 degrees around you. Some newer, low-profile goggles look real snazzy but skimp out on the amount of peripheral vision that they afford. While it is nice to look good, it is much more important that you can see well.