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Choosing Ski Goggles: A Complete Guide
Selecting the correct ski goggles is crucial for ensuring a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience on the slopes. Whether you're into skiing or snowboarding, goggles are more than just an accessory; they are essential for shielding your eyes from wind, snow, and damaging UV rays.
The key factors in selecting ski goggles are:
- Visible Light Transmission (VLT)
- Goggle size
Here, you will find all the guidance required to choose the appropriate snow goggles for your specific needs.
Overview
Understanding VLT (Visible Light Transmission)
You may have encountered the term 'VLT' when exploring goggles, but what exactly does it represent? VLT, or Visible Light Transmission, indicates the percentage of light that penetrates through the lens. Essentially, VLT is crucial when selecting ski goggles as it substantially influences your vision under varying light conditions.
- High VLT (50-90%): These lenses allow more light in, making them ideal for low-light scenarios like overcast days or night skiing.
- Medium VLT (20-50%): Suitable for a mix of conditions.
- Low VLT (5-20%): Excellent for bright, sunny days as they block most light, reducing glare.
For a quick summary, check out our ski goggles VLT chart for the appropriate goggle lenses to suit your needs.
Determining the Correct Goggle Size
Having a snug and comfortable fit is vital for both ski and snowboard goggles. Poorly fitting goggles might allow snow in or fog up, potentially spoiling your slope experience. Selecting goggle size is about aligning frame size with face size. These tips serve as a useful beginning:
- Small: Ideal for children, teenagers, or adults with smaller faces.
- Medium: Suitable for most individuals.
- Large: Catered for those with larger faces or those who favour bigger frames to maximise field of vision.
Size and Fit for Goggles
Pick goggles with lenses sufficiently large to avoid the edges appearing in your vision. Should your view feel constrained, the goggles might be undersized. For optimal experience, select lenses offering a clear perspective, including peripheral vision.
Ski goggles featuring large spherical lenses usually provide a wide, unobstructed field of view, enhancing your ability to appreciate the slopes.
OTG - Over the Glasses
OTG snow goggles are crafted for those who wear prescription glasses, ensuring comfort and a hassle-free skiing experience. The presence of a large frame and specially designed foam cutouts lets your prescription glasses sit comfortably underneath. With OTG snow goggles, ski without concerns about vision clarity or fit.
Choosing the Right Lens Colours for Ski Goggles
Various lens colours serve distinct functions. While the VLT-number is a straightforward way to secure appropriate lenses, lens colour and/or reflectivity is another valuable indicator. This concise guide on ski goggle lens colours offers insights:
- Yellow/Gold/Amber: These colours improve contrast and are superb for overcast or flat light situations. They are among the top choices for cloudy conditions.
- Rose/Pink: Needle for enhancing depth perception during low-light and cloudy weather. Ideal for variable conditions.
- Dark Tints (Black/Brown/Grey): Perfect for bright, sunny days as they minimise glare and reduce eye fatigue.
- Mirrored/Reflective Coatings: These lenses adeptly manage intense sunlight, making them popular for clear blue-sky days.
Remember, numerous contemporary goggles enable lens swapping, allowing you to adjust to changing conditions on a daily basis.
Anti-Fog Solutions for Ski Goggles
Ensure fogged lenses do not spoil your time on the slopes. Modern ski goggles utilise advanced anti-fog technology to effectively address this problem. Consider these features:
- Anti-fog coating: Many goggles are equipped with a specialised coating inside the lens, reducing condensation and preventing fog build-up.
- Double-layered lenses: These dual-layer lenses form a thermal barrier, mitigating fogging by maintaining a consistent temperature.
- Ventilation systems: Innovatively placed vents in goggles increase airflow, helping maintain clear vision in various conditions.
To enhance anti-fog feature efficiency, avoid touching or wiping the lens interior, as it may damage the coating. Combining your goggles with a fitting helmet can also improve airflow and reduce fog formation.
Maintaining Your Ski Goggles
Proper maintenance can prolong your goggles' lifespan and ensure their optimal performance during each outing. Here are some key care tips for cleaning, avoiding scratches, and storing your goggles:
- Cleaning your ski goggles: Gently clean your lenses using a soft, microfiber cloth. Do not use paper towels or similar materials as they may scratch. Avoid wiping the inside of your goggles, as it will damage the antifog coating. If moisture gets inside, let it dry; if necessary, gently dab with a clean microfiber cloth.
- Preventing scratches: Hold your goggles by the frame, not the lens, and never set them lens-side down on hard surfaces. Use a protective cover when not in use.
- In-Use Storage on Slopes: During breaks, store your goggles with a cover on or inside a microfiber cloth bag.
- Off-Season Storage: Post-season, thoroughly clean your goggles and store them in a hard case to shield from dust and harm. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which could deteriorate materials over time.
By adhering to these care strategies, your goggles will stay clear, scratch-free, and ready for action, optimising your investment's value.
