goggles

[mlctvt]

Just wondering what others use for goggles and lenses. Do you change out lenses or do you own multiple goggles. If you own different goggles with different lens types how do you anticipate what ones to use on any particular day? I used to use only 1 pair but I found I needed different lenses for different days. The ones I had were too dark for afternoon skiing at the mountain I usually ski (Mount Snow) which faces east and most of the North face and front side gets many shadows and low light conditions by as soon as 2-2:30PM especially in December and January. My wife usually goes home by this time due to the low light and not being able to see the surface well. So I recently bought us Smith Sensor Mirror lenses which are a kind of compromise, they are very light lenses and pass 70% of light so they’re good in low light but not so great in very bright sun. On bluebird days I’ll bring my darker goggles that pass 15% - 30% of light but sometimes the light conditions change and I’m skiing in the dark. I could carry different lenses but that’d be very inconvenient. What do you do?

 

[Greg]

Smith goggles for day use. And a pair of cheapy goggles (not even sure what brand) with clear lenses for cold nights.

 

[lloyd braun]

I ski with one pair. Light colored (amber) Smith's.

Our mountains all face North are a general rule, and even for Bluebird days they work fine.

 

[kcyanks1]

Just one pair of goggles. I think they are grey lenses. They are the type that can go over your glasses.

 

[drjeff]

I have 2 pairs of Oakley Wisdom frame goggles. My "sunny day" pair has their fire iridium lense in it (the red/gold mirrored lense) that really cuts down on the glare for me and for my eyes atleast gives me great contrast of the hills terrain. If it gets cloudy and/or shady, those lenses get dark. I use these between 1/4th and 1/3rd of the time on on the hill.

My "most of the time" pair have the blue iridium lense(the yellowish lense) in them. Great in low/flat light for me. I definately will find myself squinting though if the sun comes out and I have that pair on in full bright light.

 

[ctenidae]

Beer only.
The goggles- they do nothing!

Seriously, though, I have a couple of different pairs, but their use is based on size- larger ones for really cold days, down to a smaller pair or sunglasses for warm days.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Smith Sensor lens for most NE days from Nov to Feb. Mirrored Smiths (25% light transmisson) for the very bright days in March, etc. Smith is coming out with a new lens this season called the Ignitor...with a lighter mirror coating and a rose copper based lens...it bridges the gap between the Sensor and the Platinum Mirror...and is a great all around east coast lens. I've always got at least 2 goggles in my bag...I'll pick what I think is best for the conditions...if I'm wrong or they change, I'll head to the bottom and swap. Bag is locked, always. There are interchangable goggles coming out this year from Smith and Giro...that are true change on the lift type deals...not the wrestle with a normal lens change...they'll be $130-150...but a good, high end goggle runs over $100 already. Ski season is too short to use cheap, old, crappy, scratched lens goggles...I'm all about being warm, comfortable, and being able to see well.

 

[Greg]

They are the type that can go over your glasses.

I used to wear these. Getting contacts was one of the best things I could've done for my skiing.

 

[mlctvt]

I used to wear these. Getting contacts was one of the best things I could've done for my skiing.

I totally agree. I wear glasses and used to use OTG goggles too but I always had fogging issues. I got Smith Turbo fan goggles which helped considerably but still I had occasional problem. Last year I switched to using 1-day disposable contact lenses and the difference is just incredible. I only wear contacts when skiing. Anyone wearing glasses should try contacts if you can.

 

[ctenidae]

I totally agree. I wear glasses and used to use OTG goggles too but I always had fogging issues. I got Smith Turbo fan goggles which helped considerably but still I had occasional problem. Last year I switched to using 1-day disposable contact lenses and the difference is just incredible. I only wear contacts when skiing. Anyone wearing glasses should try contacts if you can.

Absolutely.

 

[RISkier]

Only 1 pair, some Smith's with a rose colored lens. They've worked pretty well but have accumulated numerous scratchs and have seen better days. I've heard very good things about the Smith Sensor lens. If it's sunny and not too windy I usually wear sunglasses.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I use Oakley A-Frames with Blue Iridium lens...Retail is $150 on them but I bought them off the net for $50 from a kid that won them in a competition..

I used to always use yellow lenses for daytime and Rose colored for night skiing but Blue works well for both..

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

I have a couple of pairs of Smith frames with yellow lenses in one and blue in the other. For me the blue at night work the best.

AND contact lenses are the way to go if you enjoy skiing, just ask Greg.

 

[Greg]

I totally agree. I wear glasses and used to use OTG goggles too but I always had fogging issues. I got Smith Turbo fan goggles which helped considerably but still I had occasional problem. Last year I switched to using 1-day disposable contact lenses and the difference is just incredible. I only wear contacts when skiing. Anyone wearing glasses should try contacts if you can.

AND contact lenses are the way to go if you enjoy skiing. Just ask Greg.

I've actually switched to contacts pretty much full time. I only wear glasses for a few hours right before bed. And with an astigmatism, getting contacts that work well isn't easy, but I've found some I'm happy with. They are monthlies, but I can get 2+ months out of them. I haven't looked back to the days of OTG goggles (pun intended)...

 

[pepperdawg]

I use Oakley A-Frames with Blue Iridium lens...Retail is $150 on them but I bought them off the net for $50 from a kid that won them in a competition..

I used to always use yellow lenses for daytime and Rose colored for night skiing but Blue works well for both..

2nd A-frames - best I have found for least amount of fogging....I generally only wear goggle when its snowing though.....

 

[Puck it]

One pair of Dragon with brown mirrors for bright and rose for low light and yellow for night.

 

[Grassi21]

Oakley A frames with G30 lens. For night skiing I have Gordinis with yellow a yellow lens. I rarely wear my goggles at night. The only time I use them is on windy nights. Since I'm not gathering tremendous speed with all of Ski Sundowns vert I get by without them.

 

[wa-loaf]

I use Oakley A-Frames with Blue Iridium lens...Retail is $150 on them but I bought them off the net for $50 from a kid that won them in a competition..

I've got these, except I paid only $35 on overstock.com. Picked up a pair of clear lenses for night skiing, but I found the blue iridium woks fine for night too, so I want to pick up some darker lenses for bluebird days.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Got a pair of Scott Motives with a Silver Mirror for day time. They are even pretty good at night. Fro night I have Smith Fuse goggles with the sensor mirror. I absolutely love the sensor mirror at night.

I cant ski without goggles. Even the slightest speed makes my eyes water up real fast so the goggles are always on.

 

[big_vert]

I'm colorblind, and I think that contributes significantly to problems with flat light, so I try a lot of goggles.

I have many Oakley A-Frams, and their lens structure mimics the eye curvature allowing you to see clearly. I have the blue iridium, pink iridium, yellow, bright green, and a couple of others. I find that while the visibility is very good, they fog easier than some others.

I also really like the Bolle Persimmon lens, which cuts through many different kinds of light. They also seem impervious to fogging.

With all the sales on at SAC this year, I've also bought three sets of Spy Orbits, and their light blue lens seems really superb. I've also got some Scotts and Carerras that I haven't tried yet, but they seem good.

Oh - I first got contacts over 30 years ago as a skiing issue.