Everything You Need To Know About Snowboard Goggles
UPDATED FOR 2007/2008 SEASON
Everything you need to know about snowboard goggles!
Read on to find out quickly and easily all you need to know about goggles!
WHO... has the BEST goggles on the market!!!
WHAT... to look for when buying goggles !!!
WHEN... to use goggles versus sunglasses.
WHY... they are an integral and VERY important part of your snowboarding gear arsenal...
Lets start off with WHY you need goggles and sunglasses...The most compelling reason to wear ski or goggles is that they allow you to see comfortably and safely when its snowing lightly and windy or snowing heavily with or without wind...Even if it is not snowing or windy and you are cranking in some deep powder you are gonna need those snowboard goggles...
If you have ever been snowboarding on a day when its windy with blowing snow or its snowing heavily and you didn't have of goggles, YOU can relate to this ALREADY!!!
If you have NEVER been snowboarding on a snowy or windy day
TAKE MY ADVICE....MAKE SURE you buy a good pair of GOGGLES before you need them...They are very $ expensive $ at the resort or on mountain shops!!!
It can be near impossible to see and it can be very uncomfortable too...
THOUSANDS of snowflakes bouncing off your eyeballs can be a kind of torture...
I have had numerous times when my goggles either got knocked off and filled with snow or fogged up and I couldn't see them and decided to wing it without them on...
That usually lasts all of 5 minutes or by the time I reach the bottom of the run....whichever comes first...At which point the goggles get cleaned out and wiped off and back on they go!!!
You can get away with no goggles or sunglasses on a flat light day, but if its snowing out, you need those goggles, conversely if it is super sunny out you are gonna need the sunglasses too.
FEATURES OF HIGH QUALITY
SNOWBOARD GOGGLES
Next we look at WHAT features are in a top quality pair of goggles...
GOOD QUALITY snowboard goggles are not cheap!!!
LENSES,COATINGS AND COLORS...Buy the best goggles you can afford...
LENSES... Lets look at them first...
SCRATCH COATINGS...
The majority of lenses for snowboard goggles are made of polycarbonate plastic ...It is highly impact resistant...BUT it is only moderately scratch resistant...
A lot of lenses are coated with a high tech hard finish which increases the polycarbonates scratch resistance...make sure to check that...As the more expensive goggles are usually coated...
If they are scratch coated,they are way more difficult to scratch up, but you still need to take good care of them... I find that because I am always in the trees...Tree and bush branches will scratch even the best of lenses on the outside...AGAIN it is a good idea to be able to buy replacement lenses...
DOUBLE LENS...
Your snowboard goggles need to have double lens...A totally sealed airspace between the two lens is necessary if that seal is broken, then the inside of the lenses will fog up and they are history...You will need to buy a new replacement lens...It is a good idea to make sure you can buy replacement lenses and that they are widely available ...They are way cheaper to buy than buying a whole new set of snowboard goggles...
INTERCHANGEABLE LENS... are also a good idea...That way you can change lenses quickly and easily if the conditions change from snowy to sunny or visa versa...
ANTI-FOG COATINGS...
The best quality snowboard goggles have a anti-fog coating on the inside of the snowboard goggles lens...
The BAD NEWS is you have to be careful not to damage the coating or scratch it....I always screw this up and I end up having to buy a new set of lenses or snowboard goggles every season...
I learned something NEW From the Internet yesterday! The word is that the antifog coatings get soft when wet...So the advice is to BLOT the wet lens on the inside, DON'T RUB or WIPE HARD...Then at lunch... dry them out and then you can wipe em...COOL TIP...I am definitely going to buy a SMITH Snow wiper this year...They are only 3 dollars..Hey DogFunk.com has these suckers for $1.95!
yah right here at
Dogfunk.com
 Look in the Dog's goggle accessory section...there they is!!! cheap too...
LENS COLORS AND SHAPES...
Another factor is the lens color and lens shape as well as the frames perimeter shape...the best snowboard goggles will have a wide perimeter and allow you to see as wide an area as possible...
YOU DO NOT want blind spots or tunnel vision...
Snowboard goggles lenses come in many colors and some colors are better than others for different lighting conditions...
A lighter lens color such as a clear or slightly yellow is good for snowy , cloudy ,foggy or dark lighting conditions...
A darker lens such as bronze, brown, amber, blue, or green are good for brighter lighting conditions....Grey lenses give the truest overall color definition...
A brown or bronze lens gives enhanced color definition and depth perception...
Rose colored lenses are used for hazy and flat lighting and give the sharpest contrast...
My own PERSONAL choice is a rose colored lens...For me they give the best performance is all but the brightest lighting conditions ... I have tried every color there is and for me, a rose color lens works the best...The color I do not favor are the yellow lenses...I just cannot see well with these as it seems to distort my vision even in very low light...I HAVE used yellow lens at night and been happy with them...AND... alot of my friends like a yellow lens for flat light or snowy conditions, so personal preference after experimentation is the way to go.
My SUGGESTION is to try as many colors as possible and look outside with them if you can....Go outside...and see how things look...Hey let the sales guy know you aren't gonna bail....let them know you need to see the outside lighting not just inside the store....Some of the best lenses have a mirror finish on the outside and give you a feeling of anomitity...Solitary types and the mystery type crowd tend to like these as you can't see peoples eyes or faces who are using these lenses...
POLARIZATION is also a factor...Lenses that are polarized reduce glare and reflection off the snow considerably,which generally is a GOOD thing...BUT be aware that it has a slight side effect... which is... a polarized lens sometimes makes it difficult to tell soft snow from hard ice...Be careful if you snowboard on sunny days in areas with variable snow conditions....Those transitions can be an accident waiting to happen...
THERE are two main lens shapes...Cylindrical and Spherical...A cylindrical lens tapers from the middle thinner towards the side edges, while a spherical lens tapers thinner towards the top ,bottom and sides of the lens...
The spherical lens is used in top of the line snowboard goggles and is more expensive but has less distortion than a cylindrical lens...
GOOD FIT... COMFORTABLE FIT !
Make sure you buy a pair of snowboard goggles that will fit your face....Snowboard goggles are usually sized to fit small, medium and large faces...Kids also have snowboard goggles sized for their face...
If you got a bigger or smaller than average nose, it is a good idea to take that into account also!!!
If you wear glasses there are OTG ( Over The Glasses) snowboard goggles made for specially for you also...
But warning...Wearing glasses under snowboard goggles is double jeopardy, most people I know ONLY do so out of necessity...Even if your snowboard goggles are fog free,prescription glasses tend to fog up and then you are basically cruising half blind... there are better although more expensive ways...
If you can...wear contacts...OR check out SPORTEYES.com...They can many times create a prescription lens for your snowboard goggles...A lot of the online shops can also arrange to have prescription lenses created for your snowboard goggles...
The best snowboard goggles have a soft foam liner that fits your face snuggly with no gaps...The snowboard goggles should have no gaps anywhere to let snow in between your face and the frame...The foam liners on the best snowboard goggles have a comfortable fabric membrane such as Microfleece that prevent the moisture from your face wicking into the foam liner itself...My own personal experience is that if the foam liner gets saturated with juice, then the snowboard goggles will tend to fog up when you are stopped or in a gondola or hooded chairlift...
The strap should be wide and easily adjustable....BE sure you spend a few extra minutes to adjust the strap just right!!! Sometimes I have been in a hurry and ended up with my goggles being too tight on my face and soon uncomfortable or a little too loose and they got knocked loose and allowed snow inside...
GOGGLE FRAMES AND VENTS
The snowboard goggles frame should be flexible and unbreakable, but not too flexible...I have owned a few pairs that didnt hold the lens in place very well due to too much flex...The best quality snowboard goggles have as many vents as can possibly be used...The more venting for good airflow and getting rid of moisture the better.
HELMET COMPATIBILITY
Lots of Snowboard goggles these days are HELMET COMPATIBLE, but some are better than others...
Make sure you check !!!
If you can buy your snowboard helmet and goggles that are designed for each other at the same time and at the same place... it is a good idea...The forehead bridge of alot of helmets tend to block the top vents on alot of goggles and then you get fogged up...Most snowboard goggle makers now adjust their frames and vents outward or down slightly to prevent the vents from being blocked...The top vents also tend to collect snow between helmet and snowboard goggles top and can become blocked that way...End result is fogging at the top of the goggles...
Another problem can be Helmets prevent your snowboard goggles from sitting snugly against your face at the goggle strap connection juncture...This is the second biggest problem with helmets versus goggles.Many snowboard goggles designers have offset the strap connection farther outwards which helps prevent this problem...Make sure you are aware of this and pick your snowboard goggles accordingly...
Ok what else??? Well making snowboard goggles lenses is now a major science...There are so many things involved...Most snowboard goggles use the latest sunglass technology to block out UV rays...Especially the snowboard goggles designed for bright lighting...But the bottom line is you NEED to see clearly in ALL conditions found on the slopes...
MY ADVICE is to borrow some snowboard goggles from your friends and family and try as many snowboard goggles as you can in different conditions if possible...Usually thats not too feasible or possible...So if you are buying off the net...shop, shop and shop some more and learn as much as you can before slappin down your cash......and pick the most expensive snowboard goggles you can afford...Pick the goggle frame and lenses that will give you the best all around performance in different conditions...
A good place to learn more about snowboarding goggle technology is SMITHSPORT.com
Another good resource to get schooled all about snowboard goggles and sunglasses too PLUS all kinds of other sports eyewear is SPORTEYES.com where you can learnall about goggles and sunglasses and then buy...
These guys got it together...They carry a staggering selection of eyewear for snowsports and just about every other sports activity you or I could imagine!!! Plus they can create prescription lenses for snowboard goggles, to eliminate the need for glasses...Check out their FAQ section to see what they have to offer...A truly professional and tech savvy company, I highly recommend them for snowsports optics and any other optic needs you might have!!!
WHO MAKES the best snowboard goggles???
Well there are a bunch of top notch goggle companies...Im gonna drop some names now, so you can get your list going and then do some research and shopping. ...This list is NOT in any order...So check em all out before you decide what to buy...
MY TOP 10 LIST of companies that make snowboard goggles are
Smith, Carrera, Spy
Dragon, Briko, Oakley
Zeal, Von Zipper, Bolle
Scott, Electric and Burton...
Ok its MY TOP 12 LIST...I added a couple...
Each company has its strong points, So let me mention a few points before we start to check out who sells goggles...Smith has been in the goggle business a really long time..They know everything there is to know about snowboard goggles.They also have one of the largest selections of goggles and replacement lenses...Other companies to mention are Dragon , Spy and Oakley, All 3 of these companies make really good goggles and have a good selection of goggles in a variety of price ranges...One company I like alot...They got killer goggles, but for now it's a secret...Keep on reading until I give it away, you will be glad you did!!!
WHERE TO BUY THE BEST SNOWBOARD GOGGLES !
Ok Im gonna give top billing to SPORTEYES.com...They have a great selection of goggles and sunglasses...Check them out for very kind of eye wear you will ever need...One reason I will give them high marks is GOGGLES AND SUNGLASSES are their only business and they know it very well, the owner is also a licensed optician and knows her stuff, they also have excellent customer service...To me great selection , professional and knowledgable staff and owners combined with EXCELLENT customer service makes a AAA+ company and a 5 star internet company at that.....
Next ...Well it's also a good idea to check out all the online snowboard shops too, as you can buy everything you need all at one time and get it all shipped at the same time to save on shipping costs...
DON'T FORGET to check out all the places first and make a top picks list of your favorite goggles. Then go back and buy them!!!
Backcountry.com has Free Shipping On Snowboard Gear and that includes their snowboarding goggles...I took the time to put together this page so you could see most of the snowboard goggles that Backcountry.com has in their shop by price range...
IF you are using the Internet Explorer browser or ANY browser that is restricting content (scripts)
AND you CANNOT see any of the snowboard goggles on this page... Then Please change the browser setting to ask you to allow blocked content so you can see all the cool eyewear...
SNOWBOARD GOGGLES OVER $80
SNOWBOARD GOGGLES UNDER $80 OVER $50
SNOWBOARD GOGGLES UNDER $50
Then run on over to Dogfunk.com
They have just about all the same snowboard goggles as Backcountry.com does, but sometimes some different ones...They offer FREE Shipping on Goggles by Oakley, Spy, Smith and Dragon! They have a real good selection of snowboard goggles by Smith, Spy, Oakley and more...DA BOYZ AT DA DOG also have a good selection of replacement lenses for most of the goggles they sell...PLUS they carry a selection of SUNGLASSES by Oakley , Smith and SPY.....Give the DOG a chance to hook you up with some fine goggles or killer shades...
NOW SLIP outta the DOG house and let you back into The-House...THE-HOUSE.com Snowboard shop has just about every top brand of snowboard goggles and sunglasses you can think of !!! with the exception of Burton...THE-HOUSE.com is full of every kind of snowboard gear you can conjure up!!!
REI Snow Sports has a very very good selection of snowboard goggles by Anon, Bolle, Oakley, Dragon, a whole bunch of Smiths and some Scott goggles and SPY...Rei.com also has a good selection of goggle accessories including the SMITH snow eraser...The eraser is cheap and a very good idea if you do not want to scratch up the inside of your goggles like I did last season...I learned my lesson and bought 2 of these...
NOW... Lets hit it over to SnowShack.com just 2 clicks down the hill from The-House.com...
SNOWSHACK.com... Ski and Snowboard Accessories helmets,goggles, gloves,sunglasses, etc... SnowShack.com has a pretty good selection with SMITH and BOLLE goggles well stocked...They also have OTG goggles from SMITH and BOLLE...OTG= OVER THE GLASSES...I would say that SMITH rules in this department...
But I got a LIL secret for ya...SNOWSHACK.com ALSO CARRIES ZEAL Snowboard Goggles!!!
After I spent some time reading and researching...I decided it was time to RETIRE MY OLD BOLLE GOGGLES and get a pair of the ZEAL DETONATORS...Check em out at the SHACK...THEY got a sweet deal going...
ZEAL GOGGLES come with a HARD case AND AN EXTRA LENS, So you can swap out from light to dark or back again...Or get the same color lens and you have a standby replacement lens already...I'm not finished!!! They also can do prescription lens so you dont need glasses under your goggles...But you have to check out the details on that as I am not the ORBITS-master...just Da SNOWBOARDING MASTER...
Another good shop to try is USOUTDOOR.com  ... They have a good selection of all the best brands...So many that is is difficult to pick out the best of the bunch...YOU will just have to jump on over and check em all out yourself...
Ok One other place to cruise to and thats ALTREC.com They carry Burton, Oakley and SCOTT goggles...All 3 brands are cool...I have used the SCOTTS for years when I was livin in UTAH , so I know they also got it together in the GOGGLE department...
Here's a QUICK LIST of other online stores and resources to score snowboard goggles...
E-bay also has new gear from lots of online shops------------------------->>>
Moosejaw.com
 Moosejaw.com is a new store I have used recently...Check em out ...
FogDog.com! Fogdog.com has a ton of snowboard goggles and lots of other real cool snowboard gear...
Boardtactics.com - Your online source for boarding gear. Board Tactics has a great snowboarding goggles selection at good prices...
Amazon.com where you can find a snowboarding goggles offered by Amazon.com thru their affiliated retail stores...
Try
Bizrate to Compare prices for Snowboard Goggles and Snowboarding Gear. Its a fast way to find the best price if you already know exactly what you want...
SNOWBOARD GOGGLES FOR CANADIAN
UK AND EU SNOWBOARDERS
If you ride and reside in Canada check out SportMart.ca which is the largest sporting goods chain in Canada.  SPORTMART.ca has a few snowboard goggles by Smith, Uvex and Bolle for the guys, girls and the kids...Check them out now!!!
If you live ANYWHERE in the EU...
You are in luck as the HOTZONE.tv has free shipping to anywhere in EU and they have a killer selection of over 150 snowboard goggles mainly from Oakley (every kind of Oakley I have ever seen and a few I've never laid eyes on before) and Anon, plus a few Dragons, Electrics and I think 2 or 3 Arnettes thrown in for good measure...While you are there at the HOTZONE.tv,check out the equally killer selection of goggles they got...
Well If you live in the UK you can check out Boardshop.co.uk But I found only a few snowboard goggles by Von Zipper, Spy, Electric, Arnette and Dragons...Pretty low selection , so I guess I need to ask some of my gang where they get their snowboard goggles from in the UK...
One last thing... I am a Snowboarding Master but I am NOT an Internet Master, see how this site was PLANNED then BUILT and is QUICKLY and EASILY maintained... PLUS ...more importantly how to attract the right traffic to your business website by clicking on the graphic!!!
If You are like Me, Then I KNOW you want to be out doing some outdoor activity, not sitting in front of your &$@?* computer all day................ See how with SBI ! .....Check it out TODAY !
IF you have ANY questions here is a convenient way to ASK OTHER SBI USERS A QUESTION
LATERS FROM DA SNOWBOARDING MASTER
TOP OF SNOWBOARD GOGGLES PAGE
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USE YOUR POWER!!!!
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