If you ski or snowboard, ski goggles are an essential part of your sports equipment. A day on the slopes without a good pair can be uncomfortable. Add extreme weather and it can be just plain miserable. Your ski goggles offer many types of protection: UV protection, glare protection, and because they are relatively large, they offer wind protection over a good portion of the face. In addition, the ski goggles’ large lenses offer excellent vision, including peripheral vision.
Advances in the materials used for frames have resulted in flexible materials that hold their shape and, because they do not become brittle in the cold, offer optimal protection for the face. These materials include some rubbers, nylons, and a variety of composites.
UV protection, anti-fog, and ample vents are considered must-haves, but within those categories alone there are many options, thanks to advances in technology. Now you can choose specific ski goggles for the activity, the light conditions and the weather. While there are plenty of manufacturers offering advanced technology in their goggles, we’ll take a look at Smith’s Performance series to get an idea of what kind of technical advances there have been.
Smith has set the industry standard for consistent air management. There is an electron micro fan that runs quietly and continuously for up to fifty hours on low mode. Strategically placed vents draw in air to eliminate fogging, offering seamless, continuous vision. In extreme situations, you can turn on the high setting.
Carbonix-X distortion-free lenses are ideal for regulating airflow, and when combined with moldable foam, you get the perfect blend for perfect distortion-free vision. This type of lens can also increase air circulation, thereby eliminating fogging, making the goggle perfect for high speeds and deep dust.
Perforated Membrane Technology or PMT allows moist air to escape from inside the goggles, thus preventing them from fogging up. If you are one of the people who is not happy without reliable anti-fog lenses, you will want to make sure your glasses incorporate this technology.
Other advanced technology making its way to the slopes can be found at Recon Instruments. Your goggles will include a bunch of cool features: built-in GPS to guide rescuers to you if needed; trail maps that can even provide the positions of your ski buddies; the ability to answer a cell phone call midway; statistics feedback that can give you your performance in terms of speed and jump height; ambient temperature and mountain altitude, and probably more. That is just the tip of the iceberg.
Smith goggles have introduced what is called stabilizer positioning. These designed strap accessories can offer optimal comfort and maximum performance. The goggles are designed to transfer pressure across the nose and forehead to provide a complete seal. They can be worn with or without your helmet.
Sweatbuster foam has become very popular because it is designed to wick moisture away from your face, keeping you comfortable and dry. When combined with hypoallergenic foam for an optimized temple fit, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without these features in the past.
Advances in ski goggle technology have made great strides and that has resulted in skiers and snowboarders enjoying a more comfortable and safer day on the slopes. There are likely to be many more breakthroughs in the future.