10 Things A Senior Buyer Has To Know About Goggles.

Googles, once an after-thought, have embraced high technology as well high style. Credit: Smith Goggles
Googles, once an after-thought, have embraced high technology as well high style.
Credit: Smith Goggles
  • While goggles shopping, take your helmet with you; both should happily marry. It is good to have no gaps between goggles and your nose.
  • Don’t touch the inner side of the lens with your fingers, gloves or paper napkins. You may scratch off the special coating, then the goggles will start fogging up in this area. Shake off snow or water droplets.
  • It is more practical, comfortable and even safe to have two lenses—one for a sunny day and another for a low light day. These days, some goggles have lenses which are VERY easy to swap; they have super magnets or easy locks.
  • Use a microfiber bag to protect your goggles (or glasses) from scratches and also to clean the leans. Microfiber in contrast with cotton, wool, leather and many other materials doesn’t scratch the coating of the lens.
  •  You can ski in goggles with dark lenses and keep your sunglasses with yellow, rose or light gray lenses in your pocket or around your neck in case of low light conditions.  You can see how different tints affect what you see by clicking here on the Anonoptics “Lens Visualizer.” Pretty interesting.
  • People with smaller faces should check so-called “Asian fit”, “Women” or “Junior” models.
  • Uvex Variotonic can change VLT with a touch. Pretty fancy. Credit: Uvex
    Uvex Variotonic can change VLT with a touch. Pretty fancy.
    Credit: Uvex

    Visual Light Transmission (VLT) is an important metric. VLT is the percent of visible light that passes through a glazing unit, like a goggle lens.  Lens color is a question of taste and sometimes may help to see better in fog or flat light conditions.  Years ago, we were told the yellow one was the best, later rose/pink became popular, now Smith has red, blue, yellow lenses with VLT (55, 60, 65).  It’s hard to tell which one is best. Uvex has a goggle that can change VLT in a fraction of a second.  (7 -17 %, very bright conditions; 20-50%, universal, 50-84%, low light/night)

  • Concerned about protecting your goggles while traveling? Put them in a metal cookie container.
  • OTG (Over The Glasses) goggles are good option for those skiers who want to combine their prescription glasses with goggles. It is an easy and cheap solution. But make sure the prescription frame is made of impact resistant materials (plastic lenses and flexible frame).
  • Some brands (Smith, Bolle, Oakley, Uvex) make prescription inserts for goggles. Some of them cost as low as $20-30. Technically, the inserts are designed to fit certain goggles, but in reality they may fit other goggles.  Just try. Your optician will install your Rx lenses. You can save money if you ask for the cheapest plastic lenses with minimal coatings. Your sunglasses will already have UV protection and other features.
  • High tech goggles with GPS and small computers are not cheap, but they could be helpful. You can find your way out or find your friends even when your cell phone doesn’t work.
Are we subliminally trying to look like F15 pilots? Credit: Wallpaperup.com
Are we subliminally trying to look like F15 pilots?
Credit: Wallpaperup.com

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