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Guide to shopping for Ski Goggles
Skiing goggles provide protection for the face as well as for the eyes; thus, many are large, covering most of the upper portion of the face. Sometimes, however, ski goggles are smaller and less obtrusive. Regardless of their size, the goggles are designed to fit snugly around the eye area, preventing wind, snow and ice from penetrating and interfering with vision. The lens area is intentionally large so you have a wide field of view and good peripheral vision. Many ski goggle frames are made of softer, more flexible materials than traditional eyeglass or sunglass frames. Nylon, rubber and propionate are popular because they hold their shape, do not become brittle in the cold and tend not to injure the face if you should fall or impact an object while traveling at high speed. Many goggle styles are held in place on the head with a large, thick strap designed to make sure that the eye protection stays in place no matter how rigorous your activities become. Some ski eyewear looks more like regular sunglasses than athletic eyewear. Differences exist between these frames and traditional sunglasses, however. Side shields, which may or may not be detachable, are often included as part of the frames so that wind and snow are kept away from the eye area. Many of these styles also have cable, or wraparound, temples that keep the frames firmly in place until you want to remove them. Lenses used in ski goggles are frequently a yellow-orange hue. This color enhances contrast, enabling you to make out shapes, objects and bumps in the snow more clearly because it blocks out the blue, or hazy, end of the color spectrum. (Lenses of this color are sometimes referred to as "blue-blockers" for this reason.) Rose is another good contrast-enhancing color. Polarized lenses are another popular choice in ski goggles. A polarized lens filters out glare and reflected light, eliminating most of the "bounce-back" of sunshine off snow and ice that is bothersome to skiers on the slopes. Polarized lenses are available in traditional sun shades such as gray and brown, as well as in the yellow or rose tones that combine better contrast with glare reduction to afford you optimum visual acuity. Shop before you get to the mountain, so you don't end up paying an inflated price. Insist on ultraviolet protection, to combat sun damage. Look for anti-fogging features such as double lenses, anti-fog coating and wide vents. Please click here for more advice on buying ski goggles. Ski goggles come in large, one-piece constructions that can be worn alone by persons with no visual correction or by those wearing contact lenses. Alternatively, they will accommodate smaller eyeglasses or sunglasses worn beneath them. Some models also come with inserts for prescription lenses that can be made to your individual specifications and placed between the goggle lens and your eyes. If you're interested in these, ask your eyecare practitioner about them.
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