You have several factors to consider when you're choosing the lenses for your ski goggles. Price, fit, style, and function are all essential when making this important gear purchase.
Tint
The weather in the area where you ski most frequently needs to be factored in to your lens purchase decision. If you ski mainly in bright sunny areas, you will need a darker lens to protect your eyes. If much of your skiing takes place in low or flat light you will want a pair of goggles with interchangeable lenses. Yellow and rose lenses work best in low light because they allow more visible light transmission to pass through the tinted lens. This is important because it helps you see terrain changes while skiing in low or flat light conditions. If you are a night skiier, clear is the best tint for you because it allows 84 percent to 99 percent of the available VLT.
Fogging
Experiencing lens fog once is sufficient to understand the importance of antifogging properties. When your goggles fog up you cannot see. This happens when the warmth from your body meets the cold air and condensation is trapped in your goggles. Double lens goggles help reduce fogging and are available from almost all manufacturers. Some goggles have air vents to release condensation and others treat the lenses with an anti-fogging coating. High-end goggles have mini fans that help disperse the condensation. If you are interested in this type of goggle, try to test a pair before purchasing. Because your visual acuity is critical to your safety, invest in goggles with good antifogging properties.
Shape
Goggles have either a flat or rounded shape lens. If price is a major consideration, flat lenses work quite well. Their main drawback is a slight reduction in peripheral vision. Rounded or spherical lenses curve across your face. If you wear glasses when you ski the rounded shape will allow you to fit some glasses under your goggles. They also allow for a bit more peripheral vision and less glare then the flat lens but they are more costly.
Coatings
Special effects lens coatings are available. If you ski in varying light, photochromatic lenses might be of interest to you. Like glasses, they change the intensity of their tint as the light conditions change. This helps you see better in flat light and protects your eyes in bright light conditions. If you prefer mirrored lenses, they are available as well -- you can see out but no one can see your eyes. Mirroring reflects more light and is best suited for bright sunny days. Lenses that are polarized help cut down on glare from snow and sun. Some polarized goggles are available with a special film that is applied to one lens in dual lens goggles. If you ski in glades, you might like to have an antiscratch coating applied to your lenses.
Presccription
If you need to wear glasses while skiing, consider goggles with prescription lenses. The 2010 Brilliance Award for Best Rx Ski Goggles Solution Award given by Optics Planet went to Bolle, which has three types of prescription lenses that fit into several of their goggle frames. Prescription lenses are available from other manufacturers as well. Talk with your eye care professional.
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