The Best Lenses for Goggles

In many ways, getting the right pair of ski goggles is as important as getting the right skis, boots and bindings. If you can't see, you can't ski very well. When looking for the perfect lenses, there are several characteristics to consider.

  1. Spherical vs. Cylindrical Lenses

    • One of the characteristics of lenses is the shape of the lens, typically either spherical or cylindrical. Cylindrical lenses are the more basic, inexpensive type of lens. The lens is curved along the horizontal axis, but is vertically flat. Spherical lenses are curved along both the horizontal and vertical axes to provide better optical clarity and peripheral vision. If money is not an issue, opt for spherical lenses.

    Double vs. Single Lenses

    • Double-lensed goggles use two individual lenses sealed together to create a thermal barrier. This helps to reduce fog issues, so long as the seal remains intact. Single-lensed goggles don't have the extra fog protection. Either way, look for lenses that are treated with an anti-fog coating, preferably one that will not wear off.

    Lens Tints

    • Perhaps the most important aspect of selecting lenses is getting the right tint. The proper lens tint is entirely a function of when and where you ride and the light conditions thereof. If you typically ride on sunny days, you'll want a lens that only allows a small amount of visible light transmission (VLT). Colors like black, gray and brown will serve you well. On the other hand, if you ride in mostly cloudy, snowy weather, you'll want a lens that lets in a lot of VLT and provides contrast to make features in and around the snow stand out. Good options include rose, vermilion and yellow lenses.

      Because skiing typically involves different light conditions on different days -- and often the same day -- consider buying several different colors of lenses.

    Characteristics

    • Polarization is a good quality in ski/snowboard goggles because it cuts glare, something that's common when the sun reflects off of the snow and ice. Photochromic lenses are an interesting option to replace multiple lenses. They automatically adjust tint based upon the light conditions, optimizing your vision without requiring you to stop and swap lenses on your own. No matter how much visible light transmission your lenses allow, they should block 100 percent of UV rays.