How to Choose the Right Ski Goggles

If you have ever tried skiing without a pair of goggles, you know it's difficult to see the slopes due to glare or snow pelting your face. Ski goggles keep snow and ice out, shade your eyes from sun and glare and protect the eyes if you fall. A proper pair of ski goggles is determined by several criteria, fit only one of them. Bring your helmet when going to choose a pair.

Things You'll Need

  • Your ski helmet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the average climate and sun glare for your main ski area. For example, skiing in Colorado or Utah usually is accompanied by lots of sun light and bright clear skies versus skiing in Whistler, where overcast grey skies are the norm. Choose a lens tint that works best in your region. Amber and lighter rose-colored lenses are good for grey northwest conditions and a darker tint is better for the sun of the Rockies.

    • 2

      Put your helmet on and try on several pairs of goggles. Look for goggles to fit snugly against the sides of the helmet. Keep the upper bridge on the goggles snug against the crown of the helmet to prevent air from getting in through the gap between goggles and helmet. Make sure the strap fits the helmet.

    • 3

      Avoid polarized goggle lenses. They filter out glare, which sounds good for skiing. However, polarized lenses make it hard to tell ice fields and patches from snow.

    • 4

      Choose only lenses that have 100 percent UV ray protection. Look for shatterproof, flexible plastic lenses. Check for ventilation slits on the upper portion of the goggle crown.