If you ski often, you already know why ski goggles greatly improve your experience. Blocking wind and snow, a good pair of goggles improves your visibility. For many people, the color of the lenses is important. For some, the hue is all about style, but for others, different colors actually serve a functional purpose depending on the weather conditions. Following a few guidelines may help you pick out the right pair.
When to Opt for Yellow Lenses
Yellow and orange tones are the most popular colors for ski goggle lenses. Warm colors such as these as well as amber and gold tend to work very well on the slopes, because:
- You can actually see moguls, icy spots, bumps or bare spots better because yellow hues create a sharp contrast, increasing the definition you see in the snow.
- Foggy days are less of an issue, as yellow lenses shut out blue light.
- Eliminating blue light also reduces the glare you see while heading down a mountain, which takes the strain off your eyes.
Because of all these properties, many people enjoy wearing yellow or orange lenses in a variety of conditions. Sunny days produce less glare, foggy days become more visible and low-lit days are not as much of a problem.
The FogProtect technology enables transfer from different temperature environments without condensation issues, thus reducing fog seen on lenses. The long-lasting spray is durable and can be applied to any glass, polycarbonate, and plastic lenses.
When to Choose a Darker Lens
Despite the yellow lenses being the most popular, there are some people who will benefit from choosing a lens in a darker shade. In the western states, sunny ski days seem to be the norm. On those occasions, a darker lens like silver or black may be more useful. It is true that a yellow lens can reduce glare, but a darker lens will filter out even more light.
If you ski in the West but still want a lens that works well in a number of conditions, you may want to opt for a mid-tone, such as amber or dark orange. These lenses will still take the strain off your eyes, but if the light is flat, you will still maintain good visibility. Many people who do use darker lenses still have a pair of ski goggles with a lighter lens for those foggy or otherwise low-visibility days.
When to Choose a Photochromatic Lens
Yet another option is known as photochromatic lenses. This product will change color depending on what the conditions are outside. Therefore, if days are especially sunny, the lens will darken to block the light and reduce glare. In other conditions, the lens will lighten to create optimum visibility. These types of ski goggle lenses do tend to be more of an investment, though it does prevent the issue of having to own more than one pair of goggles.
When to Choose a Clear Lens
If you ski at night, you should wear goggles that have a clear lens. This will give you the most visibility and keep you safe, as colored lenses can sometimes change the tone of the objects you perceive. Pink lenses may also work well at night, but most people prefer to use clear.
Make sure to try on the goggles to get a good fit. Depending on where and when you ski, you may want to opt for yellow, silver or pink lenses. For those willing to make the investment, a photochromatic lens may be the way to go.