Ski Goggles

Ski goggles protect the face as well as 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.

Click on photo to see close-ups and style names.

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.

The 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.

Some opticians advise against wearing polarized lenses when skiing, however, because you may be unable to see the icy patches on slopes that you'll want to avoid. On the other hand, polarized lenses can reduce the "bounce-back" of sunshine off snow and ice that skiers might find bothersome. Polarized lenses are an excellent choice for boating and fishing, because they reduce glare from sunlight reflecting off flat surfaces. But, as a skier, you'll need to consider the safety aspects of using polarized lenses, 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.

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 eye care practitioner about them.

Read our article on how to choose the right ski goggles for you.