How to Choose Snowboarding Goggles By JK Motion & Luusama

How to Choose Snowboarding Goggles ?!

By JK Motion & Luusama

~ Trying Them On Before Purchasing

For an eye-wear, fitting is the most important issue. Before choosing a goggle, you should bring a helmet or hat you plan to wear while snowboarding to mimic the circumstances under which you'll wear your goggles. Two types of lens shapes exist and trying on each can help you determine what fit you prefer. One type is a cylindrical len, which is a flatter len; other type is spherical len, which has a curved shape that may better hug your face shape.

~ Must-Have UV400 Protection

While many aspects of choosing snowboarding goggles depends on preference and snowboarding type, one must-have is 100 percent ultraviolet protection or UV400 protecting your eyesight. The sun rays may damage your vision, therefore, choosing lenses with this level of protection is an important thing to protect eye health. If your lenses are not labeled 100% UV400 as such, skip them and look for a pair with that UV400.

~ Polarized vs. Non-Polarized Lens

Polarized lens coatings are designed to reduce glare. This coating type originated for boating and fishing enthusiasts who had a tough time seeing past the glare that reflects off the water. This can come in handy when snowboarding in bright sunshine, which can contribute to glare, according to All About Vision. However, some opticians may advise against polarized lenses because you may not be able to see the variations in ice patches over the slopes. When choosing polarized versus polarized, consider the conditions in which you snowboard.

~ Choosing Suitable Colors

Snowboarding goggle lenses come in many different colors. The options have more to do with the type of skiing or snowboarding than a fashion statement. “SKI” magazine recommends wearing rose-colored goggles when snowboarding in overcast or snowy conditions because the rose color enhances contrast and definition. Yellow or yellow-orange lenses enhance contrast and block out blue light, allowing you to see bumps and lumps more easily.

~ Vision Correction

For snowboarders who wear eyeglasses, it is possible to obtain prescription snowboarding goggle lenses. This is typically reserved for snowboarding enthusiasts who will be using goggles often as prescription goggles may be expensive. Another option is purchasing a lens insert so you may wear contacts while snowboarding or insert the lens on days when you do not. However, some snowboarding goggles are made for those who wear eyeglasses or who may wear sunglasses underneath their goggles.