Every snowboarder should own a good pair of goggles. Some well known manufacturer’s are Anon, Smith, Spy and Oakley. You can’t see well without them. Goggles will protect your eyes from harmful sun rays in the sky as well as the rays that reflect back up from the snow. They will also prevent wind and snow from hitting your face while keeping your vision clear and your face warm.

Goggle Fit

A good fit is essential to a goggle’s effectiveness. The goggles should follow the contour of your face and provide a good seal against the elements. Check for gaps (especially at the top of your nose) where air could leak inside. If you ride with a helmet, be sure the goggles fit well with your helmet. Plush fit face foams that are hypoallergenic and provide a soft seal interface with your skin will produce the best results.

Fog Control

Dual lenses and adequate venting are the two main defenses against fogging. Dual lenses, like a double-paned window, have a little air space between each lens. Added Anti-fog treatment and shield technology provide lenses protection without distortion. Venting is necessary to control air flow throughout the frame to further prevent fogging. Smith Goggles offer rider controlled venting (found on the Anthem, Fuse and Phenom) on their lenses by a slider mechanism to direct air flow.

Helmet Compatibility

Most brands make helmet compatible goggles that are designed to fit within the frame of a helmet. They tend to have a longer strap to go around the helmet, with a buckle clasp for convenience. Many brands have flexing hinges to allow better helmet compatibility and comfort over the face while holding a proper seal. Anon Goggles feature an Interchangeable strap technology with hinge outrigger system for helmet compatibility that provides the ability to easily swap straps between the Realm, Figment and Majestic.

Visual Clarity

Snowboard-specific goggles tend to provide an extra amount of peripheral vision. Manufacturing steps have been taken to offer better clarity and optics through Spherical lenses that allow light to pass through the lens in multiple directions which lessens the chance for distortion and headaches. This stands for better acuity and more time on hill.

Lens Color

Having the proper lens tint will greatly affect your visual acuity. Certain lenses will perform better than others in varying light conditions. The most universal tint is Amber. It will provide the best results under light conditions ranging from sun to overcast conditions. Many interior lenses are found with an Amber color and a mirrored finish on the exterior lens. Aside from aesthetics, the Mirrored finish (ideal for sunny days) will reflect more sunlight away from entering the lens into your eye. They will block out bright sun while also providing a little extra contrast in low light. Other tints offered (not all tints mentioned) are listed below in correlation to their ideal lighting conditions.

Full Sunshine: Bronze, Bronze Mirror, Grey, Grey Mirror
Mostly Sunny: Rose Mirror, Amber, Amber Mirror, Blue Mirror
Overcast/Partly Sunny: Persimmon Mirror, Rose, Blue, Amber
Lowlight/Flat: Blue, Yellow, Clear

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