Goggles Vs. Sunglasses

Goggles provide more protection than sunglasses, although some outdoor sports lovers still prefer sunglasses.

When snow skiing, snowboarding or engaging in any outdoor winter sport, goggles are generally the eyewear of choice because they provide protection from snow and the sun, are comfortable and will stay on your face.

Pros and Cons

Goggles are warmer than glasses because they fit closely to the forehead, which forms a seal. However, the downside of this seal is that it makes goggles less-effective regarding ventilation than sunglasses. Goggles keep the wind out of your eyes and allow better peripheral vision than do sunglasses, notes Trails.com.

Features

Goggles let you see better than sunglasses, particularly when it's windy or snowing. Without goggles, snowflakes hit your eyes, which can cause pain, especially when you are speeding down a mountain. Sunglasses can be worn, but aren't very helpful when it is snowing.

Considerations

Your goggles should come equipped with resistant lenses constructed of polycarbonate plastic. Double lens goggles feature a sealed airspace between the two lenses. If the seal should break, the inside of the lens will fog up; however, you can purchase replacement lenses.

Benefits

Some goggles are equipped with interchangeable lenses. If it is snowing, you wear one type of lens; if it is extremely sunny, you wear the specific lens that protects your eyes from the sun. An anti-fog coating is essential because you can't see a foot in front of you if your goggles fog up.

Spherical Versus Cylindrical

Goggles should have a wide perimeter, which enables you to see as wide an area as possible. Goggles come in spherical and cylindrical shape. The spherical lens gets thinner toward the top, sides and bottom of the lens and provides less distortion than cylindrical lenses, which get thinner toward the sides.

Additional Features

The color of the lens is important. On cloudy, foggy and snowy days or in dark conditions, a yellow or clear lens is best. Green, amber, brown, bronze and blue lens are preferable for bright days. Rose-colored lenses provide sharp contract and are ideal for flat lighting or hazy days. Bronze and brown lenses provide the best depth perception and color definition, whereas gray lenses give the best overall color definition.

Your goggles should be polarized, which reduces reflection from the snow and glare. However, a polarized lens can make it tricky to determine hard ice from soft snow.

References

• Trails: Goggles versus sunglasses
• Snowboarding Master: Goggles