How to Purchase Snowboard Goggles
If you've spent any time snowboarding, you know that goggles can be an important piece of equipment. While glasses or sunglasses can protect your eyes under milder conditions, the reflectivity, wind, cold temperatures and mixed precipitation involved in snowboarding often demand the use of goggles. Picking the right goggles is key to providing clean, acute vision and enhancing your snowboarding performance.
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Instructions
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Determine the light conditions. Goggles are made with different lenses to meet the demands of various light conditions. It's helpful to determine what the light is like where you ride and purchase the most suitable pair of goggles. Is the sun shining the majority of the time? Is it generally snowing, dark or overcast? Do you ride at night?
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Pick the right lens(es). Once you've determined the type of light you're most likely to encounter, shop for an appropriate lens. Goggles use different lenses, from fully clear to reflective dark black. If the sun is strong where you ride, consider darker goggles, designed to eliminate glare and block the sun. If it's overcast the majority of the time, consider a clear or lighter goggle, like a yellow or light orange, that is designed for low/flat light. A good medium is the classic orange (or citrus) goggle that is functional in most light conditions.
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Consider purchasing goggles with removable lenses. Although determining the light level that you encounter most of the time is helpful, snowboarding generally involves variable light conditions. If you do any traveling, you'll also encounter completely different light levels. Some goggles come with a number of lenses, designed for different light levels. They pop in and out easily and can be carried in a pocket to switch out on-the-go.
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Check the reviews. Check out snowboard magazines, websites and forums to read what goggles are preferred by other riders (see Resources). It is impossible to fully test goggles before purchasing. Although a pair may feel comfortable and seem perfect, they may not perform that way on the slopes. You may experience fogging problems, issues with fit while riding, or visibility shortcomings. Reading reviews will give you some tested performance information to work with.
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Shop. Any snowboard shop, ski shop or sports store with a snowboard section will have a variety of goggles to try on and compare. Try different models and consider how well you can see, how well-vented the goggles are, how they look, how well they fit and how comfortable they are. Bring your hat or helmet with you to make sure that the goggles fit well with what you'll actually be wearing. Make sure that they fit your face snugly without leaving any gaps where air and moisture could get into your eyes. Also make sure there are no pressure points that would make the goggles uncomfortable.
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Purchase the goggles. Once you've found a pair of goggles that are affordable and meet your needs you're ready to buy.
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Tips & Warnings
Photochromatic lenses that change tint in different light conditions are an excellent solution for variable light. However, these will be more expensive than regular goggles. Consider polarized lenses to cut down glare. A double lens design helps to eliminate fogging of goggles. If you wear glasses, consider purchasing prescription goggles.
