How to Choose Your Ski Goggles
Your ultimate guide to finding the perfect pair of ski goggles. Explore key features and make an informed choice for your best skiing experience.
Ski goggles are essential for protecting your eyes from harsh elements like UV rays, wind, and snow glare while enhancing visibility on the slopes. When choosing ski goggles, it’s important to consider factors such as lens type, VLT (Visible Light Transmission), comfort, and fit, especially if you wear prescription glasses.
Essential Features in Zerokay Goggles
All our ski goggles feature cylindrical lenses, anti-fogging technology, 100% UV protection, and a durable, scratch-resistant coating. With a triple-layer foam and antibacterial polar fleece finish, they offer a secure and comfortable fit for all-day wear.
6 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Ski Goggles
Lens Color, VLT, and Categories for Different Light Conditions
When choosing ski goggles, understanding the role of VLT (Visible Light Transmission) and lens categories (S1, S2, S3) is crucial. These factors determine how much light passes through the lens and how well your goggles will perform in different weather conditions.
Sunny Weather (S3 Category, Low VLT):
For sunny weather, low VLT lenses (8-18%) are ideal as they block out most of the sunlight, reducing glare and preventing eye strain. The S3 category is specifically designed for bright, sunny days.
Recommendation: The perfect lenses for sunny weather in our collection are Black, Mirror Silver, Multilayer Gold, and Mirror Blue lenses.
Partly Cloudy to Sunny Weather (S2-S3 Category, Moderate VLT):
Lenses with moderate VLT (18-35%) are versatile and suitable for partly cloudy to sunny conditions. The S2 category lenses adapt well to changing light, making them perfect for days with mixed weather.
Recommendation: For these conditions, photochromic lenses are the best choice, as they adapt to changing light. Our Multilayer Red lens also performs well in partly cloudy weather, despite being in the S3 category, due to its higher VLT.
Low Visibility and Snowy Conditions (S1 Category, High VLT):
In low visibility or snowy conditions, high VLT lenses (40% and above) are necessary to allow more light in, enhancing contrast and clarity. The S1 category is perfect for foggy or overcast conditions.
Recommendation: Typically, lenses such as Orange, Amber, and other high-VLT options are best for these conditions. In our collection, we offer Amber low-light lenses in our Magnetic Ski Goggles, designed specifically for these challenging environments.
When to Choose Photochromic or Polarized Lenses
Both photochromic and polarized lenses offer unique benefits that can greatly enhance your skiing experience. Understanding how these treatments work and when to use them will help you make the best choice for your needs
Polarized Lenses:
What is Polarized Treatment? Polarized lenses are designed to reduce glare from reflective surfaces like snow, water, or ice. This treatment filters out horizontal light waves that cause glare, resulting in clearer vision and reduced eye strain.
When to Use: Polarized lenses are best suited for bright, sunny days when glare is most intense. They help you see the terrain more clearly, making them ideal for skiers who spend a lot of time in open, sunlit areas.
When It’s Better Not to Use: In low-light conditions, such as overcast or foggy days, polarized lenses can sometimes make it harder to see ice patches or shadows on the snow, as they reduce overall light transmission.
Photochromic Lenses:
What is Photochromic Treatment? Photochromic lenses automatically adjust their tint in response to the amount of sunlight. They darken in bright light and lighten in low light, offering seamless adaptation to changing conditions.
When to Use: Photochromic lenses are ideal for days when light conditions vary, such as when skiing through areas with mixed sunlight and shade, or when weather conditions are unpredictable.
When It’s Better Not to Use: While versatile, photochromic lenses might not darken quickly enough in extremely bright conditions, so they might not provide as much protection as a fixed dark lens in intense sunlight.
Advantages of Combining Both:
Dual Benefits: Having both polarized and photochromic treatments in one lens offers the best of both worlds—reducing glare while adapting to changing light conditions. This combination ensures optimal visibility and comfort throughout your skiing day, regardless of the weather.
Our IconPro Collection features lenses with both photochromic and polarized treatments, providing you with the ultimate versatility and performance on the slopes.
Advantages of Magnetic Ski Goggles
Magnetic ski goggles offer a practical solution for skiers who need to quickly adapt to changing weather conditions. The ability to easily switch lenses without removing your goggles makes these a must-have for those who value both performance and convenience.
Key Advantages:
Quick Lens Changes: The magnetic lens system allows for fast and easy lens swaps, ensuring you’re always prepared for sudden changes in light conditions.
Strong Magnet Reliability: Our magnets are engineered for strength, ensuring the lenses stay securely in place even during intense skiing activities, such as navigating moguls (bosses).
Hands-Free Adjustment: The magnetic system enables lens changes without needing to remove your goggles, making it a seamless process on the go.
Lens Options:
Orange Magnetic Lens (49% VLT, S1): Perfect for low-light, foggy, or snowy conditions, this lens enhances contrast for better visibility.
Mirror Silver Magnetic Lens (9% VLT, S3): Designed for sunny days, this lens provides excellent glare reduction and is ideal for bright conditions.
Types of Coatings and Their Benefits
Lens coatings are crucial for enhancing the performance and durability of your ski goggles. These coatings provide additional benefits that can significantly improve your skiing experience by ensuring clear vision, reducing glare, and protecting your lenses
Types of Coatings and Their Benefits:
Mirrored Coating:
Explanation & Benefit: Mirrored lenses reflect sunlight away from the eyes, reducing glare and improving visual comfort in sunny weather. Additionally, they add a stylish finish to your goggles, making them ideal for bright conditions.
Anti-Fog Coating:
Explanation & Benefit: Anti-fog coatings prevent condensation from forming inside the lens, ensuring clear vision in all conditions. This is particularly essential for maintaining visibility when transitioning between cold air and the warm air from your breath, especially during high-exertion activities.
Scratch-Resistant Coating:
Explanation & Benefit: This coating helps protect your lenses from minor scratches caused by daily use, enhancing their durability. However, it’s important to note that while it provides resistance to minor abrasions, it is not impervious to all damage. For instance, hard impacts or abrasive elements like ice particles in a snowstorm can still cause scratches, particularly on more delicate mirrored lenses.
Ski Goggles for Prescription Glasses Wearers
What Are Prescription-Compatible Ski Goggles (OTG)?
Prescription-compatible ski goggles, also known as OTG (Over The Glasses) goggles, are specifically designed to comfortably accommodate skiers who wear prescription glasses. These goggles feature a larger frame with special cutouts in the foam, allowing the temples of your glasses to fit securely and comfortably without compromising the fit or seal of the goggles.
When to Use:
OTG goggles are ideal for skiers who need to wear their prescription glasses while skiing but want to avoid the discomfort or inconvenience of switching to contact lenses. These goggles ensure that you can wear your glasses comfortably, while still enjoying the protection and performance benefits of high-quality ski goggles.
Our Solution:
Our Magnet Ski Goggles are OTG compatible, with special cutouts in the foam to accommodate glasses temples comfortably. This ensures a secure fit for glasses wearers while offering the convenience of our magnetic lens system for quick and easy lens changes on the go.
Safety Certifications
Our goggles adhere to the ISO 18527-1:2021 standards, specifically for eye and face protection in downhill skiing and snowboarding. With these certifications, you can be confident that our goggles provide the safety and performance you need on the slopes.
