Choosing Ski Goggles

If you've ever skied without ski goggles you've undoubtedly experienced the discomfort of having wind, snow and ice blowing into your eyes. A good pair of ski goggles can protect you from that, making skiing a much more pleasurable experience. 

Daytime Ski Goggles
Many ski goggles are polarized, meaning they're tinted for different degrees of sunlight. Polarized ski goggles improve your vision by enhancing the contrast of objects around you and blocking out sunlight. Yellow and brown tints are the most common and work no matter how bright the sun is. Black tints are good for very sunny days but may be too dark for semi-sunny days or near the end of the day. Green/silver tints are also good for sunny days, as they augment the contrast of objects, making visibility clear.

Look for a pair of ski goggles with several lenses. These will not fog as quickly as single-lens goggles, meaning that you won't have to stop midway down the mountain to wipe your goggles. You can also find goggles made with anti-fogging chemicals and those with vents. Keep in mind that goggles with vents, while effective, will be cold.

Your ski goggles should block at least 95% of UV rays. Your eyes are exposed not just to the sun but to sunlight reflecting off the snow, both of which can seriously damage your eyes. Also make sure that you have good peripheral vision in your ski goggles. That way you can see other skiers and snowboarders approaching.

If you wear glasses, size will be an important factor in choosing ski goggles. Over-the-glasses (OTG) goggles may be your best option, as they'll provide the room you'll need to wear your glasses underneath. If you don't wear glasses all the time, make sure you bring them with you when you try on ski goggles, to ensure that they fit. 

If you generally wear contacts, but think that you may ski in glasses occasionally, you should also look for a pair of ski goggles with enough room to accommodate your glasses. You can also buy prescription ski sunglasses, which will enable you to see but may not keep out all of the snow and wind you'd like them to. These are best for days when the wind and precipitation are light and you won't be subject to a lot of snow and ice being kicked up in your face.

Nighttime Ski Goggles
If you'll be skiing during low sunlight or no sunlight hours, look for goggles that are either purple/rose colored or clear.  Purple/rose colored goggles enhance shadows, meaning that you'll be able to see objects more easily. Clear goggles obviously mean that you can see as though you weren't wearing goggles at all.

If you don't want to shell out the cash for two pairs of ski goggles, look for a pair with interchangeable lenses. That way you can just swap out the tinted lenses whether you'll be skiing at night or during the day.