If you are new to skiing, you may be wondering whether the answer to the question “do you need ski goggles?” is yes or no. Ski goggles offer a wide range of benefits, including protecting you from snow blindness, cold, and UV damage. They help improve your ability to see in all weather conditions.
Just like you wouldn’t go skiing without your ski bindings or ski helmet, you should never go skiing without your goggles. This article will show you the benefits of wearing ski goggles.
Reasons Why Wearing Ski Goggles Are Important
1. UV Protection
Ski goggles offer skiers 100% protection against harmful UV rays. Too much exposure to UV light has the potential to cause both long-term and short-term eye damage. Snow blindness, a common skiing risk, occurs when excessive exposure to UV light burns the cornea.
High altitudes increase light exposure. The presence of snow usually magnifies the sun’s potential to cause temporary blindness. Putting on your ski goggles means that you can ski steeps for as long as you want without risking short-term or long-term eye damage.
The majority of the people who ask the question “do you need ski goggles?” already have sunglasses at home. While the sunglasses may offer protection against UV light, they are usually not sealed around the edges. This exposes you to direct light.
Additionally, the sunglasses will feature a smaller frame. This leaves more skin exposed to the UV light. If you have to wear sunglasses and keep your skin safe, you have to know how to apply sunscreen on the exposed regions. If you put on ski goggles, a ski helmet, and a pull-up neck warmer, you should be able to protect your whole face from the UV light.
It is worth noting that even on overcast days, wearing ski goggles is important. The UV light may still bounce through the clouds and off the snow into your eyes.
2. Reduced Glare
Combating the sun’s glare is one of the biggest issues that skiers face. If you put on goggles featuring a dark lens tint, the goggles should minimize the glare. This should allow you to ski on sunny and bright days without squinting or damaging your eyes.
Advanced filters, including photochromic and polarized lenses, are more effective when it comes to blocking the sun’s glare. Polarized ski goggles will reduce the sunshine bounce-back on ice. Photochromic lenses, on the other hand, will detect the UV light present and adjust the tint automatically.
3. Improved Contrast
Improved contrast is one of the reasons why you need to put on ski goggles when grabbing your cross-country skis. The improved contrast will help you see the dips present on the slopes before you ski over them.
The ski goggles enhance what you see by providing improved contrast between shadows and objects. Different color tints will help improve the contrast in varying conditions. Below, we will help you choose the right tint:
- All-round weather – Orange, yellow, and bronze tints should work ideally.
- Overcast or cloudy weather – Rose and brown tints work well in the more overcast conditions.
- Sunny – In sunny conditions, the grey tint should offer great results.
Note: The blue tint can be easily adapted to both dark and sunny conditions, depending on what you combine it with. Keep in mind that the strength of the tints mentioned above can make it more or less ideal for the varying conditions.
4. Protect You from the Cold
For you to have fun on the slopes, you need to know how to stay warm when skiing. The cold present on the slopes is another reason why the answer to the question “do you need ski goggles?” is a yes. Combined with a ski jacket and other gear, the ski goggles can help you avoid hypothermia.
The goggles will insulate your face against the extreme cold. They will also shield your face from the oncoming frigid air.
While the goggles do feature vents that help keep them from fogging, the foam padding, the frame, and the large lens area keep the snow and wind from reaching your eyes. The insulated gap that sits between the face and the surrounding cold environment helps keep your eyes and face at a comfortable temperature.
If you decide to ski powder without the ski goggles, the movement of outside air and the wind will end up causing your eyes to water. Snow may also collect on the eyelashes. This will end up reducing your visibility significantly.
5. Safety
Collisions and crashes do occur when people are skiing. If these do happen, the ski goggles will help protect your eyes.
Blunt objects, including rocks and your skis, could end up smacking your face and causing eye damage during an accident or a crash.
While the ski goggles may not be a force shield, the extra protection they offer is more effective compared to wearing sunglasses. Compared to sunglasses, ski goggles protect a bigger surface area. The foam padding present on the edges of the goggles offers better protection.
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6. Better Fit
Wearing ski goggles together with your ski helmet will offer a superior fit and all-round protection. The ski helmets feature a clip at the back that helps secure the goggle’s strap. This means that when you are wearing ski goggles together with the helmet, the chances of the ski helmet coming off will be much lower.
Globo Surf Overview
After going through this article, you have figured out the answer to the question “do you need ski goggles?”. The modern ski goggles are robust, lightweight, and can improve your safety on the slopes.
When wearing ski goggles, ensure that they feature a snug fit. The right ski goggles shouldn’t put undue pressure on your face.
Considering the conditions you will be skiing in is important. To enjoy some of the benefits mentioned above, your ski goggles need to have the right tint. To determine the right tint, you have to know the ski conditions beforehand.
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- How To Layer For Skiing
- How To Choose Ski and Snowboard Goggles
- How To Size Ski Poles