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You’ve surely found yourself squinting to try to discern the slope under an incredible bright sun, or trying to guess the slope that lies ahead through an impressive blanket of fog. Admit it, that ski day wasn’t the most enjoyable! Beyond comfort for your eyes, the Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles also provide safety for them. Indeed, solar radiation can be extremely dangerous for your eyes, especially in skiing where snow reflects more than 80% of radiation. Let’s just say that the Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles are not optional for hitting the slopes! And this applies even on cloudy days, as contrary to what one might think, clouds do not filter out harmful rays, and fog allows nearly 50% of these rays to pass through. Furthermore, wearing Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles against the wind and cold is generally appreciated to avoid tearing and other discomforts caused by the biting cold. Finally, if you’re still not convinced, this last point should change your mind: when skiing at high speed, the slightest foreign object that gets into your eye could be fatal. And in windy conditions, this can happen much quicker than you think! You’ve grasped it, the reasons for wearing Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles are numerous and all equally legitimate. Now that you understand the importance of wearing Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles, it’s time to choose one!
With all these lens categories, it’s easy to get lost! However, the distinction is relatively simple. Thus, there are 4 main categories of Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles, each corresponding to a type of brightness and weather conditions.
A Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles of category 1 filters light between 20 and 57%, making it suitable for a ski day under low light or poor conditions such as snow, rain, or even fog.
The category 2 filters light between 57 and 82%, which is ideal for low sunlight or alternating sunshine.
A Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles of category 3 filters between 82 and 92% of light, perfect for a sunny day.
Finally, category 4 filters light at over 92%, making it suitable for a particularly bright day.
You often hear about them without really knowing what they are: you will finally understand what a polarised and/or photochromic Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles is.
-Photochromic Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles: to face a multitude of weather situations, a photochromic Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles is your perfect ally. Some photochromic goggles can, for example, switch from category 2 to category 4 in about 22 seconds, which is ideal for adapting to conditions on the slopes while protecting you from UV.
-Polarised Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles: generally found on most models, polarised lenses are true anti-glare filters and thus allow for better visibility against the terrain, which then appears more contrasted.
From pink to yellow, passing through green and brown: there are a multitude of lens shades for Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles. Generally, the darker the lens shade, the more it protects against brightness. Conversely, the lighter it is, the more it is suitable for facing a cloudy sky and dense fog. Thus, if you opt for a Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles with interchangeable lenses, it is wise to choose two different types of lens shades, namely one light and one dark.
These are the two main types of frames you will find on the market. A cylindrical lens is cut along the X-axis, meaning it is relatively flat and curved in only 2 dimensions. A Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles with a cylindrical lens does not distort the image and fits quite well to the shape of the face. For a spherical lens, the curve is on both the X and Y axes, in 3 dimensions. A Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles with a spherical lens is therefore much more rounded and offers a wider field of vision, following the shape of your retina. This feature is particularly appreciated in off-piste or freestyle, to face numerous elements (trees, rocks…) and better understand the terrain.
An OTG Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles is designed for skiers who wear prescription glasses, which can thus be worn comfortably inside the goggles. However, in humid weather, the layering is still subject to fogging.
A frameless Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles (meaning without a frame) is ideal for facing powder. Indeed, the frame is not absent, but simply more discreet, which can help reduce the amount of snow on your frame after having fun in the powder! This type of Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles is thus quite appreciated in freeride and freestyle skiing.
Regarding a double lens Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles, the principle is to act like double glazing anti-fog using two layers of plastic separated by an air gap between them, to reduce condensation inside the Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles and thus the fogging. However, a Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles with a double lens may somewhat alter vision, which is why some people prefer to opt for a single lens.
Finally, a Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles with interchangeable lenses allows you to adapt to different weather conditions by changing your lens pair (and not the entire frame!). If your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles is not photochromic, this solution can thus be a good compromise.
You now know how to identify the different characteristics of a Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles. Let’s move on to the serious stuff: how to choose your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles based on your specific needs?
It’s impossible to talk about Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles without mentioning your practice. Indeed, a beginner or occasional skier will not have the same needs as a die-hard skier and snowboarder who spends every winter weekend in the powder. Likewise, winter sports are numerous and varied, and do not all require the same characteristics. Freestyle skiing or backcountry skiing, piste skiing or cross-country skiing: each practice has its terrain and thus its Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles. Therefore, identify your needs and practice to choose the most suitable Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles.
It would be a shame to find an incredible Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles only for it not to be compatible with your ski helmet, or worse, your face! To avoid this kind of confusion, a few rules should be followed during your fittings. Thus, when you try on your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles, you should ensure that it does not press too hard on the bridge of your nose or your eyebrows, which will quickly lead to discomfort on the slopes! If the shape of the Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles has long been a puzzle for you, know that there are specific technologies, like those from the Smith brand, that allow for extremely flexible millimetre adjustments. This way, you can find the ideal Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles without too much trouble!
For your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles to fit seamlessly on your face, it must indeed be comfortable. For this, the foam, ventilation, and anti-fog treatment are characteristics that can weigh in the balance and make all the difference.
-The inner foam is indeed the main contact you will have with your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles. A double or triple density of foam may therefore be preferable as it ideally conforms to the shape of the face and absorbs more movements and shocks. A comfort textile on the foam of your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles can also mean better contact with the skin.
-As for ventilation, it is indeed essential to avoid ending up with a true sauna inside your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles! Therefore, opt for quality ventilation to avoid this kind of problem.
-Finally, it is preferable to choose a Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles that has undergone an anti-fog treatment, which also contributes to your visual comfort.
To ensure your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles last through the seasons, it is essential to clean only the outer lens, using a microfiber cloth, without any products. You can optionally dampen the cloth to remove stubborn fingerprints. To dry your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles, only patience is required: just let it dry by itself. Also, if you notice that fog quickly invades your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles, that scratches have appeared, or that the foam is worn out, then it’s time to make new purchases and change your Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles!
Photochromic, polarised, anti-fog treatment, etc.: you now know the essentials about Men's Ski & Snowboard Goggles. Any questions or simply need advice? Don’t hesitate to contact our team of specialists at 01 48 58 30 28 or send us a message at hello@hardloop.fr! We will be happy to answer all your questions on the subject!