Best 2 shades of Goggle Lenses

[Bravosarah]

It has come time to replace my lenses. I really like my goggles, so new goggles are out. I've been reading a lot about different colours and their specialties, but they all seem to be a little too specialized.

Sooooo, what two lenses do you have or would you recommend and for which purpose? (with the exception of clear for night skiing, I'm already committed to that one)

 

[playoutside]

Pink/rose -- my favorite, works great in flat light conditions (better than amber) and does ok on brighter days. As I realized last night, rose is not so good for night skiing.

I also avoid the irridescent coating on the surface of any color lens. Had a nice pair of Bolle goggles and I ended up with horrible pitting marks from a sleet storm. Surface was smooth/not scratched, but coating was marred. Made it impossible to see through when snow started falling.

 

[Kano]

I have Smith's RC36 lenses, and like those on bright & sunny days. I have their "Sensor Mirror" lenses for those ugly days when the light is bad. One pair is the Anthem, and the other pair is Phenom -- I have clear lenses to put into the Anthems, but it's really a bother to change them. I decided it was worth the investment in more frames too!

Now YESTERDAY, when I got out of the car and decided it was a bright/sunny day, then came out of the lodge and discovered it had clouded up, so went to get the other goggles from the car, and by the time I closed up the car, I could see that the sun was about to come out again, so had to get the bluebird goggles back out....

(inversion was lifting...)

I decided THE thing to have is photochromic lenses.

Kano

 

[crugs05]

goggle lenses

i have had good luck with my Oakley lenses:

high intensity yellow - great for night skiing or flat light conditions, does a great job of enhancing the light and making it seem bright out

fire - perfect for bright sunny days out west, no glare and great visibility, not too dark

 

[Quiver Queen]

I have amber, only amber. No fuss, no muss.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I have amber, only amber. No fuss, no muss.

Same here, but I'm ready to "diversify." Especially doing more night skiing under sodium lights. Amber's way too dark. (clear is probably best for this) And I ski places daytime that are insanely dark after 12:30 or so mid-winter. Would love to hear from anyone who has photochromatic lenses and whether they think it's worth the added expense. I have big trouble making the adjustment from sunny to super-shaded "blue" slopes.

 

[ski now work later]

I have 3 pr. of goggles, all from Smith. Two are "Anthem" and I use the blue sensor lens most of the time for anything but bluebird days, when I use the platinum mirror. I have had great success with these lenses. They didn't work for my DH so he bought the gold sensor lenses for cloudly and flat light and they have worked fabulously for him. Sadly, I haven't had the opportunity to use the platinum mirror lenses this season! I also have an inexpensive pair of Smith clear lenses for night skiing. All are available from backcountry.com and if you're an Epic supporter, they are 15% off with the discount code you can get from Epic and I just checked and they are all on sale for just under $87 (10% off regular price). Here's a link.

 

[SkiMave]

I bought a new pair of Oakley's this year (to replace my old pair of Oakley's irredescent).

I bought the persimmon lenses and they are really great for flat light days. I skied with them last week in sunny conditions and they were great as well.

Haven't tried them with night skiing yet.

All in all, a good all round lens. The only trouble with Oakley's is you have to be REALLY careful about getting smudges on the inside of the lens, they are very sensitive and mark up really easily - in fact the rep told me not to use a cloth to clean the inside (so what are you supposed to do?). I was successful in using a very soft microfiber cloth I have for my regular glasses - used it very carefully on the inside of the lens and was able to get the smudge off - phew.

 

[Daria]

I like a rose lens the best. Works great in lots of light changes.

 

[Ski Spirit]

I asked this question on Epic and the response I got (for Tahoe conditions) was blue sensor lenses for flat light/stormy conditions and rose platinum for sunny conditions (we both have Smith goggles). I had bought yellow replacement lenses on a flat light day and those worked well but I hear that the blue sensor lenses are more versatile.

 

[Solincia]

SAC has Spy comet goggles on today, and Sierra Trading Post has a good sale on some right now... Hmm... to buy, or not to buy, that is the question... I do need goggles... I don't have any. BF has Oakley Crowbar's in Iridium... hmm....

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Crowbars in persimmon are on my short list for flat light. I'm seeing Spy bronze on SAC right now, but that's too dark a lens for what I need. Nothing but rave reviews on the Crowbars. Have to check them out for helmet compatibility first.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

SAC has Spy comet goggles on today, and Sierra Trading Post has a good sale on some right now... Hmm... to buy, or not to buy, that is the question... I do need goggles... I don't have any. BF has Oakley Crowbar's in Iridium... hmm....

Keep in mind that the iridium is a dark lens, best for bright days. Also, helmet compatibility depending on which direction you go in that regard. Oakleys do seem to fit most helmet makes, though.

 

[Solincia]

Keep in mind that the iridium is a dark lens, best for bright days. Also, helmet compatibility depending on which direction you go in that regard. Oakleys do seem to fit most helmet makes, though.

I know, and the day he bought them it was SUPER bright out. I was thinking of picking him up the "O" frame on STP in the Orange/Persimmon lens for those days like today. For $35 he'll love it. And his fav colour is green, so I don't think he'll mind the frame colour.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Excellent, almost unbelievable price for Oakley. You did good

 

[Solincia]

Okay, quick question.. STP has the Rose lens, and the Silver Flash lens in the Zeal... I'm confused... I was trying to read on which one is good for what, and I get the Rose is good for alot, but Silver Flash is what??...

 

[Solincia]

Oh, and they both say they are helmet compatible!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

They all are now, with respect to the strap and how it adjusts. The critical factor is how the top of the goggle itself meshes with the front edge of the helmet. Needs to be a super-close fit to prevent fogging. This is why some helmet manufacturers (such as Leedom) have actually put their name on goggles (mine are manufactured by Scott but say Leedom on them).

 

[Solincia]

They all are now, with respect to the strap and how it adjusts. The critical factor is how the top of the goggle itself meshes with the front edge of the helmet. Needs to be a super-close fit to prevent fogging. This is why some helmet manufacturers (such as Leedom) have actually put their name on goggles (mine are manufactured by Scott but say Leedom on them).

Okay, that makes sense. thank you for helping me! I really appreciate it! It's amazing how much I've learned in the last two weeks! I've been glued to my computer reading reading reading and the list goes on of things I need.. it's quite a kicker!

 

[snowgem]

I got Oakley's with high intensity amber lenses on SAC and they are amazing in low, flat and artificial light. The high-intensity makes a big difference for me. I also got the Oakley Stockholm's, with grey polarized lenses for the bright, sunny days and they are also great - Polarized is a requirement in bright light for me. The style is interesting - a wider "view". Before, I had Bolle's with persimmon lenses which were good all-round, but my eyes have become more demanding! I don't like having 2 pairs of goggles - sometimes pocket one pair and wear the other, for whatever light appears - haven't found goggles with the changable lenses I like and changing lenses can be tricky. As usual, learning lots from other posts.