Best goggle lens color for snowy conditions?

[Born2ski]

Hi ladies,

Great Christmas! I'm headed on a surprise trip to Alta in two weeks.
Hopefully lots of snow - But I have old googles &
I recently seem to have a lot of trouble seeing in 'flat' low light conditions ( call it age ) so I want to make sure my lens color/ googles are up to the trip. My Bolle's have Vermillion lens - should I get a yellow tint instead? Some say Vermillion are best all around, but I've heard yellow tint is best for snowy conditions.
PS... I agree with the 'googles are uncomfortable' posting - they bother my sinus area (bad sinuses)- anyone else have that problem?

Thanks!

 

[haylmom]

I just got some Spy Blizzard goggles that came in the mail and used them for the first time yesterday, they were awesome! The lens is mirrored, however, they are more of a orange/rose color (somewhere in there)....they are perfect, way better than my Smith vermillion lenses. Everything is so crystal clear in them! I do, however, have that nasal/sinus thing you mentioned, but its because they are a bigger goggle than my Smiths (made for small faces... but can look quite small with my helmet). They just cover more of your nose/face so it makes sense. Maybe try a smaller goggle if you want to rid that problem?

 

[Born2ski]

I think you're right about the size. I just had them on a minute ago & they are a pretty big google for my face. They were one of those 'need them right this minute' buys on the slope - so probably aren't the perfect fit for me. Good excuse to go shopping for ski gear!

 

[haylmom]

You probably need them fast, but just an FYI, I got mine on steepandcheap.com for $25!!!

 

[Jilly]

Some companies are now making women's goggles. Smith and Oakley come to mind. Then go for lenses. Check out the Oakley site. They list the lenses, colour and best for conditions!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

You probably need them fast, but just an FYI, I got mine on steepandcheap.com for $25!!!

That was a GREAT deal - I remember seeing it and going "hmmmm...." but I ultimately passed because I had no idea if they'd work with my helmet(s). So glad they're working out for you!

 

[Jilly]

ohoh - take helmet with you when you go to buy goggles. In my avitar those Smith's really don't fit. I finally got a pair of Oakley A frames that fit helmet and face! (see pic with SkiMave)

 

[alta_gal83]

Hi ladies,

Great Christmas! I'm headed on a surprise trip to Alta in two weeks.
Hopefully lots of snow - But I have old googles &
I recently seem to have a lot of trouble seeing in 'flat' low light conditions ( call it age ) so I want to make sure my lens color/ googles are up to the trip. My Bolle's have Vermillion lens - should I get a yellow tint instead? Some say Vermillion are best all around, but I've heard yellow tint is best for snowy conditions.
PS... I agree with the 'googles are uncomfortable' posting - they bother my sinus area (bad sinuses)- anyone else have that problem?

Thanks!

If you're looking for flat light specific, I've really liked the Smith Gold Sensor Mirror for flat light days at Alta. It's a really light colored lens and has really good visibility. That being said, the Gold Sensors are absolutely horrible on sunny days -- way too light of a lens for Alta sun. So to combat the sun, I use Smith Platinum Mirrored lenses. Hope it helps. Steepandcheap regularly puts Smith Phenom's and Fuse's up with different lenses -- you may want to watch for those.

 

[Born2ski]

I'd never heard of Steepandcheap until tonight! Looks cool - I'll have to start watching the site.

 

[Elangirl]

I use a Scott light amplifier lens that I like alot. They now have a light amplifier mirror lens that is good for low light and sunlight.

Since I wear glasses, I use the Smith turbo goggles with the fan--and currently I have a Blue Sensor mirror lens in it that is awesome for low light. But, it is not a good lens for bright sunshine.

Oakley has a "persimmon" lens that is good too.

 

[Pequenita]

Here's an older thread about lens color & flat light. I think the consensus from that discussion was rose or pink-tinted lenses worked well.

 

[Jilly]

I use the persimmon len in my Oakley's for most skiing. Wish I had my other pair this week at Tremblant. Not sure of name, but they are not pink or amber!

 

[ski diva]

Uvex makes a lens color called "Psycho" that the ski shop I work at highly recommends for flat light. It's a purple color, and it's great for bringing out the contour of the trail. I use it myself!

 

[skieast21]

I have had good luck with Smith goggles with the sensor mirror (I read the previous post about gold sensor, but these are blueish...they are simply called sensor mirror lenses), they are great for flat light and I have also used them at night with no trouble...they seem to be very popular in eastern conditions and I know many people who use and love them

 

[ski now work later]

I love my Smith Anthem (for smaller faces) goggles. I used them for 2 seasons and handed them down to one of my daughters and bought 2 more pair for this season. I use the sensor lenses for flat light and have a second pair with platinum lenses for blue bird days. They are available on backcountry.com and if you are an Epic supporter, you can get a discount code. Here's a link for the goggles. I have the lavender lions with sensor lens and the sage lions with platinum lens.

 

[sibhusky]

I had Bolle vermillion for years and they were great in the fog here. Now I have some new yellow lenses that are supposed to change with the light. They appeared while in the shop to do a great job with flat light, but the reality is I'm having more trouble this year than in the past. I need to start carrying my old (tree bark scratched) goggles with me some day to compare the two.