Published October 31, 2012 12:00AM
The 6 Best Snow Goggles of 2013
Most goggles feature fog-resistant double lenses, but the cheap ones are built flat and bent into the frame, creating distortion, which can cause headaches. Invest in optically correct spherical lenses. Polarization? It cuts reflected light, but it can mask ice, too.
Scott Off-Grid Goggles
If you’ve had a hard time finding goggles that hug your face, the Off-Grid might be the solution. It features a patent-pending fit system that can help relieve pressure points or eliminate gaps along your cheekbones with a few turns of a dial. Spherical lenses and lots of airflow round out the package.
Zeal Level Goggles
Oversize to the extreme, the Level’s spherical lens is as big as a fishbowl. The frame sits well clear of your eye sockets for maximum comfort.
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Smith I/OX Elite Turbo Fan Goggles
Fogging is usually the result of pilot error, but some skiers are steamier than others. For them, a tiny battery-powered fan mounted on the Elite Turbo’s frame permanently fixes even the worst fogging problems.
Dogged by fog? You might be a candidate for fan-equipped goggles like the Smiths.
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Oakley Canopy Goggles
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The trend toward oversize goggles (see the Zeals) continues with the Canopy, Oakley’s first truly jumbo offering. Prescription-eyeglasses wearers, you’re in luck: there’s a notch hidden between the strap attachment and the face foam that will accommodate most frames.
Salomon Xtend Xpro Goggles
The Xtend Xpro 12 isn’t quite as big as the Zeals or the Oakleys, but a smart design affords a massive field of vision. (Salomon claims it’s 20 percent larger than the average.) Tricked-out side vents keep the lens moisture free.
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K2 Photokinetic Goggles
The Photokinetic’s outriggers might look a bit dorky, but they improve the goggles’ helmet compatibility substantially. Also smart: A special coating on the supercrisp Carl Zeiss spherical lens repels just about everything.
