Help... when goggles won't do!

A snowHead

My better half has a complete mental block when trying to ski in googles. We've tried a number of brands and designs and she just can't get on with wearing them. Her technique and confidence go to pieces.

Can anyone recommend some sunglasses or goggleglasses that are during flat light and/or skiing whilst it's snowing?

Thanks Blush

A snowHead

My OH has a bit of a mental block about skiing in poor visibility, whether caused by white out, flat light or falling snow - even slopes which are well within his capacity suddenly become a big problem. So I know what you mean, though in his case it's definitely not caused by the goggles (which he wears perfectly happily in good conditions). One problem might be the psychological link between wearing goggles and nasty conditions (ie "I've got goggles on, so that means the conditions are difficult, so I can't ski well"). If that's the case, the answer is to get some really nice goggles with a great field of vision, then wear them constantly, even on nice bright sunny days when visibility is perfect and the snow charming. wink

However, if your OH can ski OK in nasty conditions in wrap around glasses, and only goes to pieces when she dons the goggles, I suppose the problem is with the goggles themselves. In which case, have a look at the thread at http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=48175. The Northface Thin Air glasses look great.

Incidentally, I don't personally find that any goggles are much use in genuinely flat light conditions. Everything on the ground is just a white blur, regardless.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Oakley do womens specific-Stockholm? For flat light conditions I would go for yellow/orange lenses (my favourite being yellow) which under the Oakley brand are HI Yellow/Persimmon.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

It's definately goggles being the problem as she can't even wear them in bluebird sky perfect weather and snow Puzzled

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I'm not a fan of goggles, so I wear my Oakley sunglasses in all weathers.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Elizabeth B, same here

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

BrightonSki, £5 googles dont work.£100 goggles work.get the £100 goggles.

After all it is free

snowpatrol, it's not a question of "working", some folk just don't get on with goggles.

My brother in law thought he "didn't get on" with goggles until the temperatures dropped to minus 18. wink

He thought he "didn't get on" with fleece balaclavas, too. But those North Face Thin Air things look good. I like goggles, not least because I have some vision-corrected inserts which work brilliantly and just never steam up. I don't have £100 goggles. Mine cost about 35 euros - bought after trying on loads.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

My brother in law thought he "didn't get on" with goggles until the temperatures dropped to minus 18. wink

He thought he "didn't get on" with fleece balaclavas, too. But those North Face Thin Air things look good. I like goggles, not least because I have some vision-corrected inserts which work brilliantly and just never steam up. And in cold weather, if I ski at any speed at all, my eyes stream. I don't have £100 goggles though. Mine cost about 35 euros - bought after trying on loads.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

pam w, I was quite happy with sunnies in -25, but did have to buy a face mask.

snow reports

holidayloverxx,"some folk dont get on with goggles".they would if they got the £100 goggles

I am not keen on the "detached" feeling from the restricted field of vision that my goggles give me, (nor on the scratches my face-plant in LDA left on them) - however with sunnies I find my eyes water dreadfully especially on the first few runs while they get used to the cold/wind & when they water they sting which makes them water more meaning I can't see much anyway. Hence the goggles usually win. I have just one pair, not very expensive at £20, that are supposed to be all purpose (bronzy/mirrored). Maybe better ones would be more scratch resistant & give a wider field of vision?

You know it makes sense.

snowpatrol, That's proper bollux that is, My £10 Tschibos are not £70 worse than my Dragons and are slightly more comfortable. The problems that most people have with goggles is a: the blocked peripheral vision and b: the habit many people never break, of glancing down at their tips. Both these are part of their balance reflexes and without them they feel very disorientated. It can be overcome with practice but an interim solution would be close fitting cycling glasses with silicon gaskets.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

BrightonSki, Addidas do a great range of all weather glasses with interchangeable lenses and they fit close to the head (no snow ingress) and are properly vented.

There is one problem - and it starts with a £ and ends with a Shocked

A snowHead

http://www.sunglassesforsport.com/store/category.vc?categoryId=9

A snowHead

snowpatrol, I have top of the range Oakley goggles, and still don't like them. So, not everyone will get on with the £100 goggles and will have wasted a lot of money rolling eyes

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

There are so many different options, it'd be good if someone offered "try-before-you-buy" with goggles. Shops could have a range of demo pairs and let you try various different pairs in the hope you'd buy some at the end of the day, taking a credit card imprint as insurance against you making off with a demo pair.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

snowpatrol, yep, total bollux.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

I can't imagine NOT skiing with goggles with the speeds I go at. Puzzled

My eyes stream terribly without them, not to mention I met a lady this year with rather nasty facial injuries caused by falling with glasses on.

Hats off to the skiiers of age - in addition to their leather shoes, dresses (for the ladies) and wooden planks - no sexy Oakleys! snowHead

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Elizabeth B, you have oakley goggles and still dont like them???????????so why did you buy them????????????that just does not make sense.alex_heney, i am entitled to my opinion and will post it.my opinion is fact to me.mini or porsche,rump steak or fillet,heinz beans or yellow pack,£5 goggles or £100 goggles.do you see where i'm coming from?i'm with you Alexandra,i cant see any reason why anyone wouldn't use goggles.what happens when a storm rolls in?what happens when you go over 5mph and tears start streaming?what about the sun reflecting off the snow effecting your vision etc etc

After all it is free

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowpatrol, my eyes don't stream. when a storm rolls in - so what? my glasses are just fine. the sun reflecting off the snow does not affect (nor effect) my vision. The point is we are not all the same, and indeed you make that point in your post to alex_heney.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

holidayloverxx, how do you see when it is snowing hard. Snow in the eyes or on the inside of a lense is blinding.

snow reports

holidayloverxx, your eyes dont stream?what speed do you ski????????????when a storm rolls in your glasses are fine!!!!??????????i think you're just digging your heels in here

Frosty the Snowman, when have you ever seen me ski when it's snowing hard wink

- actually I do sometimes and I don;t get snow in the inside. I think it's because my hat kind of extends over the top of my glasses so stops it happening - I've a classic photo from big white this year as evidence (if I coudl figure out posting to the mediazone)

and here at Les Arcs

edited to add pics

You know it makes sense.

snowpatrol, Well now you are asking the right questions (and one question mark is enough thanks). I don't ski especially fast, but I don't plod either.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Ain't people wonderful. Managing to have a spat over when to wear glasses and when to wear goggles. rolling eyes

A snowHead

Theeeerrrreeee'ssss only one way to settle this.... FIGHT!!!

Thanks to Harry Hill Laughing

A snowHead

An instructor told me, and I've no reason to believe he lied, that your eyes stop streaming beyond a certain speed. Perhaps holidayloverxx knows true speed while snowpatrol is just playing Twisted Evil

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

andyph, they stop streaming once they've frozen over.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Alexandra, wind chill factor plus warp speed Shocked

You'll need to Register first of course.

I mix it up all day long according to conditions. I wear decent (Oakley Hijinx) sunglasses most of the time with my goggles ( Bolle Scream) on my helmet. Glasses with an element of wrap-around cuts down on watery eyes at speed although I do suffer. The goggles come down when conditions dictate and the lot comes off during extreme flat light at the end of the day. My tip for 'goggle conditions' is allow time to become accustomed to them, don't raise them when on lifts constantly, after a while, you'll forget you're wearing them. Our kids never ski/board without them as that's all they've ever known. Our eldest daughter say's that she feels as if she's 'indoors and cosy' with them on. Smile

PS, don't be tempted to buy cheap eyewear, it won't help the issues you have.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

I'm certainly not against goggles but apart fromt the fact I'm happy with my Oakley half jackets I feel "dis-associated" when wearing goggles. My hearing isn't the best and I feel too muffled wearing goggles - maybe kind of like Mollerski's daughters "warm and cosy" feeling except I don't like that feeling.

I tried a few pairs on at Big White (see, I can be flexible) as on the -25 degree day my glasses fogged when I got off the lift and the steam froze; not one pair fit my face (regardless of price, style or manufacturer) there was a gap at either side of the bridge of my nose between the goggles and my cheek which would have meant the goggles would fog so decided to save myself the £100 and bought the face mask instead, which directed my breath away from the glassess thus resolving the fogging/freezing issue.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I mostly use sunglasses (polarising & UV 3-rated bought 3 sets for £21 because I keep losing them) to protect my eyes from cataracts but also have a set of brown glass goggles (2 sets for £40 because I occasionally break them) laced to my lid. Sometimes I interchange or use both simultaneously if in heavy snow or the light feels very bright and/or overhead is dull. I rarely look at my ski tips unless threading through rocks, stones or a lift queue.

I much prefer using sunnies only though. Little Angel

Someone did the sales pitch on me for some £150 Oakley glasses only a few weeks ago telling me that I wouldn't keep losing them if I'd paid that much money, that they would make me look very, very fashionable and they come with a special strap & case so that thieves couldn't get hold of them so easily. They then actually offered me interest free credit to buy them !!! Confused

Help!!

Help... when goggles won't do!

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Equipment Reviews/Questions