Goggles

Other wise known as: Googs, Goggs

    Snowboarding goggles, just like swim goggles, are used to protect your eyes when you are out in your element. Goggles are an essential piece of gear for snowboarding in so many ways. They keep snow out your eyes, wind off your eyes, reduce glare, bring out snow contours and protect your face from tree branches slapping you. Oh, and they look good.

    A good pair of goggles will keep you riding even in the worst of conditions, keep you from sun burning your eyes, allow for a big, wide view, should be comfortable and snug, fit well against your helmet, and finally not fog up.

    Most goggles these days have replaceable lens. This is awesome given the fact you only have to find one pair of perfect goggles now. This is better then having to find a pair for riding at night and another for over cast and cloudy days and then another for those brilliant blue bird days, or even worse, using the same lens for all of those situations. Buying an extra lens is a lot cheaper then buying a new pair of goggles for each different type of riding you want to be doing.

    Fogging up is a serious issue with snowboard goggles. Most good higher-end goggles have some sort of venting that can be adjusted to fit your current needs. Higher end goggles also typically have multiple layers to the lense. This keeps them from fogging as fast but once they are fogged up it takes longer to unfog them.

    Peripheral vision is an essential part of snowboarding so make sure your goggles give you a large view. Some jackass will be coming up beside you way too fast and out of control so without good peripheral vision it might result in a crash.

     Being able to match your helmet with your goggles is essential. With out that good fit you will get a wind burnt line across your forehead (above your goggles but below your helmet) that looks really funny and is actually pretty painful. You also want to make sure that your goggles adjust enough so that they will fit over your helmet and not push into your face too much.

    Make sure your goggles fit tightly because it sucks loosing your goggles every time you crash. On the same note make sure the goggles are comfortable to wear and have decent padding.

    Having a hard case for your goggles is cool but not essential, however, storing your goggles in the bag that it came with is a good practice. It is amazing how scratched up a pair can get when you don’t store them properly and they get thrown all around your car.

    DO NOT FORGET YOUR GOGGLES. Riding with out them sucks so bad (trust me) so if your good you will have an old back up in your car or bag because one day you will forget them and most days your buddies will.

    Finally, make sure you find a pair that look good and match your style. On the hill most people will recognize you mostly by your goggles and your helmet/beanie, then your coat and pants.

Did we miss something? Do you have any suggestions for others?