Ski masks. The best masks for snowboarding and skiing Goggles for skiing

An athlete on a slope definitely needs face protection. Snowboard masks provide protection from the sun, wind and snow. In the Trajectory online store, even experienced riders will find suitable snowboard masks from such well-known companies as Oakley, Anon, Electric, VonZipper, as well as mask and helmet sets.

What types of snowboard masks are there, and how to choose?
A standard snowboarding mask consists of frame-mounted filters and a strap. Lenses for snowboard goggles are replaceable and come in two configurations - cylindrical and spherical.

Previously, the focus was on lens colors and field of view. Now the main trend has shifted towards quickly changing lenses. Now you don’t have to spend a long time changing the lens and risking breaking it or leaving a lot of fingerprints on it. Nevertheless, good review much more important - choose snowboard masks with a large view.

For skiing in the mountains and in the park, different snowboard masks are chosen. There is such a thing as VLT (light transmittance), measured as a percentage. The lower the percentage, the less light passes through the lenses (darker glasses); the higher the percentage, the more light the filters allow through (lighter lenses).

VLT scores are grouped into 5 categories ranging from clear sunny skies (CAT 4) to night skiing (CAT 0). For urban riding, masks with glasses of categories 2 and 3 are suitable; for mountains, the optimal choice is masks of category 4. It's best to buy snowboard goggles along with two or three spare lenses to accommodate different conditions.

Masks for snowboarders also differ in terms of helmet compatibility. Today, basically all brands produce snowboard masks that are compatible with different helmets.

People with vision problems should not deny themselves the opportunity to feel the crunch of newly fallen powder and the splash of snow on their face - this is the opinion of manufacturers, offering masks that fit comfortably over glasses for vision correction.

By putting snowboard masks on his face, the athlete does not sign up for discomfort. The problem of fogging is solved by installing double lenses with an air layer between them, integrated ventilation holes, air flow control systems

Important characteristics of masks:

• anti-glare coating;
• anti-fog coating;
• scratch-resistant coating;
• UV protection

Buy a snowboard mask
Knowing the basic information about masks, on our website you can order men's and women's snowboard goggles, as well as children's models. For beginner riders, when buying a snowboard mask, the issue of price is usually the determining factor. It may seem that snowboard masks are not cheap, but on our website you will find models up to 3 thousand rubles. Many popular models of snowboard masks are presented in the "Sale" section, where you can purchase goggles at a discount.

Optical glasses are one of the oldest inventions of mankind. Glasses on a skier's eyes are a problem that requires, at a minimum, attention. Of course, there are a number radical solutions- from surgery to all kinds contact lenses. The trouble is that many don't care various reasons, these solutions are not suitable: surgery is expensive and scary, lenses are not always comfortable, require excessive attention, can cause allergies, and in some cases do not help. In the end, someone is simply not too young, is used to wearing glasses and does not want to change anything - a person has a lot of fundamental rights that no one is inclined to forget about.

And more from personal experience: I consider an appropriate helmet as a mandatory part of equipment when any skating. This, of course, creates some additional difficulties in selection, but health, as they say, is more expensive.

What glasses are suitable for wearing under a mask?

Frame

The title photo clearly shows that, compared to the size of the face, the glasses are quite small. From an aesthetic point of view, it is quite doubtful. From the point of view of selecting a mask, it is optimal - there is a minimum of problems with combining dimensions. The frame is made of titanium wire - minimum weight with maximum strength and flexibility. Not a single sharp corner. The frame completely covers the lenses - this design minimizes the risk of impact. The funny thing is that it was bought on sale at one of the network opticians for absolutely ridiculous money.

Lenses

Obviously, to reduce weight, strength and safety, the lenses should be plastic. The most common lens material today is polycarbonate. It may have different brand names. Size matters. If you ride aggressively, especially if you “go the line”, the requirement for correct distance assessment and reading the terrain become paramount. Excessive lateral visibility in this case is rather harmful. The obvious benefit of lenses of a small area is that they can be quite thin without the use of special technologies, and their shape is relatively simple (biconvex, concave).

For the same reasons of optical correctness, I would not recommend all kinds of bifocal, progressive lenses for sports driving. There is nothing to read on the highway. Safety and safety again!

Alternative

Normal people not only “cutting down landmarks”. Sometimes they just go for a ride to beautiful places in companies, with friends and loved ones, with children, for whom, as you know, you never have enough eyes. In order to provide maximum visibility, large area lenses are needed. Obviously, problems with optical aberrations (distortions) begin at the edges of the field of view. To minimize them, special laboratory lenses with greater curvature are used. Obviously, such lenses (in case of myopia) will have fairly thick edges. They are quite durable. To reduce weight, it makes sense to use frames with lenses attached with a special fishing line. Their strength is more than enough (tested). The safety of the structure in case of impact is ensured by flexible nose supports.

Large glasses also require masks of sufficient volume.

Is it possible to do without a mask completely?

Of course. Especially if you ride slowly, on prepared slopes... Having done this once in a snowstorm, they usually begin to carry the mask with them - you can get a whole range of sensations...

Exception

For me personally, Oakley optics stand out completely. It would seem like a simple massive frame... which, as it feels on the face, weighs nothing, thanks to the peculiarity of the fit.

The sum of fantastic protection and absolute optical correctness is not easy to achieve. Both the frame and the lenses are strongly curved, fitting as closely as possible to the face. Aerodynamic elements direct air flow into the ventilation windows. Custom lenses are manufactured in the Oakley factory. Made from proprietary Plutonite plastic. Expensive. And no distortion.

Photochrome

Have you noticed that in one picture the lenses are almost black, and in the other they are transparent? This is a photochromic coating. In common parlance - a “chameleon” - changing shade depending on the level of UV radiation. A very convenient thing. If the lenses are not “left-handed”, in addition to the shade, the degree of light transmission actually changes. Having a photochromic filter on the glasses, we take a mask with minimal darkening - enough for conditions from night skiing in the Moscow region to spring skiing in the Elbrus region. Verified.

Flip-up System

Experience shows that the surface of lenses with a photochromic coating is scratched much more than a regular transparent one. And the cost often goes beyond reasonable limits. An alternative to photochrome is the Flip-up System. The tinted visor can be raised or removed completely.

Ski mask CEBE INFINITY OTG WHITE YELLOW top

Regardless of the brand, color, type of filter... a mask designed to be worn over glasses must have some additional volume in order to accommodate these same glasses. Externally, this is clearly visible; if you look at the mask from above, you will see a clearly angular shape. These "corners" are where the eyeglass frame hinges are placed. It is also obvious that compared to the standard one, the OTG will have a greater thickness, indented from the face.

Ski mask CEBE INFINITY OTG WHITE LIGHT ROSE

From small details: in the seal (seal) of the mask there will be special slots on the sides for the temples of glasses.

I categorically do not recommend, even with a small face volume, center-to-center distance... experimenting with putting on standard masks over glasses. The hinge of the frame will rest on the light filter and the pressure of the glasses on the nose will be in anyway.

Selection

You can wear optical glasses permanently, you can only wear them for riding. In most cases, with the most in different forms and frame sizes, the OTG mask will fit normally over the glasses.

Much more important:

how the mask fits into the helmet; Will the helmet move the mask with the goggles inside?

As a rule, by the time you select a mask, you already have optical glasses (at least everyday glasses) and a helmet. Even if you don’t have glasses when you try them on, it’s not a big problem. It turns out that the position of the lower edge of helmets varies. Since the helmet is not a soft cap, it is not always easy to adjust its position optimally. And in general, selecting and fitting a helmet to the head is akin to similar procedures with ski boots. True, boots can be adjusted to a wide extent using bootfitting methods... which cannot be done with a helmet.

Any athlete with minimal skiing experience will confidently say that 50% of successful skiing depends on the selection of equipment. And here we are talking not only about the selection of skis and poles, but also about the purchase of a ski mask. There are also some nuances of choice and purchasing features. Which goggles or masks for skiing are considered the best, and which models should you refrain from purchasing?

General information about glasses and masks

A ski mask protects a person not only from bright sun rays that can interfere with successful skiing, but also from pieces of snow, ice and strong wind. It will help preserve your vision and avoid injury due to loss of visibility.

Many beginners try to save money on buying glasses by purchasing the cheapest models, which not only have questionable quality, break quickly, but can also cause eye disease, since they will not protect against UVA and UVB radiation. That is why professionals immediately acquire good, expensive glasses, which will serve their owner for as long as possible.

Which is better, glasses or a mask? Glasses are becoming increasingly popular these days, but there may be a problem with them. serious problem. The fact is that it is problematic to choose glasses that fit perfectly without causing discomfort in the bridge of the nose. But the visibility with a mask is much better and can be worn with regular glasses.

Another serious question that most often arises among novice athletes is the difference between goggles for snowboarding and a model for skiing.

The main difference lies in the fact that snowboard masks give a maximum viewing angle, since this is very important in the sport itself. And if ski masks sometimes provide minimal visibility, then this is not a problem, because when skiing, the most important thing is to see what is in front of the athlete. In the case of a snowboard, a person must have the widest possible viewing angle to avoid the possibility of injury.

Now there are many categories by which masks and glasses are chosen. First, you need to list these categories, and then you should focus on the most important of them. How to choose a mask or goggles for snowboarding? What to look for Special attention when choosing a mask for alpine skiing?

1. On the quality of the lenses, and this is perhaps the most important criterion.
2. For size, shape and frame.
3. On the quality of fit to the face.
4. Check for ventilation and compatibility with the helmet.
5. Lens and filter selection

Lenses

There are masks on the market now with one and two lenses, fastened to each other. Masks with two lenses are much more practical and reliable, because they help reduce fogging of the model, improving visibility.

It's great if the lenses have coating antifog, since this is what helps prevent the mask from fogging.

Lens shape. Good lenses usually have a spherical shape, that is, they are concave not only horizontally, but also vertically. This allows for much less distortion of the visible image. To reduce distortion, lenses are often made different sizes, resulting in them being thicker in the center and thinner on the sides.

Filters

The color of the lenses is also important - the filter. For example, models with black lenses are ideal for riding in sunny weather, but models with blue or clear lenses are suitable for cloudy days or evening riding.

Special polarized lenses are considered one of the best. They have a small grating on the surface that allows only vertical light waves to pass through, which reduces the amount of glare from snow and ice.

Particular attention should be paid to filter type. What kind of filters are there?

• Transparent, suitable for night skiing, transmits up to 98% of sunlight.
• Dark brown version, transmits up to 10% of light.
• Pink filter allows 59% of light to pass through, improving depth of field.
• The yellow filter, best suited for bad weather, transmits 68% of light.
• Gray, improves depth perception even in the sunniest weather, transmits 25% of light.

Antifog

It was already mentioned above that many manufacturers to reduce fogging glasses, a special liquid called antifog is applied to the lenses. It absorbs moisture so quickly that it does not have time to condense on the lens.

This anti-fogging system is considered very effective, but with it Do not wipe lenses from the inside, otherwise this very coating can be damaged. If a person accidentally damages the antifog coating, the glasses will quickly become unusable.

Ventilation

Very important characteristic when choosing a mask, it is the presence of ventilation. It will be great if the ventilation is regulated, which means that a person will be able to remove accumulated excess moisture outside. Now there is a simple ventilation option, which is holes in the mask, with the help of which air circulation is carried out. This system is a little inconvenient, because too large holes let in a lot of cold air, and therefore, using a mask brings discomfort to skating.

And yet, much more popular are the models in which it operates small fan on batteries. Its operation can be adjusted, thus creating ideal wearing conditions. If ventilation works well, a person may be pleasantly surprised complete absence fogging.

Face fit and perfect fit

During the purchasing process it is important try on a mask, securing it correctly. If the model does not pinch anywhere, does not put pressure on the bridge of the nose, then you can purchase it, because it fits perfectly in size.

You also need to pay attention to the shape of the mask, because it must provide viewing angle at least 120 degrees.

It is very important that the mask fit tightly to the face, there were no gaps between the surface of the model itself and the skin. If there are such gaps, the mask will allow cold gusts of wind to pass through, and this will also cause discomfort. It is especially worth checking whether the nose slot does not interfere with normal breathing. If a person feels discomfort, it is better to refuse to buy a mask.

Shape and frame

Now they allocate three frame options:

• Children's with adaptation to children's face shape and size.
• Women's are slightly smaller in size than the general ones, which take into account the average size of a woman's head.
• General is perhaps the most popular option for masks.

The frame itself on masks should be thin, but the lenses must be attached securely. This is why frames are usually made from practical polyurethane terpolyurethane. This material retains flexibility and strength even with large temperature changes.

The mask itself usually has a slightly rounded shape, and also involves the use of a well-stretchable strap. Strap It should be perfectly adjustable, fit snugly to the head and not cause discomfort. The inside of the mask should have a soft layer, usually foam rubber, which improves the fit of the model and softens the impact of a fall.

Helmet compatibility

It is important that the mask also fits perfectly with the helmet. That's why you can take a helmet with you to the store to actually check the quality of compatibility.

The mask should fit snugly to the helmet, not dangle or fall off. The safety of the mask and its condition often depend on this. If the model does not attach well to the helmet, if it does not lock onto it, then it is better to refuse the purchase.

If a person wears glasses that improve vision, then he should purchase special masks that allow him to wear them over his glasses. Such models are usually more expensive, but they are very convenient to use.

Mask care and instructions for use

Since the ventilation system and especially the lenses in such ski masks are sensitive, it is important to know rules, helping to extend the life of any model.

• Wipe both internal and outer surface lenses can only be removed using a special optical cloth included in the kit.
• After use, the mask should always be thoroughly cleaned of snow and ice, dried, and then stored warm.
• The mask should always be stored in a special case, as this prevents the risk of mechanical damage models.
• It is very important to thoroughly clear the ventilation system of snow and ice before they harden, otherwise the mask itself will begin to fog up heavily, which will increase the risk of injury when skiing.
• Many experienced skiers advise always having two masks with you. If one becomes unusable during the ride, a person can always continue the journey without risk to his health.

The most important The rule here is to always wipe the lenses with the cloth included in the kit, do not try to clear them of snow with anything you can get your hands on. Lenses are very sensitive to external influences, and when improper care, the mask can quickly fail.

Top 5 best mask manufacturers

Of course, when selecting models, experienced skiers also pay attention to the manufacturer, knowing which of them have proven themselves well on the market. So, which manufacturers are considered the best, and which masks will meet all customer requirements?

• Has proven itself remarkably ski goggles from the brand Uvex. (average price 2000-3000 rubles)
• Masks are popular Dragon.(average price 5-8 thousand rubles)
• Ski goggles from the manufacturer will also be an excellent choice. Oakley. (average cost 3-6 thousand rubles)
• Masks Anon are relatively affordable (average cost 3-6 thousand rubles)
• Marker- another popular manufacturer quality masks. (average cost 5-8 thousand rubles)

How to choose a mask - video

Let's now watch a video where they will tell you how to choose the right ski mask, what filter to use and how to care for it.

It protects not only from sunlight, but also from dust, dirt, snow and midges and should not interfere with your activity. Let's figure out how to choose suitable glasses for active recreation.

Choosing optics depending on the type of activity

According to the Hamburg account, all optics are divided into:

• Corrective optics
• Sun protection fashion
• Protective sports
• Just protective

Sometimes some types of activities require very precise movements, and if glasses interfere (slip, fog up, press), then it becomes simply impossible to play sports. For example, if your glasses fog up during a marathon, “welcome to hell,” but if you are climbing a rock and your glasses crawl up your nose, then you will think about anything but a difficult route. Upon closer examination, the most important difference between sports optics and other types of glasses is unprecedented comfort, light weight and protection from various factors.

Since there is a wide variety of activities, the threats to the eyes can be different, because we remember that we are protecting ourselves not only from the sun. For example, even if you are just riding a bike in the park with your child, you will inevitably have to protect your eyes from midges, dust and wind. Conversely, when training on a cross-country ski slope, you don't want to suffer from snowflakes, pieces of ice and icy wind. When playing sports at dusk, which, by the way, is not at all uncommon, you do not need Sunglasses, you will need SAFETY glasses.

When developing a new glasses model, engineers first of all think about where and who will use it. That is why sports models differ from one another not only in lenses, but also in design as a whole.

If you come across a seller’s announcement about the versatility of the model, this should alert you. There can be no truly universal glasses!

There are two competing ideas when designing glasses: on the one hand, glasses should provide maximum protection, preferably fitting tightly to the face, and on the other hand, they should provide good ventilation.

If you are a climber, then most likely choose glasses that fit your face tightly and do not let in even a small ray of light. But if you try to ride a bike, ski or just run in these glasses, they will fog up.

A fan of cyclic sports (running, marathon, cross-country skiing) needs glasses with improved ventilation, which means these glasses will have large side clearances.

There are sports, for example, ski mountaineering, where you have to “sweat” quite high altitude, and there is a fairly limited list of “pseudo-universal” models for this. Developers go to great lengths to ensure acceptable ventilation with sufficient protection:

• ventilation slots of tricky geometry;
• modified optical glass geometry;
• perforated nose pads, etc., etc.

But before we talk about the various design details, we must get acquainted with the main materials that are used in the production of glasses.

Lens materials

The lion's share of lenses is made from polycarbonate. This is a long and well known material. Engineers love him very much, because... it is highly manufacturable (it can be stamped, cast, polished, painted and modified in a variety of ways), inexpensive and durable. Its only drawback is that it scratches easily. It is known from experience that after 3-4 years of active use of polycarbonate glasses, they become covered with a thin, barely noticeable network of scratches, even with the most careful use.

Other material - mineral glass - much less popular. It is more expensive, heavier, and breaks into dangerous fragments. BUT has a lower refractive index, better optical quality, and is almost scratch-resistant! It is used in a very narrow series of glasses (mountain).

To complete the picture, you should know about “exotic” plastic materials - CR39, and its stronger version - NXT. The main advantage of these materials is a closed license, which leads to an increase in their cost, which is beneficial to sellers. These materials are a favorite among military equipment manufacturers because NXT is much stronger than standard polycarbonate. But for sports optics this is not such a significant option, because it still remains plastic, which means it is scratched.

Total: Most likely, in stores you will come across polycarbonate lenses; in the rare case, if you are a climber, you will need glasses with mineral glass lenses.

Lens categories for UV protection

As mentioned above, sports optics protect not only from mechanical impact, but also, of course, from the negative effects of sunlight.

The entire range of sunlight is conventionally divided into 3 parts:

• infrared light / thermal radiation(2500-780 nm)
• range visible light(780-380 nm)
• UV range (380-280 nm)

First, let's destroy a well-known myth: UV radiation is not as dangerous to the human eye as people usually fear. The human eye is generally not transparent to ultraviolet light, meaning that all UV exposure is concentrated only on the cornea (absorbs UV-A) and the lens (absorbs UV-B). The retina does not suffer from UV exposure, since harmful radiation does not reach it. But we experience wild discomfort when our eyes are “hurt” by that very “near” ultraviolet radiation, and therefore sports glasses should block it. Both polycarbonate and mineral glass do this 100%.

The visible range of light in itself is not dangerous to the eyes, but it can greatly disturb us and cause fatigue. To reduce visible light load, our glasses must be dark enough. How dark? This is determined by the category of the lens.

Here is a standard plate for the light transmittance of lenses of various categories:

Category	Light transmission range, %
0	80 > 100
1	43 > 79
2	18 > 42
3	8 > 17
4	3 > 8

As can be seen from the table, the spread of densities for the same category can reach up to 36%. “Protection category” has nothing to do with UV, this concept refers only to the density of the filter.

Infrared range (thermal). Without going into deep details of the anatomy of the eye and the basics of ophthalmology, you should know that at high altitudes in dry and clean air, direct thermal radiation is focused strictly in the center of the retina (on the macula) and “burns out” this very delicate place in tens of minutes. This type of eye damage cannot be treated.

The chance of catching a “heat bunny” is not great, but the price for it is high. Therefore, going to high altitudes, look for filter glasses with extra thermal protection. They are usually labeled IR (Infrared).

Additional lens properties

All of the above refers to the basic properties of almost all glasses from any manufacturer. But now they produce lenses with additional properties:

1. Photochromic

The first photochromic lens, which could darken under the sun and lighten at dusk, was invented in 1962. Since then about photochromic lenses Ah, we learned a lot. The vast majority of photochromic lenses darken only under the influence of the UV component of radiation, but the visible range does not affect them in any way. This is why you shouldn’t rely on dark photochromic glasses while sitting in a car. However, recently photochromic lenses that are sensitized to the visible part of the spectrum have begun to appear. They are still expensive and rarely used in sports optics.

The darkening speed of photochromic lenses is highly dependent on temperature. The hotter it is, the faster they “switch”. Such lenses are produced using different technologies, which are not unique. The shade range of the lens is determined by the glasses manufacturer based on common sense. You can create a lens from category 1 to 4. But there is simply nowhere to use such a wide range. Therefore, the most popular switching ranges are categories 1-3 or 2-4.

That's probably all you need to know about photochromic lenses.

2. Polarized lenses

IN Lately More and more people are asking questions about polarized lenses. Do you need such glasses and who? In my opinion, they are only necessary for those who spend a lot of time on the water.

What kind of lenses are these? The polycarbonate lens is covered with a thin-film polarizing filter, which partially or completely blocks plane polarized radiation reflected from dielectrics. Are you tired yet? ;-) Simply put, such a filter reduces the brightness of reflected highlights. The most annoying glare comes from the surface of the water. It turned out that these lenses are most in demand among lovers of water recreation. Glasses with these lenses can also be recommended for ice climbers. But when choosing optics with a polarizing filter, you need to remember this: when moving in these glasses, the overall illumination of the field of view continuously changes. Not every person can withstand such a kaleidoscope.

Modern technology allows you to combine all of the above options in one lens. But everything comes at a price - they will be very expensive, and each layer applied to the lens increases optical distortion.

Sports glasses frame

I've seen glasses without lenses, but it's hard to imagine sports optics without frames, so let's talk briefly about frame materials.

Glasses frame materials

Perhaps the most common material for sports frames is grilamid. It comes in different densities, weights and strengths. It is cheap, easy to manufacture, easily extruded and subject to a wide variety of finishing options.

When creating lightweight glasses models, they sometimes use nylon (nylon). The material is light and elastic, but not hard enough.

Some mountaineering glasses frames are made from metal, following time-tested and dearly loved traditions. There is no need to talk about significant advantages, but they look “rich” and not “like everyone else.”

Shape, geometry and some design features of frames

There are sports glasses full-fledged And half-frame. Semi-frames often come with interchangeable lenses. And if you need glasses with guaranteed ventilation, choose half-frame models. Sometimes it blows so hard that it brings out tears, no fogging ;-)

Tight-fitting, full-frame glasses often have panoramic vision, reduced ventilation, more weight, but provide better protection from negative influences of the external environment.

Is it possible to choose sports glasses on-line?

Yes, if you know exactly how this model fits on you. There is no standard face type. Each individual model sits differently on the same face. When developing glasses, designers most often focus on the width of the bridge of the nose and the volume of the head. On the Internet you can find a lot of confusing recommendations about the “harmonious combination of a triangular chin and square glasses,” but in reality these tips do not work. Only current fashion and trends for future seasons on the shape of frames really “rule the roost.”

If you want to look sporty, energetic, and fresh, choose glasses with pronounced accents on the temples. If you prefer a more classic look, choose glasses without an accent, with rectangular frames. If you have dark skin— feel free to experiment, use bright and white frames. People with fair skin will benefit from dark frames. This way you will help yourself and the consultant in the room understand the endless variety of frames. After all, more often than not we get lost in choosing the shape of the frame, easily understanding the technology and price.

Find out the whole truth about ski lenses!

All!! If you didn’t have time to jump out, relax, you won’t be bored, especially if you are a skier or boarder. Few people complain that our bathyscaphe is a dull vessel. Most people enjoy expeditions!

Now, instantly, as far as possible at depth, we move on to the topic - after all, the reserves of oxygen and provisions are not bottomless, and time is not rubber. Yes, and your patience can burst at any moment, and at great depths this can have unpredictable consequences (then look for you again on the Internet!).

• Ski lenses: colors and protective properties
• Photochromic lenses
• Defence from ultraviolet radiation
• Fogging problem
• Instant lens change technologies
• Mirror, polarized, Prizm technology
• Visibility and Periphery
• Ski lenses: care
• Bonus: Amazing Find
• Conclusion

Materials, structure and requirements

The majority of ski mask manufacturers use polycarbonate as the basis for lenses (lenses, filters and glass in our report will mean the same thing, agreed?).

Some manufacturers (Julbo) use PPG's increasingly popular Trivex material. The latter has a number of advantages over polycarbonate, the main one of which is optical transparency. In practice, this means less color distortion. It is believed that the future in optics (not only in ski optics) belongs to Trivex.

Both materials have a major advantage over other bases - they are stronger and do not break into small fragments, thereby ensuring safety for the eyes and face during falls.

I recommend reading the article Glass or Polymer, which interestingly describes the history of the invention and use of lens bases in the optical industry.

Next, ski mask manufacturers modify the base, and the resulting product is called by its brand name. For example: Oakley has Plutonite, Smith Optics has Caprbonic-X.

Several manufacturers, along with polycarbonate, insert into their models (for example, Giro Onset, Atomic Revel 2, POC Retina Big, Rossignol Maverick HP) lenses from the world famous optics company Carl Zeiss. Here the question of filter quality automatically disappears, since the company has been living by three principles for almost 170 years - stability, quality, reliability.

The history of the Carl Zeiss company is well described on this website.

Typically, a ski lens consists of two glasses connected around the perimeter. Thus, a thermal barrier is created between the filters, preventing rapid cooling of the internal lens and subsequent fogging.

External and internal lenses may differ from each other in structure and properties.

Single-layer filters are commonly used in ski masks for athletes. The single lens minimizes visual distortion, which is extremely important during competitions (for example, in the downhill discipline) - it is important for the athlete to see even small unevenness of the track.

But if you are not an athlete, do not buy masks with such a lens - it is intended only for cosmic speeds, and during slow skating it will quickly fog up.

An example of such a mask POC Iris Comp.

As you gain altitude, the Atmosphere pressure. If the pressure inside double lens not equalized with external pressure, this will lead to distortion of the “image outside the window” of our mask. To avoid this, manufacturers come up with various types of bleed valves. In Smith Optics masks, this technology is called Porex - the valve allows only air to pass through and retains moisture:

Replacement ski lenses - colors and properties

There is nothing worse (and more dangerous) when riding than being blinded on a sunny day or unable to see the terrain on a cloudy day. This can happen due to an incorrectly selected filter. Or we only have one, which, in most cases, is a mistake. But not always, read on and you will understand why.

There are dozens of replacement ski lenses on the market with different shades and properties, and each of them can improve visibility, but only in certain weather conditions. Therefore, when buying a mask or a spare filter, you need to do it wisely.

An important indicator is the amount of visible radiation(VLT - Visible Light Transmission), transmitted by the ski lens. It is expressed as a percentage: 0% - radiation does not pass through at all, 100% passes through completely. Now, knowing this parameter, you can choose the right lenses.

A Visual Guide to Selecting Dragon Lenses

Some lenses are designed for riding in cloudy weather - fog, snow, clouds. The VLT value of such filters is high - 60-90%, and the lens colors are yellow, pink, blue.

Others are for sunny weather. Their main purpose is to block most bright light. VLT - 5-20%, colors are mainly dark - shades of black, gray, gold. Often such filters are made mirror.

Still others are located between these poles and are designed to maintain acceptable visibility during minor weather fluctuations (sunny-cloudy).

These are the basics of using filters, however, each manufacturer has a ton of combinations of shades and VLT values. To understand them, manufacturers publish special tables.

• Convenient web page made by Anon Optics. It has lens icons and two video windows. You choose the color of the lens and watch how visibility changes while riding.
• On the page Dragon brand describes the properties and purpose of more than 15 filter colors. The data is presented in table form in Russian.
• Giro has posted information about the properties of your lenses in pdf format (English). On the left are filters for sunny weather, on the right are for poor visibility conditions.
• I didn’t find a summary table for lens prescriptions on the POC website, butfound heron the websites of stores selling their masks. On English language.
• I created a separate one for Smith Optics filters. to the site, read and stay informed.
• The French Cebe are distinguished by their elegance and simplicity: on the page of their home site you need to click on the weather icon and the necessary lenses will “float” to you.
• Oakley has divided its lenses into two categories: Prizm lenses and everything else. You can understand the lenses of this brand here.

Photochromic lenses

Photochromic ski lenses adjust (transmit more/less sunlight) to external lighting. When the sun comes out, they darken and block some of the sunlight and vice versa.

The main advantage of such lenses is that there is no need to change them when the weather changes. The downside is that the restructuring does not happen immediately. Full adaptation of the lens is completed in approximately 20 seconds. If you love freeride and love to ride in the forest (like me), then such a mask will not keep up with too much frequent changes illumination Even if the adaptation time is reduced by three times, these lenses will be of no use during such skating.

When instant adjustment of optics is not important, for example, during leisurely skating, photochromic masks become the ideal choice.

The main leader in photochromic lenses can be considered the Julbo company, on whose website you will not find interchangeable lenses. Their masks are equipped with NXT photochromic filters, which provide eye protection in a range of up to three light levels out of 5 possible, and do not require changing lenses.

The picture shows and describes 5 levels of illumination (taken from the Sports Marathon website).

Although the table below is in English, it is easy to understand. On the left are the names of the NXT lenses used in Julbo ski masks - Octopus, Camel, Zebra Light, Zebra and Falcon. The rightmost three columns are (from left to right):

• Under what conditions is a ski lens used?
• VLT capacity
• At what illumination does it provide protection (connection with the picture above)

Until recently, Julbo had an exclusive on the use of NXT lenses, but it recently ended. This has led to many brands trying it out and launching it into their lines. So today almost every manufacturer has photochromic filters.

More information about the properties of Julbo ski masks can be found in the article Julbo Ski Masks (powderday.ru).

UV protection

The colors and coatings (mirror or polarized) of lenses have nothing to do with protection from ultraviolet radiation. The protective properties against these rays are “hardwired” inside the polycarbonate and Trivex. Filters made from these materials block 100% of harmful radiation.

This means that a simple transparent filter made from these materials completely protects your eyes from ultraviolet radiation, and sunglasses from cheap low-quality materials can be applied serious harm to your eyes.

Cylindrical or spherical

Spherical ski lenses follow the shape eyeball and thereby remove the bulk of visual distortion. Eyes get less tired. This is why they are better than cylindrical ones. But the production of spherical filters is more expensive than cylindrical ones, from which we conclude: masks with cylindrical filters are inferior in quality and are a budget option. But not always, read about this below.

Spherical and cylindrical (flat) ski lenses

Instant lens change technologies

The main achievement of the manufacturers recent years can be considered a technology for instantly changing ski lenses in a frame. Previously, this procedure took up to 20 minutes of agony. Today, glass is thrown in a matter of seconds. Sometimes you don’t even need to take off your mask to do this!

How long have we waited for this revolution!

The video shows only one option for effectively changing the filter. To get acquainted with other, no less interesting inventions, read my material .

Mirror, polarized, Prizm

Mirrored ski lenses

Suitable for riding in sunny weather and reflect more light than other ski filters (except polarizing ones).

With such filters, the eyes become less tired, and the picture in front of the eyes is more contrasting and detailed. The downside is that polarizing filters are more expensive than mirror ones.

Polarized lens in the Zeal Optics Z3 ski mask

Prizm technology

Separately, it should be said about Oakley’s Prizm technology. After 15 years of research, it was concluded that if the presence of certain shades of orange and blue flowers, and block the rest to a certain extent, then you can significantly increase the contrast of the snowy terrain.

And if we clearly see where we are going, we get more pleasure from riding, less stress.

They also found out that when the sun suddenly hits the eyes (when we suddenly roll out of the shadows), a person closes his eyes for a moment, and then adapts to the new light for a few more moments. All this means that for a split second we are blinded, and this is dangerous when riding aggressively.

In the case of Prizm glasses, this does not happen, since the blinding part of the spectrum is blocked, and the eyes do not perceive big difference with a sharp change in shadow and light.

If you speak English, watch a short video about how Prizm technology works:

Oakley says that as the weather changes, Prizm lenses need to be replaced less often than competitors' equivalents - they allow you to clearly see the terrain in a wider range of illumination. Whether this is true or not, everyone will decide for themselves, checking it empirically or trusting the reviews of others. One thing is certain - Oakley has once again revolutionized ski optics. In the past they have disrupted the market with both optical quality and space-age design.

Overview and Periphery

The wider the lens, that is, closer to your ears, the greater the visibility of the mask. When we ride at high speeds, the need to see what is happening around us becomes paramount. The main rule of an experienced rider is to carefully monitor how other “drivers” behave on the slope, and not expect that they will dutifully follow the rules of conduct at the ski resort.

To notice in time a rushing (often uncontrollable, and sometimes drunk) projectile, in the form of a crazy skier or boarder, is a matter of our health, and sometimes life.

Typically (but not always, see picture below), spherical ski lenses give best review than cylindrical ones, provided that their lens area is the same. This happens due to the fact that spherical mask convex.

An example of a “flat” mask with extreme visibility is Dragon, model NFX:

Cylindrical (flat) “rimless” ski mask Dragon NFX

When buying a mask, you need to remember that Wide ski lenses can cause distortion at the edges. Some manufacturers correct this flaw. Smith Optics does this using TLT (Tapered Lens Technology). Distortions are removed if the thickness of the lens is reduced towards the edges (see picture).