How to choose the right ski goggles. Ski goggles as the basis of equipment Ski goggles with double glass

For those who have been riding for a long time alpine skiing, there is no need to tell how important and why mining is needed ski goggles, so this article is not for them. It is for those who are just about to conquer peaks and speeds. A novice skier must first of all remember that ski goggles are not a decoration or a tribute to fashion, they are a purely functional piece of mandatory equipment, and the approach to their selection should be appropriate. This means that before you buy ski goggles, you should evaluate their practical features and only then their appearance.

What should you know when choosing? Firstly, it protects the eyes and face from snow crumbs, ice, branches, and mechanical damage from falls and impacts. We should not forget that the fastest non-motorized sport, and even a banal hit of a piece of ice in the eye at speed can result in a fall with the most unpleasant consequences. Therefore, ski goggles must have the shape of a mask that fits tightly and comfortably to the skier’s face. The mask should not interfere with free breathing or block the materials from which the ski goggles are made must be light and at the same time durable, and the entire structure is reliable. You should pay attention to the possibility of adjustment and adjustment, as well as the general quality of the elastic band of the glasses, because it will have to be constantly adjusted and stretched greatly when putting it on the helmet.

Main detail ski goggles- this is a transparent plate, or lens. Of course, it is impossible to determine by eye what it is made of, so here you should trust the inscription on the label, which means you need to buy glasses only from well-known manufacturers with an excellent reputation. But what can and should be determined by eye is how transparent the lens is and whether it gives distortion.

In addition, you need to know in what conditions the skiing will take place. The color of the lenses depends on this. After all, ski goggles are also designed to protect your eyes from the sun, which is very important on bright white snowy slopes. There are a lot of filters, but since these recommendations are intended for beginners, the most suitable for them would be a yellow filter, which is considered universal and suitable for riding in any acceptable lighting conditions.

Of course, so that the skier does not lose visibility during the descent, the glasses must have ventilation and protection against fogging. To do this, there must be ventilation holes around the entire perimeter of the mask. Their shape, location and quantity are specially calculated, and this is another reason why you should purchase equipment only from famous manufacturer. A little thing like fogging may seem insignificant to a beginner, but he should think about the fact that in between descents the mask periodically rises onto the helmet and cools, and when it is lowered again onto a hot face, it can easily fog up and blind the skier rushing towards him. high speed. One more rule should be mentioned here: you should never wipe the inner surface of the lens with a handkerchief, much less with your hands, as you can easily damage the special anti-fog coating.

I hope mine personal experience will help you choose the right one ski equipment, which, in turn, will allow you to get maximum pleasure from skiing.

The main winter entertainment is skiing. It's wonderful to walk down a sparkling snowy slope from a mountain on a sunny, clear day, enjoying fresh air And wonderful nature around. But few people think about the fact that when skiing in winter, we do not replenish our health, but, on the contrary, sometimes we lose it. Especially when we forget that ski goggles are a necessary attribute good rest Outdoors. They will protect our eyes from bright light, strong

Wind, snow blowing in the face, and sometimes from tree branches and from a sharp tip will help protect your eyes from eye burns, the so-called “mountain blindness”.

But this ski accessory will only be useful if in its choice we are guided not only by fashion trends. To choose the right glasses for winter recreation, you need to know some selection criteria.

The first thing you need to pay attention to is that they must “sit” correctly on your face. Do not press, do not squeeze your face, do not make breathing difficult, be comfortable and comfortable. The edges of the mask are usually protected with foam rubber so as not to harm the skin.

We must not forget about the possibility of side viewing. After all, glasses are worn not only by skiers, but also by snowboarders, for whom wide view very important.

It is necessary to pay attention to the presence of ventilation channels or holes so that air under the mask does not accumulate, but is well ventilated. Such channels are usually located around the entire perimeter or on top.

If you are a real skier, then you definitely have a helmet. So, you need to try on ski goggles only with it and select them so that the mask fits easily onto the helmet, but at the same time, fits tightly and does not fly off your face. The belt, which is usually well adjusted, stretched and fixed, will help you adjust your glasses.

Those who have ski goggles need to choose them so that they can fit corrective lenses. Skiers with good vision, inserted into ski masks double lenses made of polycarbonate. This material does not scratch or break, protects well from ultraviolet rays and reduces glare on the snow.

To reduce visual distortion, masks use lenses of different thicknesses. But before you buy ski goggles, mandatory it is necessary to check whether they accurately display the surrounding objects. This is easy to verify if you look at a tree, bench or something else through glasses moved 30-40 cm away from your eyes.

The color of such lenses may vary, because each of them is designed for certain weather conditions. It is best to buy glasses with gold, amber or yellow lenses. They perfectly neutralize sunlight reflected from snow and are comfortable in foggy or cloudy weather. Dark lenses are usually used in very bright and active environments.

m sun, and colorless ones - for riding at night.

If you want to buy ski goggles, please note that they must reflect more than 95% sun rays. IN mountainous area ultraviolet light is reflected even from stones, and in bad weather its strength does not change. The danger of eye burns is especially great at altitudes of more than 2 kilometers. Category 4 goggles are used to ride at this altitude.

Different lenses have different purposes, which means you need to have two masks or a mask with a set of different lenses. And then skiing from the mountains will bring real pleasure! Although it’s worth protecting your eyes in winter even in your free time from skiing.

Goggles are a necessary attribute for skiers and snowboarders. Many people choose them by appearance. This is not to say that this approach is wrong: the internal contents of glasses in the same price category are the same. For this reason, it makes little sense to bother studying polarization coefficients, features of light refraction, light filters and similar optical complexities. However, you need to know the main points when choosing this piece of ski equipment.

Glasses or mask?

Some ski and snowboarding equipment manufacturers consider goggles and masks to be different product categories. Those related to ski goggles look similar to regular ones Sunglasses. Some even have temples instead of elastic.

They are not very functional:

do not provide a complete fit to the face;
they let snow through from above and light from all sides;
limit lateral visibility;
often do not have stable fixation.

At the same time, they have anti-reflective, anti-fog, anti-ultraviolet coatings, which makes them stand out in separate species goggles for skiers.

Most people who like to appear snowboarding and alpine skiing use larger goggles, which are classified by manufacturers as masks.

They fit tightly to the face and have important advantages:

They do not allow wind and bright light to pass through at all;
protect from snow and other large and small particles;
can be worn over diopter glasses or equipped with special diopter glasses.

Since masks are similar in form and functionality to goggles, skiers usually do not separate these categories and classify everything as goggles. IN English language this category is designated as ski goggles.

Focus on price

If you want to know how to choose ski goggles and what to focus on first, then the most reliable criterion will be their cost. The cost of glasses ranges from $30 to $150.

One of the main requirements for specialized glasses is strength. While skiing, we can fall, hit a branch, crash into a tree, collide with other skiers/snowboarders, etc. Glasses in such cases create an additional health hazard, because... may break and injure your eyes and head. Based on these considerations, ski goggles are made, like regular ones, from plastic, but with the addition of layers of carbon fiber or carbon fiber. This material is the result of high-tech production, which involves the application of mesh layers of carbon threads at a certain angle to each other. Its tensile strength surpasses even steel.

The second advantage of carbon fiber is its lightness: the same as that of ordinary plastic. At the same time, carbon is a fantastically expensive material. Therefore, it is used as a “reinforcing” component, adding to the main component. The more carbon threads in the plastic, the more expensive the glasses, and the stronger they are. Not only the base is made of polycarbonate, but also the lenses of the mask themselves.

Here are some tips for choosing glasses based on price:

If you are just starting to ride, you should rather opt for entry-level goggles.
This item is subject to wear and scratches. It will be good if you use it for 3-4 seasons. After riding for several seasons, you will be able to better understand what you need without overpaying.
In the case of ski goggles, it applies general rule: functionality and comfort increase in proportion to the price. Expensive models fit well, have better ventilation, and a more interesting design. But all this is relevant only if you have increased requirements and want to pay more. Often you won’t notice a difference between premium and mid-priced models.
Keep in mind that famous brand– this is an additional expense. With equal characteristics, for example, Salice glasses (Italy) will cost 2-3 times cheaper than Adidas. But the latter will, of course, look cooler.
The viewing angle of all ski masks is approximately the same and does not determine the price (as, for example, this is typical for underwater masks).

Lenses are the main element of glasses

If we want to know how to choose snowboard goggles or skiing, then we must dwell in detail on functional features lenses All modern lenses offer UV protection and anti-fog coating as standard. Therefore, we will not touch on these issues. Let's consider such parameters as color, curvature and diopter of lenses.

Lens color

When choosing glasses for skiing, you probably noticed that they have multi-colored lenses. This is not a tribute to fashion or a desire to stand out, but an important functional element. Multicolor is achieved by applying various layers that optimize the image received by the eye, eliminating unnecessary tones and highlights.

Since dampening the brightness of snow and sun is of fundamental importance for a skier, the most important indicator is throughput visible light(VLT). This parameter is indicated as a percentage. How more value, the more light the glasses let in.

The lightest lenses have a VLT rating of 99%. He says that these glasses should be worn in the evening or on very cloudy days.
Yellow and amber lenses filter out blue light. Thanks to this, the image received by the eye becomes clear, shadows are accentuated. They are more suitable for dim days, but are considered universal because they can be used in any weather.
Red lens tints are even more suitable for cloudy days than yellow ones. They give a sharp image.
Gray lenses do not change the color ratio. In them you will see exactly the real picture, but with a reduced luminous flux in accordance with the VLT parameter.
Lenses dark colors– brown, bronze – improve contrast and at the same time remove excess light. Comfortable in bright weather.
Mirror reflective lenses have the lowest VLT. This means that they transmit little light. They are only good for sunny days and are absolutely unsuitable for cloudy and cloudy days.

Keep in mind that yellow-red lenses are the most versatile. They will be fine both at dusk and in very sunny weather. While dark and mirror lenses do not allow you to see well in conditions with medium and low light levels.

Also pay attention to the presence of a polarizing (anti-reflective) layer on the lenses. Such lenses dampen reflections from glare surfaces, which is considered the ideal quality of any optics. However, it should be borne in mind that this property leads to a deterioration in the ability to distinguish soft snow from ice. Anti-reflective coating is not appropriate if you will be skiing on slopes with unpredictable snow quality. In addition to lenses installed directly into the glasses, many models provide the ability to change lenses to ones more suitable for current skiing conditions.

Lens curvature

In accordance with the curvature parameter, lenses are divided into flat (or cylindrical) and spherical.

“Flat” lenses have only a horizontal bend. As a result, the image may be distorted along vertical edges. This is especially true for cheap models. Otherwise they are quite good.

Spherical - have both horizontal and vertical curvature. They are slightly better than flat ones, but also, accordingly, more expensive.

Diopter lenses

Some manufacturers of ski masks (for example, Adidas) additionally offer to purchase lenses with diopters and a special clip for fixing them on inside frames Sometimes it is suggested to replace conventional lenses with lenses with diopters.

Compatible with glasses and helmets

If you wear glasses for vision correction, then a more convenient and budget option would be to purchase one of the OTG type ski masks. They are specially designed to fit over regular prescription glasses.

But please note:

Corrective glasses often fog up under a ski mask, and no anti-fog agents help;
In the event of a fall or other misfortune, corrective glasses may crack - there have been cases when people were injured in such cases.

Advice: Wear contact lenses while skiing. Most ski goggles are compatible with helmets. But everything must be tried on.

Rubber

When considering the question of how to choose ski goggles, you need to mention their weak point. These are not lenses or frames, but elastic bands. It is the fixing device that most often fails, simply stretching. Therefore, when choosing snowboard or ski goggles, pay attention to the elasticity and softness of the elastic band. The better it stretches, the faster it will stop performing its function.

Every experienced skier or snowboarder knows how to choose ski goggles wisely, how much skiing comfort increases with them and how much the likelihood of injury is reduced. However, the criteria for choosing ski masks are unknown to novice ski lovers. What should you focus on when purchasing?

Options for choosing ski masks

Wanting not to spoil your vision and protect your eyes from negative external factors, you should use further guidance.

Polycarbonate lenses

Don't skimp on high quality polycarbonate lenses. Any error in lens production implies distortion, especially in ski areas where there is a high probability of excessive of blue color. Then the skier rushing down the slope faces the most tragic consequences. This is why lens quality is so important! When producing high-quality lenses, maximum precision is taken into account; the base material is polycarbonate, which has a filtering effect on intense blue-violet rays.

The polycarbonate lens is impact and crack resistant. Any mechanical impact in the form of snow, the smallest fragments of ice, tree branches, the neighboring tip of a ski pole - will not cause any harm if the eyes are reliably protected. The basis of the polycarbonate lens is high-quality optical plastic, which is quite popular due to its characteristics. Japanese manufacturers have taken care of complete safety negative influence ultraviolet radiation, so visually invisible. Otherwise, the eyes would react to an increase in UV intensity by constricting the pupil.

The principle of protection is significantly different between cheap plastic and high-quality one. In the first case, the pupil dilates, because it reacts to a decrease in ambient light, resulting in unhindered penetration of UV rays directly to the retina. As a result, a burn occurs, sometimes retinal detachment occurs, and vision function is impaired or another serious illness eye. The degree of blackout, the color of the lens, the mirror coating on it have nothing to do with protection from ultraviolet radiation, which is determined by the characteristics of polycarbonate - filtration blue light, blocking against ultraviolet penetration.

Double lenses

Any model of mask is equipped with lenses directly with the layer; their design is based on creating a comfortable heat limit. This explains the resistance to fogging of glasses. Cellulose propionate with double-sided Anti-Fog coating is a special component of the inner lens. Impact-resistant carbonate combined with a protective surface treatment against scratches are the materials used to make the outer lens. There are models with the addition of ventilation micro-holes in the lenses, the purpose of which is to increase air circulation and prevent fogging of the lenses.

Features of lens colors

Features of lens colors. Orange, yellow and pink are good to use to reduce the flow of ultraviolet radiation. This helps to increase color contrast, improve the clarity of object boundaries and uneven lines. In foggy, cloudy weather or insufficient lighting, the relief lines of the descent are better perceived by the skier.

Smoke lenses reduce the light pressure directly on the eyes in bright light, often found at mountain altitudes.
Clear lenses are perfect for riding in the dark or in artificially lit areas. They have nothing to do with reducing light intensity.

Mirror-coated lenses provide additional eye protection from intense light. The high-tech coating is based on a composition of chromium, titanium and silicon, which ensures resistance to dirt and all kinds of scratches, and a long service life.

TPU frame

Such a frame will be a light and reliable shield around the eyes, without causing discomfort to your vision. The material is easy to paint, allowing developers to apply a variety of paints to it. In addition, TPU is always flexible and durable regardless of temperature fluctuations.

The elastic properties of the three-layer jacquard strap are maintained even during periods of prolonged and strong stretching. In some models, you can adjust the tension on both sides of the strap, thus individually adjusting the location of the clasp and the length of the strap itself. The simplicity and convenience of the fastener design allows it to be used with gloves.

Gasket fittings

The hypoallergenic foam fittings of the pad have open cells that promote air access and moisture absorption. The production of gaskets involves 2 technologies:

“triple layer”;
thermoforming.

At the end of the process, the finished product has a comfortable fit directly to the face due to the mixed thicknesses of the anatomical relief in the nasal and temporal areas. Three different layers (patterns) make up a “triple pad”, which contributes to a comfortable feeling and reliable fixation of ski goggles on the face.

Ventilation system

The operating principle of the ventilation system is limited supply air flow under the mask, in this situation the eyes are not affected, but only the inner lens is blown, thereby eliminating fogging. There is single and double ventilation. In the first case, the air is ventilated through the corresponding channels of the mask frame. Dual venting involves adding vents directly to the top area of the lens to increase airflow. All vents have a foam filter layer to block access tiny particles ice, water drops and snow flakes.

Storing glasses

Storing ski masks in a personal bag protects them from contamination and unexpected damage to the lenses. Sold complete with safety glasses for long shelf life.

What kind of ski goggles to buy and the necessary care for them

First of all, you should feel as comfortable as possible in your ski goggles and have a tight fit to your face without any gaps.
If you use a protective helmet when skating, try on the mask directly with the helmet.
Depending on the riding conditions, select a mirror coating, if necessary, and, most importantly, the color of the lenses.
Should not be moved ski mask on the forehead, because touching a steamed forehead has a direct relationship to its fogging.
If there is no need for a mask, a protective bag will serve as its storage place. Under no circumstances use a pocket or pouch to carry ski goggles, otherwise you risk damaging the lenses with foreign elements.
Avoid hitting ski masks against hard objects.
Do not leave ski goggles in places where people could sit, lie down, or step on them. The result is obvious.

How to remove stains from lenses

First wash with warm water outer surface lenses, then wipe them dry with a clean cotton napkin.
The inside of the lenses is not wiped to avoid damaging the properties of the specially designed Anti-Fog composition, which protects it from fogging.
The use of gasoline, kerosene and chemicals, as well as ammonia solvents are strictly prohibited.
Natural drying or a warm air flow - a hand dryer - are ideal for ski masks.
Heating devices - heating systems, convectors, radiators, as well as microwave ovens, are not suitable for drying a ski mask.
Wear glasses only as intended! Driving or skydiving is strongly discouraged.

Note

So, we have looked at the features of a ski mask, how to choose it, the selection options and the main prohibitions. Remember about the intended purpose of ski masks; use them strictly for the safety of comfortable skiing.

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?

On the quality of the lenses, and this is perhaps the most important criterion.
For size, shape and frame.
On the quality of fit to the face.
Check for ventilation and compatibility with the helmet.
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.

You can wipe both the inner and outer surfaces of the lenses only with 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?

Ski goggles from the brand have proven themselves to be excellent 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.