Sunglasses For Skiing Buying Guide

No matter whether you are an experienced skier or just entering the world of ice skiing, having the appropriate sunglasses for skiing will enhance your experience. The glasses will protect your eyes and allow you to enjoy the activity.

However, picking the best model is not that easy as it seems. There are tons of models available in the market and several aspects to consider while picking the best option.

You have to gather all the information on the critical aspects to make an informed decision. In this guide, we have incorporated all the critical pointers that will aid you in your selection process.

Skim through the details under every section to get familiar with all the aspects. So without any further delay, let us dive into this guide.

What are Sunglasses for Skiing and Why should you buy them?

If you plan for a ski trip and desire to experience the chilly winds while zipping through the snowy slopes, you might wonder if you need a Sunglass for Skiing. You will be amazed to know how much impact this eyewear has on your skiing experience.

Apart from making you look cool, ski glasses have a lot of other utilities. Ski glasses act as a reliable gear to protect your eyes from snow, debris, and even tree limbs or fallen branches.

This gear also serves as regular sunglasses that protects our eyes from sun rays, ultimately improving our vision. Unlike ordinary sunglasses, skiing glasses do not get blown away by the high-velocity winds that you might face while skiing.

Most of these glasses are lightweight, durable, and resistant to shock and scratches.

Good-quality skiing glasses have polarized lenses that ensure 100% UV protection, reduce glares, and allow unrivaled peripheral vision.

The glasses' anti-reactive property reduces eye strain, and they are comfortable to wear for frequent use.

The lens's color ascertains the light conditions best suited for these glasses.

As darker the color of the lenses, the lighter will be the condition. One of the crucial aspects of these glasses is that darker colors absorb less light. Whereas brighter colors absorb more light. For instance,

Green color can refract 450nm light, thus making them perfect for days with bright sunlight.

The other property of some of the skiing sunglass lenses is that they are photochromic.

It means in accordance with light conditions, they change the lens tints, thus, making them flexible and multifaceted.

Ski Sunglasses V/S Ski Goggles

Ski glasses and Ski goggles are mostly similar to each other, but certain features make them different. Let's see what those differentiating factors are and which one is the better version to use.

1. Snow Goggles

Snow goggles protect you from wind and cold and increase your vision while skiing through the slopes. These glasses allow heat to trap inside, making them ideal for extra warmth.

These glasses are an excellent choice for beginners, as they provide extra safety by staying on your face even when you fall.

However, these glasses create a seal with your face and may fail to provide proper ventilation in the mask. Snow goggles are inconvenient and uncomfortable compared to ski glasses since they are difficult to remove.

2. Ski glasses

Unlike snow goggles, ski glasses are not strapped with your face. They are much more convenient and easy to remove.

They have a lesser risk of fogging since they have added ventilation features infused into the design.

Ski glasses look cooler and are generally used by professional athletes but can easily fall off as they aren't strapped. There's also a risk of snow and ice getting into your eyes.

There are some pros of using skiing sunglasses:-

1. They proffer protection against harsh weather and winds.
2. They offer 100% UV protection.
3. They are specialized to wear in sports-related activities as well as work in a great way.
4. They offer tight-fitting, finishing further, providing you no risk regarding fall off.
5. Great in preventing the eyes from scattered pieces of remains.

How To Choose Sunglasses For Skiing

There are various aspects to keep in mind while choosing sunglasses for skiing.

1. Polarization

Polarization reduces strong and dazzling light and protects from snow, water, sun, mirror, and glass.

It certifies that sunglasses offer real colors of images and other details regarding the picture.

Polarized lenses are very beneficial because if you go skiing without wearing polarized sunglasses, there's no protection from debris to your eyes.

2. Variety of Lenses

There are a variety of lenses, and each variety of lenses has its benefits. Let us get into the details.

1. Photochromic Lenses

Photochromic lenses mean in accordance with light conditions, they change the lens tints as per the light, which makes them flexible and versatile.

These lenses can be adapted for all seasons, whether rainy, summer, winter, monsoon.

2. Mirror Lenses

Mirror lenses usually dissuade intense light. Mirror lenses are modish and safeguard your eyes from UV rays.

Sunglasses with mirror lenses are more sturdy and long-lasting. They seem to be like small mirrors.

Things To Deem About While Selecting Appropriate Sunglasses For Skiing

Lens

1. Lens Shape

Lenses usually come in two shapes, either flat or spherical.

• Cylindrical lens

This type of lens is vertically flat that fits between your nose and forehead. These lenses curve a little as it goes left to right across your face, and are cheaper than the spherical ones. However, they cause more glare and reduce peripheral vision, but they will work fine for a beginner.

• Spherical lens

This lens horizontally and vertically provides us with better peripheral vision with lesser distortion and glare than the round ones. They are priced higher and are generally preferred by professional athletes.

2. Lens Type and Color

The color of your lens filters and emphasizes the color of your vision. Your skiing experience depends a lot on your lens color, based on the VLT you are comfortable with. VLT refers to visible light transmission, which is the amount of light that reaches your eyes through the lens.

• Lighter lens tints

Tints like Yellow, gold, amber, green, or rose-colored lenses have a higher VLT because it allows a lot of light to pass through it. Such lenses are a good choice for skiing on cloudy or rainy days.

• Darker lens tints

They have a lower VLT, allowing a significantly less amount of light to pass through the lens. Brown, gray, and copper-colored lenses are examples of dark tints lenses, making them ideal for sunny days, protecting your eyes from possible glares.

• Clear lens tints

They are transparent, allowing all of the light to pass through them. This type of lens is appropriate for night skiing.

Some additional lens features to consider

• UV protection lens

These lenses provide 100% protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

• Polarized lenses

Such lenses have polarizing filters that reduce the glare of sunlight and reflections from snow or water.

• Photochromic lenses

These lenses can alter their tint levels depending on conditions and UV intensity. On a sunny day, the lens remains dark, whereas it becomes lighter on a cloudy or snowy day.

• Mirrored lenses

These lenses come with partial or full lens coating outside the outer lens. This type of lens reflects most of the light and allows only 10 to 50% of the light allowed by non-mirrored lenses.

• Interchangeable lenses

This allows you to try different colored lenses that suit changing light conditions.

• Digital display

These technologically advanced lenses can pair with your GPS and Bluetooth to display navigation and may even allow you to analyze the performance and other information within the goggles in real-time.

Material

The finest sunglasses for skiing are prepared with high-quality plastic such as acrylic, nylon, polyamide, or SR – 91.

These materials are recommended because they are durable, long-lasting, delicate, and resistant.

Using plastic is much better than glass as it holds out against harsh weather conditions.

Glass lenses can break off and also are much heavier as compared to plastic lenses.

Style

Some commonly preferred styles in sunglasses are mentioned below. Give a quick look into them.

1. Full Frame Glasses

Wearers mostly prefer them because they offer full coverage shielding and convenient to fit closure around your eyes to safeguard your eyes.

2. Half Frame And Frameless Glasses

Half frame and frameless glasses also give a modish look. They provide you clear vision required for skiing and other related activities.

Coverage

Some skiing sunglasses offer a wrap-around frame. It provides full protection to the eyes.

It conveniently fits your eyes and is best suited for sports, which include high speed and movability.

It fights off efficiently against water, snow, mountain winds, and due to wrap around the frame, its coverage is full.

Hence, it reduces the risk of falling off the glasses and maintains focus for the skier.

Fogging

It's better to look forward to glasses having one of the attributes like anti-fog. These glasses are breathable, which enhances the flow of air so as to prevent fogging.

Tips To Avoid Fogging

1. Fogging can prove unfavorable for skiing as it affects the skier's visibility. So, to prevent your eyes from fogging, you need to put on your glasses all the time.

2. Also, you need to cover your mouth and nostrils as this may cause fogging.

3. Some sunglasses offer an anti-fog feature and defend you from fogging.

4. It would be a smart decision to buy sunglasses with anti-fog features for better performance.

Brand

If we talk about the brand, there are numerous brands of skiing sunglasses.

So it's quite tough to identify and mention the best.

The best brands are those with a good reputation and are specialized in these kinds of activities.

Moreover, there are many such brands, but it's totally your decision to look forward to sunglasses offering all the good qualities.

Price

You can get anything by paying money. Price is the crucial aspect to be considered while buying skiing sunglasses.

There is a range of sunglasses which are quite expensive to affordable ones.

They come in all price ranges, but the choice of a particular model is yours.

Whereas, you should look forward to the quality and comfort. If you want more features, it's obvious that the price will increase accordingly.

It's better to consider the safety ensured by the best quality sunglasses.

Reviews

It is challenging to make a choice and go for skiing sunglasses as they all are best.

And for enjoyable and comfortable skiing, there are numerous sunglasses for skiing.

Basically, useful in providing protection and direction.

You just need to choose those skiing sunglasses which proffers you shielding against UV rays, clear vision, protection from glare, debris, anti-fogging and is basically comfortable, modish, and fit.

Side Coverage

It is necessary to consider side coverage. You should go for those sunglasses which provide you side coverage too.

The side coverage basically protects you from the airflow, high-speed winds, debris, and many more things.

So while buying skiing sunglasses, you need to keep in mind this aspect too.

Comfort

It is the leading and primary aspect as if the sunglasses are not comfortable enough; then there's no meaning to wear them.

Skiing sunglasses should be comfortable enough to let you enjoy skiing.

It should not be loose-fitting as it will fall off again and again. And on the other hand, it should not be so tight to make you feel uncomfortable.

Tips For Buying Sunglasses For Skiing

1. Try as many sunglasses as you can because you need to test the lenses so to know whether they are good enough for skiing and to work in light and dark conditions.
2. Sunglasses should be fit properly to avoid any discomfort or unnecessary hassle. It is hard to adjust with the strap, so avoid the models with the strap. You need to ensure that they are conveniently fit.
3. Other factors to consider are 100% protection from UV rays, anti-fogging, polarized lenses.
4. You should not feel shy to ask the questions as you should ask many more questions to make yourself doubt free.
5. Make safety your first priority because considering money or any other such thing won't work. You need to consider yourself first.

FAQs

1. Why should my sunglasses for skiing have UV protection?

UV rays damage your eyes adversely, which might also lead to blindness. Since you ski on snow, the sun's rays fall on the glistening white ice and get reflected directly into your eyes. To stop the harmful UV rays from entering your eyes, your sunglasses for skiing should have UV protection in them.

This shield prevents the rays and keeps your eyes protected. So, whenever you opt for any sunglasses for skiing, ensure that it has a higher UV protection in it.

2. When should I wear my sunglasses for skiing?

Whenever you go out skiing when it is incredibly sunny outside, you should not forget to bring your skiing sunglasses with you. Since you will be staying in the sun all day, you must wear protective gear on your eyes.

Sunglasses for skiing come with decent protection against UV rays, and that is why they are the most crucial gear for skiing. Besides, you should also wear these sunglasses on cloudy days. When there are clouds, the UV rays are more intense, and thus, you should mandatorily wear sunglasses then.

3. Should I opt for sunglasses for skiing with the polarised lens?

Although sunglasses for skiing always have polarised lenses, there are some which don't have them. An ordinary individual who is not a frequent skier will find no difference in the lenses, but those who frequently participate in such activities know the significance.

While a normal lens doesn't prevent the sun's glare, a polarised lens does. By opting for sunglasses for skiing with the polarised lens, you will be able to see everything. All the objects will look sharper and clearer with a polarised lens. Also, you can avoid accidents by wearing sunglasses with a polarised lens.

4. What material of lens should I prefer while purchasing sunglasses for skiing?

It is always smarter to opt for materials that don't shatter into pieces when accidentally dropped. The ideal material for sunglasses is polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is an impact-resistant, shatterproof material that is not as fragile as glass.

Even when it falls, it develops scratches but doesn't shatter into pieces. It minimizes the risk of accidents and cuts. Hence, if you are searching for sunglasses, then always pick the one made of polycarbonate.

5. Are Ski goggles the same as sunglasses for skiing?

Sunglasses for skiing are narrowly framed and cover only the eyes, whereas the goggles are broad bodied and cover in and around the eyes. Goggles and sunglasses are not the same, and a goggle can be worn on a sunglass, but the reverse cannot happen.

If you opt for a ski goggle, you will stay safe from the harsh cold winds and other adversities. Sunglasses don't offer this amount of protection and hence only protect against the harmful UV rays.

6. Can I stay protected by wearing a pair of sunglasses while skiing?

Yes, you can stay safe while skiing if you wear sunglasses. However, you need to amend the design a little bit by attaching a broad frame around the original sunglass body. This frame will give a snug fit and will prevent the cold air from penetrating inside. The frame will also safeguard your sunglass' lens, and even if you drop it accidentally, it won't break.

7. What should be the color of my sunglass' lens?

Ideally, there is no prescribed lens color for any sunglass. The choice depends upon the surrounding in which you are skiing. You can understand it this way that if you are skiing under the bright sun, opt for a dark color.

On the contrary, if you are skiing at night or on a cloudy day, it will be better to opt for sunglasses with a lighter shade of the lens. This contrasting color with the surrounding will not obstruct your vision, and you will be able to see clearly and avoid any possible injury.

8. Should I wear sunglasses on even if there is no sun?

The UV rays are more intense when the sun is not there. They penetrate inside the clouds and stay hidden. Not many know that their eyes get more damaged on a cloudy day than on a sunny day. Hence, whether it is a sunny day or not, you should always wear your sunglasses while skiing.

9. If I wear a darker lens, will it offer more UV protection to my eyes?

The answer to this question is a straight no! color doesn't play any role in blocking the harmful UV rays. It only helps to prevent the excess amount of light from entering through your glass.

Irrespective of the color, you should always buy sunglasses based on the level of protection provided by the lens. Opt for the sunglasses that offer you 100% protection against the UV rays so that on whatever day you are skiing, your eyes won't get damaged.

10. Can my kid go skiing without a pair of sunglasses?

A big NO! A child's eye is more susceptible to UV light than an adult is. Hence, never leave your child out in the sun without sunglasses. You can opt for sunglasses that are comfortable for your kid and prevents 100% of the harmful rays.

Final Verdict

Here is everything to know about sunglasses for skiing. To ease your selection process, we have organized all the pointers in a structured way.

You will find all the information that defines the performance and usability of the glasses. Make sure that you understand the difference between the goggles and glasses. We have added a separate section just to emphasize the importance so you can understand the difference and pick the best one.

You will get all the answers to your queries, which will save a lot of your valuable time. All you need is to arm yourself with an elite pair and enjoy your upcoming adventures.