Ski goggles are not just a fashion accessory, nowadays they are indispensable and should be part of every skier's equipment. They protect your eyes from strong UV light, but also from snow and wind. If you don't wear goggles, you put your eyes at risk and can suffer snow blindness, which can lead to fatal accidents.

What should I look out for when buying ski goggles?

• UV protection: Ski goggles make sense if they protect your eyes from aggressive UV light. Good UV protection can be recognized by the CE, UV 400 and UV 100% markings.
• Large lenses: The curvature of the lens is based on the shape of the eye itself, which creates a larger internal volume, allowing the goggles to be optimally ventilated. You also have a much better all-round view than with cylindrical ski goggles.
• Good fit: Ski goggles should fit perfectly so that they do not slip while skiing. They should be flexible enough and have elastic head straps so that they can adapt to the shape of your head.
• High-quality foam: To ensure that you can wear your ski goggles for several hours, the material should be made of high-quality, antibacterial material. Bergfritz recommends a double-layered pad.
• Colored lens: Depending on the weather conditions and purpose, Bergfritz recommends the following colors:

Which glass is the best?

This question is not so easy to answer. This is because the color palette of panes is now diverse. The fact is, however, that the color of the ski goggle lens should not depend on your personal preference, but rather on the weather:

Yellow - bad weather:

Yellow lenses ensure good lighting conditions in bad weather. They reduce the contrast between light and dark and are suitable for cloudy days.

Orange - fog or snowfall:

Orange lenses create optimal brightening. The color makes corrections between light and dark and ensures maximum depth of field. They are therefore suitable for skiing in fog or snowfall.

Red - in high mountains:

Red lenses filter the blue tones from sunlight. They are suitable for wearing in high mountains. Mirrored lenses also block infrared rays particularly well.

Gray / black - sunshine:

Gray lenses darken the bright sunlight on bright days. The dark lenses ensure that the driver is not dazzled when the sun is shining.

Blue / violet - little sunshine:

Blue lenses prevent or reduce the formation of stray light. They are suitable for days with little sunshine and form the middle link between gray and yellow lenses.

Interchangeable lenses - flexible:

If you only want to buy one pair of ski goggles for the time being, you should consider interchangeable lenses. Depending on the weather conditions, you can then change the lenses in just a few simple steps.

The VLT value

But the color alone doesn't make the difference. Another important point to consider is the light transmission - often referred to as the VLT value. The VLT value indicates the percentage of light that can pass through the pane and ranges between 0% and 100%. So this small value can make a significant difference to how much you see on the mountain - perfect day, or zero visibility!

Category 0 is suitable for wearing in cloudy or floodlit conditions. Category 4 should be chosen in bright sunshine. Category 2 lenses are suitable for a mixture of cloudy and sunny days.

Category 0: 80 - 100 % VLT

Category 1: 43 - 80 % VLT

Category 2: 18 - 43 % VLT

Category 3: 8 - 18 % VLT

Category 4: 3 - 8 % VLT

Ventilation

Almost all ski goggles today have a ventilation system. Some are better, others less effective. Ventilation ensures that your goggles do not mist up. It is important that they are compatible with your ski helmet, which should not cover the goggles' ventilation system.

The perfect shape

An equally important criterion when choosing the right ski goggles is the frame. Although there are different types of goggles, they all have the same function:

• The glass stays where it belongs
• They protect your eyes and face from snow and moisture, as well as branches and other objects
• They provide enormous comfort so that you can enjoy your tours to the full.

The shape is so important because it should form a perfect symbiosis with the helmet. The goggles must not be too small, otherwise you will always have a gap between your helmet and goggles and your forehead will provide a large surface for the sun and cold to attack. But they must not be too big either, otherwise the frame will press on your nose. Bergfritz recommends taking enough time to choose the right ski goggles - you'll end up with more.

Spectacle wearers

If you wear glasses, Bergfritz recommends that you choose a goggle with a large frame so that your glasses fit under the frame. Alternatively, there are now helmets with visors, which make it much easier to wear goggles.

Bergfritz offers ski goggles from the SMITH brand, which we carry in different shapes and colors.