Goggles | Snowboarding

Buy Snowboard Goggles online at Sport Conrad

When you're out and about on your snowboard, there's one thing you can't do without: snowboard goggles. They protect your eyes from too much UV light, from wind, from snowflakes, but also in case of falls. Snowboard goggles should always let you see the terrain well, whether it's the slopes or the backcountry and no matter what the weather. They need to fit well and be comfortable to wear. We show you how to find your perfect goggles and which features are important.

When do you need snowboard goggles?

Let's be clear: You should always wear snowboard goggles. In good weather and bright conditions, they protect your eyes from too much sunlight. They must always offer one hundred percent UV protection. It is important that the lenses of the goggles protect against UVA, UVB and UVC rays as well as blue light. In adverse conditions, snowboard goggles help you see the terrain better. In addition, the goggles ensure that no snow crystals get into your eyes and prevent the wind from making your eyes water. So the fun of riding is guaranteed!

Light filters for snowboard goggles

When it comes to the lenses of snowboard goggles, there are various factors to consider: Among other things, it is important how much light they let through.

For ski and snowboard goggles, there are the VLT categories. VLT stands for Visible Light Transmission and indicates how much light passes through the lens. The lower this value, the darker the lens. The color or tint can therefore indicate whether the glasses have a high or low VLT value. But be careful: Exceptions prove the rule and you should always check again.

If you only want to buy one pair of glasses, then a medium VLT value in the range of 25 to 40 percent is a good choice. You may also find an interchangeable lens with a VLT value in the range of 50 percent, then you are actually already well equipped.

Exchangeable lenses are always a good choice

In general: the easiest way is, you resort to snowboard goggles with interchangeable lens system. The advantages: You only need one goggle frame, but you're still equipped for all eventualities with the interchangeable lenses, and you can buy replacement lenses at any time.

If you know that you will only be on the slopes in certain weather conditions and light conditions anyway, you can use the following classification as a guide, which we maintain at Sport Conrad:

Category 0 and 1: Overcast sky and snowfall, 44-80 % VLT

This lens gives you better visibility in low light conditions. This is due to the increased light transmission and contrast-enhancing tint. Glasses with this lens are often less mirrored or not mirrored at all.

Category 2: Medium sunlight, 19-43 % VLT

A versatile lens that is probably the most commonly used. It provides clear vision in both sunny and cloudy conditions.

Category 3: Strong sunlight, 9-18 % VLT

This lens is best suited for sunshine, but also does well in light cloudy conditions.

Category 4: Extreme Sunshine, 3-8 % VLT

You'll find the brightest sunshine mostly in the high mountains on glaciers, on long sunny days. The lenses suitable for this are usually very dark or heavily mirrored.

If you don't want to take interchangeable lenses with you, but still want perfect vision at all times during the descent, you should look for goggles with self-tinting lenses.

These adapt to changing light conditions all by themselves. You'll find this, for example, with Vario technology or Prizm lenses from Oakley.

Polarized lenses

Polarized snowboard goggles additionally filter the light that is reflected from the surface and thus provide additional protection for the eyes. But polarized lenses can also make it harder to see differences and contrasts of snow and ice in cloudier weather.

What shape should your glasses have?

There are basically three shapes: cylindrical, spherical and toric. Which one you choose depends on what is most important to you in your glasses.

Cylindrical lens shape

The lens is rounded on the horizontal plane and flat on the vertical plane, which gives the glasses a low profile - they are therefore only curved in one direction. You'll have clear vision with this shape, but the field of view may be a bit more limited, but that may make the glasses a bit less expensive. In return, there is also no distortion in the view. For spectacle wearers, these glasses are a good choice.

Spherical lens shape

The horizontal and vertical outward curvature of the lens is the same. These glasses have a spherical look and are curved outward, which allows for an extra wide field of vision. This design reduces eye fatigue, provides good ventilation, optimal all-round vision and perfect view. Especially when freeriding, you can see the uneven terrain well. But beware: If you wear glasses, this lens shape can cause distortion.

Toric lens shape

Toric lenses are a combination of the spherical and cylindrical shape. Vertically they are less curved than spherical, and horizontally more curved than cylindrical lenses. This shape has the advantage of very little distortion in the periphery and allowing an even wider field of view without the extremely bulbous shape of spherical glasses. The shape also increases ventilation in the glasses so that the lens does not fog up.

Which shape is up to you - as long as they fit well and protect your eyes — Which shape is up to you - as long as they fit well and protect your eyes

The perfect fit

Your glasses must fit well and offer you sufficient wearing comfort - that means they must fit tightly, not slip at all, but also not press. To ensure that your glasses fit well and exactly meet your needs, you should also pay attention to a few other details: the size and the frame.

The size

Goggles come in different sizes: Small for kids or people with rather smaller faces. Medium you'll find most often, this size also fits a variety of helmets. Large goggles offer the widest field of vision. Large snowboard goggles can also fit people who wear glasses. In any case, the goggles should match with your helmet. There should be no gap between the helmet and the goggles, so the top edge of the goggles should be flush with the helmet.

The frame

The frame should be lightweight and have a soft insert inside (e.g. foam or fleece). Goggles with frameless designs provide an even wider field of vision. To achieve this, the lens of these models is either attached to the front of the frame or the frame is reduced to a minimum.

Frames for spectacle wearers: Over The Glass Fit means that here the lens of the ski goggles rests on the frame and is not framed in the frame as in the other fits. As a result, the lens is far enough away from the face so that a pair of glasses can easily fit under the goggles.

The material

As a rule, ski and snowboard goggles are now equipped with double lenses made of scratch-resistant and shatterproof plastic. So your eyes are always optimally protected even in the event of a fall. A gap is also left between the two lenses, which serves as thermal insulation - and prevents fogging.

Speaking of fogging, you should make sure that your glasses are well ventilated for optimal vision. They should have sufficient ventilation slots and, if necessary, an anti-fog coating on the inside. Because a clear view also ensures safety.

The proper care of your snowboard goggles

No gloves and certainly not with the sleeve! If you try to quickly clean the goggles somehow, it can easily happen that the coated lenses are scratched. External water stains and light dirt can be removed with the microfiber cloth that is usually included. Keep your hands off the inside of the glass! The anti-fog coatings used here are very sensitive and are damaged by friction. If the goggles are full of snow, it is best to let them dry in the warm and then dab very carefully with a microfiber cloth.

Snowboard goggles at Sport Conrad

In our online store you will find numerous models of ski and snowboard goggles for men, women and children. You can choose between different lenses, lens shapes, sizes and styles and of course you will find top brands like Alpina, Giro, Oakley, Salomon, Scott, Uvex and many more.