Ski Goggles over glasses

We've had a few discussions crop up this season, so I thought I'd kick off a dedicated thread with my experiences.

About me - this is important because you're probably not exactly the same as me (if you're lucky!), so your mileage will vary...

I'm short-sighted but not desperately so; I can ski quite happily without correction but prefer to wear prescription sunnys or glasses under goggles if I can. Never got on with contacts and once spent a merry afternoon helping a mate look for one on a mountain (if you think looking for a ski in powder is tricky... although, amazingly, we did find it... ).

Goggles over Glasses

Has worked fine for me over many years. Quite a few goggle styles will fit, not just the specifically branded OTG models, but it is essential to try them on with your own specs. Fairly obviously, the smaller and narrower your specs are then the more options you have.

Glass lenses (in your spectacles) are really not a good idea; apart from the safety concern they also mist up quicker than plastic lenses.

Fogging can be a major issue so your goggles will need to be well ventilated. There are various anti-misting products that can be applied to your spectacle lenses and they're definitely worth getting.

Lens Shape

Goggles have two lens shapes - cylindrical (most common) and spherical (most expensive - in general). I'm not aware of any spherical lens goggles that are designated as OTG; but that doesn't mean they won't fit your specs!

When my last pair of cheap goggles started coming apart at the start of this season I had a look at the spherical lens options and, following some very helpful usability testing by Mr Plasma Rosscabar (wearing his Dad's glasses), invested in some Oakleys.

So... this season I have been mainly wearing Crowbars...

Oakley Crowbars

Bloody hell why didn't I do this earlier?

In common with several other models, the Crowbar is really a "system" - with a couple of dozen different colors / patterns of frame and a similar number of clip in/out lenses.

The quality of the lenses is impressive, and much better than anything I've had before.

Although they do fit over my specs, it is a tight fit and I found them uncomfortable so have been mostly wearing them without (specs).

I've found the Persimmon lens very effective in rapidly changing and poor light and found the claims about increased contrast to be justified - to the extent that it went some way to compensating for the lack of specs in my case.

For info, my spec frame measures 136mm across (width measured where the hinges are) - 5 to 10mm narrower would be fine I reckon. My lenses are about 50x30mm.

The Crowbars are very well ventilated and look and feel like a quality product so, providing my son doesn't leave them in a gondola (anyone else owned a pair of goggles for only the length of a gondola ride?!?), they should last for years...

If you can find some in a late season sale then go for it - also worth price-shopping the lenses as they're a) expensive and b) prices do vary a fair bit.


I did try some Sinner OTGs last year but, TBH, they were pretty poor; strap not long enough to fit on a helmet, foam padding started to disintegrate as I was trying them on, etc...

HTH,

Like you, Mr. Admin, I have never been able to feel comfortable with contacts and although I can get down the hill without my prescription glasses, I prefer not to. My glasses, Easy Clips, have polarized sun glasses attached by magnets. Both fit nicely beneath my UVEX supravision goggles. The polarizing effect of the sun glasses is great on bright days and being able to see properly is generally a helpful thing. :roll: My only problem is fogging (on the glasses)sometimes. I'm reluctant to use anti fog on these glasses since I have all the other treatments applied (anti glare coatings etc...)

The UVEX goggles have an anti-fog coating and are well ventilated. Within the first few feet of the descent the glasses, if fogged, generally clear.

(My swim goggles also have prescription lenses. Is is just so much better to see!)

Mike :wink:

I'll try and follow Admin

About me

I have been wearing glasses to ski for over 20 years. I almost always wear goggles over my specs because my eyes stream in any breeze. I'm very short sighted. I did wear contacts for a while, but had a few problems and quit them on medical grounds. I'm a small person, so quite a few of the goggle designs look like I'm wearing a goldfish bowl/ cereal box (use your imagination)

Goggles over Glasses

Has worked fine for me for many years. I have used non OTG models in the past, sometimes out of necessity. In the past few years I have used Oakley L Frame goggles, which are a specific OTG frame. I have been very impressed with the lenses, and they last ages if I'm careful how I wipe them!

I favour glass lenses in my specs to ski. I have tried plastic lenses and they always steam up on me. I have not experienced a broken lens in a wipeout, but I have had a specs frame break inside my goggles in a faceplant. The lenses in that little incident were fine, the frame was a write off. I always carry a spare pair of specs with me, as it's very difficult to see to ski without my specs.

My favourite Anti-Fog treatment is Hilco Fog Buster.

I'm always on the lookout for goggles that will fit over specs, and that don't look daft because they are too big on me. The Oakley L Frame is no longer a production model, and has been replaced by the Proven model. I had a close look at some a couple of months ago, they look bigger, and cheaper, and I'm yet to be convinced.

Good morning, I'm part of a new company in Montreal, Canada, and we're working on a new design for a visor integrated helmet . We're currently trying to make the best possible helmet and we want your opinion as to what features this product should or shouldn't have.

If you have 5 minutes to spare, it would be fantastic if you could help us by filling up this quick survey.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UT71nD3W3AjAODbpi1uvifEd6DFnqpXH7IpsX9vQbyg/viewform"

Thanks, we would really appreciate your input :)

For me I now wear integrated glasses, ie my prescription lenses into the goggles lenses. Find a company that does the ones you want, give them your prescription and wait. I have to say they work great, the only disadvantage for me being that I still have to carry a pair of glasses so I can read the menues in the restuarants :D