subject: Ski Goggles - Better To Use These Or A Pair Of Sunglasses? [print this page] Obviously, for various different reasons, you will need to use some type of protective eyewear when doing some kind of snow related activity, like skiing or snowboarding. Most commonly, you will see people on the snow packed mountains wearing a pair of snow goggles, which are pretty much the norm. More recently, it has become a trend to see people wearing what looks more like a traditional pair of sunglasses, with some minor additions. Both the goggles and sunglasses each have their own strengths and weaknesses and reasons why one would be better than the other.
Your typical pair of snow goggles will usually be made of much different materials than what you will find with the sunglasses made for skiers and snowboards. One of the first differences you will notice is that the goggles are made of much softer materials than the sunglasses. Usually things like Nylon and rubber are used when making the goggles. They need to be softer, mainly due to the fact that they are going to be pressed nice and snug against your face. Some people will prefer this snug fit because it will help keep both the snow and cold wind from bothering your eyes.
Sometimes the snow goggles aren't for everyone, but luckily there are skiing sunglasses that do the same things, only in a slightly different manner. You might be wondering how they can keep things out of your eyes, which is important when you are out skiing or snowboarding, if they aren't pressed firmly against your face. Well, to fix this, skiing sunglasses are made with little flaps that are either permanently attached or in some cases, detachable. While the glasses themselves aren't as tight fitting, the added flaps should do the trick of keeping the snow and wind out of your eyes.
There has been some debate on the topic of whether it is better to use polarized or unpolarized lenses when skiing or snowboarding. You will be able to find both snow goggles and skiing sunglasses come in either variety. While polarized lenses are usually recommended for most other sports, and for when you are out driving or fishing, when snow is involved, they are generally not recommended. The main reason for this has to with how polarized lenses will filter out certain types of light. The light that is reflected off of a patch of ice will not be able to be seen with polarized lenses, while it will still be visible with unpolarized lenses.
