Snow Visions anti fog prescription optical ski goggles review / test
Over the past three or four years, my eyesight has slowly faded, first it was classic short-sightedness and the subsequent need for reading glasses, but that did not affect my skiing, though I did have some issues when trying to read navigation apps when ski touring, so I always had to carry some reading glasses, so a bit of a faff.
Finally about a year ago I suspected my normal sight was not what it should be, and I ended up with prescription glasses. Because I'm very active and do rely on reading gadgets both on the bike and skiing, a vari-focal lens was always paramount, and my Bolle sunnies perform superbly, but the thought at the back of my mind was what to do when conditions dictate the use of goggles?
After lots of googling, searching for prescription ski goggles, optical ski goggles, ski goggles with glasses it became apparent that there were numerous Heath Robinson solutions out there but none that I had too much faith in, as I suspected every goggle users nightmare of misting/fogging up would be even more of an issue if wearing optical inserts in the goggles.
Then I came across SnowVision, a Belgian company, set-up by three visionary dudes with a passion for the mountains. They have developed their own patented system, which basically has the 'glasses' in a sealed unit, so no issue with fogging/misting up.
There are numerous other USP's that sets them apart from other prescription ski goggles, optical ski goggle manufacturers, not least the price which is so good, and their whole customer service in dealing with your initial enquiry and prescription needs.
I've now had the chance to wear them in some pretty atrocious conditions (photo above was in Val Thorens when all the lifts were closed), and whilst other friends were exchanging their goggles for their sunnies out of desperation to see what worked the best, I was more than happy with the SnowVision goggle as it's designed for any condition, and I must say that its photochromic lens adjusts very quickly to the light intensity or lack of in my case.
The goggles retail for €249,95 with a fast turnaround of 3 - 10 days from ordering depending on the complexity of your prescription, in my case varifocal lens and they work to perfection.
I've now used them in a myriad of white-out / flat-light conditions, though not as yet in heavy snow and no complaints.
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