Eyes On...

I've been skiing with the same pair of goggles since 1995 when I bought a pair of Oakley's for $30 in college. I'm not sure if I'm cheap, frugal, or just plain lazy for not getting a new pair, but there it is. A couple of years ago we had a blizzard here in Denver and they were scratched pretty badly, but I just couldn't bring myself to part with them; this year I finally decided to say goodbye and make a new purchase.

So I headed to the nearest Dick's Sporting Goods (no, I'm not using the blog to get away with something, that really is the name of the store and I have receipts to prove it) to see what was available. I was looking for price, functionality, and something that didn't make me look so old without making me look like I am having a mid-life crisis either.

I did look at some Smith, Scott, Head and other goggles (Dick's doesn't carry anything too special- i.e. out of my price range), but ended up looking at the Oakley's.

I found out that those Rainbow Brite (shh! Don't tell Hallmark- I don't want to be sued for trademark infringement) lens coatings actually have a purpose- iridium lenses are useful for bright days (they even have levels of Iridium lens for the different levels of brightness...who knew?). They no longer call amber "amber", now they are Persimmon, with a capital "P". Persimmon is apparently an all-around lens that are especially good for defining terrain in lower light conditions (they are also the cheapest lens that come with the goggles- right up my alley).

Lenses don't stop with the colors these days either- there are now actual lenses versus the traditional shield (instead of a piece of transparent plastic glued to a plastic frame, there are actual shatter-proof lenses available). Those large, ovular lenses (the ones that make the skiers and snowboarders look like something out of a bad science-fiction film) are becoming more common and are found on the Oakley Wisdom and Crowbar models. They are designed to match the curvature of the eye and keep my peripheral vision from being distorted and are a dual layer (think double paned windows), vented lens meaning that the lens is an actual optical quality lens around which airflow is constantly circulating to keep the goggle from fogging. I had really begun to like the way the Wisdom felt on my face (read that "was priced"), when I learned they sometimes had problems with helmets pulling the corners away from the face. I started looking at the Crowbar, which Oakley designed to correct this problem and they were very nice- very nice indeed...and they cost about 20% more (I think I have an answer to my earlier question...I'm cheap).

The frames are pretty cool too. Apparently The Crowbar is so named because of the arm that sets out from the frame where the strap attaches (like a crowbar lifting it away from the rest of the goggle)- specifically designed for helmet wear. The frame has an insulated foam where it meets your face so you don't have that cheap foam a la door molding trying to provide insulation against my face (any decent pair of goggles has this, but it's worth mentioning that Oakley didn't forget).

So, I got the Crowbar with Persimmon lenses, took them up the mountain, and started my first day of skiing for the year. Wow. Those are some awesome goggles. I had no visual distortion whatsoever and I could barely see any of the frame and insulated foam and, unlike goggles of the past, I actually had peripheral vision. The Crowbar feature performed as advertised and did not interfere with either of my helmets. I did experience some fogging when it got really cold and I put on the neck gator. When I pulled it up to get some coverage on my nose my breath was directed up into the vents that provide airflow into the goggle, causing them to fog until I adjusted the gator. I did notice a light breeze on my eyes while I was on the lift; I did not notice it any other time, and it was nominal, but anyone who is sensitive to their eyes drying out may want to take this into consideration.

THE DOWNSIDE: I did experience some fogging when it got really cold and I put on the neck gator. When I pulled it up to get some coverage on my nose my breath was directed up into the vents that provide airflow into the goggle, causing them to fog until I adjusted the gator. I did notice a light breeze on my eyes while I was on the lift; I did not notice it any other time, and it was nominal, but anyone who is sensitive to their eyes drying out may want to take this into consideration.

THE UPSIDE: No visual distortion, great peripheral vision, helmet compatible, and you can actually see terrain (not just a big field of white in front of you).

All in all the Oakley Crowbar is an excellent goggle for the price- I paid about $120. I know we've established that I'm cheap, but I figured that my last pair of goggles lasted me about 13 years, so it was worth the money for a good pair of helmet compatible goggles. They're functional, helmet compatible, the lenses can be changed out (meaning I can have different lenses for various light conditions without the cost of purchasing a new pair of goggles- additional lenses cost anywhere from $40 to $150), and they look pretty cool (mid-life crisis my left foot; I'm not that old yet). If you don't wear a helmet though, be prepared to look like something out of a really bad science fiction movie- they are huge by themselves...like a double paned window on your face...