I’ve never thought too much about the fit of my ski goggles. Every couple of years when buying a pair I’d try them on quickly in a shop, scrutinize the lens color and shape, and plaster them to my face for a few minutes with the hope that they would feel good after hours and hours of wear. Then it was off to the cahier and onto the mountain.
There is now a better way. After just one day on the mountain with the Off-Grid Goggles, a to-be-released product from Scott, I realize that fit really does make a difference.
The goggles, which received an award from Outside magazine at the 2012 SIA Snow Show, have a large lens for maximum field of vision. When shipped to stores for next fall, the goggles will come with the big lens, three layers of hypoallergenic face foam, and in a rainbow of sparkly colors, but that’s not what got my attention.
What did was the Fit System, a simple adjustment that allows a skier or rider to change the shape of the goggle frame with the turn of a screwdriver or dime.
When I first tried them on at the base of Copper Mountain on a sunny day this month the goggles seemed just fine right out of the box. But after tinkering with the adjustments at lunch a couple hours later I got them dialed in. It was a world of difference.
All the pressure points on my angular face were gone and what was left was a smooth, even pressure that conformed perfectly. Beyond the fit, the goggles preformed well. The vents, on a very warm day, worked well and I could feel a constant flow of fresh air against my face.
