Can You Snowboard With Glasses On Or Contacts Better?

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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton

Can You Snowboard With Glasses On Or Contacts Better?

Winter is just around the corner; nothing is more enjoyable and exciting than snowboarding. This winter sport offers a sense of liberation and exhilaration than no other sport. That’s why slopes become millions of people’s favorite destinations. However, you may want to ensure your health is in check.

Key Takeaways:

• • Snowboarding with Glasses: While you can snowboard with glasses using over-the-glasses (OTG) goggles, contact lenses often offer more comfort and flexibility.
  • Challenges: The main challenges for glasses wearers are fogging and discomfort due to poorly fitting goggles, which can impair vision and cause inconvenience.
  • Solutions: Options to overcome these challenges include OTG goggles, prescription lens inserts, prescription goggles, and contact lenses, each with pros and cons.
  • UV Protection: UV protection is crucial when snowboarding, as regular glasses do not protect against intense UV rays at high altitudes.

In this article, we will be focusing specifically on glass wearers while snowboarding.

People need to understand and realize that eye protection is necessary when doing outdoor activities, whether it is the hot or cold season.

While so much cutting-edge snowboarding gear is associated with your snowboarding activities, those who wear glasses sometimes find it hard to include their eyesight demands in their fun, sporty activities.

Before we jump right into this article, let’s examine the different challenges that people with glasses face while playing these kinds of sports activities.

Can You Snowboard with Glasses on? Are Contacts Better?

You can snowboard with glasses on simply by using a pair of over-the-glasses goggles (OTG). They are comfortable and provide all the protection provided by standard goggles. If you’re comfortable using contact lenses, then that provides many more options when it comes to choosing a pair of goggles, so they can be a better option if you’re a contact lens user.

Challenges

A wrong setup can undoubtedly make your whole fun and exciting day at the slope, snowboarding, uncomfortable and disappointing. Those who wear glasses and still want to enjoy riding their snowboard in the winter season struggle to keep up with their eyesight. Two main challenges these people face are fog and goggles. 

Let’s briefly analyze these two situations.

The fog challenge: At some point during your day, your body’s warmth or your breath can fog up your glasses or goggles, especially when both your mouth and nose are covered up for extra warmth and protection. 

The fog will impair your visibility, making it harder for you to see and safely keep up with your ride. A drastic change in the temperature can also make your glasses or goggles fog up. This can make it quite unpleasant for you to clear it up now and then, just to make sure that you have good visibility to avoid any potential harm. After all, clarity and visibility are two important aspects to carry on in anything you do.

The second challenge we have mentioned is goggles. For those who are not familiar with snowboarding, goggles are a set of protective glasses in an adjustable or flexible frame. Normal-sighted people can usually purchase standard snowboarding or skiing goggles without further consideration.

The problem is if it does not fit you, it can create some pain at the level of the nose bridge. And if you happen to be someone who wears glasses, inappropriate goggles can push your glasses up toward your forehead, which can be very uncomfortable and inconvenient. 

Not only that, but tight goggles can sometimes bend your frame and damage it. Moreover, some goggles can be too loose and end up slipping down your face, requiring time out to constantly adjust them.

All these challenges make you want to get rid of the goggles and stick to your normal glasses to avoid the hassle. However, that’s not possible or healthy, as normal glasses won’t shield you from Ultraviolet rays. 

The UVR is known to be stronger and more intense at a higher altitude. Its reflection on the snow can even lead to serious problems like snow blindness. The main point here is that you need UV protection for such activities. Your normal glasses won’t do the job.

That’s why we have compiled three main popular options that people with glasses tend to think of when they are planning to snowboard. These options can help you enjoy your day hassle-free.

Best Options for Snowboarders or Skiers Who Wear Glasses

In this section, we will discuss the four main solutions one can look for to avoid facing those previously mentioned challenges. While these 4 main option solutions differ in terms of price, flexibility, needs, and preferences, choosing the right one for you is crucial to ensure you have the proper and clear sight when snowboarding. 

It is also essential to get your doctor’s advice on any decision you have made. Checking with your doctor can make you feel at ease, especially with your eye condition. 

The three leading solutions we will be discussing today are:

• Contact lenses

• OTG goggles

• Prescribed lens inserted

• Prescription goggles

These 4 realistic options will help you make a memorable day at the slope. Make sure to check them out!

Ski Goggles That Fit Over Glasses (OTG)

The OTG, also known as “Over the Goggles,” is a popular pair of ski/snowboarding oversized goggles that are particularly made to be worn over glasses. They are quite spaced enough in the interior to fit your glasses without squashing your face or bending your frames. 

However, they will not always stay secure on your face. Sometimes, you can experience bent frames or random scratches on your lenses or more. Yet, you should know the OTG goggles are designed to fit with different types of glasses. Nevertheless, the smaller your glasses frames are, the more adaptability and convenience you will possess with different goggles trademarks.

The best thing about OTG goggles is that they have a small section out of the frame that allows you to rest your glasses without pressing them and clutching them to your face.

If you are planning to purchase OTG goggles, consider several factors and key features to determine the best and proper fit for you.

Here are some of the key features to look for in snowboarding Goggles:

• UV protection 

This is one of the essential factors that you should consider. Almost not all snowboarding goggles provide UV400, which prevents dangerous ultraviolet radiation.

• Polarised lenses 

Polarized lenses may not seem important at first glance, but they are very useful and worth it. They are another kind of filtration that can help reduce and diminish the bright light when the sun reflects on the snow surface.

However, you should keep in mind that if you are planning to wear polarized lenses on dark days, this can create safety hazards as it will extra-dim your vision and make it difficult to examine the slope.

• Photochromic lenses 

Photochromic lenses are intelligent lenses that help block specific amounts of light and change the tint depending on the light reflected. In other words, they can get darker in shining areas and lighter in dark places. This is a very cool attribute to have, but again, it is not necessary.

• Mirrored lenses 

Mirrored lenses help block out up to 15% more light than standard ones. They are usually used in high and dense light weather; otherwise, they won’t be of great use. All in all, understanding the visible light transmission is useful for determining the percentage of light blocked. Snowboarding goggles are rated on a scale from 0% VLT (Clear) to 90% (Light prevention).

The greater the percentage, the darker the goggles become. If your goggles become darker, you don’t need to worry about reflective light circumstances. The same goes for a lower percentage. It will provide better vision in low-light conditions.

 Best OTG Goggles

• Giro Index OTG Goggles are created perfectly to fit over your glasses. They are cost-effective yet do not compromise quality.

• Smith Optics Goggles are designed to be incorporated with normal glasses. Depending on your budget, you can choose the one that fits and meets your needs.

• Lastly, Julbo Titan Goggles. While they are on the expensive side, the Julbo Goggles provide unique lens colors and prospects. Designed with high-quality material, they are comfortable to wear all day and hassle-free.

Prescription lens inserts

The second option is to Wear Prescription inserts goggles.

You might ask what prescription inserts are. They are wider frames that stick to the front of the snowboarding goggles, offering a larger scope of view and visual acuity. The best thing about these inserts is that they are placed a bit farther from your face. 

Therefore, they are less likely to be easily fogged up compared to over-the-glasses goggles. Not only that, but they are lightweight and easy to take care of. Prescription lens inserts are usually customized. You can purchase them from any snowboarding sports shop and have them prescribed by your optical store. 

Why are prescription lens inserts a good option?

• In terms of Anti-fog, the prescribed lenses can do way better than the OGT goggles. They are better at preventing fog accumulation. This is mainly because the prescription lens inserts rest upon the guard of the goggles for easy ventilation and not near your face, where the heat can emanate from it. Furthermore, they are made with an anti-fog coating, which makes them even better.

• Comfort-wise, it is obvious that wearing prescription lens inserts is more convenient and comfortable than wearing your prescribed glasses under your goggles. The last thing you want to be disturbed by is adjusting your glasses when you do an activity that requires a lot of movement.

• Affordable: Prescription lens inserts are less expensive than the other options. They are also safe and durable.

This is a great and affordable option for those who want something better for their eyewear. The design of these lenses differs from one brand to another and from one product to another. However, whenever you change your goggles, you must also change your inserts. Nevertheless, you can look for universal lens inserts suitable for every kind of goggle.

Prescription Goggles

Our third option is the most expensive and hard-to-find one: prescription goggles. However, they do exist. These can be a utilitarian alternative for those who need greater vision support. Prescription goggles will give you an excellent optical view while enjoying snowboarding.

Prescription goggles cause vision issues whenever they are removed, so they are normally not recommended. Once they are removed, you will no longer be able to see clearly.

This option is most suitable for professional snowboarders looking for a better alternative while in the game. With that being said, here are some of the factors that need to be considered when you plan to purchase prescription goggles:

• Manufacturer: You should research the manufacturer who designs these goggles. Then, make sure to pick the best out of them. 

•  Lens Type: There are two types of Prescription goggle lenses: cylindrical, which are flat and have a larger surface, and spherical, which are curved to diminish the fog.

• The Tint

Contact lens

The last option is contact lenses. Any snowboarder should invest in good contact lenses that provide a clean pair, maintain eye moisture, and provide accurate vision. Moreover, most contacts have UV protection to avoid potential harm to the eyes. 

Many people choose contact lenses over prescription goggles because they are way cheaper, even when they need to be changed. In the long run, this can be a good and affordable alternative.

You will notice the amount of comfort the lenses offer to their users instead of using OGT goggles or your glasses.

Conclusion

Now, Thanks to the availability of some solutions, you will never ditch a fun day at the slope just because of a pair of specs. Whether you want to get rid of your glasses or not, you can choose between prescription lens inserts, prescription goggles, OTG goggles, and contact lenses. These four options will make your life much easier and, most importantly, much more joyful. 

Choose the right alternative solution as long as it keeps the fog away. Regarding our verdict, our pick is the OTG Goggles. If they are properly and well packed, you won’t have any potential challenges. They are affordable, convenient, and comfortable.  

You can check out our other snowboarding and skiing articles here.

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