Goggle lens color for mountaineering/snowboarding

[LuckyMike]

What's the best color lens to have for mountaineering/snowboarding conditions that range from bright light to heavy snow and wind? I was looking at getting a pair of Smith goggles for this coming season:)

[DPS]

I like amber.

[catbirdseat]

There is a good reason why amber is a good color. Your eyes are maximally sensitive to light of that wavelength. Limiting your vision to monochromatic light makes it easier for your eyes to focus sharply. This is because light refracts through a greater angle the shorter the wavelength.

 

Regardless of the explanation, it's well known that yellow lenses make it easier to discern contrast in flat light conditions.

[cj001f]

There is no color that is good for both bright light and whiteouts. Optimize for both - the yellow or bluish smith sensors are cool for whiteouts.

[dbconlin]

rose colored lenses are pretty versatile for skiing. I always choose amber for sunglasses - great in bright sun and in variable conditions.

[Bug]

Yup. It's amber by a landslide.

[hafilax]

A darkish amber is good for all round. Rose is good if the light is alternating between light and dark (skiing through trees with open patches). Yellow and light amber is good for low light.

 

I believe the explanation for blue blocking is that the eye lens is optimized for focusing green light and has a hard time focusing bright blues to UV and to a lesser degree reds to IR. I think snow is very reflective in the blue to UV which reduces shadowing and definition in flat light conditions. That is mostly pseudo-scientific speculation though.

 

Can't go wrong with Smith goggles

[TrogdortheBurninator]

for the most part, for most users, i dont think it really matters too much. yellow, orange, rose are all just fine 95+% of the time.

[lightning]

I like to carry glacier glasses and a pair of clear or yellow lensed goggles.

[G-spotter]

I like Amber too. Bring back Amber!

[LuckyMike]

I ended up getting the smith phenom with a sensor lens. Hopefully they'll work good

Edited November 12, 2007 by LuckyMike