Goggles for flat / low light

**longy66** · 13-07-2016, 02:05 AM

Hello
I was reading a thread on another forum about what are the best goggle lenses for flat light. Obviously you get what you pay for in goggle world so results cost cash.
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In the 80's and early 90's everyone including worldcup racers wore Uvex goggles with pink lenses when the weather came in. They were the bomb. They gave very good depth perception.
A few years later Carrerra World Cup Gold were the choice of most high end skiers.
Then we went through mirrors/blue/iridium/red/yellow and more recently Persimmon.
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I have had Smith i/O's with a rose lens which are now dead so i'd be interested to know what you all think about the best goggs for the crappest conditions.
Ta
Dave

**Paul Oberin** · 13-07-2016, 09:56 AM

I take goggle testing very seriously and have personally tested all the top contenders.

After many years wearing what I considered the equal best Carrera Kimerik I have changed this year after finding what I believe are by far the best for low light.

I now have the new 2016 model Salomon Xmax with yellow low light lens, it is a long way in front of both Smith Sensor and Carrera's top low light lens which I consider to be equally second in low light.

The Salomon is not as good at being anti fog though as the well vented Kimerik, but if used properly it will not fog up.

I found the Smith sensor lens to be great but they let a bit too much light through on a very bright sunny day and you needed to change to a darker block out lens, compared to the Kimerik, I found the Kimerik good in bright light yet equally as good as the Smith in low light due to the polarised filter.

I still have my Kimeriks and will use them on a really bright day just so I don't have to swap over lenses in the Salomons, I re tested this last week in very foggy white out conditions at Falls creek when one of my ski buddies had his Kimeriks on and I had my new yellow Salomon xmax, with the Salomons I could clearly see the lines of the corduroy and the contour of the pitch, but when we swapped over goggles on the same run in the same conditions I couldn't see the corduroy or the undulations in the pitch.

**Gallo** · 13-07-2016, 08:21 PM

What do the Xmax retail at Paul?

**longy66** · 14-07-2016, 09:27 AM

Good question Gallo. Im all for supporting local business BUT they are $329.99 local retail (aussieskier on line and prob similar is a resort/ski shop). 75 pounds ($124) on line with $50 postage. And they wonder why people go online shopping. With the current exchange rates, online gear from UK is very well priced.

**Paul Oberin** · 14-07-2016, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by longy66

Good question Gallo. Im all for supporting local business BUT they are $329.99 local retail (aussieskier on line and prob similar is a resort/ski shop). 75 pounds ($124) on line with $50 postage. And they wonder why people go online shopping. With the current exchange rates, online gear from UK is very well priced.

The photochromic lens model is $329.99.
The Salomon X-Max with the lens I was referring to is RRP $229.99.

http://www.paulski.com.au/snow-goggl...r-2017-paulski

**Paul Oberin** · 14-07-2016, 07:39 PM

A big day at Hotham today, visibility was very poor at times and not great most of the day, I was sure glad I had the Salomon Xmax with me.

The snow however at Hotham was fantastic.

**Paul Oberin** · 14-07-2016, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by longy66

Good question Gallo. Im all for supporting local business BUT they are $329.99 local retail (aussieskier on line and prob similar is a resort/ski shop). 75 pounds ($124) on line with $50 postage. And they wonder why people go online shopping. With the current exchange rates, online gear from UK is very well priced.

These goggles are manufactured in Europe, so I am not surprised they are cheaper over there, also they are shipped in to Australia in shipping containers and although not heavy they take up a lot of air space, just like helmets, and for some reason this adds a lot to their price, I don't fully understand that reasoning myself, but that is what the importers tell me.

**Gallo** · 14-07-2016, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by longy66

Good question Gallo. Im all for supporting local business BUT they are $329.99 local retail (aussieskier on line and prob similar is a resort/ski shop). 75 pounds ($124) on line with $50 postage. And they wonder why people go online shopping. With the current exchange rates, online gear from UK is very well priced.

I'd rather support local retailers and pay a little extra. That extra 80-100 dollars has a knock on effect and keeps people employed. I know if I buy something from a local business I will get the service with the product if something goes wrong. Now I just have to do some sweet talking to my Mrs.

**longy66** · 19-07-2016, 08:05 AM

I ended up with a Smith I/O with 2 lenses (blue sensor and rose) for $120 delivered from UK.

**Skeeter** · 15-05-2017, 04:33 PM

Hi Paul. Do you still have the 2016 model Salomon Xmax with yellow low light lens? or something just as good in low light?

**Paul Oberin** · 18-05-2017, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Hi Paul. Do you still have the 2016 model Salomon Xmax with yellow low light lens? or something just as good in low light?

We do have them, even though they are now a newer model, all the Xmax now come with the second yellow lens for low light.

We also have the new Smith with Chromapop and Giro with Vivid lenses, both are said to be as good as the Salomon goggles, the Giro are impressive as they have mesh instead of foam for the air flow, the foam is the first thing to break down in a goggle.