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Do you have ski goggles, and are you wondering whether you can use them for mountain biking?
This article on MTB goggles vs ski goggles would give you a fair idea of whether you have to buy a new pair of goggles for mountain biking or not.
Read on!
1. Primary Usage: MTB Goggles Vs Ski Goggles
Mountain biking goggles (MTB) are used by mountain bikers extensively due to the many benefits that it gives them.
The most important one is the protective factor.
I suppose you might be wrong if you perceive that goggles protect your eye from UV rays alone.
When zooming through the forest trails or muddy puddles, it can protect your eyes from sticks, muddy water splashes, or other debris.
Especially for those with a dust allergy, mtb goggles can help prevent dust from entering the eyes.
Bugs can be annoying while on your mountain bike, and MT bike goggles can keep them away from your eyes.
And when you have your goggles on, you can also focus on riding your bike without being bothered about the harsh wind drying and fatiguing your eyes.
Ski goggles also protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays and is hence an advantage that it shares with the Mountain biking goggles.
Moreover, it also gives a clearer view of the mountain, making your activity all the more fun.
The most crucial purpose of wearing ski goggles is, it protects your eyes from injury and foreign elements to a great extent.
After all, who wants to deal with irritated eyes in the middle of skiing!
If you don’t have the goggles on while skiing, there are high chances of your eyes becoming watery due to the cold wind and air hitting your eyes.
The bright sunlight can also have an annoying effect on your eyes.
And, of course, not to forget those tiny snowballs that perfectly balances on your eyelashes. They can be the cause of poor visibility and an ultimate killjoy.
Ski goggles can protect your eyes from these elements.
And not to forget: most mountain bikers and skiers love the style that a pair of goggles add to their complete look.
While the ultimate purpose of wearing goggles is not to look stylish, the completeness of one’s gear can take one’s confidence a notch higher.
2. Difference in Ventilation
Both MTB goggles and ski goggles offer ventilation. But there is a difference in the amount of air let in.
MTB goggles are typically made for all weathers, and the weather conditions can be cold or warm.
During warm climates, more ventilation is required to dry away from the dripping sweat and breathe through the nose effortlessly.
On the other hand, ski goggles are always used in freezing weather and require lesser ventilation to protect the eyes from cold wind and snow.
In a nutshell, MTB goggles have more ventilation when compared to ski goggles.
3. Type of Lens Used: MTB Goggles Vs Ski Goggles
Since there is a difference in the application, ski goggles and MTB goggles have slightly different visual dynamics.
The first difference comes from the terrains on which these goggles are used.
While mountain bikers use MTB goggles on varied landscapes, the lenses have a light spectrum to compliment those.
However, with ski goggles, the aim is to achieve a more precise vision while beholding white snow.
Generally, Mtb goggles have flat lenses, while ski goggle lenses have a convex shape to push water or snow to the edges.
Fogging up of lenses could be a significant issue while skiing, and hence ski goggle lenses are double layered and coated with superior quality material to prevent fogging.
Replacing ski goggle lenses is, therefore, an expensive affair. Luckily, it is possible to replace ski goggle lenses with MTB goggle lenses in most cases.
However, colored lenses are recommended for ski goggles for better contrast.
Good contrast will help achieve a more transparent view while skiing down the slopes.
Without colored lenses, the terrain may look blended, and the skier may find it challenging to distinguish bumps and dips from what may look like giant white fields.
There are also differences in the result achieved when you wear different lenses.
For instance, if you are skiing on a cloudy or hazy day, Amber and rose-tinted lenses will offer a clearer vision.
On the other hand, if you ride in sunny weather conditions or dim light conditions, brown lenses will help achieve more contrast.
Similarly, MTB glasses also come in colored lenses. The most classic colors are black and grey, typically used while riding in bright light conditions.
They are great for dimming the light and making your vision darker. However, they do not alter the contrast or the depth of perception.
The downside of dark-colored glasses is that they make it challenging to behold roots, rocks, and shadows.
Other colored lenses offer excellent contrast, making the lines and shadows more explicit. Amber color MTB goggle lenses are great when riding on trails with many roots and rocks.
Blue color mtb goggle lenses can better adapt to light changes and offer better contour and color perception.
Brown lenses give a more accurate view of trees and bushes, enhancing the greens. They also have better depth perception. However, brown lenses are better avoided for night rides.
Clear lenses give the best clarity during night rides.
Green lenses can provide better light contrast due to their ability to enhance red and yellow color perceptions.
Orange lenses are known for delivering better perception in low light conditions, so you can count them in when you are riding on darker, cloudy days.
Though they could distort your color perception, red lenses are great to use during hazy weather conditions. They are good at increasing contrast and giving brighter perceptions.
With red lenses, you may have lesser eye strain as they are transition-friendly compared to other colored lenses.
Ultimately, colored lenses aim to clarify visual perceptions better, improving the rider’s confidence manifold.
4. Difference in Type of Materials Used
The most recommended lens material for mountain biking is polycarbonate due to its sturdiness.
In addition, polycarbonate lenses are famous for their impact-resistant nature, and they say you can trust them more than your own body in case of a crash.
Due to this reason, plastic and glass lenses should be avoided while riding a mountain bike, as they tend to break and shatter easily during crashes.
Interestingly, ski goggles are also polycarbonate material for better safety and durability.
Both MTB lenses and Ski lenses can be polarized or non-polarized. Polarized lenses can eliminate reflected glare on the road, snow, or water.
While mountain bikers and skiers use polarized goggles for clearer vision, some think photochromic lenses are better options for mountain biking.
This is because the polarized sunglasses could hinder depth perception, which is essential to judge the distance and hurdles ahead of the rider.
Photochromic or transition lenses can adapt to the light conditions; the lenses give darker perception in bright light and brighter perception in shadows.
In addition, the lenses’ transitioning nature makes them perfect for all-day-long activities, whether skiing or mountain biking.
5. Difference in Durability
Ski goggles have double-layered lenses, which are made using thick materials.
On the other hand, MTB goggles have single-layer lenses and are sleeker when compared to ski goggles. So, naturally, they become more prone to breakage than ski goggles.
Hence, ski goggles are typically more durable than MTB goggles.
Pros of MTB Goggles Over Ski Goggles For Mountain Biking
Below mentioned is the list of key advantages of mountain biking goggles over ski goggles for the purpose of mountain biking.
- MTB goggles have better ventilation, which is essential when riding in warm light conditions.
- MTB goggles are typically scratch-resistant. On the other hand, ski goggles do not have a search-resistant feature, so they mostly aren’t.
- Typically mountain biking goggles are less expensive than ski goggles.
- MTB goggles are thinner and hence lighter than ski goggles.
Cons of MTB Goggles Over Ski Goggles
Just like the pros, below listed are some cons of mountain biking goggles when compared to ski goggles.
- Ski goggles are more advanced than MTB goggles.
- Double layered lens system make ski goggles more durable when compared to MTB goggles.
- Ski goggles provide better contrast than MTB goggles.
While ski goggles have some advantages over MTB goggles, they are not required for riding a mountain bike.
The conditions in which ski goggles are used are entirely different from those in which MTB goggles are used.
So, if you already have a pair of ski goggles, I would say try them on and find out if you feel comfortable wearing them while riding on the trails.
If you are yet to make a purchase, it would be ideal to go for mountain biking-specific goggles so that all your needs are taken care of.
Conclusion: Can You Use Ski Goggles For Mountain Biking?
I hope this article on mtb goggles vs ski goggles has given you a clear insight about the key difference between the two.
While it’s ideal to have goggles specifically made for each activity, you can always weigh the pros and cons of the goggles that you may already have, based on the information provided in this article
Determine for yourself whether you can use the ski goggles for mountain biking and vice versa.
