Everything you need to know to find the right ski goggles

The slopes have long served as a blank canvas for the vibrant display and technical advancements of ski-wear fashion. Whether you are a sartorial skier, looking to upgrade your winter wardrobe in the veins of House of Gucci, or a zealous skier, to whom skiing is simply ‘a way of life’ - finding the right pair of goggles is essential.

Thousands of years ago, the Inuit and Yupik people of Alaska and northern Canada slit through pieces of ivory, antler, and wood to create the first snow goggles. Fashion and function have come a long way since then. From the latest lens technology to sleek design solutions, Vogue Scandinavia navigates the world of protective winter eyewear. Here is what to consider when purchasing a pair of ski goggles.

Related: The 9 most fashion-forward ski goggles to hit the slopes in

As the intensity of the sun rays and snow glare increases with altitude, so does the need to reduce eye strain and prevent snow blindness. You may want to sport your favourite sunglasses on the slopes, but they won’t protect you from the elements and withstand tumbles.

Ski goggles, like sunglasses, are designed to protect your eyes from sun rays by filtering 100 per cent of harmful UV rays. What sets the former apart is that “ski goggles should be optimised to perform in all different weather conditions, to keep clear vision and stay comfortable during activity,” explains Tina Misaghi, concept developer at Swedish eyewear brand Chimi.

In bad weather – or so-called flat light conditions – where all you can see is an indistinguishable white surrounding of snow, fog, and winds, the lens should let in enough light to identify the terrain.

Related: Life through coloured glasses: The little known psychology behind tinted lenses

Look for a category 3 lens that allows between 43 per cent and 80 per cent light to be let in or so-called visible light transmission (VLT). Commonly, these lenses have a yellow or light pink tint that enhances contrast and allows you to see the bumps in the snow more clearly.

For those partly cloudy and sunny days, an ‘every-day' category 2 lens with a VLT of about 20 per cent should suffice. Opt for a medium copper or rose tint that provides enough contrast for overcast conditions yet offers brightness protection for sunnier days.

In sunny conditions, a category 1 lens with between 5 per cent and 18 per cent VLT is optimal. These dark lenses typically come with a grey, bronze, or rose base tint. Bronze and rose tints improve the contrast, whilst grey tints are best if you want the darkest possible lens for visual comfort.

Other than appearance, mirror lenses come highly recommended for their anti-glare properties. A full or partial reflective coating is applied to the outer lens surface to deflect glare and reduce visible light transmission. Make sure that an additional scratch-resistant coating is applied to your mirrored lenses. This will increase the lifespan of your lens, as a visibly scratched mirrored lens is less than ideal.

Polarised lenses have the same anti-glare function; however, they also make icy patches harder to spot. For this reason, they are generally less recommended for alpine skiing and more suited for cross-country skiing, where icy patches pose less of a safety concern.

Sometimes, the weather can take a sudden turn. What started out as a bright sunny day may quickly become overcast. Brands like Anon, CHIMI, Oakley and Smith offer interchangeable lens technology that allows you to swap lenses without buying a second pair of goggles. “The simplicity with the magnetic system when changing lenses gives you easy access to always move with the most comfortable lens matching the weather condition, regardless if you’re a beginner or professional user,“ Misaghi adds.

Carrying an extra lens on the mountain may not always be that convenient. Enter photochromic lenses. These lenses are equipped with chemicals that can change the category depending on the intensity of UV rays the lens is exposed to. In theory, this allows you to keep the same googles regardless of the weather. However, the chemical responsible for the lens transition tends to get darker in cold weather, even if it’s flat light. In addition, photochromic lenses are yet to become compatible with mirror coatings - making them a less popular option.

Fog is your sworn enemy on the mountains. That’s why anti-fogging features are something you don’t want to compromise with. While some ski goggles have vents built right into the shield, most quality ski goggles on the market have dual-lens technology and an anti-fog coating on the inside of the goggle shield. The former consists of two shields designed to separate your face heat from the cold air. It functions similar to a dual-pane window - keeping your face insulated. The latter absorbs moisture from warm air on the lens to prevent fog. As a rule of thumb, avoid touching the inside of the lens as they are likely to be coated.

The shape of your lens affects the aforementioned functions. For example, the cylindrical lenses curve across the goggle horizontally but are vertically flat between the forehead and nose. Meanwhile, the spherical lenses are curved horizontally and vertically, giving them a bubble-like appearance.

Due to the curvature of the spherical lens, it provides a better defence against glare and fog. In addition, the tapered design of spherical lenses offers a more optically correct view through the goggles by minimising distortion and allowing for better peripheral vision. Overall, spherical lenses outperform cylindrical lenses and are the pricier option. In contrast, cylindrical lenses are generally purchased for the more retro look and feel that is trending on the alps this season.

When it comes to fit, pay attention to sizing, foam, strap and helmet compatibility. First, check the product descriptions for whether the goggles you've been eyeing up are standard size, Asian fit, or women's - or kids specific. Next, make sure that your goggles come with triple-layer foam. This lines the edge of the goggles and creates a complete seal around your face to prevent cold air from penetrating.

Look for an adjustable strap that allows for flexibility and easily wraps around your helmet. Opt for a low-profile goggle, so there's a minimal gap between your helmet and the goggle to prevent cold air from sneaking in and fogging you up. Lastly, always try on the goggles with a helmet before hitting the slopes, "as there is nothing worse than when the goggles and the helmet don't match," according to Misaghi.

Now that you've ticked off the technical side, you'll also need to look stylish on the slopes. The designs range from full-frame to no frame, retro to futuristic - basically whatever that tickles your fancy.

This season we are seeing a resurgence of retro-looking, nostalgic-inducing goggles from major fashion houses such as Dior, Chloé and Moncler. Evidently, vintage Christian Dior's 2500 ski goggles, worn by Lady Gaga in House of Gucci, are going peak high on the second-hand market despite its lack of technical capabilities. Meanwhile, at Chimi, the designs stay true to Scandinavian minimalism, "after optimising the function, our focus has been to develop a futuristic but minimalistic design, with the lenses in focus. The combination of design and uncompromised technical functionalities creates a product that attracts the selective users," says Misaghi.