Ski Touring & Splitboarding Essential Eyewear

Protecting Your Eyes In The Backcountry

Spring is coming and it's time to head into the backcountry and tick off some peaks and objectives. While snow safety should be your first priority in preparedness, protecting your eyes is paramount for a good day on the skin track. Snow blindness will ruin your day (or week for that matter) without a good pair of polarized sunglasses for the skin up, and that well-earned run can turn into a bleary-eyed struggle without a good pair of goggles as you reap your rewards. Here are a few tips on keeping your vision clear on the up and getting down as well as some of our top picks for the tour.

Avoiding Foggy Lenses While Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding

  • Wear sunglasses when you're not skiing/riding - Unless you're actively riding, store your goggles in a cool spot in your backpack so they don't overheat and fog.

  • Wear sunglasses with good ventilation & coverage - Travel with wrapped-sunglass frames (6 or 8-base is best) to provide the best possible coverage for your eyes and surrounding skin, but ensure you have good ventilation for airflow while you're touring.

  • Invest In Goggles With Good Anti-Fog - All Zeal lenses go through a state-of-the-art infusion to ensure your vision is never compromised. Anti-Fog molecules are permanently infused into the lens material so Zeal goggles last longer against the elements. You can't wipe it off - even if you try!

  • Consider Packing Two Goggles - Conditions can change fast in the backcountry. While extra weight matters, consider carrying a backup pair of goggles in case one gets soaked with rain or other precipitation.

  • Don't Wear Your Goggles On Your Head! - When you're touring or active, pack your goggles in your bag. Wearing them on your head channels heat and perspiration into your goggles and can lead to a sure-fired foggy situation.

    • Touring Sunglasses

    Drift HARBINGER Angle View New

    HARBINGER

    $249.00
    Matte Black WESTWATER Angle View New

    WESTWATER

    $179.00
    Sitka Green SELKIRK Angle View New

    SELKIRK

    $179.00
    Black Mariner DECKER Angle View New

    DECKER

    $169.00
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    Anti-Fog Goggles

    Laser Moose CLOUDFALL XL Angle View New

    CLOUDFALL XL

    $139.30
    Flight CLOUDFALL Angle View New

    CLOUDFALL

    $139.30
    Dark Night LOOKOUT Angle View

    LOOKOUT

    $139.30
    Coral PORTAL Angle View

    PORTAL

    $99.50
    Dark Night Hangfire Angle View

    Hangfire

    $104.30
    Dark Night BEACON Angle View

    BEACON

    $104.30
    Dark Night NOMAD Angle View

    NOMAD

    $76.30
    Dark Night HEMISPHERE Angle View

    HEMISPHERE

    $76.30
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    “I always bring a couple pairs of Zeal goggles on touring days to have a spare just in case they get snow in after a big crash or if someone else in the group forgot theirs.  Touring up in sunglasses is the best, but I do still love to wear my goggles going down to get better eye protection from the wind, snow and sun."

    ★★★★★ - Marie-France Roy, Zeal Ambassador

    "Sunglasses are key to bring touring. Whatever the weather brings that day, having sunglasses protects your eyes. In the mountains the UV rays are stronger the higher you get in the alpine and polarized lenses are key in protecting your eyes. Zeal Optics sunglasses are light and strongly built making them the perfect touring shades!"

    ★★★★★ - Timmy Taussig, Zeal Ambassador

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