Skiing with goggles: Do you need prescription ski goggles?

Unfortunately, good glasses are not cheap, and this also applies to ski goggles. So you may be wondering whether it is really necessary to spend a lot of money on optically adjusted ski goggles. At first glance, it almost seems that way, because for purely safety reasons, neither skiing without goggles nor skiing without goggles at all is an option... The good news: No, it doesn't necessarily have to be optical ski goggles!

Optical ski goggles with clip

For the sake of completeness, let's start with ski goggles that are adapted to your eyesight. As a rule, special clips are used here: they are attached in front of the lenses of the actual ski goggles. Lenses that have been adjusted to your prescription by an optician can then be inserted into these clips. The basis for this is the glasses you wear in everyday life.

With the clip, your optical lenses are therefore directly in front of the lenses of the ski goggles. We'll take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of these ski goggle clips below, but first a quick look at the alternative!

Overspecs for spectacle wearers: OTG ski goggles

When ski goggles are labeled OTG, it means “Over the Goggles”. The name says it all: OTG ski goggles are simply pulled over the optical goggles. This works because these ski goggles have a particularly wide frame with cut-outs for the temples.

Ideally, OTG goggles should also come with a detachable strap, as this makes them much easier to put on. Ventilation is even more important, because if the air can't circulate properly, you'll all too quickly end up with foggy lenses. Last but not least: with OTG goggles, you need enough space around the nose and non-slip material on the face pad. And that brings us to the big question: which version is better?

What are the best ski goggles for spectacle wearers?

First things first: ski goggles for spectacle wearers must not only match your eyesight, but also your ski helmet. It is therefore best to always take your helmet with you when you go to try on ski goggles. But back to the options from above: Optical ski goggles or goggles?

Goggles under ski goggles - yes or no?

Simply pull the ski goggles over the optical goggles and you're ready to go: The concept itself is pretty practical.

Pulling goggles under your ski goggles is the best option if you...

☑ ...you are wearing a model of goggles with which this is possible. Logically, the larger your frame, the larger the ski goggles need to be.
☑ ...you only ski occasionally and don't want to spend a lot of money on optical ski goggles.

On the other hand, there is a clear no to goggles under ski goggles if...

⌧ ...comfort is extremely important to you. Unfortunately, very cheap OTG goggles often fit poorly and cause your goggles to fog up even faster. It can also happen that your goggles press uncomfortably on your nose.
⌧ ...you ski very fast. The more aggressive your riding style, the more important it is that your vision is unrestricted and that you can react at lightning speed. However, the two pairs of goggles restrict your peripheral vision, so you may not be able to see other people next to you (in time). Important factors in this decision are therefore your riding style, comfort and the question of how often you actually need the goggles. Wichtige Faktoren bei dieser Entscheidung sind also der Fahrstil, der Tragekomfort und die Frage, wie häufig du die Brille eigentlich brauchst.

Or would you prefer optical glacier goggles for spectacle wearers?

Wait, glacier goggles? This simply refers to ski goggles with protection class 4. These are highly recommended for skiing or snowboarding because they provide optimum protection for the eyes against the high UV radiation.

Clip-on ski goggles are suitable for you if...

☑ ...your prescription goggles and ski goggles are not compatible in terms of design or size, or you value the smallest possible ski goggles.
☑ ...you definitely want to avoid the lenses of your optical goggles fogging up too quickly.


In contrast, optical ski goggles are not recommended if...

⌧...you know from experience that your eyesight changes quite frequently and could be completely different next winter, so that the specially adapted goggles would no longer be ideal.

⌧ ...you know that your vision will be extremely poor as soon as you take your goggles off (e.g. when you stop off at a ski hut) and you don't want to have your prescription goggles with you everywhere you go.

As you can see, every pair of ski goggles for spectacle wearers has its pros and cons. However, what both variants have in common is that you can theoretically opt for a polarized model and thus provide a little extra comfort.

Nice to have: polarized ski goggles

If the lenses of your ski goggles are polarized, you can see much more clearly in the snow. This is because contrasts stand out more clearly. In addition, polarized ski goggles allow you to see small bumps in the snow much more quickly, which ultimately increases your safety when skiing.

However, there is one small drawback with these goggles: If you like to stop and take photos when skiing, the polarized lenses could cause problems. With these goggles, you won't be able to see much on your smartphone screen - but that's just a side note, because you're on the slopes to ski, not for a smartphone session! Let's get back to a problem that all too many spectacle wearers know about with their ski goggles: foggy lenses...