I love skiing. I’ve skied almost every day since I was a kid, so you can imagine how much I cherish my pair of goggles. And yet, they get scratched up like crazy. Why is that? If you’re wondering the same thing, read on!
Most Ski Goggles are Made of Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a strong, lightweight, and transparent material that’s used in the manufacture of bulletproof glass. It’s also used to make ski goggles.
The reason why ski goggle scratches so easily is because they’re made with polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a hard material that can withstand impacts from sharp objects like rocks, insects and birds; however, it does scratch relatively easily.
Almost All Ski Goggle Lenses are Double-paned
Almost all ski goggle lenses are double-paned and may contain a lot of air between the panes, which leaves most of the optical surface exposed.
The air may cause scratches but it also allows the lens to be flexible enough to fit comfortably in your face.
Many people believe that polycarbonate is used in the manufacture of bulletproof glass because it can withstand being shot at point blank range without being damaged, so there is no reason why some would not expect this same material to resist scratching.
In addition to being flexible, ski lens materials must be impact and scratch resistant as well as UV protective since they are often worn while skiing or snowboarding outdoors at high altitudes where there is less ozone protection from the sun’s harmful rays than there is at sea level
There’s a Difference Between “Scratched” and “Fogged”
But what many people don’t realize is that there’s a difference between “scratched” and “fogged”. Scratching is caused by sand or ice getting caught in the lens, which can be painful to remove.
Fogging, on the other hand, happens when condensation builds up on your goggles and causes them to fog up.
It’s possible for goggles to scratch both ways—but more often than not, this is an issue with how you’re wearing them.
If you keep your goggles strapped around your face or even resting against your forehead as you ski down the mountain, this may cause scratches from either sand or ice being trapped inside the lenses.
There are also products available that are made specifically for preventing scratches such as Goggle Glide®, which removes these deposits so they never get into contact with your eyes in the first place!
Lenses Pick Up Dirt and Moisture very Easily
If you like to ski, chances are that you’ve been exposed to the elements. You can wear hats and scarves and still end up with a film of snow on your goggles.
Lenses pick up dirt and moisture very easily because they’re exposed to the elements, especially wind and dust. They also absorb UV radiation from sunlight, which can cause damage over time.
If you don’t take care of your ski goggles properly, then they’ll scratch more easily as well—and before long those scratches will become permanent!
Manufacturers Increase Resistance Lenses to Scratching.
The first step in reducing the likelihood of your goggles getting scratched is to understand how they’re made.
Modern ski goggles are made from a material called polycarbonate, which can be molded into lenses of varying thicknesses depending on the intended application.
The construction of the lens itself is only one piece of the puzzle—how it’s treated afterwards makes all the difference.
Lenses are often coated with an anti-scratch coating, which helps prevent them from being scratched by other objects that make contact with them (such as snow crystals or rocks).
Some manufacturers go even further by treating their lenses so they become more resistant to scratches in general.
However, this requires more time and effort than simply applying an anti-scratch coating, so it’s usually only done when there’s demand for such products among consumers—or if you’re buying a high-end pair of expensive goggles!
Ski Goggle Lenses Scratch Easily Still Prevent Snow Blindness
Ski goggles are made of polycarbonate, a strong material that is also used in the manufacture of bulletproof glass. Most ski goggle lenses are double-paned and may contain a lot of air between the panes.
This is likely because the manufacturer wants to make your eyes feel as comfortable and warm as possible while you’re on the slopes, but it also means that scratching your lens can be annoying because it quickly degrades your vision through tiny holes in the plastic.
Another reason why ski goggles scratch so easily is due to their shape: they’re rounded across most of their surface area.
A curved surface will catch on things much more easily than one with flat edges will (think about how often you bump into door frames with your face), so if you want to avoid scratches from everyday wear and tear, look for goggles with hard plastic sides instead.
Conclusion
You may have noticed that we’ve talked a lot about ski goggle lenses, but not much about the frames.
That’s because most ski goggles come with plastic or rubber frames that can’t be scratched—which is good news, because they’re exposed to some serious abuse.
It’s tempting to think that if you just buy the most expensive pair of skis or snowboards, you’ll never have any problems with them. Unfortunately, that’s not always true!
Just like anything else made out of plastic (like your car), cheaper materials wear out more quickly when exposed to friction and pressure from constant use.
