Goggle Opinions and suggestions?

**RyansFaith** · 02-03-2021, 09:01 AM

I need some advice on goggles. I currently am using the spy doom goggle and love it, my wife is using the bravo. I mention this as a point of reference.

As I am getting older I am having a harder and harder time picking up terrain features in flat light. In the past yellow tints worked well for me and I currently have the happy lens yellow tint low light lens. I need something a little better at this point and my wife would also like to try something in the amber/persimmon range.

What do you recommend for low light? Specific brands? Models? Lens colors? I love my dooms but I am having a hard time finding lenses at this point. I may resort to going with a clear lens.

I see TGR has optics now, any experiences with them?

Thank you for the suggestions.

**Cruiser** · 02-03-2021, 09:15 AM

Lots of folks will probably indulge you with their goggle opinions but the guy you need to talk to is rontele. That dude is a former optometrist who does r&d contact work for luxotica among others as a visual acuity specialist. He's a wealth of knowledge about this kind of stuff and will go on for ever about his favorite lenses, materials, tints, and whatnot. Just send him a pm cuz he's busy and didn't check the board a ton.

**RyansFaith** · 02-03-2021, 09:21 AM

Strange question, is rontele a real person? Seems many questions are deferred to rontele lol.

Just asking if you are serious or yanking my chain. I havent been on here long.

**El Chupacabra** · 02-03-2021, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by RyansFaith

Strange question, is rontele a real person? Seems many questions are deferred to rontele lol.

Just asking if you are serious or yanking my chain. I havent been on here long.

Take it on faith. Rontele is real, like Keyser Soze, you'll never see him coming until it's too late.

**Conundrum** · 02-03-2021, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by RyansFaith

Strange question, is rontele a real person? Seems many questions are deferred to rontele lol.

Just asking if you are serious or yanking my chain. I havent been on here long.

Rontele is a real dude. His name is Dave in real life. Not sure of his last name. Think it starts with an M. Something like Marvin, Marshak... anyway. His user name came from his middle name Ronald which he went by as a kid (Dave was his dad's name too) and he tele's sometimes-at least that's the story I got. Used to run with a rat pack crew around Hood...Fitz, Reid, John-a guy I skied with a bit in Idaho. I think some of those dudes still post here too. That's actually how I met Dave was through John. Dave introduced me to my ex-wife Paulette at a house party when I was visiting John over at Hood River back in the mid 90s. All ripping skiers. I think some of them got into instructing. Rontele partied pretty hard and I think had to shut it down and clean up and went back to school. Me too actually. Finally split with Paulette and settled down myself. She was a handful and wasn't bringing out the best in me. Pretty hot though. Still think about her sometimes.

He has had a lot of jobs in the industry and out (why you see so many people saying ask rontele on the boards here) but I think he settled down and got into optics consulting and that's the last I've heard. I think some of the CO crew have hung out with him more recently than me.

**RyansFaith** · 02-03-2021, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Rontele is a real dude. His name is Dave in real life. Not sure of his last name. Think it starts with an M. Something like Marvin, Marshak... anyway. His user name came from his middle name Ron and he tele's some times-at least that's the story I got. Used to run with a rat pack crew around Hood...Fitz, Reid, John-a guy I skied with a bit in Idaho. I think some of those dudes still post here too. That's actually how I met Dave was through John. Dave introduced me to my ex-wife Paulette at a house party when I was visiting John over at Hood River back in the mid 90s. All ripping skiers. I think some of them got into instructing. Rontele partied pretty hard and I think had to shut it down and clean up and went back to school. Me too actually. Finally split with Paulette and settled down myself. She was a handful and wasn't bringing out the best in me. Pretty hot though. Still think about her sometimes.

He has had a lot of jobs in the industry and out (why you see so many people saying ask rontele on the boards here) but I think he settled down and got into optics consulting and that's the last I've heard. I think some of the CO crew have hung out with him more recently than me.

Thanks for the explanation. Congrats on cleaning up, not easy. I have friends that have gone through it and have been sober for 20+ years. Still skiing (i am sure skiing played a part in saving them)

Anyway, I will try and contact Rontele. Thank you both for the suggestion! We have had a lot of flat light days here in CO this year so I am hoping to find a solution.

**RyansFaith** · 02-03-2021, 11:30 AM

Dupe

**Dee Hubbs** · 02-03-2021, 11:36 AM

Does he really exist? That's almost insulting to this crowd!

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**Marshal Olson** · 02-03-2021, 12:29 PM

Some great stuff in this thread. Haha.
Serious answer, since my eyesight sucks all of sudden now too.

1. most brands publish graphs like this:

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2. You want a high VLT number (transmits more light) for storm riding 45% is the lowest, and feel free to go higher.
3. Mirror is NOT your friend. It is reflecting light. minimal or no mirror.
4. I really prefer light blue or violet tints to add depth perception in low light. Gold/Amber/Pink adds texture to the snow surface, but does not help (me) with depth perception.

Hope that helps.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 02-03-2021, 01:13 PM

Interesting, I was just thinking about goggles yesterday when for the first time I can remember I had to swap out during the day (somehow ruined my darker tint goggles and had to go to my lighter goggles). For many years I have basically been buying the cheapest goggles I think I can get away with (what I assume are lowest-end or heavily discounted Smiths, Briko, etc.). I just don't believe spending a lot on goggles will make a difference (years ago I had some more expensive goggles and when I used cheap ones didn't notice a difference). Am I wrong?

And before you JONG bastards jump all over me, I already asked Rontele and he agrees.

**volklpowdermaniac** · 02-03-2021, 02:23 PM

I was going to say how impressed ive been with my new SPY marauders, the mag plus clip system feels bomber and the happy yellow has been better for me than sensor mirror from smith (granted mine was several years old), but alas, seems you've gone down that road. In any event, really liking the spy goggle after years of being a smith fanboi (nothing wrong with smith, just wanted to try something new)

**RyansFaith** · 02-03-2021, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Marshal Olson

Some great stuff in this thread. Haha.
Serious answer, since my eyesight sucks all of sudden now too.

1. most brands publish graphs like this:

2. You want a high VLT number (transmits more light) for storm riding 45% is the lowest, and feel free to go higher.
3. Mirror is NOT your friend. It is reflecting light. minimal or no mirror.
4. I really prefer light blue or violet tints to add depth perception in low light. Gold/Amber/Pink adds texture to the snow surface, but does not help (me) with depth perception.

Hope that helps.

I have found that getting old is a real thing lol

**XXX-er** · 02-03-2021, 02:47 PM

They gotta fit your head while wearing your helmet so its always a good idea to bring yer helmet when buying googles OR your goggles when buying a helmet

IME Turbo fans fit ME real well and stay clear of fog at least till the battery pack fucks up but then they are still a pretty good goggle

shop bro tells me Smith has a BIG part of the market

**RyansFaith** · 02-03-2021, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by volklpowdermaniac

I was going to say how impressed ive been with my new SPY marauders, the mag plus clip system feels bomber and the happy yellow has been better for me than sensor mirror from smith (granted mine was several years old), but alas, seems you've gone down that road. In any event, really liking the spy goggle after years of being a smith fanboi (nothing wrong with smith, just wanted to try something new)

I like my Spy goggles a lot, especially the lens durability. I just cant find any replacement doom lenses I would like to try. Not even clear. So I figured I would see whats out there and what other people are doing. Old eyes are old.

**plugboots** · 02-03-2021, 02:56 PM

OK then. My next goggles are gonna be Julbo w/ the superflow feature and reactive 1-3, (17-75 VLT), Starwind or Aerospace or Airflux.

**BCMtnHound** · 02-03-2021, 02:58 PM

I think it was old goat or maybe another retired dentist that said none of the lenses really work. Something about the rods dying as we age and not being replaced. I am going through that now, I used to have excellent night vision, but the last couple years not so good. Focus speed is also slowing down. Which makes a long-time issue of eye floaters even more apparent on flat light days. Just have to ski slower, pick my days for light, or strengthen my legs to absorb those inevitable impacts from hitting terrain irregularities that I can no longer see so well. Been wearing light readers for about 2 yrs now when under artificial light, but I suppose it is time to see the eye doc and get a proper assessment.

**EWG** · 02-03-2021, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Rontele is a real dude. His name is Dave in real life. Not sure of his last name. Think it starts with an M. Something like Marvin, Marshak... anyway. His user name came from his middle name Ronald which he went by as a kid (Dave was his dad's name too) and he tele's sometimes-at least that's the story I got. Used to run with a rat pack crew around Hood...Fitz, Reid, John-a guy I skied with a bit in Idaho. I think some of those dudes still post here too. That's actually how I met Dave was through John. Dave introduced me to my ex-wife Paulette at a house party when I was visiting John over at Hood River back in the mid 90s. All ripping skiers. I think some of them got into instructing. Rontele partied pretty hard and I think had to shut it down and clean up and went back to school. Me too actually. Finally split with Paulette and settled down myself. She was a handful and wasn't bringing out the best in me. Pretty hot though. Still think about her sometimes.

He has had a lot of jobs in the industry and out (why you see so many people saying ask rontele on the boards here) but I think he settled down and got into optics consulting and that's the last I've heard. I think some of the CO crew have hung out with him more recently than me.

I thought you were so pissed at him for getting you involved with Paulette that you were no longer speaking to him? I mean she did set your car on fire. I'd be pissed.

**Flippo** · 02-03-2021, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by plugboots

OK then. My next goggles are gonna be Julbo w/ the superflow feature and reactive 1-3, (17-75 VLT), Starwind or Aerospace or Airflux.

To me Julbo is the best option for photochromic goggles. I use a Squad mag with different screens but my buddies have Julbo's and they are real good. Julbo photochromic screen are in an other league than Smith's.

**Neil Fiedler (Not Neil Armstrong)** · 02-03-2021, 05:40 PM

I'm in the same boat as the OG, Flat light makes features a real struggle, causing me to ski like I've eaten an entire indica pot cookie. BBI18 flashback..... I Got some Oakley that have a Rose Prizm lens. They are pretty good in low light. Nice field of view too.

**SoVT Joey** · 02-03-2021, 05:55 PM

I use rose prism lens a lot. Like 95% of the time. Oakley definitely has it figured out with the flat light. I have 4 or 5 different colors for my flight decks.

On another note the other half has Oakley’s from optic rx with the prescription insert. Pretty tight. No fogging and she can move the inserts to other frames and change lenses as well.

**The Tortoise** · 02-03-2021, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

For many years I have basically been buying the cheapest goggles I think I can get away with (what I assume are lowest-end or heavily discounted Smiths, Briko, etc.). I just don't believe spending a lot on goggles will make a difference (years ago I had some more expensive goggles and when I used cheap ones didn't notice a difference). Am I wrong?

I'd always been buying cheap Smith's on sale.

Last year I treated myself* to a pair of Squad XLs with two Chromapop lenses. I really really like them and they definitely have better optics and field of vision than any goggle I've ever owned.

* I needed them because I finally got a helmet and with a big head way too much wind was getting in with my regular Smith's.

**Hopeless Sinner** · 02-03-2021, 06:39 PM

Clear lenses are not the answer I've found, everything looks flat. It's worth losing a bit of light transmission by adding light rose or amber tints to increase definition.

Check out Sport Rx out of San Diego if prescription lenses are necessary. They make inserts that mount inside the goggle. They have some good sales at times and have optometrists on staff for quality advice.

**Lostintime** · 02-03-2021, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Flippo

To me Julbo is the best option for photochromic goggles. I use a Squad mag with different screens but my buddies have Julbo's and they are real good. Julbo photochromic screen are in an other league than Smith's.

^^^ This! Own two pairs of Julbos. Have had the aeros now for a few years and they are my go to. Dealing with the old eye issues as well. Also have a pair of Uvex variomatic that work great in flat light. Dollar for dollar, I vouch for the Julbo aerospace. I ski at a hill where it's rarely sunny.

**whyturn** · 02-03-2021, 07:36 PM

Oakley high intensity yellow.

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**Conundrum** · 02-03-2021, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by EWG

I thought you were so pissed at him for getting you involved with Paulette that you were no longer speaking to him? I mean she did set your car on fire. I'd be pissed.

I was for awhile. But how do you stay mad at a guy who brings the party to the mountain when that’s what you and the mountain need?