Goggles for mountaineering

Hi All,

I'm having a partial existential crisis with respect to my mountaineering goggles.  Heading to Mt. Washington in a coupe of weeks for my third season and planning on Rainier next spring.  Right now I have a pair of Smith goggles, I/O and the restrict my nose breathing a bit.  So I bought a new pair of Smith I/O Mag and they breath easier but are HUGE!  Like can't fit the goggles on with my helmet.

What are your favs?  Is helmet fit a non-issue?  Seems like it is and/or could be.

Thanks for the beta.

J

Any reason you are looking to climb with ski goggles rather than with mountaineering glasses? You’ll probably have more success with the fit of glacier glasses under your helmet than the goggles. People who carry goggles as a backup just usually get something cheap and light that they can throw in their bag.

Either way, Julbo makes great glasses and goggles. 

He needs goggles on Mt. Washington IMO for the extra coverage (presuming we're talking about the one in NH).

Julbo Aerospace are my favorite for the venting function where you can just pop out the lens. They tend to fog up less than my glacier glasses. Cheap goggles suck.

What do you mean by helmet fit? It just tips your helmet back a little? I mean most of these things are meant to be worn with a (ski) helmet.

A. Yep, coverage is needed
B. Yep, New Hampshire
C. With the new smith goggles, pushes helmet up so much that my head isn’t touched helmet anymore.

I used super cheap Smith Cascades for a long time. They’ll be in your pack 90% of the time anyway. Yes, I’ve done mt Washington many times (used goggles at some point) and rainier (only used goggles when skiing down). Unless you’re doing a technical route on Washington you probably don’t need a helmet. 

I just use inexpensive Scott and Spy goggles (although the brand is irrelevant), with the exposed frame around the lens. They are not fancy with a spherical lens, or "frameless" looking. Seem to work fine for winter routes. They push my helmet up a little bit, but doesn't seem to be a problem when wearing a hat.

jdejace wrote: He needs goggles on Mt. Washington IMO for the extra coverage (presuming we're talking about the one in NH).

Yeah. Second that.   For me I just buy cheap ones and only expect them to last a year or two.  Flexible ones are nice so you can throw them in your pack without worrying about them breaking.

Oh and as far as helmet fit - do you plan on any iceclimbing?  If so, then yes helmet fit is an issue.  Otherwise on Washington you probably don't need a helmet.  Although even Lion's head can be treacherous and if you plan on glissading down it, a helmet would be nice.  On Rainier, I'm not sure what standard practice is ( been a while since I've been there) but I would recommend wearing a helmet on the glacier. You never know when you might make an unexpected trip into the blue room.  It'd be nice to have a helmet on for that.

Chris C. wrote: Any reason you are looking to climb with ski goggles rather than with mountaineering glasses? 

I envy you.  You must climb in places with really good weather.

Stagg54 Taggart wrote: I envy you.  You must climb in places with really good weather.

Yes, like Mt Rainier. 

Jeffo wrote: A. Yep, coverage is needed
B. Yep, New Hampshire
C. With the new smith goggles, pushes helmet up so much that my head isn’t touched helmet anymore.

Some goggles are definitely larger than others. Mine aren't problematic for me. Maybe go compare in a ski shop and find a set that works. 

Chris C. wrote:

Yes, like Mt Rainier.

Weather was nice when I was there.

Julbo Aerospace. Worth the money.

I have used UVEX goggles with my climbing helmet, and it fits snug with no gaper gap. My particular model is Snowstrike, but they have a bunch of 'classic' styled goggles, that are more compact vertically than the current space suit look (which is great for skiing, just looks silly in a climbing context). Anyway, this brand's less hip styling is a boon in your context. I have a variable lens and it was still affordable.